Austin Adventures

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures, Guided by Client Desires, Adds New Lineup of Dedicated Hiking Trips for 2019

Details: Released on Monday, 01 October 2018 11:09

BILLINGS, MT – Oct. 1, 2018– Austin Adventures recently announced that for the 2019 season, they are returning to their roots… or more accurately, to their boots. Dedicated hiking trips will now share the spotlight with the company’s award-winning lineup of multisport, cycling, small ship cruising, family and luxury adventures.

“We’ve had many requests over the last few years from our loyal alumni travelers to expand or bring back our pure hiking vacations,” explained Dan Austin, President. The company listened; the result is a handful of new destinations and the return of traditional favorites in an impressive 2019 lineup of hiking, walking and trekking adventures worldwide.

This move follows Austin Adventures’ commitment to guide its guests, under their own steam, through landscapes sure to evoke awe and admiration.

“Something about hiking transports us to a faraway place,” said Austin. “It’s the crunch of the earth below our boots, the whistling of birds overhead, the wind through the spruce and pine. It’s traveling paths centuries in the making, yet as unique as our own DNA. Seeing the world by trail is the best way to travel.”

France: Provence Hiking is a brand-new itinerary that challenges already inquisitive travelers to become more so while walking through the history, culture and vineyards that particularize one of Europe’s most iconic destinations.

This new walking trip through Provence exemplifies the artfulness packed into all Austin Adventures’ itineraries. In this instance, guests explore a tapestry of vineyards, ancient ruins, markets and spreads of sunflower and olive groves meandering by medieval bridges, castles and churches, with time aplenty for Mediterranean-inspired meals and wines. Confirmed departures in 2019 are June 2-8, June 9-16, Sept. 15-21 and Sept. 29-Oct. 4. Priced from $3,898 per person double ($680 single supplement), the nearly all-inclusive rate includes knowledgeable guides, distinctive accommodations, most meals, all required transportation and more. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/france-walking-provence-2/

The following new hiking trips are on the 2019 roster.

British Columbia: Purcell Mountainsshowcases a spellbinding range in southeastern British Columbia marked by soaring peaks, towering waterfalls, and massive glaciers. Guests hike and view the sights by helicopter over six days (July 21-26 and July 28-Aug. 2 departures). The per person double rate is $3,398. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/british-columbia-purcell-mountains/

Scotland: Edinburgh to Loch Lomond is a nine-day master class in Scottish history, culture, geography, whisky, castles, lochs and lore. Please contact Austin Adventures for current rates and departure dates. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/scotland-edinburgh-to-loch-lomond/

Ireland: Dublin & The Wild Atlantic Way over eight days explores culture and landscape culminating on the crags and cliffs that wrap around the island’s north and west. A study of Dublin’s music scene and pub life is a highlight. Please contact Austin Adventures for the rate and departure dates. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/ireland-dublin-the-wild-atlantic-way/

Tasmania: Cradle Mountain Huts Walk is a six-day overland trek utilizing minimal-impact huts that exemplify cutting edge “green” living. Hike daily along glacially carved lakes, over mountain lookouts, next to an array of waterfalls, and through Eucalypt forests and dolerite spires. Contact Austin Adventures for rates and departure dates. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/tasmania-cradle-mountain-huts-walk/

Australia: Twelve Apostles Lodge Walkis a four-day guided walk that heads west from Castle Cove to the stunning geological formations known as the Twelve Apostles. Guests exit the region by helicopter. Please contact Austin Adventures for the rate and departure dates. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/australia-twelve-apostles-lodge-walk/

This company’s classic and traditional hiking trips for 2019 include:

Yellowstone National Park Hiking Vacationwhere over six days hikers are led into the back country away from the maddening crowds. The per person double rate is from $2,898 for 2019 departures Aug. 25-Aug. 30, Sept. 1-Sept. 6 and Sept. 8-Sept. 13. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/yellowstone-national-park-vacations/

Another tried and true favorite is Utah Hike: Bryce Canyon & Zion NP, a six-day vacation hiking along and through some of the world’s most dramatic rims and canyons. The per person rate is from $2,798 with 2019 departures May 12-May 17, Aug. 25-Aug. 30 and Sept. 15-Sept. 20. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/utah-hiking-bryce-zion/

And returning by popular demand is, among others, Alberta: Banff Hiking Adventure that over six days delves deep into the wild side of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies. The per person double rate is from $3,098 for confirmed 2019 departures Aug. 25-Aug.30 and Sept. 1-Sept. 6. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/alberta-banff-hike/

Also returning for an encore is Peru: Salkantay Lodge to Lodge that progresses through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Trail with stays in mountain lodges. Please contact Austin Adventures for the rate and departure dates. For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/peru-salkantay-lodge-lodge/

If you need more reasons to hit the trail afoot, an Austin Adventures’ blog helps explain its passion for hiking. Please see https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/pathfinder-why-hiking-is-so-good/. To review all of Austin Adventures’ hiking itineraries (new and classic) see https://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/hiking-vacations/

For more information, questions and trip availability, please call 1.800.575.1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a full roster of Austin Adventures’ 2018-2019 trips, cruises and distinctive accommodations on seven continents please visit http://www.austinadventures.com.

