Planetdwellers
Planetdwellers
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About
We are Australia's largest tour operator for the Gay and Lesbian traveller and friends. We are proud to offer a diverse range of worry-free escorted tours to some of Australia's most famous and beautiful places. From bustling Bondi Beach to the magical serenity of the the Blue Mountains, from the heights of Uluru to the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, we have carefully planned tour packages.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
39 reviews
Excellent
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mlhouston86
Boston, MA4 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
My husband and I had been planning an adventure to Australia for years and we decided to wrap it around our honeymoon and planning our travels through Planetdwellers was the best decision that we have ever made when it came to traveling.
We simply google'd "gay Australia," and that's when the wonderful Mario and Barry came into our lives for our 3 week vacation.
Mario asked us what exactly we were looking to do while we were there as well as our flight/travel info and he took care of the rest. 2 days later, we have a full itinerary for our entire trip.
When we arrived, Mario greeted us the first night of our trip with a tour of gay Sydney. We received some great information and learned a lot of history of the city. From there, we had our welcome dinner with him, and we met our amazing (and very handsome) tour guide, Barry. From then on, we had the trip of a lifetime because of these two wonderful men.
Since we were visiting during the early spring, we ended up having a private tour experience with Barry, just the three of us, and we learned SO MUCH from him. He truly has a genuine passion for his country, as well as its history, which made us excited about what we were experiencing. Plus, he's a GREAT story teller, funny, and absolutely charming. He just made our trip extra special by being there. Ask him about his celebrity stories, they're hysterical!
With Barry, our honeymoon was out of this world. We hang glided over cliffs near the seven mile beach, climbed the Sydney harbor bridge, explored the great ocean road in Melbourne, experienced the 12 Apostles in person, swam parts of the great barrier reef in Cairns, visited the Daintree Rainforest, met some adorable animal friends, and much more!
Even when things didn't work out in their favor, they always had a plan B, which was still fun and didn't affect the outcome of our trip whatsoever.
I think the icing on the cake that made my husband and I fall in love with Barry was that he really wanted to make sure that we were enjoying ourselves and that we were getting the best of the best vacation. Barry somehow worked his magic and helped me fulfill my dream of meeting a Koala in person and touching one. I got more than what I expected and I was over the moon and emotional after that experience. I'll forever remember that and appreciate what he did for me.
It means the world to us when a business, such as planetdwellers, goes above and beyond for you. We returned to the states about two weeks ago and we already want to go back and do it all over again.
We definitely are returning in a few years to visit more of Australia. And when we do, we'll be sure to book with Barry and Mario.
If you want to get the best Australian experience for your vacation, please book with planetdwellers. These people are truly great at what they do and they'll make sure you have a great experience. We probably wouldn't have had the trip that we had without them.
Worth every penny!
We simply google'd "gay Australia," and that's when the wonderful Mario and Barry came into our lives for our 3 week vacation.
Mario asked us what exactly we were looking to do while we were there as well as our flight/travel info and he took care of the rest. 2 days later, we have a full itinerary for our entire trip.
When we arrived, Mario greeted us the first night of our trip with a tour of gay Sydney. We received some great information and learned a lot of history of the city. From there, we had our welcome dinner with him, and we met our amazing (and very handsome) tour guide, Barry. From then on, we had the trip of a lifetime because of these two wonderful men.
Since we were visiting during the early spring, we ended up having a private tour experience with Barry, just the three of us, and we learned SO MUCH from him. He truly has a genuine passion for his country, as well as its history, which made us excited about what we were experiencing. Plus, he's a GREAT story teller, funny, and absolutely charming. He just made our trip extra special by being there. Ask him about his celebrity stories, they're hysterical!
With Barry, our honeymoon was out of this world. We hang glided over cliffs near the seven mile beach, climbed the Sydney harbor bridge, explored the great ocean road in Melbourne, experienced the 12 Apostles in person, swam parts of the great barrier reef in Cairns, visited the Daintree Rainforest, met some adorable animal friends, and much more!
Even when things didn't work out in their favor, they always had a plan B, which was still fun and didn't affect the outcome of our trip whatsoever.
I think the icing on the cake that made my husband and I fall in love with Barry was that he really wanted to make sure that we were enjoying ourselves and that we were getting the best of the best vacation. Barry somehow worked his magic and helped me fulfill my dream of meeting a Koala in person and touching one. I got more than what I expected and I was over the moon and emotional after that experience. I'll forever remember that and appreciate what he did for me.
