Austin Adventures Sees Strong Growth and Trend In Demand for Exclusive, Custom Vacations

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Released on Monday, 16 June 2014 09:27

BILLINGS, MT, June 16, 2014 – Austin Adventures, world leader in small group, multisport and active travel, have shifted sales focus and operations this year to accommodate a significant uptick in requests for private and exclusive custom trips. The 2014 season is shaping up to be a banner year for independent group travel.

Custom trips this year will comprise 31 percent of Austin Adventures’ overall business, up from 12 percent five years ago. Custom tour bookings are up 28 percent over 2013.

“We have a record number of requests for exclusive and private trips and as far as experiences and itineraries go; one is only limited by their imagination (or ours),” says Dan Austin, President.

This company is often ahead of the curve when it comes to recognizing and reacting to travel trends before larger, less nimble tour companies.

As Austin explains, designing a custom trip usually starts with a call to the Austin Adventures sales team, followed by a detailed question and answer session. The joint mission is to come up with an itinerary that addresses and satisfies the needs and desires of each member of the party or family. Then it is his company’s goal to create and run a one-of-a-kind trip that will exceed all expectations.

“Clients seem better informed when it comes to where to go and what to do. As creative as our set itineraries are, many want to modify a few activities or craft the week into a completely different private trip. We love the challenge!” Austin’s company can handle groups of two to 20+ on existing itineraries that can be custom tweaked.

The following sketches of recent custom itineraries help capture some of the creativity used when planning private adventures:

1) Private Multisport Group Trip with Austin Adventures in Southern France

A group of 28 arrived in two private jets from New Haven, CT. Here’s a blow by blow account of their tour:

• Daily they split up to bike, hike or sightsee/shop depending upon personal desires.
• They visited the Sunday antique market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the Wednesday market in St-Rémy-de-Provence and the Friday market in Carpentras.
• A guided visit (with a local expert) was arranged to the Synagogue in Carpentras, the oldest in France (13th century).
• Eighteen participated in a cooking class at the Michelin starred restaurant Le Phebus.
• Luncheons included three saffron-infused courses at a saffron producer’s home and another at a pastry maker’s home where mille-feuille (aka Napoleon) starred.
• Guests enjoyed a Jeu de Boules tournament and kayaked from Collias to Remoulins under the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard.
• A masseuse who works on Tour de France cyclists treated these guests who all agreed that he’s the “best masseuse they ever encountered.”
• A local expert guided them through the mental hospital where Van Gogh was treated and revealed stories of St-Rémy.
• More than 10 electric bikes were brought in for guests who don’t cycle regularly.
• Arrangements were made for special early-morning photography sessions.

2)   Private Yellowstone/Teton National Park Exclusives

This year a number of Austin Adventures Yellowstone-Teton trip dates were turned into “exclusive” trips, meaning that a regular program was modified as requested for a private group.

• One trip was modified to accommodate a fly fishing excursion on Lewis Lake for six guys (three boats and three fishing guides). The gals went kayaking on Jackson Lake.
• On an exclusive trip for 10, half wanted to go horseback riding. On an already jam-packed program, the company arranged this and a covered wagon ride for the others.  All met up for a cowboy cookout steak dinner. For the one-year-old the company provided a bike trailer (Burley) and invested in cribs (pack and play) to place in the parents’ and the nanny’s rooms.
• The company arranged a stay at a dude ranch in Jackson Hole followed by a visit to the Park for nine who flew in on their private jet in June. Included were custom airport transfers and red carpet treatment.

3) Canadian Rockies Custom

A multigenerational family of 12 is traveling to the Canadian Rockies in July on Austin Adventures regular family itinerary -- with the addition of kayaking on Bow River and rock climbing instruction for a wide range of abilities.

4) Custom Corporate Retreat in Big Sky Country

A corporate retreat was chauffeured from Bozeman to engage in such team building activities as rock climbing in the Gallatin Canyon, snowshoeing up Beehive Basin and equestrian challenges at the 320 Guest Ranch. Two meeting days were squeezed in at Old Faithful Inn, with a private guide available for outings there.

5) Utah’s Canyonlands program

A family of six reserved two Austin Adventures guides for their exclusive tour in Arches and Canyonlands National Park. A two-year-old will go on all the hikes and bike rides but isn’t old enough to go rafting or on the Hummer Backcountry Jeep tour, so one guide will accompany the family while another serves as a temporary nanny.

