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Explore Adventure Tours in Europe

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Europe Hiking Adventure Tours

Adventure tours in Europe have so much to offer. Walk the lands, taste the flavors, and step into the heart of local life with experts by your side.

Europe features a diverse range of countries, climates, and adventure styles, making it a fun challenge to determine where you want to go first. If paddling crystal-clear coves and biking vineyard-clad hills pique your interest, then put the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia on your radar. If you’re a fan of flowers and quaint towns, then pedaling through the tulip fields and cobblestoned villages of Holland should be on your list. Curious about how alive the hills of the Alps are? Then Austria is a must-visit destination. The list goes on and on, but we’re here to help you every step of the way!

Hear from our Happy Guests
4.85/5 Rating | 6,500+ Reviews

Reviews of European Adventure Tours

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Camino De Santiago Adventure

Leslie R

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

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Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

L | January 1970

Dolomites Adventure

Julie T

"My first trip with Active Adventures! I say I am very pleased! I very much enjoyed not only my trip, but I had fun with my group and my guides. I will miss them dearly! What a great first experience and I will be doing more adventures with Active! Worth the money!

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My first trip with Active Adventures! I say I am very pleased! I very much…

"My first trip with Active Adventures! I say I am very pleased! I very much enjoyed not only my trip, but I had fun with my group and my guides. I will miss them dearly! What a great first experience and I will be doing more adventures with Active! Worth the money! read less

4.8 Stars (171 reviews)

J | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Nadine K

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

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Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

N | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Sarah jusko, M

"Besides being the perfect, challenging adventure for a solo woman, the group size was perfect (9) and the itinerary was so interesting. Just the right amount of history and fact-based information, the right amount of friendship and encouragement, more than enough good food and accommodation, and amazing leadership. David set the bar high as he led us each day; always laughing and teasing; always encouraging. And Elize was a master of facilitation. She worked hard to make this adventure run at a high level and to accommodate each of our needs. She brought out the best in us and became a good friend.

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Besides being the perfect, challenging adventure for a solo woman, the group size was perfect…

"Besides being the perfect, challenging adventure for a solo woman, the group size was perfect (9) and the itinerary was so interesting. Just the right amount of history and fact-based information, the right amount of friendship and encouragement, more than enough good food and accommodation, and amazing leadership. David set the bar high as he led us each day; always laughing and teasing; always encouraging. And Elize was a master of facilitation. She worked hard to make this adventure run at a high level and to accommodate each of our needs. She brought out the best in us and became a good friend. read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

S | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Jim K

"Fully filled days. Amazing itinerary. Super guides, knowledgeable and accommodating. The trek is well planned to see as much as possible of Spain. Beaches, mountains, farms, people, and history.
Loved it and recommend it. The only criticism is that this hike is not even close to level 3. It is a 1.5 to 2 max. Had it been labeled as such, my wife would have for sure joined and enjoyed.

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Fully filled days. Amazing itinerary. Super guides, knowledgeable and accommodating. The trek is well planned…

"Fully filled days. Amazing itinerary. Super guides, knowledgeable and accommodating. The trek is well planned to see as much as possible of Spain. Beaches, mountains, farms, people, and history.
Loved it and recommend it. The only criticism is that this hike is not even close to level 3. It is a 1.5 to 2 max. Had it been labeled as such, my wife would have for sure joined and enjoyed. read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

J | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Monica K

"This was my second trip with Active, and while the trip was wonderful, it wasn't an 'active' trip- it was a food tour with some walking. Since the trip was labeled 'El Camino' I expected much more walking. We spent WAY more time sitting and eating than doing any physical activity, which was a massive shame and really my only complaint about the trip. My mother didn't join us as this trip was labeled 'Level 3', but even Level 2 would have been generous. We saw beautiful towns, ate UNBELIEVABLE food, learned about the history of the area, stayed at wonderful hotels....but we didn't walk enough of the Camino. While I was the youngest guest by quite a bit, I think the majority of guests would have appreciated at least the option to walk more. On my first trip with Active (Rimu), we often had options- those that needed a slower day vs. others- but regardless, the days were PACKED with physical activities. I thought this would be the same and I would have opted for a sandwich on the go for a few days- rather than a lavish lunch- if it meant I could have experienced the Camino…

