It started with a simple frustration: so many “LGBTQ+ friendly” tours were surface-level, generic trips with a rainbow sticker slapped on top. They weren’t telling our stories. They weren’t honoring our culture.
Pink Rhino is different. Every itinerary is built by queer travelers, for queer travelers curated to celebrate our history, our communities, and our joy. Whether it’s tracing queer art in Berlin, learning hidden LGBTQ+ histories in Mexico City, or finding safe spaces in places you’ve only dreamed of, we make sure every trip feels like home even halfway around the world.
Here’s what makes us stand out:
Safety first: We research and vet every destination, partner, and experience so you never have to second-guess if you’re welcome.
Stories that matter: Tours highlight LGBTQ+ voices local guides, artists, and activists – so your trip isn’t just sightseeing, it’s connecting.
Community built-in: You travel with people who get it. You’ll share adventures with fellow LGBTQ+ travelers, creating friendships that last far beyond the trip.
A bold symbol: The pink rhino itself is a little unexpected—like us. Rhinos are resilient, strong, and rare. The pink rhino is a reminder that standing out is powerful, and so is traveling authentically.
Pink Rhino isn’t about fitting into the world of travel as it exists. It’s about reshaping it for us, by us. Because when queer travelers feel celebrated, every journey becomes more than a trip. It becomes a story worth telling.
STEVE PENAFIEL
Travel Advisor
Join our inclusive group adventures, wellness retreats, and immersive walking tours designed for everyone.
PARTNERS
We have partnerships with numerous brands and over 5,990 hotel properties around the world. Pink Rhino Travel is part of all major preferred partner programs, from Virtuoso to Four Seasons and beyond. This list is always growing meaning more and more VIP perks for you. Don’t see your preferred hotel or brand listed? No worries we book pretty much everything.
While many in our industry have adopted the term ‘travel advisor’ to reflect the sophisticated nature of our work, we prefer to focus on what we deliver: exceptional travel expertise and privileged access. Like other luxury service professionals—whether in wealth management or personal styling—we combine deep industry knowledge with personalized attention to transform your travel aspirations into extraordinary experiences.
Our tours always have a group Leader and sometimes a Host as well. We believe in empowering and employing people in the communities we visit, so we work hard to find locally-based Group Leaders. Western guides may not speak the language or fully understand the culture. Some new tours and cruises will also have a Host who bridges the social gap. Ultimately our goal is to have one or more exceptional gay, lesbian or LGBTQ+ welcoming Group Leaders in a destination. Read more about the men and women who’ve become part of the Pink Rhino travel family.
This depends on which tour you’re booking. Our gay tours vary by theme… Active and Flex tours attract more solo travellers, with an average age range of 30-55. Meanwhile, our walking tours and group tours have a fairly even split of solos and couples with an average age of 25-65. Finally, we celebrate all sexual orientations, gender expressions and gender expressions. We request you never assume the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of your fellow travellers.
We strongly believe in providing the best possible value for money, regardless of the level of luxury. Domestic and regional group airline bookings often have the harshest and most restrictive booking conditions, and fares often fluctuate, meaning we would have to build in large buffers to include flights. By having you book your own domestic or regional flights, you’ll pay the best possible price for flights, and you’ll have the option to choose whichever fare you wish, whether that means a refundable ticket, or business class. Once your tour has met the minimum required travellers and is confirmed to depart, we’ll tell you exactly which flights to book and where to book them, and the rest is up to you. This allows you to choose the most affordable, flexible, or luxurious ticket.
Don’t let our name fool you. An adventure can be culinary. Or spiritual. Or adrenaline-inducing. If you’re worried about how to fit you should be for a tour, reference the ‘Physical Rating’ and ‘Activities’ listed under the tour’s ‘Quick Facts’ or read about them below.
We use a range of accommodations depending on the locale and theme of your tour. From luxury glamping in the Sahara to a private yacht in Croatia, from a homestay in Hawaii to a 5-star boutique in Cambodia, we assure you all properties are hand-selected, LGBTQ-welcoming and locally owned where possible. Be sure to reference ‘Accommodations’ in the ‘Quick Facts’ section of a tour to see the accommodation style used.
On land tours you can expect 7-10 people, but no more than 12 and no less than 5, plus your Group Leader and/or Host.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express credit cards, as well as personal checks. If paying by check, it is important to ensure it arrives a minimum of 3 weeks prior to your date of final payment so the funds can clear our bank account in time.
We also accept payments in US Dollars (USD) and pay with credit card, the deposit. Before final payment is collected, we will convert the full booking value once again, and adjust your booking accordingly to rates.
