While onboard the Luciole, relax and sample the finest French cuisine and wines that Burgundy has to offer. This is an all-inclusive gay barge cruise with meals, most beverages and shore visits included in the tour price. We have a private bus for our barge to take us to Chablis and other towns a ways back from the river. If you prefer a slower pace, you can use one of the ship’s bikes or take a leisurely walk on the towpaths that parallel the waterways.

Contact us to plan your next gay barrge or river cruise or an active gay tour in France and beyond. Specializing exclusively in gay luxury travel since 1973, Hanns Ebensten Travel provides experienced tour guides, advice and assistance in all your travel needs. Our partner company Alyson Adventures runs 7 different French bike tours in Burgundy, Provence, the Dordogne, the Loire Valley and the Atlantic coast.

Call us and reserve your space on this all inclusive gay barge cruise charter on the Yonne River and Nivernais Canal, for an unforgettable vacation.

During our week in Puglia, we’ll have five biking days, each a little longer and more strenuous than the one before it. On our first riding day we’ll head over to the nearby village of Terlizzi to meet our neighbors, and perhaps sample a bit of the local cuisine. We’ll ride on to Sovereto, once a medieval sanctuary of the Knights Templar. We ride a little farther the next two days to the former necropolis of Ruvo di Puglia and the Adriatic port of Giovinazzo.

Mid-week we have a rest day from biking and take a mini-bus to the Basilicata region, where we will explore the hill town of Matera, with its winding streets and cave dwellings. We finish the week with rides to the National Park of La Murgia and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castel del Monte, a castle perched on a hill.

Each day we enjoy the food and wine of the region at our villa and at restaurants in Terlizzi and around the area.

Our rafting trip carries us down the entire 280 miles of the Colorado River, through a hundred whitewater rapids, with a motor to keep us moving so we can relax and enjoy the changing spectacle above us. By day, when we’re not river running you’ll explore the hidden side canyons, hiking among rock sculptures of every color—black, red, blue, and white—and enjoying numerous waterfalls and swimming holes. In the evening, socialize over a tasty dinner as you socialize with others in our small group—just 14 of us, plus two guides. By night, sleep under a canopy of stars, as the river continues its journey of the ages.

*Please see “Dates” tab for a list of all available dates! We have trips for gay men; trips for gay men, lesbians and friends; as well as a trip exclusively for women only: lesbians & friends.

We’ll enjoy a variety of food, wine, beer and culture as we bike through some of the most historic cities of Austria. We’ll waltz our way along the river that has inspired artists and musicians for centuries and create our own dreams. The trip starts in Linz and ends in Vienna, two gay-friendly and increasingly popular hot spots in Central Europe.

Charles Darwin, observed the potential scientific bonanza of the islands’ flora and fauna in 1835 and was inspired to write his famous thesis, “On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection.” Aside from a few roving pirates and buccaneers, the islands remain untouched by man.

Our naturalist guide will fill us in on the extraordinary variety of plants and wildlife as we will visit and explore various islands. A birdwatchers paradise, there are 29 species of land bird found here and 22 of them are endemic to the islands. See the world’s smallest penguins, the bright red-chested frigate birds, the flightless cormorants, boobies, hawks, owls and lava gulls. In the sea, you’ll experience the wonder of watching giant sea turtles swimming to their homes, and sea lions playfully splashing as you snorkel along looking at multitudes of colorful fish. All this from the comfort of a modern and well appointed ship.

We begin on le Loir, a quiet river that weaves amongst French villages untouched by time. Bike along pastoral roads to tiny Troo, where townsfolk live in hobbit-style caves. Visit the crumbling castle ruins high above picturesque Vendome. Explore the historic castle and colorful gardens of Chateaudun, all the more charming because it is off the usual tourist beat.

Then, we cross to the larger Loire river, ending at the region’s most famous creation: Chateau Chambord, so enormous that the French king Francois I nearly bankrupted himself having it built. By the time you finish, this five-day trip will seem too short. That’s okay: We have longer tours to select from for your next vacation.

