Venture Out is a new company specializing in adventure and cultural tours for gay and lesbian travelers. It is offering six tours to four continents on its 1998 schedule: Costa Rican Adventure, Indonesian Explorer, The Siamese World, Hilltowns of Tuscany, Hiking in Languedoc and Discovering South Africa. The size of the group usually ranges from a minimum of six or eight members to a maximum of 15. The tours include most meals, all admissions and activities.
The 10-day Costa Rican Adventure features rafting in rain forest rivers and hoofing it up a volcano with plenty of down time for sun and fun on pristine beaches and gay nightlife in San Jose. The tours run March 28-April 6, April 18-27, Nov. 21-30 and Dec. 12-21. Prices vary from $1,995 to $2,195 per person double occupancy (single supplement $390) from San Jose. Internal air fare is included.
The Indonesian Explorer begins with four days in Bali. You’ll raft on the Ayung River, see the world’s largest Buddhist temple and visit the remote highlands of the island of Sulawesi before ending with three days on the island of Lombok. The tour, which runs June 6-20 and Oct. 3-17, ranges from $2,295 to $2,495 per person double (single supplement $375) from Bali to Lombok. Internal air fare is an additional $385.
The Siamese World spends 15 days exploring Thailand from top to bottom. The tours run Feb. 14-28, March 14-28 and Dec. 5-19. The price ranges from $2,195 to $2,495 (single supplement $375) from Bangkok, including internal air fare.
If you prefer Europe to Asia, you can explore the Hilltowns of Tuscany or go Hiking in Languedoc. The Tuscany tour runs May 8-16 and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 and costs $1,795 to $2,095 per person double (single supplement $250) from Florence. The nine-day hikes through Languedoc are scheduled for June 22-30 and Sept. 7-15 and cost from $1,795 to $1,895 per person double (single supplement $200) from Toulouse.
Discovering South Africa is an 11-day trip with visits to Johannesburg and Cape Town and the Krueger and Tsitsikama National Parks. Cost is $2,595 per person double (single supplement $495) from Johannesburg. Internal air fare is an additional $120.
Call 888-431-6789, or visit its Web site (www.venture-out.com).
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Archaeological Tours is leading expeditions to some of the world’s most exotic locations to explore their history and civilizations. You can examine the art and culture of Etruscan Italy, visit ancient cities in Eritrea and Ethiopia, walk amid Mayan ruins in Belize and the Yucatan, and explore traces of Silk Road cities in Asia–and that’s just for starters. Tours range from 15 to 24 days, and each is led by a university professor.
Eritrea and Ethiopia formed the Kingdom of Axum, traditionally founded by the descendants of King Solomon. The 20-day tour Nov. 12-Dec. 1 begins in Asmara and features visits to ancient Axumite cities in southern Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, the unique churches around Gondar and the rock-cut churches of Lalibela before winding up in Addis Ababa. The Eritrea and Ethiopia tour costs $4,850 per person double (single supplement $578) from London and includes most meals. Call 212-986-3054.
– Virgin Atlantic specializes in inexpensive tours to London and the rest of Britain “for independent travelers.” For example, between Jan. 11 and Feb. 28, you can spend six nights in London from $811 per person double (single supplement $188) including air fare from New York, airport transfers, daily breakfast, a “hop-on, hop-off” bus tour, one-day and half-day sightseeing tours, theater tickets, a pub lunch and afternoon tea. Additional nights and add-ons to the continent are available at reasonable rates. Call 888-937-8474.
