While some gay travel brands focus on pool decks and pop remixes, Toto Tours has spent 35 years carving out a different kind of getaway. Founded in 1990, the Chicago-based company has long catered to LGBTQ+ travelers seeking more than sunburns and circuit parties.
Under new owners Dan Perry and Michael Serapiglia, Toto Tours continues its mission: small group adventures, no more than 25 guests, built on cultural connection and safety. Their itineraries reach destinations many queer travelers once avoided altogether, from Morocco to Egypt to Colombia.
A Legacy of Safe Exploration
When Toto Tours first began, the idea of an openly gay travel group visiting places where homosexuality was taboo seemed radical. Founder Dan Ware envisioned something more than tourism, he built a community that traveled the world together with pride and discretion.
That philosophy remains the foundation of Toto’s success. “Safety isn’t a bonus; it’s the baseline,” Perry and Serapiglia emphasize. Their tours balance adventure with awareness, blending guided experiences with personal freedom.
Instead of itineraries packed with parties, guests can expect sunrise meditations in India, temple visits in Nepal, or leisurely dinners with locals in small villages. Toto’s approach is thoughtful, deliberate, and refreshingly unhurried.
From “Bottomless Brunch” to Boundless Discovery
In a sea of mega-cruises like Atlantis and VACAYA, Toto stands out precisely because it doesn’t try to compete. There are no wristbands, no rotating DJs, and no daily schedule that starts with “bottomless.”
Think queer monks in Morocco rather than dance floors in Mykonos. Toto’s version of escapism is about finding quiet joy, shared curiosity, and unexpected beauty in far-off corners of the world.
A Community That Travels Together
Over the decades, Toto Tours has cultivated a loyal following of LGBTQ+ travelers who return year after year. Many join to reconnect with friends they met on previous trips or to share the experience with chosen family.
Their name, drawn from the Latin word meaning “all-inclusive,” captures the spirit of their mission. The rainbow woven through the Toto logo symbolizes global connection: uniting people, places, and perspectives.
Keeping the Spirit Alive
Even during the pandemic, Toto encouraged travelers to explore inwardly while waiting for borders to reopen. That message of resilience, what the company calls the “Toto Spirit,” still guides its philosophy today.
Now, with a new generation of leadership, Toto Tours continues to remind LGBTQ+ travelers that queer joy doesn’t always need a dance floor. Sometimes, it just needs a passport.
