It’s not a secret that many of us in the LGBTQ+ community have felt anxious after joining a group tour. We not only want to travel, but we also want to do it without sacrificing comfort or being ourselves, and that’s exactly where self-guided walking holidays come in: you will be able to explore amazing places at your own pace without awkward group dynamics or strict schedules. You will walk from town to town with no guides, no groups, just you and the open trail. For solo LGBTQ+ travelers, it’s the perfect way to travel freely and confidently, and here are several reasons:
The Freedom and Sense of Accomplishment
The biggest draw of a walking holiday is the freedom you feel while planning and doing it, but it doesn’t end there, because there’s no single activity that can bring a sense of accomplishment like those kinds of trips, and those are priceless.
The best part is that a self-guided trip lets you be in charge of the whole itinerary; you get to decide when to wake up, when to stop, or when to take a detour. Not many types of holidays offer this level of freedom, which is perfect for queer travelers who want to escape the strict routines of daily life.
Not only that, but if you decide to go with a specialized agency like OrbisWays, you get even more freedom, since their packages are especially tailored to give you as much control as possible while keeping things comfortable.
For example, for a hiking trip in Albania, they offer different packages with a ton of amenities like suite rooms, daily breakfasts and lunches, several dinners, luggage transfers, 24-hour support, detailed route information, and even CO2 compensation to keep your travels sustainable.
You get everything you need, so you can just focus on enjoying the adventure!
Finding Safe Spaces and Welcoming Trails
Safety is always a big deal for queer travelers. Sadly, we always need to double-check if a destination is friendly before we plan, but the best part of a self-guided tour is that you get to pick regions known for being welcoming and open-minded.
You don’t need to overthink it or do extensive research to choose a place to go; for example, looking into walking holidays in Austria will offer you the chance to check Alpine views, but on top of that, it is a country that has strong anti-discrimination laws.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a sunny coast and ancient history, then booking a walking trip in Portugal is the best option. You not only get stunning landscapes, but also a country with a great culture of acceptance, which, in fact, has made it one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the world.
But if you still feel the need to do your own extensive research, don’t worry, because you’re in complete control of the route. You can pick the hotels and all the stops you want; it’s one of the best ways to travel, knowing that you are in a safe environment.
Skipping the Awkward Group Dynamics
One of the definitive draws for many of us is skipping the weird group and tour dynamics… if you have ever been in a tour, you know what I’m talking about, you always have the risk of getting stuck with people who ask invasive questions or make offensive comments.
While we don’t have to spend the whole trip explaining our identity, correcting pronouns, or just dealing with people, it can get annoying. So much in fact that we stop feeling we are taking a vacation.
I know that it is not always a possibility to travel with queer friends or groups, which is why a self-guided walking holiday looks so appealing. We do not have to share a dinner table with a stranger, we do not have to put on a fake smile when someone tells a bad joke, and we get to skip all of those awkward moments.
Conclusion
Going on a holiday is all about relaxing, exploring, and stepping away from everyday issues, and as a queer person, doing something as simple as this can be challenging sometimes, which makes taking a self-guided trip an amazing way to see the world. It gives you the perfect mix of structure and freedom, and you get to feel actually safe.