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This was my second trip with Active, and while the trip was wonderful, it wasn't…

"This was my second trip with Active, and while the trip was wonderful, it wasn't an 'active' trip- it was a food tour with some walking. Since the trip was labeled 'El Camino' I expected much more walking. We spent WAY more time sitting and eating than doing any physical activity, which was a massive shame and really my only complaint about the trip. My mother didn't join us as this trip was labeled 'Level 3', but even Level 2 would have been generous. We saw beautiful towns, ate UNBELIEVABLE food, learned about the history of the area, stayed at wonderful hotels....but we didn't walk enough of the Camino. While I was the youngest guest by quite a bit, I think the majority of guests would have appreciated at least the option to walk more. On my first trip with Active (Rimu), we often had options- those that needed a slower day vs. others- but regardless, the days were PACKED with physical activities. I thought this would be the same and I would have opted for a sandwich on the go for a few days- rather than a lavish lunch- if it meant I could have experienced the Camino more. I would recommend this to friends of my parents, but I would not recommend this trip to people that are below 50 and hoping for an 'active' vacation. read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

M | January 1970

Tour Du Mont Blanc

Andrew Q

"Overall the trip was very good and Emma from Active adventures was excellent. The French guides tended to be a bit standoffish and did not socialize easily although 11 days together eventually wore some of the edges off. Being the only single person was a little odd but I did enjoy the single rooms. One of the other guests was a little passive aggressive with me but this was nothing that the group leaders could do anything about. The lead guide Katarina did cause me to have to spend an additional 65 Euros to get another covid test from a pharmacy when I reported a head cold and had already taken a test and been negative. This was handled by Katarina in an abrupt and uninformed manner that was , I suspect, more about asserting her leadership over Emma and the others than it was about any sort of health or safety concerns. I was initially bothered by this. But as I say, a few spectacular long hikes smoothed this all over. I hope this doesn’t seem too picayune. Overall, the trip was great.

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Overall the trip was very good and Emma from Active adventures was excellent. The French…

"Overall the trip was very good and Emma from Active adventures was excellent. The French guides tended to be a bit standoffish and did not socialize easily although 11 days together eventually wore some of the edges off. Being the only single person was a little odd but I did enjoy the single rooms. One of the other guests was a little passive aggressive with me but this was nothing that the group leaders could do anything about. The lead guide Katarina did cause me to have to spend an additional 65 Euros to get another covid test from a pharmacy when I reported a head cold and had already taken a test and been negative. This was handled by Katarina in an abrupt and uninformed manner that was , I suspect, more about asserting her leadership over Emma and the others than it was about any sort of health or safety concerns. I was initially bothered by this. But as I say, a few spectacular long hikes smoothed this all over. I hope this doesn’t seem too picayune. Overall, the trip was great. read less

4.7 Stars (217 reviews)

A | January 1970

Tour Du Mont Blanc

Kim E

"Good, really enjoyed it

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Good, really enjoyed it

"Good, really enjoyed it read less

4.7 Stars (217 reviews)

K | January 1970

Tour Du Mont Blanc

Kathleen M

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

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Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.7 Stars (217 reviews)

K | January 1970

Dolomites Adventure

Kitty F

"A fantastic itinerary!

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A fantastic itinerary!

"A fantastic itinerary! read less

4.8 Stars (171 reviews)

K | January 1970

Dolomites Adventure

Vivian P

"Great trip, great mid-September weather. Our guides Andreas and Holly were the best, Andreas always had interesting stories about the areas we were in and Holly was always upbeat and added her own stories as well. The landscape was beautiful and for the most part, breathtaking. The food and accommodations were great. Loved the Refugio’s, they were 5 stars to my wife Vivian and I. The last day, for our via Ferrata we had Giovanni as our climbing guide and he as well added his excellent skills and storytelling to give us another great day to remember.

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Great trip, great mid-September weather. Our guides Andreas and Holly were the best, Andreas always…

"Great trip, great mid-September weather. Our guides Andreas and Holly were the best, Andreas always had interesting stories about the areas we were in and Holly was always upbeat and added her own stories as well. The landscape was beautiful and for the most part, breathtaking. The food and accommodations were great. Loved the Refugio’s, they were 5 stars to my wife Vivian and I. The last day, for our via Ferrata we had Giovanni as our climbing guide and he as well added his excellent skills and storytelling to give us another great day to remember. read less

4.8 Stars (171 reviews)

V | January 1970

Dolomites Adventure

Edward D

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

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Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.8 Stars (171 reviews)

E | January 1970

Classic Iceland Adventure

Don F

"A great trip. Very well organized , great sights, excellent guide.

