| Adventures for the "almost independent" Gay traveler and their friends. Outside the Square "We travel not to escape life but to live it" Amazing trips for 2024/5 LET'S BE BUDDIES Newsletter Happy Xmas Everyone Our 2024/5 adventures await. See all 2024/5 trips on the website by clicking here Hi Everyone, 2023 really was the revenge travel year, and for a lot of us it felt like "Freedom" after the lock down years. It's the big "Epic" destinations that seem to be getting all the attention, and I think this is partly the OTS, 50+ demographic, we know it's now or never for some of the destinations. Two of our most popular trips, South Africa Lux and Botswana, are happening again in 2025, with only 8 rooms available on each, both are close to full, so if these are on your bucket list please let me know asap. Have a look at the videos (by clicking on the links below), the lodges we have secured are nothing short of inspiring. Full details can be found on all the trips on the website. Have a look at the African videos by clicking the links below, and tours by clicking on the blue headline titles. Trips already full are Bali / India / Morocco. It's not too late to get your interest in for Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Nepal "Langtang" trek still has spaces for the hikers. Our trips below still have limited availability. South Africa Lux trip May 2025 a video to inspire Botswana May trip 2025 a video to inspire Portugal "Vibe" Dates, 9th-21st May 2024 Portugal is one of my favorite European countries, the people are friendly and welcoming, the sights breath-taking, and the history is astonishing. It is a country that once visited you will want to return to repeatedly. We travel slower than most, with time to explore and really get into the "Vibe". There is a lot of exploring on foot on this trip, so you need to be happy on your feet to really enjoy it. This trip offers exceptional value for money re the quality hotels we stay in. (1 room left for a Solo traveller) Sri Lanka Dates, 15th-28th September 2024 Sri Lanka is an amazing destination and on this adventure we follow a classic route, but with a bit of an architectural theme, as we get to stay in, and experience some of the famous architect Geoffrey Bawa's great creations. OTS ran this last in 2018 and its been way too long a gap as this really is a fantastic country to explore. (2 rooms left couples or solo) Langtang trek Nepal. Dates, 13th-27th October 2024 The Langtang is a truly wonderful hike in Nepal, really getting away from the crowds and into the mountains. It's also a trek that does not go higher than 4000 m, meaning the chances of altitude related problems are minimal. A great introduction to Nepal and hiking in the Himalayas. OPEN to hikers Bhutan and the Kathmandu valley. Dates, 01-15th November 2024 Enchanting Himalayan kingdom, adorned with majestic mountains, serene valleys, vibrant culture, and welcoming locals, creating a mystical paradise of spirituality and natural splendor. What more can I say, if you're a passionate traveller then you will already have this on your bucket list. It's not a cheap adventure as the Bhutanese restrict entry to the high end tourist. Is it worth it? Absolutely! It's worth every penny. Limited spaces "on request". Cambodia explored. Dates 03 - 15th February 2025 Our NO "Single Supplement" trip Cambodia is such an amazing trip and on this "culture and foodie" adventure we get to enjoy a 4 night classic "Pandaw" river cruise on the mighty Mekong, as well as exploring the wonders of the temples of Angkor. OTS has 9 cabins reserved and this trip really is exceptional value for solo travellers and still great value for couples. Just released. Please get in quick as at this price this will sell out. Our Epic South African Inc Cape Town and Victoria Falls. Dates 3rd - 15th May 2025. An Africa trip with a touch of ''Hemingway style'' luxury. For many of our group, Africa is a ''once in a lifetime'' travel destination, and so let's do it in style. Feedback over the years has been "this was one of the best holidays of my life", and it's easy to see why. Great single room rate if you are prepared to share for 3 nights in our luxury tented camp. Limited places left on request. Botswana, the ultimate safari. Dates 18th - 29th May 2025 Truly a trip of a lifetime. For those who love wildlife, Botswana and the Okavango delta are "bucket list" dreams. Along with the Serengeti the Okavango delta is considered the "creme de la creme" of African wildlife experiences. Exclusive, intimate, and without the crowds of East Africa, it's an experience that is hard to top. There is a deadline to join this trip, as we have to deposit 1 year in advance to get the special group rate. Waiting list and "on request". Ecuador and the Galapagos Dates, 17th - 30 August 2025 This is another of those "Once in a lifetime" trips for many, and so we are going to do this with a little bit of style and have chosen 4* colonial style hotels to delight. We also overnight on land when in the Galapagos, visiting the islands by boat during the day. More comfortable and less chance of seasickness. Open to book. Peru and the "valley of the Incas" Dates, 07 - 20th September 2025. This will be our 4th trip to Peru and each time we have built on the best experiences from the trip before, to weave into what I think will be our best trip ever. Starting in Arequipa, the "white city", and departing from Cusco, the old Inca capital. This trip also offers a 4 night Amazon add-on at the end. This trip has been full over a year in advance and this departure looks to be the same. Deposits are opening soon for those that would like to secure their place. Hope you can join us on an adventure soon. Outside the Square (OTS) is about creating affordable holidays for Gay men and Women (and their friends) who enjoy the adventure and camaraderie the trips offer. It's only word of mouth that brings us all together, so please forward this email on to all those friends of yours who you know love travel. My dream is a group of people who enjoy travelling to unusual places, who meet up year after year exploring the world together. Adventures have been running for 14 years now and it's great to see so many of you back again on your third or fourth trip. Click here to see all the trips available. |
Adventures for the "almost independent"
Gay traveler and their friends.