Austin Adventures is a Travel + Leisure MagazineWorld’s Best Award Winner and a Virtuoso Preferred Tour Operator.

About Austin Adventures

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Catches Small Ship Cruising Wave: Doubles Cruise Itineraries for 2019

Details: Released on Thursday, 06 September 2018 11:50

BILLINGS, MT – Sept. 6, 2018– One travel company that’s riding the small ship cruising wave for 2019 has doubled its cruise itineraries from six to 12, all with season-specific weekly departures.

By expanding its division of Small Ship Adventure Cruising opportunities, Austin Adventures (https://www.austinadventures.com/) is satisfying requests of its highly loyal base of repeat guests who in 2018 accounted for (along with past guest referrals) nearly 60 percent of its business. Some of these alumni have traveled between 10 and 20 times over the past 30+ years with Austin Adventures.

Over last few years the concept of small ship cruising has “taken off,” says Dan Austin, Founder and President. “Our cruise itineraries are expedition-oriented, which means that because the ships are small we can bring our guests over the water onto often-unvisited shores, surrounded by pristine wilderness. We have impressed people with our land-based adventures for years. We’re always looking for ways less traveled where we believe the best surprises and experiences are to be found.”

Dan and Carol Austin will host a Presidents Day Week (Feb. 17-23, 2019) charter in Baja/Sea of Cortez to launch this expanded small ship cruise portfolio. Called Baja Offshore President’s Day Exclusive, this adventure is available to up to 12 guests who are served by a crew of eight aboard the 160-foot yacht, Pacific Provider. Three skiffs and a zodiac (and high-end adventure gear) are available for guided and solo exploring right off the boat. Guests enjoy five-star cuisine, an open bar, a curated wine list, handcrafted cocktails delivered by an onboard mixologist, and a variety of agave-based mezcals and local beers on tap. Accommodation is in private suites with oversized observation windows. The top deck is appointed for dining and lounging and offers a Jacuzzi. Rates starting at $5,498/person double include roundtrip airport transfers. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/baja-offshore-presidents-day-exclusive-sea-of-cortez/

Baja – Sea of Cortez also figures into the new-for-2019 cruise lineup. This itinerary island-hops for eight days through adventure, sun-splashed shores and prolific wildlife (boobies, pelicans, frigate birds; humpback, gray, pilot, and blue whales; whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and stingrays). Think snorkeling with sea lion pups! This program aboard the 232-foot Safari Endeavour accommodates up to 84 guests. Available from November 2018 into March 2019, the per person double rate is from $3,795. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/mexico-baja-cruise/

Also new for 2019:

Hawaiian Seascapes is an eight-day tropical cruise through an island paradise aboard the 36-guest, 145-foot Safari Explorer. The itinerary visits four islands with ample time for snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, touring local farms and museums, and nighttime marine wildlife encounters. Offered November 2018 into April 2019, the per person double rate is from $4,695. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/hawaii-cruise/

Costa Rica| Panama: San Jose to Panama Canal is a nine-day exploration of tropical coasts, beaches and wildlife refuges aboard the 174-foot expedition vessel Safari Voyager. Up to 62 guests will experience a star-lit night transit of the Panamá Canal along with the finest opportunities for wildlife encounters, paddling, snorkeling and hiking. Offered year-round the per person double rates if from $4,595. See:https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/costa-rica-panama-san-jose-to-panama-canal/

Australia | Kimberley Wilderness Cruise over eight days explores one of the world’s last great wilderness areas, the Kimberley coastline, home to very few people and caves harboring some of the world’s oldest drawings. Australia’s tributary-riddled north coast is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and the Timor Sea (just south of Indonesia) to the north. Guests fly in helicopters, ride through a falls in a small skiff, go mud crabbing, dip in a secluded billabong and hike to the top of King George Falls, only to return to the comfort of the 36-passenger MV True North where a glass of chilled Australian white wine awaits as in a fine hotel. Available April through August 2019. Call (800) 575-1540 for current pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/australia-kimberley-wilderness-cruise/

Africa | Botswana/Namibia – Zambesi Queen River Safari carries guests over four days down the Chobe River on the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen. It is the perfect addition to a Botswana or Namibia land safari offering world-class sophistication and an unmatched vantage point from which to experience the wonders of the wilds. Throughout the journey, guests enjoy the finest in wining and dining aboard this luxury ship as guides share fascinating stories of Africa's remarkable colors, creatures and culture.Departures are year-round. Call (800) 575-1540 for current pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/botswana-namibia-zambezi-queen-safari/

Alaska | Prince William Sound is an eight-day journey into Price William Sound, away from roads and civilization and deep into breathtaking coastal inlets aboard the 160-foot yacht, 12-passenger Pacific Provider. When anchor is dropped, kayaking, fishing and hiking through old-growth forests begin, with time aplenty for admiring pods of humpback whales and orcas. Departures are from May into September. Call (800) 575-1540 for current pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/prince-william-sound/