Great job!

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A great trip. Very well organized , great sights, excellent guide.

Great job!

"A great trip. Very well organized , great sights, excellent guide.

Great job! read less

4.7 Stars (49 reviews)

D | January 1970

Croatia Adventure

Denise S

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

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Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.8 Stars (49 reviews)

D | January 1970

Classic Iceland Adventure

Jeanne K

"Our Active Adventure Icelandic trip was enchanting; from tales about hidden folks dwelling amongst the farmers of yesteryear, to hardscrabble fisherman -- tales and history provided to us by our fantastic guide -- Solvi -- allowed us to really feel these stories as we stood on the rugged landscape. You then fully appreciate the powerful natural forces which have worked upon the land and its people. Loved our visit!

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Our Active Adventure Icelandic trip was enchanting; from tales about hidden folks dwelling amongst the…

"Our Active Adventure Icelandic trip was enchanting; from tales about hidden folks dwelling amongst the farmers of yesteryear, to hardscrabble fisherman -- tales and history provided to us by our fantastic guide -- Solvi -- allowed us to really feel these stories as we stood on the rugged landscape. You then fully appreciate the powerful natural forces which have worked upon the land and its people. Loved our visit! read less

4.7 Stars (49 reviews)

J | January 1970

Tour Du Mont Blanc

Gayle L

"The Mount Blanc tour was spectacular! Scenery was incredible, Hiking was challenging and our guides were great!

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The Mount Blanc tour was spectacular! Scenery was incredible, Hiking was challenging and our guides…

"The Mount Blanc tour was spectacular! Scenery was incredible, Hiking was challenging and our guides were great! read less

4.7 Stars (217 reviews)

G | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Dorian M

"The Santiago trip couldn't have been better: it was tops. It combined moderate daily walking on the most scenic highlights of the Camino with daily cultural excursions resulting in a thorough Spanish experience. David, our leader, was a gem. He has a strong background in history, art history and natural history and facilitated a seamless trip with his fine organization. This was our first trip with Active Adventures and I was surprised by the comprehensive nature of the tour. We enjoyed daily guided walks in the towns we visited led by knowledgeable, local historians, visits to active archeological sites, and culinary treats of the regional specialties. We had a really comfortable group of 13. Efforts had been made to make sure everyone's dietary needs were covered. I never could not have planned such a superlative tour separately. This was everything in one.

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The Santiago trip couldn't have been better: it was tops. It combined moderate daily…

"The Santiago trip couldn't have been better: it was tops. It combined moderate daily walking on the most scenic highlights of the Camino with daily cultural excursions resulting in a thorough Spanish experience. David, our leader, was a gem. He has a strong background in history, art history and natural history and facilitated a seamless trip with his fine organization. This was our first trip with Active Adventures and I was surprised by the comprehensive nature of the tour. We enjoyed daily guided walks in the towns we visited led by knowledgeable, local historians, visits to active archeological sites, and culinary treats of the regional specialties. We had a really comfortable group of 13. Efforts had been made to make sure everyone's dietary needs were covered. I never could not have planned such a superlative tour separately. This was everything in one. read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

D | January 1970

Camino De Santiago Adventure

Shonie F

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

read more

Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!

"Excellent, the trip of a lifetime! read less

4.6 Stars (28 reviews)

S | January 1970

AUS Square Deal Posts 4 v2

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply. Read more here.

 

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Extra Peace of Mind


We understand your plans can change, and that’s why Active Assurance is available so you can book with complete confidence.

Active Assurance can be purchased at the time of booking, enabling you to receive a full refund up to 61 days out from your trip departure date. For more details, view here.

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Europe Adventure Guides

Europe Adventure Tips & Stories

FAQs About Europe Adventures

Do I need a visa to visit countries in Europe?

