PS – You can pair this trip with our much more lavish (but equally ambitious) Hiking, Biking, Wining & Dining trip through Chile, and/or live the Latin high life on our Argentina: Buenos Aires to Mendoza gay tour.

Kosten Aike Hotel, El Calafate

Kicking off our trip in style.

The Alpine-style lodge features a spa with hot tub and sauna, fitness centre, and buffet breakfast. The city centre is only 200 metres away, and it’s a 9-minute walk to picturesque Argentino Lake (the nation’s largest freshwater lake). Outside, you can wander through the fragrant garden. Inside, your room is a spacious private escape with cable TV, a minibar, and heating (a selling point on such a rustic trip). All bedspreads, curtains, folders, and fittings were custom made by prominent Argentine artists. The designs are inspired by the ancestral work of the town’s indigenous Tehuelche people, recognized for its distinct aesthete and perfect geometry.

Destino Sur Hotel, El Chalten

Rustic and refined with a tasty breakfast buffet.

This mountain valley retreat, in the vicinity of Mirador del Fitz Roy mountain, is built with cypress, beech and local stone. Decor highlights include hand-woven rugs, wood floors and colourful accents. Welcome creature comforts include free Wi-Fi, TVs and minibars. Having kicked off our hike, the spa and sauna should help soothe your weary muscles.

El Chileno Refugio, Torres del Paine

Let’s get camping!

Ready to get rustic? On Day 6, we find ourselves in true wilderness. No more hotels or lodges because it’s time for some camp (and not the gay kind of camp that was the theme for Lady Gaga’s Met Ball). The tents are on platforms, so you need not fret about sleeping on rocks, and you’ll be sharing bathrooms – but they have hot water! From here we’ll hike to Torres del Paine, the three magnificent blue-hued granite towers that preside over the region.  

Refugio Vertice Paine Grande, Torres del Paine

Simple surroundings with sublime views.

Bring on the summer camp vibes! At this lodge on the shores of Lake Pehoé we’ll sleep in bunk beds, with 4 fellows per room and shared bathing facilities (spoiler alert: hot water is limited so keep your showers short…but it’s not like you came here for bubble baths). The 2nd-floor pub serves views of the lake and mountains, but if you just want a place to curl up with a book there’s also a heated living room. Beware there’s no cell service, and no electricity at night. Rustic realness!

Hotel Lago Grey, Torres del Paine

End your hike on a high note.

After a short and sweet day of hiking (think a breezy 6 kilometres) we’ll find ourselves on the shores of Grey Lake…and at our soothing final stop. Hotel Lago Grey is an experience in and of itself – the perfect place to regroup after a week trekking through some of the world’s wildest wilderness. The vibe is rustic minimalism. Understated rooms and picture windows let you soak up incredible mountain views. The rooms aren’t even equipped with TVs (though they do have WiFi) because it’s just not the kind of place you want or need to watch the telly. Since our tour ends with an unstructured day, you could head out for a kayak on the lake, or a hike around the property on your own. Or just enjoy delicious Chilean food and wine in the restaurant. By this point you’ve certainly earned it.

Ready to bust out your hiking boots? Let us know if you dare to tackle our Patagonia Gay Hike!

The post Stays That Slay: Patagonia appeared first on Out Adventures.

What’s new, Buenos Aires? Our brand new Gay Tour of Argentina is what. This sizzling South American sojourn starts in the country’s civic centre, and winds up in their wine capital – Mendoza! Every stop along the way will slay, and have you cheering “olé, olé, olé!”

Grand Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires

Kick it off at this swank boutique property

Located in the barrio of Palermo, which happens to be the polo capital of the world, this hotel is steps to brilliant food, nightlife and shopping. If you’re a steak fan – and Argentina knows steak – we stay literally next door to Don Julio, one of the world’s 50 best restaurants. The rooms are modern and understated. The service is all-encompassing. Then there’s breakfast: sensational, delicious, and bountiful. Finally, the rooftop splash pool is perfect for washing away the jet lag upon arrival. Between our tango lessons and food tours, we think you’ll find it’s a prime place to retreat.