Popular small ship cruises back again for 2019 include…

· Bali | Indonesian Islands over seven days weekly from March into September from $2,990 per person double. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/bali-indonesian-islands/

· Vietnam/Cambodia | Mekong River is a five-day itinerary offered year-round. Please call for pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/vietnam-cambodia-mekong-river/

· Peru | Amazon River Cruise is a five-day program year-round. Please call for pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/peru-amazon-river-cruise/

· Ecuador | Galapagos Islands cruises for eight days year-round. Please call for pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/ecuador-galapagos-islands/

· Antarctica | Peninsula Expedition Cruise is a 12-day itinerary from November to March. Please call for pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/antarctica-peninsula-expedition-cruise/

· Alaska | Northern Passages & Glacier Bay sails over eight days April to October. Please call for pricing. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/alaska-cruise-northern-passages-glacier-bay/

For more details on small ship cruising see: https://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/small-ship-cruises/

A full roster of 2019 land and sea active-vacation itineraries is available in a new 60-page catalog that can be ordered (or downloaded) online: https://www.austinadventures.com/request-catalog/.

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent nearly 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. They have been acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution, all backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Adds 22 New Trips to 2019 Roster of Over 80 Itineraries on Seven Continents

Details: Released on Tuesday, 21 August 2018 14:01

BILLINGS, MT – Aug. 21, 2018– The world in which Austin Adventures’ guests explore will be significantly enlarged next year with 22 brand-new adventuresincluding the reemergence of dedicated hiking programs and an expanded portfolio of small-ship cruises. Spanning seven continents are a total of over 80 itineraries representing the biggest collection of offerings in the company’s nearly four-decade history. (For details on 22 new itineraries see: https://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/new-2019-trips/).

And on many trips guests will reap significant savings. “We’ve kept 2019 pricing at 2018 levels on over half of the existing departures,” said Dan Austin, Founder and President. With 2019 already shaping up to be another banner year, Austin credits loyal and repeat clients who tell the company where they most want to go next. A full roster of 2019 itineraries is available in a new 60-page catalog that can be ordered (or downloaded) online: https://www.austinadventures.com/request-catalog/.

Hiking is a major focus for 2019 with new trip itineraries suggested by alumni guests and developed by Austin’s veteran staff. New adventures include:

Alberta – Banff Hike Adventure that over six days delves deep into the wild side of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/alberta-banff-hike/
Arizona / Utah – Grand Canyon to Bryce and Zion explores three national parks over eight days. Guides know where to avoid the crowds on back country hikes into worlds that reward those who make the extra effort on foot. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/grand-canyon-bryce-zion-2/
Portugal – Active Azores over nine days hikes, kayaks and bikes through a geographically diverse region enroute to sipping the wine of the tsars in the Pico Island vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additional time is spent whale watching in the exotic Azores. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/portugal-active-azores/
Switzerland / Italy – Lugano to Como puts the Alps into perspective, as well as the Matterhorn and Apennines. Guests walk up to nine miles a day for six days through some of the world’s most stunning, lake-strewn alpine scenery with always the promise of la cucina at day’s end. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/switzerland-italy-lugano-to-como/

To review all of Austin Adventures’ hiking itineraries (new and classic) please see: https://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/hiking-vacations/

Small ship cruising is growing in popularity thanks to a world-wide surge of new and converted expedition vessels ranging from 12 to 200 passengers. Austin Adventures’ collection of newly added small ship cruises include:

Baja – Sea of Cortez that island hops through adventure, sun-splashed shores and prolific wildlife (boobies, pelicans, frigate birds; humpback, gray, pilot, and blue whales; whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and stingrays). Think snorkeling with sea lion pups! This is an eight-day program aboard the 232-foot Safari Endeavour that accommodates up to 84 guests. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/mexico-baja-cruise/
Costa Rica / Panama: San Jose to Panama Canal is a nine-day exploration of tropical coasts, beaches and wildlife refuges aboard the 174-foot expedition vessel Safari Voyager. Up to 62 guests will experience a star-lit night transit of the Panamá Canal along with the finest opportunities for wildlife encounters, paddling, snorkeling and hiking. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/costa-rica-panama-san-jose-to-panama-canal/
Hawaiian Seascapes is an eight-day tropical cruise through an island paradise aboard the 36-guest, 145-foot Safari Explorer. The itinerary visits four islands with ample time for snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, touring local farms and museums, and nighttime marine wildlife encounters. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/hawaii-cruise/

For more details on Austin Adventures’ expanded small ship cruise collection see: https://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/small-ship-cruises/

Austin Adventures is a Travel + Leisure MagazineWorld’s Best Award Winner and a Virtuoso Preferred Tour Operator.

About Austin Adventures

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Inaugurates New Austin Collection with September Outing To The Chilko Experience in British Columbia

Details: Released on Wednesday, 18 July 2018 09:30

BILLINGS, MT – July 18, 2018– An immersion in luxury, privacy and 5 million acres of playful wilderness in British Columbia is Austin Adventures’ choice to inaugurate its brand-new division, The Austin Collection, that launched earlier this month.