It means the world to us when a business, such as planetdwellers, goes above and beyond for you. We returned to the states about two weeks ago and we already want to go back and do it all over again.
We definitely are returning in a few years to visit more of Australia. And when we do, we'll be sure to book with Barry and Mario.
If you want to get the best Australian experience for your vacation, please book with planetdwellers. These people are truly great at what they do and they'll make sure you have a great experience. We probably wouldn't have had the trip that we had without them.
Worth every penny!
Written November 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matty
7 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
To say I had a great experience with PlanetDwellers would be an understatement. This was the first time I was in Sydney and every time I travel I look for gay companies/restaurants/clothing stores etc. to support the local community. Also in my research for my trip,I knew I had to check out the Blue Mountains. PlanetDwellers had great selections for me to get to know the Gayborhood via the walking tour and to go to the Blue Mountains tour with a 13-ish hour tour that included either the Jenolan Caves or Featherdale Wildlife Park. I was planning on going to the famous Taronga Zoo, so I chose the caves.
My first experience was with Mario, he was very good at following up with me via email prior to my arrival. Mario was also my tour guide for the Walking Tour on my first day and arrived right on time at the meeting spot. For the next few hours he not only showed me around, but gave me a bit of a history lesson on the area. It was obvious from the way in which he presented his knowledge of the area that not only did he really know what he was talking about but also was deeply connected to the information he was sharing with me. I liked that. He loves being able to do this for newbies like myself to get to know the area and good places to go to eat or dance and paint the picture of what Mardi Gras is like at the height of the excitement. The tour also ended with a drink at a pub which was a really nice end to my first day in Sydney and to just chill for a bit with someone new in a foreign land to me. Like they say in the description - "That's what being a mate is all about."
My other tour was a whole other fun ordeal. Arriving promptly at 7:30am Barry and I were quickly off to the Blue Mountains. He had some delicious muffins ready and we stopped at a coffee shop (my only request was needing some morning caffeine). He had a lot of rules - which I say jokingly because most of which solely relied on common sense, except that if he ever went missing on me to be on the lookout for a snake.
I was a bit concerned about being the only one on the tour for the day, but after meeting Mario, he said Barry and I would get along just fine. He was right. Barry took me all around the Three Sisters and Orphan Rock to see at different vantage points, including a a walk through Scenic World, and a ride on a cable car. Lunch was fab at the Paragon, which was also a museum and in which they hand make all their chocolates! Throughout the day Barry and I got to know a lot about each other and it was easy to tell - like with Mario - he loves what he does. Barry loves sharing his culture and country with others and he loves equally to learn about where his travelers are from and what their life is like. It was at the Paragon that while revealing the history of the oldest continually operating restaurant in Australia, he revealed a bit of touching family connection to the place. It was a very sweet story which I appreciate him telling. It was like that all day we went back and forth, it wasn't just a tour of these big rocks and him driving me like Ms Daisy or with dance music going in the car, it was more than that. It was about a human connection and understanding of history of cultures. He told stories of the family that owns Scenic World are descendants of the original mine worker, and the story of the rail cars and how that came to be what it is and why people continually visit there. He pointed out a monument of the early settlers of Australia and the aboriginal people and told me of their troubled history together which is a very difficult part of Australian history and brought on the feels in a big way. During our cave tour it was also apparent he was holding back as to not be rude to the man leading us through the caves. Even knowing Barry for such a short amount of time I could feel him wanting to burst out and take over the cave walk through. I must admit that was amusing to see. And I should also point out with all the wildlife Australia has Barry was an awesome driver and was very cautious not to hit any wildlife. And to go as far as warning other drivers after we saw the cutest wallaby with a joey in her pouch coming up to our car to ask for food.
As an American these days seeing all the terrible things that have come out of the woodwork in my own country, I believe it's always a good to make that human connection. PlanetDwellers was all about that. You want a cookie cutter stop and see, take a million pictures tour - that was not my experience. I'm sure if that's what you want from them, that is fine and they have no problem with that, but that's not what makes them special and you'd be missing out. I was worried about spending a lot on the 2 tours and then being the only person on them, but they were great! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would love to go to Featherdale with Barry, and love to even spend Mardi Gras one year with them as well! It sounds like a blast! This was unlike anything I had expected and it seriously touched my heart. I love these guys. 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10, 100% out of 100% My praise can't be high enough!