6) High End Camping – Yellowstone Country

The dream of one family of four is to camp under the Montana night sky. They will do this in deluxe style for two nights at a private ranch, followed by two nights in lodges in and around Yellowstone; and camping the last evening on the Gallatin River. All equipment and private camp chef are included. On the final night the group is in for a surprise. The private chef will be none other than Austin Adventure’s Founder and President, Dan Austin (an accomplished Dutch Oven and BBQ chef).

And already on the books for 2015 a multigenerational family will experience a custom-built 13-day trip exploring by hiking, biking, kayaking and white water rafting Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and South Dakota’s Black Hills.

Because of this marked increase in people looking to create a private trip, an expanded section dedicated to planning bespoke vacations was recently added to the company website:

http://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/travel-planning-resources/plan-adventure-vacation/plan-perfect-custom-adventure-vacation/and a page that offers a number of possible destination ideas: http://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/custom/.

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/

About Austin Adventures

In addition to multi-sport adventures, Austin Adventures offers family, biking and hiking tours and small ship cruising, in total spanning 35 countries on six continents.

Outside Magazinerecently singled out Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations and trip leader extraordinaire, as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014. In March 2012 Travel + Leisure awarded ALA the 2012 World’s Best Values Award for Tour Operators. ALA has also received Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator Award (a Top 3 finisher) for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 the company was honored with the Global Vision Award for its Wheels of Change bicycle empowerment initiative.

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,”Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, CW Adventures; and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog:                http://www.austinadventures.com/blog

You Tube:       http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Austin Adventures Launches Enhanced Website That’s Tablet, Phone and User Friendly

Details

Released on Tuesday, 13 May 2014 08:56

BILLINGS, MT, May 13, 2014 – World leader in small group, multisport active travel, Austin Adventures, announces the recent launch of its newly designed, mobile-and-tablet-friendly website after eight months of planning and programming focused on enhancing the end user’s overall experience. The redesigned website can be viewed at http://www.austinadventures.com/.

Assisted by the web technology firm Verb Interactive, the website’s responsive design allows it to be viewed efficiently on whatever device the user is on; desktop PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.  Programming senses the device and adjusts the screen and features accordingly.

Other user-friendly innovations include an easier-to-navigate format including a trip finder and world map feature and a call-back request function that alerts Austin Adventures of a caller’s name, phone number and best time to call back.

For conducting trip research and planning, the new site promotes an expanded travel resources page: http://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/travel-planning-resources/ with everything from weather and health advisories to passport and visa information. It even offers advice on choosing the right tour operator.

“Before we began, we took a close look at our business and what our travelers are looking for,” explains Dan Austin, president and founder of Austin Adventures. “The more good content we can put at their fingertips the more informed they will become. And a smart, educated traveler usually makes the right vacation decision.”

Austin has seen a marked increase in people looking to create a private trip, unique to their personal interests and desire. In the redesign he wanted to give those free-spirited travelers more information on what’s possible through his company. So for anyone seeking a private and custom tour, there’s an expanded section dedicated to planning bespoke vacations: http://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/travel-planning-resources/plan-adventure-vacation/plan-perfect-custom-adventure-vacation/ and a page that offers a number of possible destinations: http://www.austinadventures.com/tour-packages/custom/.

As the market expands and new leisure travelers are exposed to adventure travel, Austin points out that there’s a need to help them understand the choices and what a typical tour is all about. A new How to Plan an Adventure Vacation Page offers helpful guidelines and steps to first-time active travelers: http://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/travel-planning-resources/plan-adventure-vacation/

Crowd-sourcing for unbiased advice and recommendations is also a trend that Austin Adventures wanted to embrace. The new site redesign makes it easier for a prospective client to share trips he/she is interested in with family and friends or read about what others had to say. With a click of a button visitors can email trip links to others, post about them on Facebook, Google+ and more, or create a board on Pinterest. 

Since a picture tells a thousand words, compelling images are also important for visitors and dreamers. An enhanced photo gallery with high-resolution photography for both media and consumers offers 399 separate albums with over 10,000 separate photos:  http://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/adventures/image-gallery/

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/

About Austin Adventures

In addition to multi-sport adventures, Austin Adventures offers family, biking and hiking tours and small ship cruising, in total spanning 35 countries on six continents.