The Sept. 21-25, 2018 all-inclusive, inaugural escape will coincide with peak grizzly bear-viewing at one of the most exclusive family-owned properties in the Pacific Northwest, The Chilko Experience. Only eight guests will be accommodated during this time, co-hosted by Austin Adventures founder Dan Austin and his wife, Carol.

The per person double rate is $3,998.00 exclusive of air travel from Vancouver, BC. This includes accommodation in award-winning log or timber frame homes, all meals with wine pairings at dinner, an open bar and guided activities. See: https://www.austinadventures.com/chilko/

The total population of hungry bears in the area from mid-September through October number over 100, providing a visual feast for human visitors to this remote region who are hungry to see one of Nature’s annual spectacles. Depending upon conditions, guests may observe dozens of bears feeding at a time, concentrated along a three-mile segment on the Chilko River beginning at the river's mouth and extending downstream, an area where in some years the salmon numbers exceed one million. The result is that the Chilko River has some of the finest bear viewing anywhere in North America. The river is deep in the BC interior and is the only salmon-feeding option for bears within a 200-mile radius. The Chilko Lake grizzly bear is a large subspecies of the North American Brown Bear. Adult female grizzlies weigh around 290–400 lbs., and adult males about 400–790 lbs. with an average length of 6.50 feet.

Guides escort guests into boats that are positioned on the river for prime bear viewing, staying far enough away so as not to disturb the feeding frenzy but close enough to witness one of Nature’s miracles. The annual salmon run also coincides with the peak season for trout fishing.

While at The Chilko Experience guests have the privilege of lodging in the six custom log and timber frame homes that took center stage on HGTV’s Timber Kings a few years back.Today these one and two-bedroom, artisan-crafted dwellings continue to delight visitors whom their hosts welcome like family to their exclusive family estate. Each unique home shares common features: oversized windows for maximum natural light, stone floors, hand-beveled denim (blue toned pine) ceilings, steel roofs, all tastefully furnished with antiques. Anne Huston, a long-time antique dealer, has adorned these classic homes with many of her collectibles. See: https://thechilkoexperience.com/log-homes/

Most guests access the Chilko valley via private charter flights originating in Vancouver, BC. The flight time is one hour. Guests can also fly commercially to Williams Lake, rent a car and then drive three hours to the estate. From Vancouver it’s a 10-hour drive.

The Chilko Experience Owner/Host Phil Huston says, “Imagine you are 20 years old (again), visiting your favorite uncle at his property in the pristine British Columbia wilderness. He has all the toys (boats, ATVs, horses and guides) necessary to explore this vast area and do all the coolest things possible. He also has a chef and an open bar, and his local status makes you a local too. You’re not a tourist but an insider while at Chilko. That’s the Chilko Experience.”

The Chilko Experience is one of the first eight properties of The Austin Collection that are all personally vetted by the Austins and singled out for extraordinary, all-inclusive accommodations in world-class settings ranging from Alaska to Peru. The pioneering stars in the The Austin Collection include:

Alaska - Sheldon Chalet
Arizona – Tanque Verde Ranch
Montana – The Resort at Paws Up
British Columbia - The Chilko Experience
British Columbia - Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort
Chile - explora Atacama
Peru - explora Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley)
Peru - Hotel Sol y Luna (Urubamba)

To book an Austin Collection experience, call 1.800.575.1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a full roster of Austin Adventures’ 2018-2019 trips, cruises and distinctive accommodations on seven continents please visit http://www.austinadventures.com. Austin Adventures is a Travel + Leisure Magazine World’s Best Award Winner and a Virtuoso Preferred Tour Operator.

About Austin Adventures

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Eight Distinctive, Over-The-Top Accommodations From Alaska to Peru Launch the New Austin Collection

Details: Released on Thursday, 12 July 2018 09:27

BILLINGS, MT – July 12, 2018 – In selecting the first eight properties of what will be known as The Austin Collection, Dan Austin, founder and president of Austin Adventures, and his wife, Carol Austin, draw on nearly 40 years of international hosting experiences. They are putting their highest mark of approval on a handful of extraordinary, all-inclusive accommodations in world-class settings ranging from Alaska to Peru.

Dan Austin says that creating the new Austin Collection was a no-brainer:

“Carol and I have a symbiotic relationship with the style of properties our clients enjoy. Time and again trip alumni ask us for referrals to our favorite accommodations,” says Dan Austin. “Our clients trust our judgement to recommend properties we have personally vetted and grown to trust.” The company enjoys a loyal clientele with 98 percent of alumni travelers saying they would travel with Austin Adventures again.

The Austin Collection launch includes properties in the United States (Alaska, Arizona and Montana), Canada (British Columbia), Chile and Peru. Vacation packages will be available for booking through the vacation specialists at Austin Adventures. See: http://austinadventures.com/collection.