My first experience was with Mario, he was very good at following up with me via email prior to my arrival. Mario was also my tour guide for the Walking Tour on my first day and arrived right on time at the meeting spot. For the next few hours he not only showed me around, but gave me a bit of a history lesson on the area. It was obvious from the way in which he presented his knowledge of the area that not only did he really know what he was talking about but also was deeply connected to the information he was sharing with me. I liked that. He loves being able to do this for newbies like myself to get to know the area and good places to go to eat or dance and paint the picture of what Mardi Gras is like at the height of the excitement. The tour also ended with a drink at a pub which was a really nice end to my first day in Sydney and to just chill for a bit with someone new in a foreign land to me. Like they say in the description - "That's what being a mate is all about."
My other tour was a whole other fun ordeal. Arriving promptly at 7:30am Barry and I were quickly off to the Blue Mountains. He had some delicious muffins ready and we stopped at a coffee shop (my only request was needing some morning caffeine). He had a lot of rules - which I say jokingly because most of which solely relied on common sense, except that if he ever went missing on me to be on the lookout for a snake.
I was a bit concerned about being the only one on the tour for the day, but after meeting Mario, he said Barry and I would get along just fine. He was right. Barry took me all around the Three Sisters and Orphan Rock to see at different vantage points, including a a walk through Scenic World, and a ride on a cable car. Lunch was fab at the Paragon, which was also a museum and in which they hand make all their chocolates! Throughout the day Barry and I got to know a lot about each other and it was easy to tell - like with Mario - he loves what he does. Barry loves sharing his culture and country with others and he loves equally to learn about where his travelers are from and what their life is like. It was at the Paragon that while revealing the history of the oldest continually operating restaurant in Australia, he revealed a bit of touching family connection to the place. It was a very sweet story which I appreciate him telling. It was like that all day we went back and forth, it wasn't just a tour of these big rocks and him driving me like Ms Daisy or with dance music going in the car, it was more than that. It was about a human connection and understanding of history of cultures. He told stories of the family that owns Scenic World are descendants of the original mine worker, and the story of the rail cars and how that came to be what it is and why people continually visit there. He pointed out a monument of the early settlers of Australia and the aboriginal people and told me of their troubled history together which is a very difficult part of Australian history and brought on the feels in a big way. During our cave tour it was also apparent he was holding back as to not be rude to the man leading us through the caves. Even knowing Barry for such a short amount of time I could feel him wanting to burst out and take over the cave walk through. I must admit that was amusing to see. And I should also point out with all the wildlife Australia has Barry was an awesome driver and was very cautious not to hit any wildlife. And to go as far as warning other drivers after we saw the cutest wallaby with a joey in her pouch coming up to our car to ask for food.
As an American these days seeing all the terrible things that have come out of the woodwork in my own country, I believe it's always a good to make that human connection. PlanetDwellers was all about that. You want a cookie cutter stop and see, take a million pictures tour - that was not my experience. I'm sure if that's what you want from them, that is fine and they have no problem with that, but that's not what makes them special and you'd be missing out. I was worried about spending a lot on the 2 tours and then being the only person on them, but they were great! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would love to go to Featherdale with Barry, and love to even spend Mardi Gras one year with them as well! It sounds like a blast! This was unlike anything I had expected and it seriously touched my heart. I love these guys. 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10, 100% out of 100% My praise can't be high enough!
Written September 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew!!! Thank you so much for the wonderful review and we love that you had such a good time. Hopefully like a lot of our clients you will be back to OZ one day soon. Love right back!
Written October 3, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vincent T
Phoenix2 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
I took the South Coast Tour on 10/21/16. Barry was my tour guide and as it turned out I was the only client on the tour. Luckily they didn’t cancel the tour with only one client as other tour companies would do. The weather was perfect as was the tour and the tour guide. Barry gave me the non-watered down history of Sydney which was extremely interesting and was very knowledgable about the places we visited on the tour. Would definitely use the agency again when on my next visit to Sydney.
Written November 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zachary H
Boston, MA9 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
We knew we wanted to spend our honeymoon and my husband's thirtieth birthday in Australia... And that's all we knew...
When it came to traveling to Australia, my new husband and I were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to do while we were there... And how do you even begin to decide which tour company to go with (because, as I am sure you have seen by now, there are literally fifty different ways to do each and every attraction) from half a world away?