Once you have made your final payment, you will no longer be subject to currency fluctuation. Financing available. Message us for more details.
The short answer is no; however, if you provide cancellation notice in writing before your date of final payment, there will be fewer fees, if any. We understand things can happen, so we recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Before booking any of our tours, please familiarize yourself with our Bookings and Conditions and the payment and cancellation terms for your trip in the “DATES & PRICES” section of the tour page.
We elevate the art of travel through three distinct offerings: bespoke journey design, privileged hotel access, and refined custom experiences. Our expertise lies in understanding your sophisticated preferences, then leveraging our global networks and insider knowledge to create experiences that exceed expectations. Whether crafting a complete itinerary or securing exclusive privileges at distinguished properties, we ensure every aspect of your journey reflects your distinctive taste.
hrough our strategic affiliations with Departure Lounge and Virtuoso, coupled with our privileged partnerships with the world’s finest luxury brands, we unlock exceptional benefits not available elsewhere. These include gourmet breakfasts, priority suite upgrades, generous resort credits, and exclusive experiences at distinguished properties worldwide. Our access to elite programs—including Four Seasons Preferred, Marriott Luminous & Stars, Belmond Bellini Club, Hyatt Privé, and Rosewood Elite—ensures recognition and privileges that transcend traditional booking channels, all while accessing preferred rates.
Each journey we craft reflects our commitment to exceptional service and attention to detail. We request a planning fee to support our comprehensive consultation, extensive research, and creation of your bespoke proposal. This investment typically proves valuable through the exclusive privileges and upgrades we secure. For straightforward luxury hotel or cruise bookings, we extend our services without additional charge.
While the dreaming phase of travel planning brings joy, orchestrating a truly seamless journey requires extensive expertise and privileged access. Our role extends beyond logistics to creating experiences that would be impossible to arrange independently. We transform your vision into reality while securing exclusive benefits and insider access, allowing you to focus on anticipation rather than administration. Consider us your personal curator of exceptional travel experiences.
To ensure a truly elevated experience and provide comprehensive support, we offer our journey design service exclusively as part of our complete travel arrangements, which include hotel or cruise reservations at minimum. While flights, transfers, and curated activities remain optional, this approach allows us to secure privileged access and benefits while maintaining our exacting standards throughout your journey.
While luxury properties maintain rate parity across channels, occasional variations may appear through online travel platforms. In such instances, we work with our partners to honor competitive rates. More significantly, our industry relationships mean properties prefer to extend exclusive privileges—such as suite upgrades, resort credits, and distinguished recognition—through our bookings rather than online channels, creating superior value while maintaining preferred rates.
Yes, we curate access to an exclusive portfolio of distinguished private residences worldwide. From centuries-old Tuscan estates and contemporary Caribbean beachfront villas to Alpine chalets and sophisticated urban penthouses, each property is personally vetted to ensure it meets our exacting standards. Similar to our hotel partnerships, we secure privileged benefits such as dedicated staff, private chefs, and bespoke experiences to elevate your stay.
Yes, and we particularly recommend our services for premium cabin reservations. Through our Departure Lounge affiliation, we access exclusive contracts that often yield significant advantages for international first and business class travel, as well as private aviation. Additionally, when we manage your air arrangements, we can provide comprehensive support for any schedule changes or travel adjustments that may arise during your journey.
While planning your journey, our team is readily available via email and website chat during office hours to assist with any questions or requests. We ensure you depart fully prepared, with detailed documentation and insider recommendations.
hile we’re a boutique agency focused on exceptional pre-journey planning and preparation, we understand the importance of in-destination support. Although we don’t maintain 24-hour concierge services internally, we can arrange comprehensive on-the-ground assistance through our network of trusted local partners upon request. Additionally, many of our luxury hotel and cruise partners offer dedicated concierge services to ensure your comfort and peace of mind throughout your stay.
Our expertise spans the complete spectrum of refined travel experiences. From sophisticated urban sojourns and exclusive resort retreats to expertly guided safaris, private yacht charters, and carefully curated wellness experiences. Whether you envision an intimate honeymoon, a milestone celebration, or an extraordinary adventure, we transform your aspirations into exceptional realities. Share your vision, and we’ll craft an experience that exceeds expectations.
Our reach extends across the globe’s most compelling destinations, from storied capitals and emerging cultural centers to remote wilderness retreats and exclusive coastal enclaves. Through years of careful curation and firsthand experience, we’ve developed deep expertise and trusted relationships worldwide. Should a particular destination lie beyond our immediate expertise, we leverage our network of distinguished partners to ensure exceptional service and insider access wherever your travels lead.