“We look forward in the months ahead to welcoming to the Collection other outstanding properties that meet our criteria,” Austin adds. The Austin Collection is expected to grow with the addition of one or two new offerings a year.

The accommodations profiled in the Austin Collection’s launch all share…

Locations that are often isolated and remote
Chef-prepared, fresh and locally sourced foods and wines of the region
Opportunities to indulge in destination-specific outdoor recreation
Highest standards of housekeeping, service and maintenance
Immersion in local cultures and traditions
A rare feeling of exclusivity with VIP pampering, services and experiences

The Austin Collection’s inaugural, pioneering stars are:

Alaska - Sheldon Chalet

After arriving by helicopter, Denali National Park is the playground for up to 10 guests in a five-bedroom chalet engineered on a nunatak (a glacier outcropping) at nearly 6,000 feet. Guests can sled, ski tour and trek, star gaze, engage in a guided mountaineering ropes course, explore crevasses or relax in a sauna.

“The Sheldon Chalet is honored to have been selected to join the Austin Collection. As the only accommodation on Denali, The Sheldon Chalet provides a new luxury experience in a majestic location on North America's tallest peak only 10 miles from the summit. Guests can experience Denali like never before. Our exclusive location and itinerary - helicopter flight to the Chalet, private chef, mountain guides, concierge - makes the Sheldon Chalet a beautiful fit for the Austin Collection, joining other amazing properties around the world,” shared Marne Sheldon, Sheldon Chalet.

Arizona - Tanque Verde Ranch

Surrounding this Tucson ranch are 60,000 acres of Sonoran Desert beauty. The ranch received its first guests in 1928; 150 years later they still flock to be embraced by Santa Fe-style adobe walls. Outside the Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park and Coronado National Forest beckon adventurers to horseback ride, mountain bike, explore and hike. Leatherwork and silversmith workshops echo the Old West; programs just for kids are fun and creative. Mom and Dad relish the La Sonora Spa.

Montana - The Resort at Paws Up

On this 37,000-acre playground, guests lodge in impeccably appointed private homes or in a luxurious tented camp. Activities include exploring by ATV, horseback riding on 100 miles of trails, fly fishing on 10 river miles, learning to shoot sporting clays, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, rappelling, hot air ballooning and paintball; and in winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding and snowmobiling.

British Columbia - The Chilko Experience

Guests arrive by chartered plane to this private estate with seven stunning log homes accommodating just 12 guests weekly. Surrounded by five million acres of wilderness, Chilko River and Chilko Lake, couples and families canoe and kayak, fly fish, whitewater raft, pilot ATVs, horseback ride and hike. Come fall, brown bear watching is popular on land and water. Guests can also pursue axe throwing and blacksmithing.

British Columbia - Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort

Located in the Great Bear Rainforest, accessible only by floatplane or helicopter, are 18 cabins, some built on stilts over the water, at the base of 5,000-foot Mt. Stephens. A waterfall runs through resort, suppling clean drinking water and green energy. Guests kayak on the lookout for black bear, heli-hike mountain ridges, whale watch on the Broughton Archipelago and fish for wild Pacific salmon.

Chile - explora Atacama

The sand dunes of the Atacama Desert and volcanoes of the Andes highlands are at the doorstep of this stylish adobe dwelling where guests lodge and dine between mountain hikes to summits over 16,000 feet high, horseback ride through red soil esplanades, hike through otherworldly landscapes and cycle into technicolor hills. They can also dip in the Puritama hot springs or sneak a peek at the stars through the telescope in a private observatory - after a traditional barbeque, music and dancing.

Peru - explora Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley)

A visit here promises an immersion in cultures of the past and present, with more than 20 possibilities for exploring Inca ruins plus indulging at a spa located in a 17th century colonial dwelling. The traditional Peruvian cuisine is always a high point. Guests meet with local Quechua weavers, walk on glaciers outside of Cusco, pedal along the Urubamba River and visit the iconic mountain citadel of Machu Picchu.

Peru - Hotel Sol y Luna (Urubamba)

In the Valley of the Incas guests nestle in casitas built of indigenous stone and appointed with local textiles and artifacts and Spanish colonial furniture, all of which are surrounded by lush terraces and gardens, pre-Colombian ruins and Spanish colonial churches. Before anticipating a private 10-course dinner, guests trek or paraglide, kayak or horseback ride on a Peruvian Paso horse. A tour of an organic garden precedes a cooking class.

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. They have been acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution, all backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Creates Seven Travel Planning Guides to Insure a Successful Vacation

Details: Released on Wednesday, 02 May 2018 10:08

BILLINGS, MT, May 2, 2018 – The artisans of international adventure travel have just published seven online Travel Planning Guides – all free -- answering a myriad of questions about how best to plan a family trip or a National Park adventure or even an international vacation.

The guides are authored by the seasoned staff of Austin Adventures, who for more than 35 years have fielded questions about its award-winning, multi-sport adventure travel programs. The guides are full of helpful tips and suggestions, free of any self-promotion or bias. The payoff for today’s vacationers are in-depth wells of sound information including the right questions to ask before departing on a journey.