Modern Israel is a rich mosaic of ethnic and religious groups, each with long-standing ties to the land. To offer a more in-depth understanding of these communities, our tour not only explores the landscape and history of Israel, but features interactions with representatives of some of Israel’s diverse groups. We originally designed this tour with assistance from the New Israel Fund, a leading funder of progressive causes in Israel.

We start and end our tour in modern Tel Aviv. We will then drive around central and northern Israel to visit the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. We will also explore the most famous sites in and around Jerusalem including: King David’s tomb, the room of the Last Supper, the Western Wall and the Arab market. Another day will feature the ancient fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. Join us on a journey to this unique land as we explore ancient sites and contemporary life and enjoy the hospitality of this gay-friendly nation.

And for those with more time, our one-night extension to Petra, Jordan adds another rich chapter to your exploration of the region.

Our tour starts in Lima, with a rare look into a private art collection and a tour of South America’s oldest colonial home (the family still lives there). We spend two days exploring the Sacred Valley, with its lovely terraced fields and beautiful river views.

Then we head to Machu Picchu, a wonder of human strength and spirit whose mystery still haunts the stones of this great city. Our rare two-night stay is at the renowned Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel located adjacent to the ruins. We conclude our tour with two nights in Cusco at the Hotel Monasterio (a former monastery, complete with beautiful courtyard), voted as the top hotel in South America by readers of CondeNast Traveler Magazine. This itinerary allows plenty of time for sightseeing and leisure and offers a taste of the best Peru has to offer.

From Radda we follow a winding, panoramic route through the charming walled village of Castellina, with a stop to visit ancient Etruscan tombs, on our way to San Gimignano. You’ll spot the fairy-tale skyline of this remarkably intact medieval town, sculpted with 12th-century towers, from miles away. Our layover day again offers several choices: Our recommendation is the scenic bike loop to Volterra, dramatically set against craggy hills and surrounded by walls dating from the Etruscan era.

The road from San Gimignano to Siena passes through multi-leveled Colle Val d’Elsa and the ancient walled city of Monteriggioni. Our trip ends with two nights and a sightseeing day in Siena, considered (with Florence) to be one of the two jewels of Tuscany. Explore the maze of crooked streets, splendid palaces and museums.

After the first night in Florence, we spend two nights at each hotel, allowing time to get to know each region in more depth. Tuscany has hills, and part of the fun of this trip is riding over the hills, and enjoying the vistas as you descend the other side. On the last day of the trip, we leave our bikes behind so we can explore the medieval wonders of Siena on a guided tour.

The Gods of Easter Island
Walk among mysterious statues

Easter Island has fascinated adventurers for years. Over 2000 miles from the nearest population center, this remote island remains an anomaly in the history of the South Pacific. It is famous for its giant moai, the stone statues that continue to intrigue and puzzle visitors. Once speculation included aliens and other fantastical possibilities for the presence of the moai on this isolated site, but now we know the Rapa Nui people (Easter Island natives) most likely built the statues themselves from the surrounding volcanic stones. Dating from the 9th century, their size, positioning and placement on the island are still amazing to witness. The faces, although similar to each other, often seem to portray different emotions: some sneering, some diffident, some even amused.

Today, Easter Island remains one of the most exotic places you will ever visit in the world. It is like a large open-air museum filled with history, archeological treasures, art and a culture that clings tenaciously to its rich past. The Rapa Nui people were the only Pacific Islanders to have a written language, but unfortunately, it has been lost. A few tablets remain but not enough to decipher the code. However, the rich cultural traditions of Rapa Nui have been handed down orally and by example to the current generation.

We are pleased to be among the few companies that offer an in-depth expedition to Easter Island, as we have done for several decades. With a friendly and independent spirit, the people of Easter Island offer warm hospitality each time we visit, and we hope you can join us for this journey.