Iceland Needs to Be On Your List Of Gay Destinations

Most visitors who travel to Iceland arrive with the intention of exploring the country\’s diverse, unique natural beauty that is unlike any experience you will have on gay vacations to other popular destinations. From the Northern Lights and Europe\’s largest glacier, to volcanoes and Grimsey, a minimally populated island in the Arctic Circle, Iceland is filled with opportunities to see the outdoors in an entirely new way. Rafting, hiking, kayaking, bird watching, ice climbing, ocean fishing and whale watching are just some of the popular activities that visitors partake in while in Iceland and are excellent options for outdoor gay tours.

Visitors who prefer an urban vacation will also find just what they are searching for in Iceland, especially in the capital city, Reykjavik, which is where individual travelers and folks traveling with gay tours will find a variety of historical and cultural attractions, dining and shopping, a beautiful waterfront, museums and an exciting nightlife.

Nature lovers and birdwatchers will certainly want to take the short journey to Grimsey, an island 25 miles off the northern coast. Its only town, Sandvik, is Iceland\’s northernmost settlement and has a population of just 150. Best known for the many bird colonies and steep cliffs that line its shores, folks who include Grimsey in their gay vacations to Iceland might also get to see polar bears, which occasionally arrive on ice drifts from Greenland.

While on Grimsey, participants on gay tours, as well as solo voyagers, will not want to miss the opportunity to get their certificate showing they crossed the Arctic Circle. Iceland\’s other outdoor attractions include the glaciers that cover more than 10% of the land, particularly Vatnajokull, Europe\’s largest glacier and a popular location for ice climbing.

There are also a number of hiking and sightseeing opportunities throughout the country, including breathtaking cliffs, waterfalls, picturesque coastlines and Videy Island, which is just minutes offshore and is home to the oldest stone building in Iceland, as well as many sculptural art pieces.

Depending on which time of year visitors come to Iceland on gay vacations, they will likely be able to experience at least one of the country\’s intriguing natural phenomena, including the Northern Lights, Polar Nights and Midnight Sun.

Regardless of the time of year, there is one must-do activity that no gay vacations to Iceland can be complete without: taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon. This mineral-rich, geothermal seawater pool is located just 45 minutes from Reykjavik and treats visitors to a unique experience with fluorescent blue waters surrounded by black lava rocks.

Info for gay vacations in Iceland. Spirit Journeys also has a great gay vacation agent. The author is Howie Holben.

Gay Trip Tours To Mongolia

Although there is not much of a gay scene throughout Mongolia, its beautiful landscapes and unique culture prove gay tours to this wonderful place can be special. Homosexual acts were declared legal in 2002, but naivete about homosexuality still persists and gay travel to Mongolia is a good idea for your next vacation.

Once led by Genghis Khan, Mongolia is situated between powerhouses Russia and China with Ulaanbaatar serving as a unique capital city. Known as a nation of nomadic people, the country is the least densely populated place and open to visitors looking to explore the lakes, mountains, Gobi desert and bands of wild horses.

The gay scene may be unheard of, but the country can still be a popular destination for gay travelers and couples.

With an international airport and train station welcoming overland travel from China, the capital city of Ulaanbaatar serves as the best starting point for your Mongolia adventures. With low priced guesthouses doubling as travel coordinators, it is the best place to settle in and plan for your visit to the country.

While drawing up an itinerary in the capital, you can expect to pay roughly twenty American dollars per night in most guesthouses, where you will meet friendly staff offering assistance in planning.

They can help you to coordinate both longer and shorter stays. If you are planning a shorter vacation, they will likely advise you to visit Kharakorum, Genghis Khan\’s ancient capital city, as well as the Terelj National Park, which is a good stopover on the way to the Gobi Desert. You may also be interested in doing a family home stay, in which you lodge with local residents and get a feel for everyday life and culture in Mongolia.

Longer stays are better for incorporating all parts of the country, including the north where majestic mountains and pristine lakes are abundant.

Ulaanbaatar itself offers tourist sites to visitors. It maintains a vibrant culture and delicious yet cheap restaurants, including Mongol Shabu, which offers traditional menus. You can also visit the Natural History Museum or catch a performance by the esteemed Mongolian National Symphony Orchestra at The Culture Show.

Those going to Mongolia as one of your gay vacations should not feel uncomfortable, despite homosexuality being relatively under the radar countrywide. This is not typically considered a result of conservativeness, but a relative lack of information about gay culture and context.

While visiting the country independently and sorting out an itinerary on your own offers flexibility, there are also travel groups catering to LGBT travelers that provide structured trips.

Typically they served as a way to see the \”best of\” the country and highlights include the Gobi Desert, ancient capital of Kharakorum, local camel farms and the Terelj National Park. With various activities like horseback riding along the Mongolian Steppe and cultural activities like traditional Naadam festivals, they appeal to all types of travelers.