Outside Magazinerecently singled out Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations and trip leader extraordinaire, as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014. In March 2012 Travel + Leisure awarded ALA the 2012 World’s Best Values Award for Tour Operators. ALA has also received Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator Award (a Top 3 finisher) for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 the company was honored with the Global Vision Award for its Wheels of Change bicycle empowerment initiative. 

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,”Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, CW Adventures; and Austin Adventures. 

# # # 

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog:               http://www.austinadventures.com/blog

You Tube:     http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Austin Adventures Joins USTOA

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Released on Tuesday, 29 April 2014 13:34

NEW YORK, NY – April 29, 2014– Terry Dale, president and CEO of The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), announced today that Austin Adventures, offering upscale, active adventures for adults and families throughout the world, has joined the association as its newest Active Member, bringing its current total to 49 corporate members representing more than 150 brands.

“Adventure tourism is a fast growing market, and Austin Adventures’ has been providing a wide range of experiential leisure offerings with outstanding customer service for more than 40 years,” said Dale. “They are an ideal complement to our membership and it is a pleasure to welcome them to USTOA.”

“Austin Adventures has always been committed to protecting the travel community,” added Dan Austin, founder and president of Austin Adventures. “We see no better way than to align ourselves with the USTOA and further support their ongoing effort to promote the highest levels of integrity within our industry. There is no finer group of tour operators than the members of USTOA to be associated with, and we are proud to now be a part of this elite group.”

With a legacy dating back to 1974, Austin Adventures offers small group active guided tours featuring biking, hiking, paddling, safaris, horseback, small ships, snorkeling and more while focusing on themes such as culture, gourmet food and wellness, to more than 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, South Pacific and Middle East. Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning.

The company’s reputation for integrity, caring and delivering superior customer service has made Austin Adventures one of the world’s top tour operators. Kasey Austin, the company’s vice president of operations and trip leader extraordinaire, was singled out by editors of OUTSIDE Magazine as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014, and in September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known to provide legendary hospitality with a softer footprint, Xanterra entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, resorts, cruise lines, railways and tour operators.

Austin Adventures is located at 4336 Christiansen Road, Billings, Montana 59101. For more information on Austin Adventures, visit www.austinadventures.com or call 1-800-575-1540.

For questions and more information on USTOA, visit www.ustoa.com, call 212-599-6599, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About USTOA: 

Representing more than $11 billion in revenue, the member companies of U.S. Tour Operators Association provide tours, packages and custom arrangements that allow six million travelers annually unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe.   Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program, which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business. 

As a voice for the tour operator industry for 40 years, USTOA also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel agents. For more information about USTOA, visit ustoa.com, call 212.599.6599 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

# # #

USTOA Contact:

Gina Sisco/Liz Carty

Redpoint Marketing PR., Inc.

212-229-0119

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Austin Adventures Media Contact:

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 / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Austin Adventures Partners with Global Fitness Brand Reebok On New Series of Fitness Vacations

Details

Released on Friday, 25 April 2014 11:17

Imagine that your fitness routine doesn’t leave you indoors staring at the same plain walls but instead takes you to some of the world’s most beautiful vistas. Now you can take your passion for fitness with you on luxury adventure vacations around the globe. Two leading brands in the active lifestyle and fitness worlds are teaming up to offer Reebok Fitness Vacations by Austin Adventures.

For over 40 years, Austin Adventures has created award-winning international multi-sport travel experiences. This partnership sees the company team up with leading fitness brand Reebok, to offer a series of vacations that promote fitness as a way of life.

Reebok Fitness Vacations by Austin Adventures will launch in Summer 2014 with a pilot trip to Montana. Vacationers can expect to take part in a wide range of activities such as biking, hiking, rafting, yoga, traditional and trail running, functional fitness classes, group fitness classes and obstacle racing. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/reebok/

“The concept of ‘adventure’ is deeply engrained in the ethos of our company. We believe that for every destination we visit, there’s a unique way to best experience it. With this partnership, we now have an incredible opportunity to bring Reebok’s fitness expertise into the landscapes where fitness enthusiasts want to travel,” says Dan Austin, Austin Adventures founder.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage fitness enthusiasts and to create opportunities to make fitness an integral part of their lifestyle,” said Linne Kimball, Head of Licensing at Reebok. “Partnering with a great organization like Austin Adventures gives our consumers the opportunity to experience Fitness in some of the world’s most incredible locations such as Montana, Utah, and Costa Rica.”