Fill me up with your heat, with your noise, with your dirt, overdo me
Let me dance to your beat, make it loud, let it hurt, run it through me.

“Buenos Aires” from Evita by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice

Design Suites Salta Hotel, Salta

A magical mix of classic and modern

Founded as an outpost between Buenos Aires and Lima (Peru), Salta has grown into the capital of a province with the same name. The hotel marries an opulent Art Nouveau building with a modern tower. Bright artwork and vintage photographs give you a sense of place.

Manantial del Silence, Purmamarca

Surround yourself with rainbow-coloured mountains

Surrounded by the dramatic Cerro de los Siete Colores, or The Hill of Seven Colours, this neocolonial-style hotel is homosexually fabulous, and steps away from the town’s Plaza 9 de Julio. There’s an airy restaurant with a covered terrace, and it overlooks the Quebrada de Purmamarca River. There’s even a garden with an outdoor pool and a hot tub, and if time permits you can book a massage in the spa.

Club Tapiz & Casa Solo Vineyard, Mendoza

Wine lovers will savour sleeping among the vines

14 hectares of vineyards and farmland surround you at this relaxed 19th-century house-turned-hotel. Even better, much of the food served at the restaurant is grown on-site. There’s an outdoor pool, a bar, and a wine cellar with a cozy tasting room. If you fancy some pampering, the spa features mountain views, a sauna and hot tub.

Bonus Stay: American Puerto Iguazu Hotel

Start your Argentine adventure at this mellow but magical property

If you want to add a few extra days to the beginning of your holiday, our Iguazu Falls Extension gives you a chance to visit one of the Seven New Wonders of The World. Get your feet wet, and even slide into Brazil for a day!

Have we tickled your taste for the tango? Let us know if you want our Buenos Aires to Mendoza Gay Tour to be part of your bucket list!

The post Stays That Slay: Buenos Aires to Mendoza appeared first on Out Adventures.

Rainbow Railroad is a charitable organization that helps resettle LGBTQ+ people who face persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. You may have seen them featured on 60 Minutes or Canada’s Drag Race. With over 80 million people around the world displaced right now – the highest number since World War II – LGBTQ+ victims of persecution are especially vulnerable. That’s why we’ve decided to make supporting their cause part of our business. Everybody deserves to live their best life free of judgment and threat.

For over 10 years we’ve made a point to support LGBTQ+ organizations in the places we visit and back at home. But as we recover from the pandemic, and borders open up, we want to amplify this support in countries where our community risks persecution. Now, when you book a spot on all scheduled Out Adventures tours, we’ll make a $50 USD donation to Rainbow Railroad. We hope to donate $25,000 USD by the end of 2022, with more in the years to come. It’s Pride Month. And this felt like a fitting way to honour our community.

Join us on an Out Adventures Gay Tour and support Rainbow Railroad in the process.

The post Big News: We’ve Partnered with Rainbow Railroad. appeared first on Out Adventures.

10. Things kick off with a sunset cruise.

It wouldn’t be an Out Adventures tour without being a little extra. We’ll drop our bags off at our centrally-located hotel in Sydney, then board a Mardi Gras sunset cruise to flaunt our stuff all over the harbour. Mix and mingle with other LGBT+ folk, enjoy a cocktail, and groove to the beats of a live DJ while the sun sets and you sailors shimmy.

9. Because Kylie Minogue. And other icons.

The Princess of Pop may be pint-sized, but her reign down here runs wide and long. This is her land, but she’s only one of many global icons to perform at Mardi Gras’ midnight after-party. Past performers include Dua Lipa, Cher, and the transvestalizing RuPaul. Whoever headlines the event, remember to channel the spirit of Kylie herself.

8. It’s in bloody Sydney.

The metropolis where we wrap up our holiday is summin’ else: Sydney is world-class, with spectacular sights like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Royal Botanic Garden. If time and budget permit, you should definitely consider extending your stay a few days.

7. It’s perfect for girlfriends with girlfriends.

Got a gal pal that likes to shake her groove thing? Sydney is one of the most lesbian-welcoming cities on Earth, and this would not be the first time women joined an Out Adventures tour. Feel free to invite the girls: we’ll welcome them with open arms, then set them free in Sydney’s Sapphic seas like Ellen DeGeneres as Dory (before she got canceled).