“Our guides are resources for inspiring and empowering vacation planning, whether or not you will be traveling with us,” said Dan Austin, company founder and president. “Our Travel Planning Guides answer important questions we’ve been asked over the years. When it comes to destinations, such as National Parks, Europe, Asia and the Americas, we provide information about regions where we have itinerary experience. Our roster and expertise does however, cover the seven continents.”

Germane to each guide is Austin Adventures’ stock in trade – suggestions on how to bike, hike, cruise, raft, snorkel and swim in landscapes clutching captivating cultures and cuisines and where today’s inquisitive tourism has made new worlds now accessible.

The guide targeting families, authored by Kasey Austin, named by Outside Magazine as the World’s Top Family Guide in 2014 -- How to Plan the Ultimate Family Vacation-- suggests arranging a family vacation planning kickoff party. Pizza, anyone? This step-by-step helpmate anticipates questions families need to deliberate:

· Where should we go?

· How much money should we budget?

· When is the best time to travel?

· How will we get there?

· What accommodations should we book?

· Where will we eat?

· What activities should we book in advance?

· Should we consider hiring a guide or a tour operator?

Austin Adventures cut its teeth decades ago by delivering multisport itineraries in National Parks. Today parks are the most popular segment of their business. One travel planner, Ultimate National Parks Vacation, steers people to bucket-list regions and landscapes, with suggestions that range from best cycling and hiking routes to how to avoid the crowds and when and where to enjoy wildflower displays. It also offers advice on how to make camping, lodging and restaurant reservations within the parks.

How to Plan the Ultimate European Vacation outlines opportunities for active travel vacations that allow people to be in intimate contact with the culture and landscape. Suggestions for cycling and hiking itineraries figure prominently, along with fun facts and tips on, among others, gastronomy, wine, currency and language.

Latin America Vacation Planning Guide embraces vacations in Central and South America, answering questions concerning

· Best times to visit (by country)

· Food and culture

· Transportation and accommodations

· Trip ideas for each country

· Before you leave checklist

· Packing lists

Africa Vacation Planning Guide details by region which months are best for experiencing safari and cultural immersions, the myriad of ways to travel on this continent, local currencies and languages and such fun facts as the Namib (Namibia) Desert is 80 million years old, making it the supreme grandfather of all the deserts on Earth.

The countries that lie between the Indian and Pacific oceans are still uncharted territory for many American travelers. Southeast Asia Vacation Planning Guide helps make sense of the ethnic diversity here in 11 countries with 620 million in population. Because even in the planning stages sensory overload is predictable, this guide provides an overview with trip planning essentials such as visa and vaccination requirements and important country rules, regulations and specifics.

Austin Adventures has seen significant growth in the number of clients requesting custom and private itineraries curated for their own family and friends. The Custom and Exclusive Vacation Planning Guide answers many questions the organizer asks. These custom itineraries can be arranged for just a couple or for groups of 25 or more. From plotting that surprise 50th birthday to retracing roots in the Scottish Highlands with a multigenerational family to organizing a corporate retreat with flair or getting the girls together for the first time in years, the only thing standing between the organizer and the trip-of-a-lifetime is getting started. The guide helps the organizer come up with no more than three destination options, guides the creation of an activity wish list and defines such practical issues as timelines and budgets.

To download these complimentary guides please see this landing page: https://www.austinadventures.com/free-travel-planning-guides/

To help plan, Austin Adventures’ 2018 catalog is available upon request. Please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a full roster of 2018 trips that is frequently updated beyond the print catalog please visit http://www.austinadventures.com.

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. Acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution. All backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

In Gratitude to Travel Professionals Austin Adventures Tags Entire Month of May ‘Travel Agent Appreciation Month’

Details: Released on Tuesday, 01 May 2018 09:55

National Travel Agent Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 2.But one veteran travel company, Austin Adventures, is tagging all of May as Travel Agent Appreciation Month.

Throughout the month, the leading artisan of worldwide multisport and family adventure travel scheduled a potpourri of programs just for the travel trade. Events and recognitions include an informative webinar along with month-long and weekly booking rewards and incentives.

“A major reason that we can enjoy and maintain our position as a leader in the world of active and adventure travel are the relationships we have with our travel agent partners. With this new millennium comes a new breed of counselor who is hip and knowledgeable about the market and their clients’ most passionate travel desires,” said Dan Austin, founder and President. “We’ve learned over the years that a good travel agent is worth their weight in gold. Our goal is to make each agent we work with, a hero to their customers -- and our lifelong friend.”

Austin speaks from a history of his company’s fulfilling relationships with travel agents. In 2014, the company was invited to join the Virtuoso Network as a designated Preferred Tour Operator and Partner. And just recently they became a Preferred Supplier with Valerie Wilson Travel. In 2017 Austin Adventures saw their travel agent-sourced bookings double over the previous year. They are on pace in 2018 to exceed last year’s travel agent business.