Bookings will be handled by Austin Adventures’ team in Billings, MT. Three trip itineraries are scheduled in 2014 with a full launch scheduled for 2015. This season’s trips include:

• Montana - Big Sky, Yellowstone & Paradise Valley: July 13–18
• Montana – Big Sky, Yellowstone & Paradise Valley: Aug. 3–8
• Utah - Bryce/Zion: Aug. 31–Sept. 5
• Utah – Bryce/Zion: Sept. 21–26
• Costa Rica: Nov. 15-21

Trips will involve climbing steep peaks, stopping to do pushups while hiking backcountry trails, stair climbing to and from waterfall overlooks, forest trail running, whitewater paddling, outdoor functional fitness classes, yoga and more. Guests on some itineraries may engage a masseuse, yoga instructor or other fitness expert traveling with the group. Menus will be hearty and nutrition-oriented.

About Austin Adventures

In addition to multi-sport adventures, Austin Adventures offers family, biking and hiking tours and small ship cruising, in total spanning 35 countries on six continents.

OUTSIDE Magazinerecently singled out Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations and trip leader extraordinaire, as the World’s Top Family Guide for 2014. In March 2012 Travel + Leisure awarded Austin Adventuresthe 2012 World’s Best Values Award for Tour Operators. Austin Adventureshas also received Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator Award (a Top 3 finisher) for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 the company was honored with the Global Vision Award for its Wheels of Change bicycle empowerment initiative.

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA, Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/

About Reebok

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Canton, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of fitness and lifestyle footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied fitness heritage. Reebok develops products, technologies and programming which enable movement and is committed to accompanying people on their journey to fulfill their potential. Reebok connects with the fitness consumer wherever they are and however they choose to stay fit – whether it’s training, running, walking, dance, yoga or aerobics. Reebok Classics leverages the brand’s fitness heritage and represents the roots of the brand in the sports lifestyle market. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division.  Reebok is the exclusive outfitter of CrossFit and the Reebok CrossFit Games, the official title sponsor of the Reebok Spartan Race, and exclusive apparel provider for Les Mills.

For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com or, for the latest news at http://news.reebok.com/. Or, discover Reebok at the following locations: http://facebook.com/reebok; http://twitter.com/reebok; and http://youtube.com/reebok

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog:                http://www.austinadventures.com/blog

You Tube:        http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Contacts for Reebok:

M&C Saatchi for Reebok:

Andrea Nirsimloo, Senior Account Director / 646 619 2813 /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dan Sarro, Reebok Corporate Communications / 781-401-4443 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Austin Adventures Announces Top Ten National Park Family Adventures for 2014 Plus an Incentive to Book by May 15

Details

Released on Friday, 11 April 2014 08:49

BILLINGS, MT, April 11, 2014 – Austin Adventures, international multi-sport vacation specialists, suggests 10 iconic destinations where families can play and bond this summer without leaving North America. And to inspire early reservations, families who book a trip by May 15 will receive $200 off pre-trip accommodations and a coffee table book celebrating the beauty of America’s National Parks. 

See: http://www.austinadventures.com/np-promo/

“Our National Parks are just incredible to behold,” explains Dan Austin, President of Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com/). “Every Park is different and with every trip we plan, we take great care to get beyond the beaten path to experience what makes it so special and extraordinary.” 

For the 2014 season Austin’s company has arranged 10 unique six-day/five-night programs in the Western U.S. and Canada expressly designed for families with children ages 7 and up (min age 5 for Yellowstone Family Adventure). All-inclusive pricing starts at just $1,998 for adults (double) and $1,598 for kids. National Parks visited include Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Kenai Fjords, Bryce, Zion, Wind Cave, Banff and Jasper.  There are multiple departures of all trips. 

New for this season, Austin Adventures guests will enjoy unprecedented “insider’s access” and advantages that Austin attributes to a recent partnership between his company and Xanterra Parks & Resorts®. This partnership brings “access to things like hard-to-get hotel rooms, off-the-tourist-track itineraries and local specialists whose expertise adds unique perspective to travel experiences.” 