One of the appeals specific to these types of tour groups includes parties and visits to local LGBT community groups as a way to see firsthand the gay scene in Mongolia. Beautiful vistas, diverse geography and an incredibly unique culture and history, appeal to the interests of anybody. Whether traveling independently or as part of a tour, travel to Mongolia is a unique vacation for a gay adventure.

Post about Mongolia authored by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys presents gay tantra workshops and romantic gay travel.

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Ireland Can Be A Wonderful Gay Destination

Ireland has been good for gay vacations at least since the time of Oscar Wilde, although in those days it was not necessarily a friendly country for the LGBT community. Like Wilde, many people were jailed or sent away for hard labor for what was legally termed \”indecency\” and, until 1861, acts of sodomy were even punishable by death, but Ireland has come a long way since these dark days, decriminalizing same-sex sexual behavior in 1993 and legalizing civil unions in 2009.

While this does not mean that this largely Catholic country is ready to embrace same-sex relationships in every village – or even every city – Ireland is now far more welcoming and can safely be considered a great place for gay travel. Several larger cities, including Dublin, Galway, Cork and Waterford, have visible, active communities, community celebrations, numerous establishments catering or welcoming to the community and plenty of attractions to fill an entire vacation; however, whether travelers choose to participate in solo travel or gay tours, one should not miss the Irish countryside and quaint, traditional villages that dot the verdant landscape or sit atop breathtaking coastal cliffs during their vacation to Ireland as well.

Although many cities in Ireland now have community hangouts, organizations, annual community celebrations and an active LGBT community, Dublin reigns supreme as the center of Ireland\’s LGBT scene, making it a must-do for anyone planning gay travel here. Dublin\’s nightlife is a blend of both casual pubs and high-class clubs – some even with dress codes – which offers folks on gay vacations the opportunity to experience vastly different aspects of the local community. Dublin is also well known for a variety of community festivals held throughout the year, which include the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May, Dublin International LGBTQ Pride in June, and the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July.

Other happenings throughout the year are listed in Ireland\’s most popular community magazine, GCN, so those who want to experience the scene during Dublin gay vacations will want to grab a copy when they get to town. Aside from community activities, there are many attractions you will likely want to visit while in Dublin, including the Oscar Wilde House Museum, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells and The George, which is Dublin\’s most famous LGBT bar.

Folks planning gay tours should consider partaking in group gay tours to ensure that they do not miss out on the plethora of historical, cultural and natural attractions that this intriguing, romantic nation has to offer.

Pointers about Ireland conceived by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys has gay tantra retreats that blend well as romantic gay getaways.

India And Gay Vacations

India is a country with many distinguishing characteristics and has plenty to offer all kinds of travelers. From pristine coastlines to snow-covered Himalayas, and all of the diverse terrain between the two, India offers an abundant gay destinations experience to relax or partake in amazing adventures. India has long been a center for spirituality and important advancements in natural medicine, making a gay vacation to India the perfect option for those in search of the opportunity to center themselves, rejuvenate their spiritual side and refocus on the things that really matter in life.

The multidimensional character of India also allows for gay vacations that focus on exploring sacred, historical and cultural sites, trekking through untouched wilderness, shopping in traditional bazaars and high-end boutiques, indulging in delicious cuisine or learning about life in a rural village.

When on a gay vacation to India, it can be difficult, or sometimes impossible, to find a visible LGBT community, even in larger cities. Delhi took a very important step in decriminalizing same-sex sexual behavior in that city in 2009, when the Delhi High Court overturned a British colonial law that had been on the books for–8 years. This law included same-sex sexual behavior in the behaviors that are outlawed as “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and is no longer on the books in Delhi; however, elsewhere in the country, the acts defined under “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” are still a criminal offense for both straight and gay people, and are punishable by fines and imprisonment, including imprisonment for life.

While activists are fervently working to change this law throughout the country, folks who take gay vacations to India should be aware that both gay and straight people can still be prosecuted under this law, which can result in fines and imprisonment, including life sentences. Nonetheless, there are still some hangouts that can be identified, as well as cruising areas, which can be found in most countries, regardless of conservative laws or beliefs. Both the government and Indian society have mixed feelings about LGBT people, but a continued movement towards acceptance continues to make India an even better destination for gay travel.

While the subject of same-sex relationships may still be somewhat taboo in India, it is a popular destination for gay vacations and most LGBT travelers report no problems during their gay tours. One way to help ensure that you do not experience issues during a gay vacation to India is to participate in an organized tour arranged by a well-established, professional company offering exceptional tour opportunities that cater to the LGBT community. Opting for traveling to India as part of a tour group is a great way to make sure you do not miss some of the most popular attractions, visits to sacred temples and life-changing experiences available when traveling in India. Opting for traveling to India as part of a tour group is a great way to make sure you do not miss some of the most popular attractions, visits to sacred temples and life-changing experiences available when traveling in India.

Gay travel to India hints penned by Spirit Journeys’ Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys is a conscious gay trips group and they hostgay travel destinations all over the world. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

categories: gay travel,gay vacations,gay tours,gay holidays,gay retreats,travel,tourism,tips,gay,sexuality,destinations,vacations,recreation,leisure

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