When asked why travel agents have embraced Austin Adventures as a top resource for active travel, Austin points to these factors;

· His company is expert at obtaining hard-to-get national park lodging at peak times with prime accommodations built into their tour itineraries

· They are a recognized leader in offering creative custom and private itineraries for clients; “if you can dream it, Austin Adventures can build it”

· Behind-the-scenes VIP access they enjoy thanks to the deep relationships the company has established with suppliers and partners

· Regularly acknowledged by the media, Austin Adventures sets a high bar when it comes to top quality family adventures and national park vacations

· Austin Adventures offers its unique brand of travel on all seven continents

· They have been engaging satisfied guests for over 35 years, recognized as a coveted two-time winner of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Award for Adventure Tour Operators

Month-long Rewards

Throughout May, Austin Adventures will offer, beyond its 12 percent commission,these travel agentrewards, bonuses and incentives:

· A bonus $50 Amazon gift card to agents per person booked

· A $1,000 Amazon gift card awarded to the top selling agent in May

· A $50 Amazon gift card per person booked on agent-to-agent referrals (if one agent recommends them to another agent and a successful booking results, both the referring agent and referred-to agent receive a card)

· A $100 Amazon gift card to the agent who most successfully promotes Austin Adventures on their personal or agency Facebook page – the posting with the most interactions (likes, comments, etc.) “wins”

· A $500 Amazon gift card for most unusual and inspiring custom trip request that results in a successful booking (this bonus reward is on top of all the other incentives and commissions already being earned)

Revolving Weekly Booking Incentives

Every Tuesday morning in May, Austin Adventures will email and post online one or more of these incentives for agency clients to help close a travel agent’s sale:

· One complimentary pre-trip accommodation night for guests

· A $250 flight voucher for each individual traveler (based on specific itineraries)

· Booking incentives (coffee table book, other kinds of gifts and swag) for specific itineraries

· Book a group of 10 and two additional guests will go for free (to be passed on to the client)

· Plus other incentives as suggested by agents and staff throughout the month

For complete details and changing offers and incentives throughout May, please go to: http://info.austinadventures.com/travel-agent-appreciation-month.

Special Travel Agent Webinar

Agents are invited to register for and participate in aThursday May 3, 2018 webinar designed to assist them in product understanding and sales. It will be held from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. For more information and to register, see: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/64680261331323650?source=aa.

This webinar will provide:

· An overview of Austin Adventures, past, present and future

· The company’s style and approach to active, adventure travel

· Company tools and resources to help agents attract clients and close a sale

· A review of May’s Travel Agent Appreciation Month Rewards and Incentives

· An opportunity for Q&A

“Today’s marketplace, dominated by the Internet has increased access to travel information but in turn has made the human expert more important than ever,” points out Austin. “Agents have access, resources and connections that would take the average traveler a lifetime to build. We love the role the travel agent fills for countless reasons.” Austin points to their Top Five reasons;

· Travel agents help tell their unique story to passionate travelers

· The opportunity for creative, synergistic initiatives like co-marketing and preferred supplier partnerships that will extend both of our brands and reach

· Agents, like Austin Adventures itself, are entrepreneurial, small business owners who can act fast and think out of the box

· Agents display a true passion for quality travel that rivals that of Austin Adventures’ own

· The best agents are travel ambassadors who inspire more people to travel more often, and to seek out new and captivating destinations, cultures and natural worlds

For more information on how Austin Adventures works with agents please see: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-professionals/.

Austin Adventures’ 2018 catalog is available upon request. Please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a full roster of 2018 trips that is frequently updated beyond the print catalog please visit http://www.austinadventures.com.

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent more than 35 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. Acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution. All backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Embraces European History And Invites Active Travelers Young and Old On New-for-2018, Amsterdam-to-Aachen Multi-Sport Vacation

Details: Released on Tuesday, 03 April 2018 11:04

BILLINGS, MT, April 3, 2018 – The artisans of international, multi-sport travel have designed a new-for-2018 vacation itinerary that embraces a culture that’s flourished since tulips jump started its 17th century economy.

Austin Adventures’ Holland & Germany | Amsterdam to Aachen is a seven-day meander by pedal and foot exploring a landscape and history captured on canvas. Singularly unique in its route and itinerary, it offers the thrill of enjoying breakfast in Holland, followed by lunch in Belgium, and a memorable dinner in Germany.

History is intertwined in each day’s activities. The prosperity that tulips brought to this Dutch-speaking people helped them reclaim from the North Sea a low-lying region known as Holland. Here lies Amsterdam, capital of The Netherlands, the gateway for Austin Adventures’ seven-day journey that also dips into Belgium and Germany.

The per person double rate for adults is $2,998 ($480 single supplement) and on family departures, children age 7 to 15 are $2,698 on a room share basis. Confirmed 2018 departures are May 13, June 10 (family), July 1 (family), July 22 (family), Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. The rate includes accommodation, all meals, fully trained professional guides and knowledgeable local partners, well-maintained bikes and other equipment, vehicle support and land transportation, Austin Adventures-themed T-shirt and travel items, pre-departure and packing information.