It is your responsibility stay up to date on the latest visa and entry requirements for your destination. Please use the CIBT entry tracker on our website as a guideline or visit the relevant immigration webpage for the country (or countries) you're visiting more information.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Europe?

You do not need vaccinations to visit any of the European countries in which we operate. Easy!

Do you recommend buying travel insurance?

As an Active Adventures traveller, It’s essential you take out travel insurance to cover the likes of personal injury, medical expenses, trip cancellation for your travel with us. Please head to our Travel Insurance page for more in-depth information and insurance provider options. It’s also important to check your insurance covers all the activities you’ll be partaking in, in case you’re travelling to altitude or looking at extreme sports.

Can you help me find international flights to Europe?

Our preferred Travel Partner Fuzion Travel can assist with you with flights and other travel arrangements. Let them know your preferred travel plans, including any stopovers or extra nights’ accommodation, and they’ll put everything in place for you. They offer a total travel solution and five star service that you’ll want to tell your friends about!

What's included on your Europe trips?

Accommodation

On your Europe trip you'll stay in a variety of places depending on the destination and activities. For the most part you'll stay in nice, locally owned, beautiful family run hotels in great locations, with private bathrooms, free wifi, great breakfasts and warm local hospitality. Whilst in more remote areas we use rifugios or backcountry cabins - in the Alps these rifugios are more like hotels with private bathrooms and all the mod cons! Whereas in Iceland they're more rustic with outhouse bathrooms (flush toilets) and gas heating.

Transport

Your transport will be a mixture of private van, private bus, bike, kayak and your very own two feet on our trips in Europe. You'll spend most time hiking, biking or paddling everywhere though! All your transport is included from the start of your trip and we'll drop you at the airport at the end. The details are all listed in the trip specific itineraries.

Meals

All your meals are included as described in the itinerary except on your free days. We have found that people enjoy checking out what is on offer by themselves sometimes, so you can go and see what's out there! On every other day and especially after any long hikes, we've chosen places to eat that can cater for our hearty appetites, work well with our small groups (they know we are coming) and provide us with an authentic destination specific culinary experience. There are always options for you, so you can either be brave or choose something more familiar. You can be assured that on all our trips we will make sure you are very well fed, and Europe's vast array of cuisine won't disappoint you!

Trip leaders

Our trips are all led by an experienced Trip Leader. Our Trip Leaders are very proud to work with Active Adventures and often lead our trips for many years, for which we are very lucky and very grateful, as it means we're able to consistently offer a fantastic level of service. They work closely with our local specialist guides to provide you with a seamless, fun, exciting and memorable trip. They will happily share with you as much or as little as you want to know about the history, culture, social aspects and lifestyle of the country you are visiting.

What rooming is provided on your Europe trips?

Our trip fares are based on a twin-share rate (two people per room), though in some places we use two-bedroom units, in which case you may be sharing a separate bathroom between two to four people. In certain places, ie; the refuge/refugio’s and mountain cabin’s, there will be shared rooms with up to 10 people and a large bathroom with private cubicles which is shared by everyone at that accommodation.

Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?

We welcome many solo travelers on our trips – in fact, we get so many solo travelers and they always say it’s a great way to travel alone, but not actually by themselves. You’ll have an incredible adventure sharing your experiences with other like-minded travelers, and the best part is we don't charge extra for solo travelers, providing you don’t mind sharing a room. However, for bookings within 90 days of your chosen departure, a forced single supplement will apply if there is no other guest of the same gender already booked to share with.

If you prefer not to share a room at all, you can upgrade to a single room, if one is available. If your trip uses refugios or mountain cabins which can only accommodate guests on a multi-share basis, the upgrade cost will reflect this.

How many people are there on each of your Europe trips?

We generally take up to 14 people per trip, although this can vary, and all our trips have at least two of our guides to look after you (apart from the occasions we have a small group). We have found that our trips tend to attract a particular kind of person and many people have commented that the social scene was one of the highlights of their trip!

What kind of clothing should I be packing?

Once you've booked your trip, you'll have access to a gear list in your portal on exactly what to bring along. The gear list is carefully thought out to provide you with everything you need to be warm and happy, or cool and relaxed, whatever the weather! So it is best to bring everything we recommend along, if you don't bring everything you need, we can't guarantee your comfort.

Do I need hiking boots or are hiking sneakers okay?