6. The parade is at night.

Sydney summers swelter, so it’s only sensible to save the celebration ’til the sun sets. Plus, you can trade in your sunscreen for something more sparkly. Think Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade, then spice it up with a celebration of sexuality, individuality, and literal fireworks. This is what adds up to Sydney Mardi Gras: disparate elements coming together (and coming out) for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

5. Celebrate boundless progress.

Like most Pride celebrations, Sydney Mardi Gras was born at Stonewall. One night in 1978, organizers planned their first legal protest. Despite obtaining permits for a peaceful march, people were met with mass arrests at Kings Cross. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper struck an especially low blow and published a list shaming and naming everybody arrested. Despite most charges being dropped, reputations were smeared and the damage was done. Never forget, but look how far we’ve come.

4. It will warm up your winter.

The biggest problem with commemorating Stonewall is that June is winter for Australia. Sydney’s 1980 event – only in its third year – was so frigid they officially changed the entire season of their commemoration. Moving forward it would happen during Australia’s summer, in February-March.

3. One (admittedly compound) word: WorldPride!

If you don’t get your fill on our tour in 2022, or if the timing isn’t right, you can always head down in 2023 for an even bigger, more audacious festival. That’s when Sydney will host WorldPride for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere.

2. Because you can.

It sounds corny but it’s true: this is the dawn of a new era. As fanatical globetrotters who love to share the world, we were stunned when international travel was shut down. If all goes to plan, this will be one of our first tours after the renaissance. We’ll be keen as wombats to celebrate, so join us for an extra gay old time in the land of The Bee Gees…who were totally straight.

1. Australia plays safe. So do we.

As one of Australia’s first major events to move forward post-pandemic, we truly feel safe attending Sydney Mardi Gras. The country’s response was to crush the smallest waves with aggressive lockdowns. The government ostensibly kept the virus off the island. We also take the safety of travel seriously. If you have any questions about our trip protections and protocols, please ask! We have a comprehensive plan in place.

Is your fancy tickled? This is one of our three amazing new tours down under, along with New Zealand’s North Island Cultural Adventure and Active South Island Expedition. May we see you there, mate.

Photo Credits: Cover) Juliette F on Unsplash. 10) Daniel Chen on Unsplash. 8) Kewal on Unsplash. 7) Brian Kyed on Unsplash. 6) Carl Hiehn. 4) Adrian Rem on Unsplash. 3) Wikipedia Commons. 2) Rudy Dong on Unsplash. 1) Daniel Norris on Unsplash.

The post 10 Tantalizing Reasons to Join Us For Sydney Mardi Gras appeared first on Out Adventures.

Despite being one of the smallest nations we visit, New Zealand has so much to offer we created back-to-back trips that focus on the North and South islands. This post dives into the accommodations on our Active South Island Expedition, including a night aboard a boat.

Muse Hotel, Christchurch

Immerse yourself in local art – and luxury

When it comes to first impressions, The Muse does not mess around. That’s why we’ve chosen this boutique property to welcome you to your South Island adventure. Rooms are equipped with premium amenities like an espresso machine, rainfall shower heads, and expressive local art.

Peppers Bluewater Resort, Tekapo

Crisp, modern rooms in a rustic lakeside setting

In the heart of Mackenzie Country, Peppers Bluewater Resort immerses you in ruggedly beautiful landscapes. It’s the perfect base to explore the natural wonders of Mount Cook and the Mackenzie region. Great views, great food, and great service all add up to a 4.5-star experience.

The Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook Village

A decadent retreat on a rustic hillside

The journey from the highway to this hotel is considered one of the Top 10 Drives in all of New Zealand. What a fitting way to arrive at our beautiful stay in the heart of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Area surrounds you with glaciers, terminal lakes, turbulent rivers and Australasia’s tallest peak. Once the sun sets? Explore millions of stars! The park was also voted the world’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve. 