Families new to exploring National Parks are invited to join an upcoming Webinar from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) on April 16 hosted by Travel Webinars (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). This can be added to an Outlook calendar by clicking https://www1.gotomeeting.com/synchOutlook?wid=266556632&uid=105234583

To join the Webinar please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/266556632

As each and every park is different activities will vary by what the terrain offers. The South Dakota Family in the Black Hills focuses on a host of dedicated Rails to Trails bike routes and a day exploring underground wonders. Alaska Family on the Kenai Peninsula explores the wilderness by train, small ship, sea kayak, bicycle and on foot. 

Montana Family Great Western Adventure (named a 2014 Tour of a Lifetime by National Geographic Traveler) displays the Wild West from Little Big Horn to the Beartooth Mountains to Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Cody’s rollicking rodeo. 

Near and inside the parks are exemplary accommodations and culinary experiences representative of the history and traditions of the region. After a day of rafting and hiking, parents often enjoy an al fresco glass of wine as their children splash in the swimming pool. 

“Each National Park has its own set of challenges, from white water rapids to rigorous treks. Our guides create a secure and rewarding environment to accomplish the challenges while having a ton of fun along the way,” Austin says.

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/. 

About Austin Adventures

For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. The company’s Vice President of Operations, Kasey Austin, was singled out by editors of OUTSIDE Magazine as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014.

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog: http://www.austinlehman.com/blog

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

National Geographic Traveler Editors Place Austin Adventures' Montana Family Vacation In 2014 Pantheon of “50 Tours of a Lifetime”

Details

Released on Thursday, 10 April 2014 09:39

BILLINGS, MT, April 10, 2014– The editors of National Geographic Traveler announced today that Austin Adventures’ "Montana Family: Great Western Adventure" has been selected as one of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s ninth annual “50 Tours of a Lifetime.”

This trip will be featured in the May 2014 issue and listed on a special Tours of a Lifetime landing page on National Geographic Traveler’s award-winning website.

“Southeastern Montana is a gem of a region right here in our own backyard,” explains Dan Austin, Founder and President of Billings, MT-based Austin Adventures. “It’s been overlooked by adventure travelers far too long. That’s why we took great care in building what we think is a captivating tour itinerary that takes in all the best activities and places. There’s a huge satisfaction in knowing the editors of National Geographic Traveler agreed!”

The magazine’s selection process looked for 2014’s most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided and most sustainable tours offered worldwide.

“This year marks the 30^th anniversary of National Geographic Traveler, which has always looked at the world through the lens of culture, nature, and history. The tours we selected go beyond destination to add meaning and context,” said Norie Quintos, executive editor. “They open the mind to new possibilities, new connections, and new ways of thinking— all critically important given the world’s complex issues.”

For more information please see http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/

Montana Family: Great Western Adventure is a six-day/five-night program that begins and ends in historic Billings, MT and is priced at $1,998 per adult double and from $1,598 for children. Departure dates are June 22 and 29, July 20 and Aug. 17 and 24. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/montana-family-great-western-adventure/

As with all Austin Adventures itineraries, the historic and cultural landscape and terrain determine the range of activities. This region is rife with opportunities, from the Little Bighorn Battlefield, a memorial to the Sioux and Cheyenne, and to the U.S. Army’s 7^th Cavalry, to Cody’s rollicking Stampede Rodeo. And in between are the Rockies from Beartooth Mountains to Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. Guests can get up close and personal with a towering grizzly, a friendly lynx and a great horned owl on a private tour of Billings' ZooMontana; they hike into Montana's beautiful backcountry working up an appetite for a bison burger at the famous Grizzly Bar in Roscoe; saddle-up and ride with cowboys through the foothills and journey to the “Top of the World” on the Beartooth Highway for spectacular 360-degree views and the chance to play in the snow in the middle of summer.

About Austin Adventures

For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. The company’s Vice President of Operations, Kasey Austin, was singled out by editors of OUTSIDE Magazine as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014.

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog: http://www.austinlehman.com/blog

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Popularity of Small Ship Cruising Prompts Austin Adventures to Expand Options: Now Offers Seven Cruises from Antarctica to Alaska

Details

Released on Tuesday, 18 March 2014 09:54

Billings, MT, March 18, 2014–The company that for four decades has offered award-winning international multi-sport vacations has responded to growing demand by launching a new category of adventure – small ship cruising.  Utilizing a variety of classic vessels that carry from 12 to 150 passengers, this year there are seven cruises from Antarctica to Alaska.

Dan Austin, Founder and President, cautions that an Austin Adventures cruise is a far cry from a traditional big ship experience with thousands exercising their way on crowded shore excursions and to and from meals.

“Austin Adventures cruises are all about our signature trademark – small group adventure. We have found some of the best small ship cruise options from around the globe. Imagine a cruise up the Amazon where you can fish for piranhas, or discovering what Charles Darwin saw in the Galapagos, or whale watching in Alaska,” he says.

Austinadds that many enticing shoreline destinations can only be fully appreciated by small ship cruising. For example Antarctica and the Amazon are two regions offering spectacular natural wonders that can only be experienced on board a small and nimble ship designed to maneuver shallow, difficult-to-navigate waterways inaccessible to mega cruise liners.  His company’s selection of ships ranges from a Peruvian riverboat that sleeps 14 to a four-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148.

The Australia | Kimberley Wilderness Cruiseis an 8-day/7-night voyage on the 36-passenger True North that cruises through Western Australia’s pristine Kimberley wilderness region. On shore excursions guests hike (or helicopter) to the top of King George Falls, take a refreshing dip in a secluded billabong, marvel at some of the oldest art in the world -- "The Bradshaws," a group of traditional cave paintings with mysterious origins -- and climax each day with a glass of Australian wine while watching the sunset from an observation lounge. Departures in 2014 are April 19, May 10 and 31, June 21, July 12, and Aug. 2 and 23. Cabin prices begin at $10,495 per person.

Alaska Northern Passages & Glacier Bay is an 8-day/7-night cruise departing weekly in the summer aboard the newly renovated 76-guest Wilderness Explorer built specifically to navigate narrow straights and shallow lagoons. Amenities include a sauna and hot tub, a Douglas fir-topped bar, a hydrophone for listening below the surface and a bow-mounted underwater camera that streams to the vessel’s lounge and to guest cabin TV. The cruise explores from Juneau to Sitka, taking in spectacular tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, chiseled fjords, and pristine waters and wilderness teeming with whales, otters, bears and bald eagles. The per person double rate starts at $4,195. Departures are from May 3 through September 13, 2014.

Antarctica | Peninsula Expedition Cruise is an 11-day/10-night exploration through a world of sculpted ice and spectacular wildlife: sliding penguins, slumbering seals, 3,000-foot ice walls, and surreal sunsets. Guests navigate iceberg-laden waters and White Continent wilderness by small ship, zodiac, kayak and on foot. The M/V Plancius, originally an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy, accommodates 114 passengers. Built specifically for icy conditions and equipped with 10 Zodiac Mark Vs, Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room, a spacious panoramic observation lounge (with bar) and large, open deck spaces, perfect for enjoying the scenery and wildlife. The per person double rate starts at $8,450. Multiple departures between June - September and October – May.

Ecuador | Galapagos Islands is an 8-day/7-night exploration of Darwin’s world that enables guests to witness many of the same wonders he first recorded.  Guests snorkel alongside warm-water penguins and sea lions and marvel at the diverse and fearless avian population. Home base is one of three identical 20-passenger motor yachts: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I and Letty, all with outside-facing cabins with private bath and shower. The per person double rate is $3,900. Departures are weekly year-round.

Peru | Amazon River Cruise is a 5-day/4-night journey aboard the 130-foot luxury riverboat M/V Aqua that sleeps 24 pampered guests. This itinerary reflects June through November departures. Another itinerary is in effect during high-water season of December through May. Departures are year round.   From the observation deck guests can hear exotic birdsong and monkey calls, and witness three-toed sloth along the Ucayali River and other simians on the Pacaya River accessed by skiff. The per person double rate begins at $3,800.