You will need proper hiking boots - trail shoes are not good enough. We'll be taking you to some awesome places where you'll be hiking over a variety of terrain, therefore your boots should have full ankle support and a stiff sole with a high profile tread. It's also important that whichever footwear you decide to bring that it's well broken-in and waterproofed before you come down. If you have good ankles that will be able to cope pretty well with varied terrain, then good hiking shoes should be fine, but if not then hiking boots will give you better support.

What is the food like in Europe?

European cuisine is varied and delicious, usually incorporating lots of fresh produce, cheese, local meats, bread and pastries. Icelandic cuisine is famous for their local seafood, specifically their cod as well as lamb, bread and skyr- a soft yogurt-like cheese. The sheer abundance and variety of produce, wine and meats will satisfy any palate.
Vegetarian options are varied whereas vegan choices are slightly more limited though if you let us know beforehand we’ll make sure you have options! We provide drinking water and you’ll be able to buy espresso and/or alcohol (and other drinks) in most places.
Vegan choices may be limited but we’ll do our best to help find things you may like. While glutenfree meals are possible, there may not be a huge variety available for gluten-free options either - as most local breads and pastries contain gluten. Dinner meals are often very late in the evening too as per the local customs.

What if I need a special diet?

We are accustomed to catering to the following special diets:

• vegan (no meat or animal products) *please discuss this option with us - difficult to accommodate in Spain (Camino)
• vegetarian (no meat products)
• pescatarian (vegetarian, and eat fish)
• no red meat (eat chicken & fish)
• gluten intolerant (no wheat, rye, barley or oats)
• lactose intolerant (no dairy products)

You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in our pre-trip questionnaire. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or the online questionnaire.

What is the currency in Europe?

The currency in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands is the Euro €, in Croatia it's the Croatian Kuna, in Iceland it’s the Icleandic Króna kr and in Switzerland it’s the Swiss Franc CHF.
In Switzerland if you’re near the border (ie Geneva or while on your Tour du Mont Blanc trip) most places will accept Euro’s for payment, though they’ll charge you extra for this convenience.

How much spending money should I bring and where do I get local currency?

Our trips include all transportation, guiding, meals and activities (except where indicated on the itinerary). The only things you will definitely need cash for are drinks other than water (drinking water is fine to drink from the tap on all our trips), souvenirs and tips.

Usually the easiest thing to do is use your credit or debit card to withdraw money directly from your home account, in local currency. There are plenty of ATM's and banks in larger towns in Europe, and ATM's will accept all major credit cards and many debit cards. Cash advances are the most convenient way to get cash.

Will the altitude affect me in Europe?

No. even though we're in the Alps, we don't go into any areas where altitude is a major factor. The only place where you'll find altitude is a factor is on the trip up to Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix but you'll be taking a cable car up there and won't be there for too long!

Do I need to speak the local language?

A little would be helpful, especially on arrival and for ordering food in restaurants, but it's certainly not required. English is spoken in most hotels, airports and tourist areas though not everywhere. Our local guides are all fluent native speakers so if you don't have time to learn a little before arrival you don't have to worry... they will take care of everything.

What time zone is Europe in?

For the majority of the summer season Austria, Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and The Netherlands are in the Central European (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) whilst Iceland is on GMT time.

What type of plugs and voltage do you use in Europe?

European countries operate on a 220V AC system with Plug Type C which consists of two round parallel pins while the wall plug has two holes where it is connected.

Will I have access to Internet/WiFi?

WiFi is available almost everywhere in cities and easy enough to find in most towns/villages so you can rely on having regularly access during your trip. If you have data roaming switched on, then you'll be able to use the internet on your smartphone, but beware of the fees! WiFi is available at most of the accommodations that you'll be staying at, sometimes for a small cost so check this out at each location when you arrive.

If I book a trip with my children, will I be sharing a room with them?

Active Adventures & Austin Adventures family vacations are naturally about spending time with family and as such, most families opt to share rooms on our trips. At time of booking, families consisting of four guests with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at the guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Why Travel With Us

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Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading average 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience.

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Award-winning guides lead the way

It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!

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You’ll never need to sweat the details

When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. All you need to do is show up!

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Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely

Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted partners and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides.

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Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best

Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.

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"Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary

For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience.