Outside the Square travel adventures for the "almost independent" Gay traveller and their friends.
  • Home
  • 2025/6 Adventures
    • Ecuador and the Galapagos August 2025
    • Peru and the Inca heartland Sept 25
    • Argentina and the Andean North Oct 2025
    • India "The Ganges" Jan 2026
    • India "The Ganges" Feb 2026
    • Moroccan "Riads" Girls trip April 2026
    • Moroccan "Riads" Boys trip April 26th 2026
    • Portugal "Vibe" May 2026
  • 2026/7 Adventures
    • Sri Lanka "Bawa" Sept 2026
    • India Forts and Palaces Oct 2026
    • Bhutan and Nepal Nov 2026
    • Laos and Northern Thailand Nov 2026
    • Laos 2026 Xmas Mekong Cruise
    • South Africa Luxury May 2027
    • Botswana Luxury May /June 2027
  • Future trips
    • Bali explored
    • New Zealand, "Out" and about 2027
    • New Zealand "Epic Vistas"
    • North Thailand, Bangkok and the wonders of Angkor
    • Japan March "Cherry blossom"
    • New Zealand South Island "Walks"
  • About
    • Profile
    • Philosophy
    • Q&A
    • Payment Options
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact us
    • Future proofing OTS
    • Travel Insurance
    • Botswana extension
    • Victoria falls add-on
    • Cape town add-on
    • Amazon Extension
    • Links
  • Latest News

Richard Clowes

Founder, researcher, and host for many of our trips, Outside the Square officially launched in 2012 after 5 years of running informally via word of mouth.
Born in the UK I spent most of my childhood in East Africa returning to the UK in my mid-teens. At 18, I left the UK on an around the world ticket (my parents would say I actually never came back). Travel was certainly in my blood. I did get back to the UK eventually, five years later, but only stayed for a few months. Australia was home for a few years, and then New Zealand. A variety of jobs followed as a means of funding my love of travel. Eventually I joined the industry, spending 12 years in the corporate world working for a large travel organisation based firstly in Australia, then South Africa, and finally New Zealand. New Zealand has been home base for the last 11 years and what an adventure playground it is.

OTS adventures has been a slowly evolving dream of mine. Its structure has developed from many hours talking with people about their travel dreams, what they love, what they fear, and what they want to experience.  I have found with travel "less is often more" and the trips OTS run are more about getting to know a place, feeling and experiencing it, rather than ticking off lots of sights.
I am a person who loves the freedom of being solo, yet the travel industry is generally geared to couples. With OTS I hope to create the kind of holiday a solo person would love to be part of, as much as a couple would. Or, as often happens the adventurous half of a couple will join us, while partner is at home.
South America, Asia and Africa are great travel loves of mine. I have researched trips which will be offered over the next few years including:-
 
  • Across the Andes Santiago- Buenos aires (2-3 weeks gay tour with a option of including Iguazu falls.
  • Bogotá - Cartagena a Colombian adventure (2-3 weeks)
  • Cape Town / Kalahari Gemsbok, wine and wild animal (2 week loop)
  • Istanbul, Cappadocia and the blue cruise (2 weeks)
  • Everest Base Camp (Mixed) Nov 2019 (17 days)
  • Northern Vietnam, Sapa to Hoi Ann (2-3 weeks)
  • Nepal Kathmandu and the Annapurna Base camp (15 days)
  • Thailand Krabi, Koh Lanta (2 week beach adventure)
  • Australia's Red Centre Alice to Darwin campervan road-trip.
  • Sri Lanka Discovered (14 days) a classic route but with some extras. 
  • Northern Thailand and Laos luxury adventure tour. Spend your next holidays in Laos.
  • Cambodia including the temples of Angkor and Kep and Kampot.
Picture
The Future

My dream is for "Outside the Square"  to be the catalyst, bringing people together who love the kind of slow, experiential, mind expanding trips offered. People who know how to have fun, know that travel is often about the journey rather then the destination, expect the unexpected, and love to spend their money on experiences rather than things. 

OTS is a concept born of a passion to get "out there" and experience the world, without breaking the bank to do it. Our trips will always be about keeping costs low and value high, sourcing locally run accommodation and restaurants, and accessing Gay run or friendly businesses when we are able.
Life is richer when we have something to plan, save for, and look forward to, so join one of our trips and look ahead to many years of adventures, discovering new friends and new places.



Richard

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  • Home
  • 2025/6 Adventures
    • Ecuador and the Galapagos August 2025
    • Peru and the Inca heartland Sept 25
    • Argentina and the Andean North Oct 2025
    • India "The Ganges" Jan 2026
    • India "The Ganges" Feb 2026
    • Moroccan "Riads" Girls trip April 2026
    • Moroccan "Riads" Boys trip April 26th 2026
    • Portugal "Vibe" May 2026
  • 2026/7 Adventures
    • Sri Lanka "Bawa" Sept 2026
    • India Forts and Palaces Oct 2026
    • Bhutan and Nepal Nov 2026
    • Laos and Northern Thailand Nov 2026
    • Laos 2026 Xmas Mekong Cruise
    • South Africa Luxury May 2027
    • Botswana Luxury May /June 2027
  • Future trips
    • Bali explored
    • New Zealand, "Out" and about 2027
    • New Zealand "Epic Vistas"
    • North Thailand, Bangkok and the wonders of Angkor
    • Japan March "Cherry blossom"
    • New Zealand South Island "Walks"
  • About
    • Profile
    • Philosophy
    • Q&A
    • Payment Options
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact us
    • Future proofing OTS
    • Travel Insurance
    • Botswana extension
    • Victoria falls add-on
    • Cape town add-on
    • Amazon Extension
    • Links
  • Latest News