That's when I got frustrated and googled "gay Australia tours." That was the best decision I made in planning our honeymoon. Planetdwellers came across my screen. My initial messages with Mario were just an inquiry to try to sift through smart choices. What happened from there was nothing short of amazing! We knew where we wanted to go and had booked our flights while we were in Australia, but Mario filled in ALL of the rest of the holes. He took two days and sent us an itinerary working through tours all across the eastern sea board of Australia. He arranged travel plans with their partners all over the country. And then he got around to price... That also blew our minds... To have such individualized service and a tailored three week adventure for that price... Wow! And that was what planetdwellers did for us BEFORE we took the 24 hour flight from Boston.
When we arrived, Mario had a plan to help us navigate our first day and the jet lag that came with it. He gave us an enlightening walking tour of the gay history of Sydney and then treated us to an amazing dinner at the end. That's where we met Barry... You'll understand when you meet the guys at Planetdwellers, too. That night, we had an amazing dinner and met the owner of the restaurant and a local celebrity drag queen. We also met two people I hope to be friends with for the rest of my life... Mario and Barry...
And from there in, we were in Barry's care. The warmth he brings and the stories he tells bring the sights you see and the experiences you have to life. He went out of his way to give us those "most important experiences" that we shared on our first night. He delivered that and then gave so much more! Our lives have been forever changed by Barry and Mario.
While in Sydney, we experienced the bridge climb, a tour of the opera house, seven mile beach, and an unmatchable koala experience. They booked us a fabulous stay at a secluded resort, rainforest tours, a Blue Dandonelle (sp?) Mountain Ranges tour, the great ocean road and so many more experiences than I can list. Why are you still reading?! Book!
We just got back this week and have already started talking about the "next time" we go to Australia.
When it came to traveling to Australia, my new husband and I were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to do while we were there... And how do you even begin to decide which tour company to go with (because, as I am sure you have seen by now, there are literally fifty different ways to do each and every attraction) from half a world away?
That's when I got frustrated and googled "gay Australia tours." That was the best decision I made in planning our honeymoon. Planetdwellers came across my screen. My initial messages with Mario were just an inquiry to try to sift through smart choices. What happened from there was nothing short of amazing! We knew where we wanted to go and had booked our flights while we were in Australia, but Mario filled in ALL of the rest of the holes. He took two days and sent us an itinerary working through tours all across the eastern sea board of Australia. He arranged travel plans with their partners all over the country. And then he got around to price... That also blew our minds... To have such individualized service and a tailored three week adventure for that price... Wow! And that was what planetdwellers did for us BEFORE we took the 24 hour flight from Boston.
When we arrived, Mario had a plan to help us navigate our first day and the jet lag that came with it. He gave us an enlightening walking tour of the gay history of Sydney and then treated us to an amazing dinner at the end. That's where we met Barry... You'll understand when you meet the guys at Planetdwellers, too. That night, we had an amazing dinner and met the owner of the restaurant and a local celebrity drag queen. We also met two people I hope to be friends with for the rest of my life... Mario and Barry...
And from there in, we were in Barry's care. The warmth he brings and the stories he tells bring the sights you see and the experiences you have to life. He went out of his way to give us those "most important experiences" that we shared on our first night. He delivered that and then gave so much more! Our lives have been forever changed by Barry and Mario.
While in Sydney, we experienced the bridge climb, a tour of the opera house, seven mile beach, and an unmatchable koala experience. They booked us a fabulous stay at a secluded resort, rainforest tours, a Blue Dandonelle (sp?) Mountain Ranges tour, the great ocean road and so many more experiences than I can list. Why are you still reading?! Book!
We just got back this week and have already started talking about the "next time" we go to Australia.
Written November 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LifeOnTheRoad77
Rehoboth Beach, DE12 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
On one of our last days in Australia, my husband and I had the pleasure of being guided on the South Coast by THE Barry. We were lucky enough to get a 'private' tour, since we were the only ones on this scheduled tour in the 'off' season. Not only were the places, history and views Barry shared with us amazing, but the unique, personal nature of the tour was absolutely over the top. Barry's passion for things Australian - from the history (brutal), to nature (10000 ways Australia wants to kill you, and 'don't poke'!), to the politics and current events shows through every minute of the tour. You come away from the tour with a whole new appreciation for the amazing Australia. The insights, and personal anecdotes were always amusing, and it was a over all phenomenal day getting to know Barry and Australia better. If you're GLBT and going to Sydney, I'd say that this is a must do. We can't wait to go back and do another tour with THE Barry! (Oh, and he knows some killer spots to stop for coffee and lunch!)