Outside the Square
"We travel not to escape life but to live it"
| |
|
|
Newsletter
Happy Xmas Everyone
Our 2024/5 adventures await.
| |
See all 2024/5 trips on the website by clicking here
Hi Everyone,
2023 really was the revenge travel year, and for a lot of us it felt like "Freedom" after the lock down years. It's the big "Epic" destinations that seem to be getting all the attention, and I think this is partly the OTS, 50+ demographic, we know it's now or never for some of the destinations.
Two of our most popular trips, South Africa Lux and Botswana, are happening again in 2025, with only 8 rooms available on each, both are close to full, so if these are on your bucket list please let me know asap.
Have a look at the videos (by clicking on the links below), the lodges we have secured are nothing short of inspiring.
Full details can be found on all the trips on the website. Have a look at the African videos by clicking the links below, and tours by clicking on the blue headline titles.
Trips already full are Bali / India / Morocco.
It's not too late to get your interest in for Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Nepal "Langtang" trek still has spaces for the hikers.
Our trips below still have limited availability.
| |
|
|
Portugal "Vibe"
Dates, 9th-21st May 2024
Portugal is one of my favorite European countries, the people are friendly and welcoming, the sights breath-taking, and the history is astonishing. It is a country that once visited you will want to return to repeatedly.
We travel slower than most, with time to explore and really get into the "Vibe". There is a lot of exploring on foot on this trip, so you need to be happy on your feet to really enjoy it.
This trip offers exceptional value for money re the quality hotels we stay in.
(1 room left for a Solo traveller)
| |
| |
|
|
|
Sri Lanka
Dates, 15th-28th September 2024
Sri Lanka is an amazing destination and on this adventure we follow a classic route, but with a bit of an architectural theme, as we get to stay in, and experience some of the famous architect Geoffrey Bawa's great creations.
OTS ran this last in 2018 and its been way too long a gap as this really is a fantastic country to explore.
(2 rooms left couples or solo)
| |
| |
|
|
|
Langtang trek Nepal.
Dates, 13th-27th October 2024
The Langtang is a truly wonderful hike in Nepal, really getting away from the crowds and into the mountains. It's also a trek that does not go higher than 4000 m, meaning the chances of altitude related problems are minimal.
A great introduction to Nepal and hiking in the Himalayas.
OPEN to hikers
| |
| |
|
|
|
Bhutan and the Kathmandu valley.
Dates, 01-15th November 2024
Enchanting Himalayan kingdom, adorned with majestic mountains, serene valleys, vibrant culture, and welcoming locals, creating a mystical paradise of spirituality and natural splendor.
What more can I say, if you're a passionate traveller then you will already have this on your bucket list. It's not a cheap adventure as the Bhutanese restrict entry to the high end tourist. Is it worth it? Absolutely! It's worth every penny.
Limited spaces "on request".
| |
| |
|
|
|
Cambodia explored.
Dates 03 - 15th February 2025
Our NO "Single Supplement" trip
Cambodia is such an amazing trip and on this "culture and foodie" adventure we get to enjoy a 4 night classic "Pandaw" river cruise on the mighty Mekong, as well as exploring the wonders of the temples of Angkor.
OTS has 9 cabins reserved and this trip really is exceptional value for solo travellers and still great value for couples.
Just released. Please get in quick as at this price this will sell out.
| |
| |
|
|
|
Our Epic South African
Inc Cape Town and Victoria Falls.
Dates 3rd - 15th May 2025.
An Africa trip with a touch of ''Hemingway style'' luxury.
For many of our group, Africa is a ''once in a lifetime'' travel destination, and so let's do it in style.
Feedback over the years has been "this was one of the best holidays of my life", and it's easy to see why.
Great single room rate if you are prepared to share for 3 nights in our luxury tented camp.
Limited places left on request.
| |
| |
|
|
|
Botswana, the ultimate safari.
Dates 18th - 29th May 2025
Truly a trip of a lifetime.
For those who love wildlife, Botswana and the Okavango delta are "bucket list" dreams. Along with the Serengeti the Okavango delta is considered the "creme de la creme" of African wildlife experiences. Exclusive, intimate, and without the crowds of East Africa, it's an experience that is hard to top.
There is a deadline to join this trip, as we have to deposit 1 year in advance to get the special group rate.
Waiting list and "on request".
| |
| |
|
|
|
Ecuador and the Galapagos
Dates, 17th - 30 August 2025
This is another of those "Once in a lifetime" trips for many, and so we are going to do this with a little bit of style and have chosen 4* colonial style hotels to delight.
We also overnight on land when in the Galapagos, visiting the islands by boat during the day. More comfortable and less chance of seasickness.
Open to book.
| |
| |
|
|
|
Peru and the "valley of the Incas"
Dates, 07 - 20th September 2025.
This will be our 4th trip to Peru and each time we have built on the best experiences from the trip before, to weave into what I think will be our best trip ever.
Starting in Arequipa, the "white city", and departing from Cusco, the old Inca capital.
This trip also offers a 4 night Amazon add-on at the end.
This trip has been full over a year in advance and this departure looks to be the same.
Deposits are opening soon for those that would like to secure their place.
| |
| |
|
Hope you can join us on an adventure soon. | |
Outside the Square (OTS) is about creating affordable holidays for Gay men and Women (and their friends) who enjoy the adventure and camaraderie the trips offer. It's only word of mouth that brings us all together, so please forward this email on to all those friends of yours who you know love travel. My dream is a group of people who enjoy travelling to unusual places, who meet up year after year exploring the world together. Adventures have been running for 14 years now and it's great to see so many of you back again on your third or fourth trip. | |
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