10th Anniversary of gay travel brand takes 24 like-minded gay men on a dream trip through France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Tin and aluminum, the traditional 10th anniversary gift is no way to celebrate a gay travel milestone! Outings & Adventures founded in 2008, in Tampa, Florida, is going big and out of the box, hosting the first all-gay private charter European River Boat Bike Tour, July 7-14, 2018.

The weeklong departure sets sail on a deluxe canal boat from Metz, France, a city rich in history dating back 3,000 years, traveling through Luxembourg and concluding the bucket list adventure in Cochem, Germany. Bonding, biking and camaraderie will bring together 24 men as they meander historic waterways dotted with iconic castles, half-timbered fairy-tale villages, old Roman outposts, and routes connecting some of the world’s most celebrated vineyards.

No other gay travel company offers this itinerary. Since its inception, Outings & Adventures has hosted hundreds of events including numerous all-gay charter Caribbean windjammer cruises, a river cruise out of Paris and adventures in Costa Rica and the Pacific Northwest. To commemorate Outings & Adventures’ longevity, they’ve raised the bar for the 10th Anniversary Celebration Trip. Their European River Boat Bike Tour is the perfect itinerary, combining history, biking, cultural excursions, great food and wine and the company of like-minded gay men.

Trip Highlights
• Celebratory 10th Anniversary Welcome Reception
• Cycle past charming villages and lush vineyards
• Explore the volcanic landscape of the maars
• Taste the Moselle Valley’s famous wines
• Tour the former Roman stronghold of Trier
• Learn an ancient art at a bell foundry and museum
• Visit Luxembourg, France and Germany in one trip
• 2 dinner options while onboard, 3-4 courses        nightly
• Complimentary glass of wine with dinner each night
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners included
• 2 bike guides/support on all ride and 2 hosts
• Week long bike rental, helmets and panniers included

The Barge Iris
Outings & Adventures departs on a deluxe and spacious 12-cabin riverboat with a homelike atmosphere. Converted to accommodate 24 guests Iris was put into service in 2005 with private bathrooms and showers and climate control throughout. Common areas include a dining area, a lounge with a bar, and a sundeck at the bow and, of course, Iris has the modern convenience of WiFi.

Itinerary
This 7-night adventure kicks off with embarkation in Metz, France, an ancient city strategically situated on a Roman trading route that is home to St. Etienne Cathedral, the third largest Gothic church in France.

The Moselle River will be the guide during the week long expedition from France through Luxembourg and to the final port of Cochem, Germany.
Sailing 179 miles in total, with visits that include the ancient city of Thionville, which until the 1980s was the centre of the steel industry. Pass by a former fortress and palace inhabited by powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The bike route is rolling French countryside, riparian landscapes and tiny villages.

Pedal toward Luxembourg, the tiny nation about the size of Rhode Island. The path leads to a place that’s a throwback in time, Saarburg, which means “fortress on the river Saar.” In the 1300s, the town fathers diverted a local river to run through the centre so they’d have access to water. A high waterfall connects the steep drop down between the “upper and lower” towns lined with 17th-18th century homes clinging to the hillside. Medieval German engineering at its best!

The winding bike route on day 4 travels on scenic hairpin turns along the Moselle, passing the wine making villages of Trittenheim and Piesport along the way—a region beloved by Riesling aficionados. Then in Bernkastel visit one of the prettiest town squares with timber-frame buildings dating back to the 1400s. The castle ruins on the hill are base lit at night. An evening stroll along the river is a must…words can’t describe the feeling of Old Europe.

Leaving the river, take a bus up to an agricultural region called the Eifel. From there, it’s an exhilarating ride downhill along a rails-to-trails path. A ride of a lifetime for many—through German forests and former train tunnels, over bridges and around small lakes formed from volcano craters many years ago.

The adventure concludes in Cochem, Germany after passing downstream and through the last set of locks. A visit to richly decorated Cochem Castle dating back to 1130 is our final excursion.

Hurry, this one is selling fast. More info and booking details here.

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About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.