Edgewater Hotel, Lake Wanaka

Spacious lakeside rooms feel like home

Lake Wanaka provides us an opportunity to catch our breath mid-journey. Our guide will have a day off, and we are free to wallow in the property’s amenities. Along with pools and a sauna – natch – you can partake in tennis, rent a mountain bike, or hit up the 9-hole putting green.

Distinction Hotel & Villas, Lake Te Anau

New Zealand hospitality at its best

This New Zealand-owned chain serves up elegant ambience, colourful gardens and a superb location on Lake Te Anau in the Fiordland ranges. The restaurant is known for its South Island cuisine, while other hotel amenities include a spa, sauna, and outdoor swimming pool.

The Milford Mariner, Milford Sound

Enjoy a night on the ultimate waterbed

The best way to immerse yourself in the spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife of Milford Sound is by boat. That’s why we’ve arranged a night on the Milford Mariner. Enjoy private rooms, dinner and breakfast prepared by an onboard chef. You may even spot wildlife like seals, penguins, and dolphins.

Ramada Central, Queenstown

Rest easy at the chain’s flagship New Zealand property

In the heart of Queenstown, the Ramada overlooks Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables Mountain Range, and much of the Central Otago landscape. The boutique property is the perfect place to wind up our wild and active trip through one of the world’s most unique island nations.

Let us know if we’ve piqued your interest in checking out our Active South Island Expedition, or New Zealand’s North Island Cultural Adventure. If you’re aching to visit Australia, you can also pair this tour with our Summer Down Under trip featuring Sydney Mardi Gras.

The post Stays That Slay: Southern New Zealand appeared first on Out Adventures.

We can’t wait to touch down in New Zealand (a country long on our bucket list) with back-to-back trips that focus on the North and South islands. This post in particular serves up a taste of the places where we’ll slumber on our North Island Cultural Adventure.

New Zealand is one of the smallest nations we visit…both geographically and population-wise. It’s rugged, unpretentious, and sparsely populated. However we still found some of the most accommodating people and places to welcome you to the Land of Middle Earth. Our stays range from a five-star stunner in Auckland that oozes style, to a private cabin where we can really feel like fam. Read on to check out where we’ll be checking in.

Pullman Hotel, Auckland

A crown jewel of New Zealand’s capital accommodations

To make your landing less abrasive (after a likely long-a** flight), you’ll love the deep tubs, comfortable beds and serene decor in your room. Need to stretch out? There’s a sexy 25 metre swimming pool to lap up, or why not wander down to the harbour? If you’d rather have someone else stretch you out, the best hotel spa in New Zealand is here. It serves top-notch decadence and was a finalist in the World Luxury Spa Awards. Did somebody say hot stone massage?

The Sudima, Lake Rotorua

Wind down with some geothermal activity

Lake Rotorua is an important Māori homeland. Famous for sulphur pool and bubbling mud pits, it inspires some of our hotel’s best offerings: three private spa pools and signature massage treatments. Time permitting you can also check out the world-famous Polynesian Spa next door.

Kohutapu Lodge, Murupara

Our own private home…in the middle of a resort

Our stay at this family-run affair will further connect us with Māori culture and history. We will learn the haka dance, devour a traditional meal cooked in the ground, and are welcome to ask our hosts about their history. Interestingly, our stay at the resort will be in our own, self-contained home on the property. The lodge features three bathrooms, a sweeping deck with views of the lake, and five bathrooms, meaning for one night only some group members may be bunking with up to three others. In the modern kitchen we can gather around a huge floating island, or head outside to enjoy the sunken fire pit and – wait for it – rustic wood-fired bath tubs! The resort itself is known for its community support. By staying here we help local support scholarships, internships, and meal programs.

Suncourt Resort, Lake Taupo

A low-slung affair by the country’s largest lake

When you check in to your room at this cheerful, family-run hotel, you’ll quickly feel the lines between inside and out disappear. The rooms feature floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that connect you to Lake Taupō – the country’s largest lake by surface area – with Mt Ruapehu in view.

Castaways Resort, West Coast

A truly civilized retreat on the wild coastal cliffs

What’s better than falling asleep to the soothing sounds of a wave machine? Falling asleep to actual waves crashing on the rocks below your room. Located in the outer limits of Auckland, the hotel was recently renovated and is home to Berentai Spa. The studio suites are thoughtfully modern, a suave contrast to the rugged setting.

