Pride Expeditions was founded in 2017 as a tour operator offering gay group holidays with a strong adventure aspect. Nick Read; the founder and managing director wanted to fulfil a need to offer inclusive and welcoming LGBT adventure holidays. It was also important for Pride Expeditions to offer safe adventure expeditions that complied with the UK’s package travel regulations and therefore we founded as a Limited Company. Nick was the only initial Director and explains what made him want to offer something different for gay, bisexual and trans men.

I was an active volunteer leader for Outdoorlads; regularly joining a friendly group of gay, bisexual and trans guys getting together to enjoy adventures and activities. I was also an expedition leader for World Challenge taking youth groups on remote expeditions to Africa and Asia. I remember an OutdoorLads member asking me if I could organise a trek to climb Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is not a welcoming place to be openly LGBTQ. I had the contacts in Tanzania that I knew I could trust to keep a gay walking group safe and also be welcoming and inclusive regardless of sexuality or gender.

I suddenly understood that I had these contacts in Nepal, in Slovenia and in Peru; some of the most sought after adventure travel destinations. Through my work with expedition companies I had the network of people I could trust and who understood me as a gay man. They would understand what Pride Expeditions stood for. This was the catalyst for the founding of Pride Expeditions.

Many people sign up to Pride Expeditions trips as queer, gay or lesbian single traveller. However we do get occasional couples and groups of friends. We are primarily offering a safe and inclusive place for LGBTQ people to go into a remote mountainous environment and have an adventure. Since the pandemic we have been welcoming more and more allies on our expeditions too. What is critical to us is that whoever signs up to Pride understands our aims

• Offering a space for LGBTQ people to be themselves even when a countries laws do not recognise them or provide them with basic human rights. This has to be balanced with safety; for instance in some hostile countries we may ask that a couple shares a twin room over a double room

• Offering challenging remote adventure trips. We are not competing with LGBTQ luxury travel holidays or gay beach holidays. Challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone fosters a sense of self-worth and empowerment. We aim to build a strong and inclusive team that rises together to the challenges that a Pride Expeditions trip offers

• Providing positive role models to local people in the destinations we visit. In some of the countries we visit our porters or our drivers may never have met an openly gay person. Giving this person the opportunity to talk and ask questions often empowers them to become more inclusive and open to all people.

• Supporting our local agents who welcome our teams. All our local agents are taking a political risk by welcoming LGBTQ groups. They could face harassment from local officials or the police for ‘promoting homosexuaity’. They want to work with Pride Expeditions and in return we welcome them and support them.

So what happens when you book on a trip?

All our expeditions on our website with dates on them are open for booking. If you are unsure then please drop us a message we will always answer! You can elect to pay a deposit or pay for the trip in full; most people elect to pay the deposit initially then pay the rest via instalments.

Booking on our website will take you through our payment system called Stripe. Payments to Pride Expeditions can be made in any currency. Stripe will convert your payment into British pounds using the exchange rates on that day. So if you are American, Australian or from wherever it does not matter to us!

• Pay a deposit online or directly.

• We add you to a list of confirmed participants

• Once minimum numbers are met (usually 6-8) we confirm the expedition with you. There can sometimes be a delay between you paying your deposit and the expedition being confirmed. Should you pay a deposit and at a later date decide that it is not for you prior to the trip being confirmed we will refund you or move your money to another expedition.

• Once an expedition is confirmed by us you can book your flights to the destination and start preparing with the equipment list provided by Pride Expeditions.

• The remaining amount is due by instalments spread out in the lead up to the trip. Pride Expeditions are always open to you paying for an expedition on a monthly standing order if that is easier for you.