Almost immediately and throughout this trip guests are imbued with the power once held by Dutch traders and international bankers. Accommodations include just outside of Amsterdam the stately Hotel de Bilderberg in the forested hills of The Veluwe. Here a gathering of European and North American power brokers first met in 1954, hence the Bilderberg Group.

Guests also revel in palatial accommodations at the late 18th century Hotel Kasteel Bloemendal (Schloss Blumenthal) located in forested hills near the juncture of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Blumenthal made his money in textiles, providing linens to, among others, the Russian tsar.

On an Austin Adventures’ itinerary, fresh air activities play a dual role by getting guests moving and recreating through history and landscapes they have only seen in the old master paintings. They will…

cycle from 10-30 miles a day on quiet bike paths, trails and country roads, past gardens, vineyards and through medieval towns. This is a cycling-centric culture with over 19,000 miles of bike paths over predominantly flat or rolling hill terrain.

harness the perpetual wind in the sail of a blokart (a type of compact, wind-powered land yacht). Guests have lessons on a sandy beach.

hike through famous WW II sites in the historic border region of Belgium and The Netherland where visitors are never distant from the reverberations of World War II, including at the American War Memorial in Maastricht where the Dutch honor fallen soldiers that helped liberate the Netherlands from Axis occupation. Arnhem is where in 1977 a World War II movie was filmed, A Bridge Too Far, reliving the Allied attempt to break through German lines here.

stroll through art at the Arnhem Open Air Museum, down the cobblestone streets of Maastricht (one of the Netherlands’ most picturesque cities) and indulge artistic sensibilities before works by Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso and more at the Kröller Müller Museum.

taste wine in mountaintop vineyards in the border region.

imagine Charlemagne in Germany’s most western city, Aachen, in the Middle Ages when, thanks to the trade in woolen cloth (favored by the wealthy), the city enjoyed a prosperity that led to the Aachen Cathedral in AD 796. Today this city has a thriving black metal scene.

For trip details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/hollandgermany-amsterdam-aachen/.

About Austin Adventures

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/

Austin Adventures Lavishes Incentives on Travel Agents Who Book National Park Vacations in March

Details: Released on Tuesday, 06 March 2018 09:56

BILLINGS, MT – March 6, 2018 – Austin Adventures is marking March 2018 for its own month-long tribute to this country’s National Parks and to travel agents who assist in guiding Austin Adventures clients to these destinations.

Four decades ago this pioneer of active, multisport travel for adults and families cut its teeth with award-winning itineraries exploring National Parks. Today itineraries that wrap around these natural wonders constitute the majority of national and international travel destinations available to guests. The company enjoys a loyal clientele with 98% of alumni travelers saying that they would journey with Austin Adventures again.

In 2017 Austin Adventures’ travel agent-sourced bookings doubled over the previous year. In recognizing their importance and to reward travel professionals for their loyalty, Austin Adventures will gift travel agents a $50 Amazon Card per adult or child booked on any Austin Adventures pre-set or custom departure utilizing a National Park during the month of March. For example, a family of five booked earns an agent five $50 gift cards. This reward comes on top of an already generous 12 percent commission agents receive for booking Austin Adventures trips.

To incentivize the public and to help agents make a sale, Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com) will also include a free pre-trip hotel room for guests (double occupancy) with ages 12 and under sharing the room with the adults. For a four-adult booking, two pre-trip rooms are offered. Again, this offer runs through March and is exclusive to any national park trip booking.

Austin Adventures makes servicing its clients from introduction to journey’s end its top priority, whether working through travel agents or directly with the client. Online resources to assist in decision-making include:

Travel Planning Resources: https://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/travel-planning-resources/
A Recent Webinar Recording on National Park vacations for kids: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/video-national-park-vacations-kids-kasey-austin/
Free Family Travel Planning Guide: https://www.austinadventures.com/free-family-travel-guide/
Dedicated Travel Agent Resources Page: https://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/travel-professionals/

“When a national park is in the equation, an experienced, well-connected tour company can give you the kind of quality park experience that just might not be possible on your own,” said Dan Austin, President and Founder of Austin Adventures.

Austin’s company has stayed ahead of the growth curve and explosion in popularity that National Parks have experienced recently by adding capacity and departures and by blocking prime lodging inside a park a year or more in advance. Leading tour operators such as Austin Adventures has rooms, restaurant reservations and sightseeing logistics all worked out. They have standing reservations for meals/restaurants both inside a park and outside (years of research have turned up great places the public may not be aware of). They alleviate parking woes by dropping off guests and guides at a trailhead or attraction and picking them up later. They know where the crowds aren’t as well as the overlooked trails and park vistas and best times to be there.

“Guests – and their travel agents -- benefit from our expertise and ‘insider’ knowledge and connections,” Austin said.

To help plan a client’s next great journey, Austin Adventures’ 2018 catalog is available upon request. Please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For a full roster of 2018 trips that is frequently updated beyond the print catalog please visit http://www.austinadventures.com. Austin Adventures is a Virtuoso Preferred Tour Operator.

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. They have been acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution, all backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

# # #

Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Blog: https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/