Copthorne Paihia, Bay of Islands

Settle into 60 acres of subtropical gardens

As our tour winds to a close, we land in one of the most beautiful settings yet. Located in the Waitangi National Reserve, rooms at the Copthorne have a laid-back coastal vibe. But where the sun really shines is poolside, with sublime seating areas, gorgeous gardens and great places to make a splash.

Let us know if we’ve piqued your interest in checking out New Zealand North Island Cultural Adventure. If you’re seeking something a bit more adventurous, trek on over to our Active South Island Expedition. These two trips make a perfect back-to-back pair, and if you’re aching to visit Australia, our Summer Down Under trip featuring Mardi Gras is another tour you can tack onto this trip.

The post Stays That Slay: Northern New Zealand appeared first on Out Adventures.

At Out Adventures we talk a lot about never losing our sense of adventure, and the camaraderie of joining a group tour. We talk about supporting local communities we visit, and we pride ourselves on putting purpose ahead of profit. After 12 years in business, these values have helped us forge a community of travellers who are not only guests, but friends. 

We are over a year and a half into the Covid-19 pandemic, and while I know most of you are eager to fly as soon as you get the jab, it’s not quite that simple for us. I would like to share how and when we are going to restart Out Adventures tours.

First, we’ve worked very hard over the past year to protect our clients–from renegotiating supplier contracts and relaxing our booking conditions to lowering our prices and deposits. We even rewrote our health & safety guidelines.

Moving forward, we will continue to protect our guests, guides, staff, and the communities we’re so eager to visit. Before we confirm any departure, we’ll ask questions like:

• What are the travel restrictions in our home countries, and the destinations we are hoping to visit?
• Do guests need to be vaccinated?
• Will guests have to quarantine before or after the trip?
• Can we safely run the tour?
• What will our impact be on the communities we visit?
• Is the destination’s healthcare system operating at full capacity?

While there are many unanswered questions, we’ve answered those we can in this handy FAQ.  I can also promise you that we will always be honest, transparent, and abundantly cautious with your health and safety. 

With that, we will be in monthly contact with guests as their vacation nears, starting 4 months prior to departure for tours with final payment due 60 days prior to travel, and 5 months prior to departure for tours with final payment due 90 days prior to travel. Updates will contain the following information:

• The current state of travel restrictions in your destination country including any vaccine mandates, required testing, quarantine requirements, mask mandates, physical distancing, lockdowns and restrictions of movement within the country.  
• Localized outbreaks of Covid-19 and/or rising Covid-19 case numbers in the destination country.
• Any current travel restrictions or travel advisories from the home countries of all booked guests, as well as from the World Health Organization. 

If we don’t feel it’s safe and feasible to operate the trip, we will notify guests by the date of final payment. There may be cases where a tour is postponed after the final payment, but we assure you our cautious approach will minimize that as much as possible.

We hope this information puts you at ease, and we are here to answer your questions. Please note we currently have limited staff, so we may be slower than normal to reply. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued patience, support, understanding, and as always – for your business.

Stay safe, and please get in touch if you have further questions.

Robert Sharp

The post A Message From Our Founder On Safely Restarting Out Adventures appeared first on Out Adventures.

About our practices and policies

Our policies closely follow guidelines developed by international partners, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council. To keep things organized, we’ve arranged our practices and policies into three sections: Before, During and After your tour.

Before your tour

Before touching down in a destination, a slew of health & safety initiatives will have already taken place. Some initiatives will be ‘behind the scenes’, for example our new tour planning policies that ensure we’ve dotted our Is and crossed our Ts. Other initiatives will be more obvious, including new education practices and mandatory health screenings. Here are just a few of the changes you can expect before your tour.

Enhanced planning

• Renegotiated supplier contracts to ensure minimum health & safety standards are met.
• Systematically scrutinizing our existing day-by-day itineraries, keeping an eye out for activities that could be safer. For example, visiting crowded heritage sites during low-traffic hours.