Written October 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ATLluxury
Atlanta, Georgia31 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
I have been fortunate to have visited Sydney many times and know my way around. This trip a close friend came with me and I wanted to show him the real Australia since it was at the top of his "to do" list. Barry met me for coffee before my friend arrived to map out a plan of attack. We hit it off right away and were ready to show my friend Sydney. I sat in the back of the SUV and my friend in the front to see and feel Sydney. On the first day Barry took us all around Sydney and it's suburbs to get a feel of Sydney. We got our "opal" transit pass and were off to Manly on the ferry Barry was waiting for us as we got off the ferry to show us around Manly and the eastern suburbs on the way back to the Adge Hotel. We had a great time the next day to a wildlife reserve to play with the roo's and other animals. We headed to the Hunter Valley for wine tastings and a great lunch. I cant say enough about our wonderful guide Barry. There wasn't anything you asked him that he did not have an answer. I learned alot that I didnt know about Sydney and Australia. We enjoyed the way Barry would lead and show us things both in the car and on ferrys and jet cats. He knows the little spots for the best bakery goods and wine shops a tourist would never see. After three days we had become great buds and hated to say good bye. Splurge a little and have the most intimate guide in Sydney!!
Written December 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tesswest2000
Vancouver, Canada3 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
We took an extended Sizzling Sydney to Reef (Great Barrier) tour mainly with Barry and Mario whilst in Sydney. Fantastic. These guys have got it right. They pick up your interests and blend them right into the tour (surprise lunch at Watson's Bay!). Incredibly informed, animated and flexible. The diversity of Australia is breathtaking. Introduced us to great non-touristy eateries. We have our sights set on New Zealand in the future and will be back to Planetdwellers!
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Written November 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PW-Pedro
West Hollywood, CA6 contributions
Jan 2016
Hubby and I booked the Wildlife & Wilderness – The Essential Blue Mountains Experience Day Tour with Barry. Amazing experience! We started the day with a drive to Featherdale Wildlife Park learning about the native animals. The Koalas and Kangaroos were our favorite. Next we drove up to The Blue Mountains and visited the charming towns of Leura and Katoomba where we had lunch at an amazing Art Deco restaurant with working chocolate kitchen! Delicious food and candy counter! Next we traveled to the park where the 3 Sisters rock formations are. We traveled mountain railways and sky trams to enjoy breath taking views and history of the area. Barry our guide was awesome ....... very entertaining and knowledgeable on Australia's rich history! We ended the day with Bubbly overlooking a scenic lookout known only to the locals! You've must book with this tour company to really see Australia! Thanks Mario for being so accommodating with your attention to detail on this absolutely fabulous day!
Written January 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lsA7069FY
Japan148 contributions
Jul 2019
Walking tour was very informative, and Mario offered local history and perspective on the development of Sydney's historically gay neighborhood. We were able to book the tour on pretty short notice (offseason). The tour can be very personalized depending on group size and interests. You will benefit most from the tour if it is one of your first activities in Sydney, rather than the very last as it was for us. After traveling for several weeks and with one of us feeling under-the-weather, we were probably the most "boring" couple Mario has ever had on a tour. We recommend taking this tour when you can relax and enjoy the local atmosphere, rather when you need to be up early the next morning to catch a flight. It is especially nice to get a feel for the area with a local rather than wandering on your own, especially as a foreign tourist. Thank you for a great tour and for providing travel services tailored to our community.
Written September 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dkoenig101
Atlanta, Georgia89 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I was in Australia for a few weeks recently on my own. I had planned two tours with Planetdwellers, but not much else. I did two tours with Planetdwellers, the Blue Mountain tour (which was a very small group indeed. Much more relaxing). Mario led me solo on the Village Walking Tour and we had a great time. He is very knowledgeable about his neighborhood and tailored it to my preferences.
Mario also helped me out with some of my trip plans later on when I would be in Cairns. He booked a couple great tours for me and a night in an amazing resort. The communication was rough on my end due to moving around, but Mario was always a step ahead. He helped to make sure that part of my trip was great as well.
Great customer service and really good tours tailored for a gay audience.
Mario also helped me out with some of my trip plans later on when I would be in Cairns. He booked a couple great tours for me and a night in an amazing resort. The communication was rough on my end due to moving around, but Mario was always a step ahead. He helped to make sure that part of my trip was great as well.
Great customer service and really good tours tailored for a gay audience.
Written September 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you David, it was so lovely meeting you and I am glad we could make your tours in Far North Queensland all come together. Turtle Cove is amazing indeed and Im happy we got to organise at least the one night there. Take care and hope to cross paths again one day.
Written September 17, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.