After a Year Indoors, Americans Are Ready for Active Adventures’ Brand of Adventure Tourism

Active Adventures, a Queenstown, New Zealand-based small hiking and adventure tour company, has seen a shift in American client’s eagerness to travel, reporting its largest sales month in their 25-year history.

Active Adventures currently has trips on the road in New Zealand, Australia, and the Galapagos and will be returning to Peru, Iceland, Switzerland, Italy and France this month. In the U.S., Active Adventures offers National Parks, including Yellow Stone, among others through a partnership with Austin Adventures.

The five star, luxury product provides unique experiences with two guides in a small group setting. On the six-day Ultimate Yellowstone & Teton Discovery itinerary in Wyoming, for example, guests will bike in Grand Teton National Park, hike above Lake Yellowstone, and Kayak Jackson Lake (among more).

Courtney Iannuccilli, vice president of global marketing, said the intimate, 8-10 person group size has lent itself to the emerging trends post-pandemic.

“We’re navigating everything, so being able to have the details taken care of you, that’s what people want. And with a curated experience you’re not going to be with the crowds” Iannuccilli said. “The outdoor aspect is appealing too, with off-the-beaten path places.”

Through its partner Austin Adventures, the company focuses on family-orientated, customized itineraries.

Thanks in part to pent-up demand from a year in lockdown, “Austin Adventures has been busier than ever and sold out this season,” Iannuccilli said. “June was the biggest month and July is still strong.”

For 2022, the operator is working on additional product to compensate for the upswing in demand. A new itinerary was released for the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, and new Maine and Vermont trips are coming soon.

Active Adventures also expanded its product line, adding a South Africa safari and hiking tours for 2022.

As the brand looks to further develop its North American market, Active Adventures is working with travel advisors by providing resources, such as marketing material and sales assistance. Each product, which are all fully commissionable, includes all-inclusive pricing covering all meals, activities, accommodations, and guide services.

Active Adventures will provide will provide detailed trip itineraries, along with assistance with pre- and post-trip accommodations, to support advisors with securing the client’s booking. It also provides a detailed pre-booking form for clients to inform us of dietary, rooming, medical or pick up and drop off preference and an Agent Sales Manager for reference.

With current state of changing protocols, Active Adventures allows clients to transfer their $500 deposit to any future trip 30 days before their trip departure. They can also change their trip to any of our departures in any destination up to 30 days out from their original trip start date.