Education initiatives

• Training all hands-on staff, including Hosts and Guides. Training will include:
  • Sanitation measures and standards,
  • Understanding of all PPE (personal protective equipment) requirements,
  • Understanding of all contingency plans for various health and safety scenarios, including the location of all specialized medical facilities in a destination.
• Educating fellow guests via updated Trip Documents that include:
  • An informative new section on health & safety,
  • Updated packing lists with enhanced health & safety items,
  • Recommendations for minimizing transmission of viruses in airports and on aircrafts,
  • Known health issues in the country or destination highlighted in documents.

Mandatory health screenings

• A Covid-19 Self Declaration & Waiver of Liability will be sent to guests and hands-on staff four days prior to departure. The questionnaire may include:
  • Checklist to identify staff or guests who may be experiencing symptoms related to Covid-19, or any other known outbreak,
  • Proof of immunity, vaccination, a negative Covid-19 PCR antigen test or any additional requirements for entry by a destination,
  • Waiver of liability acknowledging the increased risk associated with travelling during a pandemic, along with risks associated with any pre-existing medical conditions, disclosed or otherwise.
• Monitoring the health of all guests and hands-on employees during the tour. If any Covid-19 symptoms are identified in staff, a suitable replacement will be found until testing can be administered and verified. Monitoring may include:
  • Regular temperature checks administered primarily by accommodation providers,
  • Mid-tour electronic evaluation and health questionnaire. 

During your tour

From your tour’s Welcome Meeting to its Farewell Dinner, you can expect our staff and suppliers to hold themselves to the highest standards of health & safety. On the ground we have two primary focuses: reduce transmissions and enhance sanitation. Here are some of the key initiatives you’ll notice our team taking on tour.

Reduce Transmission by:

• Encouraging physical distancing where possible:
  • Maintain a distance of 6ft/2m between all guests and staff whenever possible,
  • The suggested use of PPE where a safe distance may not be maintained,
  • Discourage physical contact such as handshaking and hugging,
  • Dedicating a minimum of 30% of seats in private transportation to be empty to allow more space between guests,
  • When possible avoiding large crowds, visiting sites during low-traffic periods. 
• Providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer for use in public areas, before and after group meals, and before entering transportation, 
• Encouraging good respiratory hygiene by:
  • Requiring that guests, group leaders and all staff have a face mask with them on tour,
  • Encouraging the use of masks in high-risk situations, such as in crowded public spaces and attractions,
  • Including extra medical masks as part of first aid/emergency kits on tour,
  • Requiring all guests and staff to comply with any local regulation, laws or requirements that require the use of a mask in public or in certain places or situations.
• Immediately addressing and escalating any concerns regarding hygiene or sanitation.

After your tour

Just because we’ve said our goodbyes and our tour has officially wrapped, doesn’t mean we’ve stopped looking out for you. We’ll be keeping an ear to the ground, listening for any transmissions that may have occurred during your tour. And if something comes up, you’ll be the first to know.

Contingency plans

Although we’re taking every precaution to minimize health & safety risks, we realize issues may arise. This is why we’re creating internal documents outlining contingency plans for foreseeable world events including—but not limited to—Covid-19. It is our goal that guests such as yourself will rest easy knowing we take your health & safety to heart.

Until it is safe to travel again

Should you have any questions about our health & safety practices and policies, never hesitate to reach out. Together we can ensure that our journeys are safe for everyone, including yourself, our staff and the local communities that welcome us into their cultures and homes. 

Until it is safe to travel again, and as we always say at Out Adventures, ‘Never lose your sense of adventure.’

PLEASE NOTE: The above guidelines will continue to be updated as the situation around Covid-19 evolves.

The post Our Health & Safety Promise appeared first on Out Adventures.

by Lino DiNallo

While many Out Adventures holidays delve deep into jungles or up the tallest mountains, the Kyoto To Tokyo tour through Japan is our most urban adventure. Perfect for city slickers, it serves up ten days in megalopolis surroundings, with tastes of nature and small town living thrown in. The trip culminates in the world’s largest supercity; where the population rivals Canada (the second largest country on Earth) at 37 million.

While Japan leads countless trends and technologies, gay culture has further to go on this archipelago. It was only this year – 2021 – that a district court ruled it unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage. This is welcome news, but the country could still be several years away from legalization.

While Japan plays catch-up with queer life today, it’s worth noting the Samurai, and in turn the general population, openly indulged in same-sex shenanigans. It was only our recent Western (read: Christian) influence that made the Japanese sour on homosexuality.

Read on for a taste of Japan’s queer history.

The Religious Paradox

Shintoism has been around since 1000BC. As old as Japan itself, the spiritual tradition believes all people are fundamentally good. And since sex, regardless of your partner, was an expression of love it was an inherently benign act. Mind you, it was still possible to “sexually pollute” oneself, but only in the context of spiritual enlightenment.

The Shinto tradition was soon followed by Buddhism (which definitely encouraged abstinence in the name of spiritual purity). Still, Buddhists acknowledged sexual desire was normal. There were no Christian guilt trips, confessions or penance. Moreover, if you got your freak on, Buddhists could appreciate the synergy of a same-sex dalliance. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

Then there was the matter of misogyny. Women were – in no uncertain terms – evil and treacherous. Evil! Treacherous! Gay sex was the more wholesome alternative. Obviously.

Sex wasn’t Sinful

Unlike today’s Christian sensibility, where the point of sex is procreation, ancient Japan got it on like free-loving hippies. Male or female, everybody was fair game in the quest to commingle conjugal cowbells. There was no shame in promiscuity. Getting around was the way to validate you were a succulent piece of sashimi that could still soak up the soy sauce. Moreover, just because you had sex with another man (or woman), there was no need to label it ‘gay’. Same-sex orgasms didn’t warrant coming out parties.

There was a Sex Cult

Buddhism and Shintoism do acknowledge sex is special. But Tachikawa-ryu, Japan’s take on Tantra, made it a religious experience. Their sexual rituals were said to control supernatural and cosmic forces. Opponents, however, said it was dark-sided black magic. One ritual involved grinding up human skulls, after all. Tachikawa-ryu was banned in the 13th century, and its writings destroyed or locked away…though some believe it still operates covertly.

There were Age Differences

Like ancient Greece, where older men took youthful male lovers, Japan’s Nanshouku tradition brought mentorship and sexual relations between elder monks and younger fellows coming of age. The arrangement was committed but not monogamous. A rite of passage for the younger men, it was presumed they would eventually marry women and have children.

With the birth (and swelling) of the Samurai class – Japan’s prestigious military nobility – an increasing number of young men found themselves face-to-face with older monks in monastic settings. Not to mention what happened when they were away at battle. It became a self-perpetuating cycle of sexual pursuit.

There was even a Third Gender

The Nanshouku tradition evolved into ‘wakashudou’. Those sexual antics once reserved for noblemen and monks became popular with society at large. Relations between older men and ‘apprentices’ were not only common but also acceptable. The Wakashū (younger men) even wore distinct kimonos, with exclusive hairstyles featuring a shaved crown and long forelocks. The beauty of their male youth was compared to cherry blossoms, with an elusive allure distinct from women or mature men. Once Wakashū came of age, they transitioned to more masculine fashion and grooming.

Then it became Illegal

The Meiji Restoration began in 1868 and brought an end to Japan’s military government. The Samurai that wholeheartedly embraced same-sex attraction found themselves on the wrong side of history. Japan conscientiously leaned into Western ways and social norms. While the nation industrialized fast, it became quite puritan. Japan even made sodomy illegal from 1872-1882 in an effort to be hip.

The 1999 film Gohatto, or Taboo – directed by Nagisa Ōshima – takes place during this time. About an elite Samurai group, the tale focuses on handsome new arrival Kanō Sōzaburō, played by Ryuhei Matsuda. He was only sixteen when the film was made.

Modern Queer Japan

One area where Japan does excel is gender expression. It’s colourful and fluid. There’s an easy comfort with how people express their masculine and feminine spirit through hair, fashion and makeup.

Contemporary gay culture is also growing. People still live in the closet given the strong focus on family units. Homophobia is also prevalent in those same family units. Still, pride parades are becoming more prevalent, and international influence is having a positive impact.

Cheers to Tokyo’s Gay Bars

Today, Tokyo has one of the densest collection of gay bars per capita in the world. Unlike the mega-clubs of Ibiza, London or Miami, these bars aren’t just small. Some are minuscule, and seat only a handful of people (literally less than five). No matter your style or budget, when accompanied by a local it’s easy to find a bar that feels just right (and the hunt is half the fun).

If you want to learn more about our Kyoto To Tokyo tour, email [email protected] or call 1-866-360-1152. Big cities and micro-bars await!

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By Lino DiNallo

When I watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, I’m still struck by how far cross-dressing culture and queer acceptance have come. These queens are icons for teen girls, gay men, grown women and straight dudes alike. They walk runways for Fashion Week, churn out club bangers, and even launch makeup lines that quickly sell out. And it all traces straight back to the ball culture of 1980s New York.

But long before that, in 1901, a bunch of men in dresses would rock conservative Catholic Mexico to its core. Since we’ll head to Mexico City on a semi-annual escapade with a gay twist once this pandemic is over, let’s pay homage to the nation’s clamorous birth of queer culture.

Category is: ¡ESCÁNDALO!

On the night of November 17, 1901, the Catholic government busted a cross-dressing soiree. It was going down in a rented home – think AirBNB McMansion party – at a time when homosexuality was unheard of. Imagine the authorities’ surprise when they found 41 men, half dressed like women, with everybody serving old world opulence: they flaunted lavish wigs, extravagant jewelry, sumptuous dresses and lots of makeup. They were even raffling off the services of a sex worker named Pepito. Oh, Pepito.

The fallout was a shame

Getting busted in flouncy frocks wasn’t the real scandal. Most of these men were well-known and hailed from the city’s polite, friendly and Conservative-with-a-capital-C high society. It became news so fast it would break the internet today, and Mexican gay pop culture was born. ‘Twas a painful birth, but at least it was alive.

The lives of these 41 men were ruined. They were publicly shamed, heckled, even forced to sweep city streets in women’s clothing. Some were sent to detention camps, and an era of queer repression was born.

There was a 42nd dancer. Allegedly.

42 men were arrested but one was inexplicably released. Rumour has it that he was not only the organizer, but also the son-in-law of Mexico’s President Porfirio Díaz, Ignacio de la Torre y Mier, married to Porfirio’s daughter Amada. Picture it: Latin America’s answer to Jared Kushner, gussied up in kitten heels and a petticoat, dressed like one of the backup dancers from Madonna’s Vogue performance at the 1990 MTV Awards. I’m sorry/you’re welcome.

Given this context and the potential to ruin his presidency, Porfirio concealed the identity and arrest of Dancer #42. But still, people have long speculated over Ignacio’s sexuality: he lived in a separate wing from Amada, and preferred the company of lavish men over his own wife.

The number became taboo

We all know how sexually charged the number “69” is. Ariana Grande even has a song about it. For Mexicans, 41 became just as notorious, but not in a good way. Men refused to celebrate their 41st birthday. Skyscrapers blatantly omitted the 41st floor. Anywhere the number 41 *should* appear it simply did not. Because now it sounded gay.

Redefining 41

As today’s LGBT+ youth reclaim the term ‘queer’, 41 is also being embraced again. There’s even a non-profit, Honor 41, that publishes annual lists of 41 LGBT Latinx role models.

Acceptance of the LGBT community is also being quickly embraced by this admittedly religious land. Mexico City was the first place to legalize gay marriage in Latin America in 2009 (that’s even before the United States).

See the Movie

Director David Pablos released a film about the event in 2020. If you have Netflix, it’s slated to stream in 2021 but hasn’t appeared as of publication.

Care to Dance?

Our short and sweet Mexico City Aztec Adventure departs twice a year. Only five days long and an easy flight from the United States and Canada, it makes for a great extended weekend. You’ll visit one of North America’s only royal palaces and Frida Kahlo’s home. You can even shake your enchilada with the drag queens in Zona Rosa, the city’s gaybourhood.

All photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

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