Costa Rica & Panama | Corcovado to Panama Canal is a 7-day/6-night voyage celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Panama Canal this year. Guests sail the exquisite marine and wildlife-rich shores of Costa Rica and Panama’s Pacific coastline, including a transit of the Panama Canal. Corcovado National Park’s treasures include spot tapirs, jaguars and scarlet macaws; breaching whales and pods of playful dolphins welcome guest to the Osa Peninsula. Guests snorkel among schools of manta rays in Coiba National Park, home to one of the largest coral reefs in Central America.  Home base is the 148-passenger, four-masted Wind Spirit sailing yacht with over 10,000 square feet of open deck space, a water-sports platform, library, pool, hot tub, a variety of dining options and an on-board spa. The per person double rate is from $2,199. 2014 departures are Mar 9, 16, 23, 30, Apr 6, Dec 13, 20 and 27.

Greece & Turkey | Greek Isles & Turkish Delights is an 8-day/7-night cruise that takes guests from the Acropolis of Athens to the palaces of Istanbul, enroute exploring the tiny streets of Mykonos, the birthplace of Apollo on Delos, the coffee houses of Bodrum and the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Guests sail on the four-masted Wind Spirit sailing yacht with 73 ocean-view staterooms, over 10,000 square feet of open deck, a water-sports platform, library, pool, hot tube, varied dining options and an onboard spa. The per person double rate starts at $3,599. Weekly departures are from May 17 through Oct. 11.

About Austin Adventures

For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/. 

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog: http://www.austinlehman.com/blog

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Austin Adventures’ Kasey Austin Honored as a World’s Best Guide By OUTSIDE Travel Awards 2014

Details

Released on Wednesday, 12 March 2014 09:12

BILLINGS, MT, Mar 12, 2014 – The votes have been tallied and it is good news once again for award-winning Austin Adventures http://www.austinadventures.com/. Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations and trip leader extraordinaire, has been named one of the planet’s best guides for 2014. 

Austin was singled out by the editors of OUTSIDE Magazine as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014.

“Many of my favorite experiences have to do with kids who are my favorite guests! Most of my most memorable experiences involve watching kids spot their first wolf, bear, or bison. They get so excited and it’s contagious for the entire group,” explained Austin.

This year, OUTSIDE tapped its global network of correspondents who traveled across America, to Belize, Switzerland, Italy, and beyond identifying the best new adventures, most stunning lakes, gorgeous new lodges and hotels, family vacations, secret getaways, high-tech airports, and foodie hotspots. The result is more than 50 spectacular trips, plus the best travel apps, tour guides, gear, tips for traveling green, and advice for traveling solo

The entire list of honorees appear in OUTSIDE’s April issue (on newsstands March 18), and online at www.outsideonline.com/travelawards.

“I’m thrilled and humbled by this honor,” said Kasey, “but honestly, guiding is what I love most in this world and any opportunity to share what I know and cherish with others is my ultimate reward!”

Austinis no stranger to being recognized for her exceptional guiding credentials.  For the past two years (2012 and 2013) Kasey has been honored as one of the Top Travel Professionals Under 35 by Travalliance Media (publishers of Vacation Agent and Agent@Home magazines).

More than a decade of guiding Austin Adventures family vacations has taught Austin the one essential secret to a successful family trip. “If you can keep the kids happy then the parents will quickly follow!”

Kasey began in the business at an early age. She was six when her father Dan Austin first got into the adventure travel business. She graduated in 2011 as a Presidential Leadership Scholar at the University of Montana in Missoula with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She is an accomplished writer and photographer and competes in biking, skiing, running and mountain events while not guiding families on trips throughout the West. She is a member of the Billings Bike Committee engaged in making Billings a top bicycle-friendly community.

About OUTSIDE: America’s leading active lifestyle brand since 1977, OUTSIDE has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. The OUTSIDE family includes OUTSIDE magazine, the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, The Outside Buyer’s Guides, Outside Online, Outside Television, Outside Events, Outside+ tablet edition, Outside Books, and now Outside GO, a revolutionary, 21st-century adventure-travel company. Visit online and on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

About Austin Adventures: For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/. 

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog: http://www.austinlehman.com/blog

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

OUTSIDE Contact:Jacob Streiter, 646 695 7047, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Austin Adventures Expands 2014 Portfolio, Nearly Doubles Number of Multi-Sport Vacations: Now in 22 Countries on Five Continents

Details

Released on Wednesday, 12 February 2014 09:36

Billings, MT, Feb. 12, 2014– For every iconic destination there’s a best way to see and experience it. With a legacy of innovative tour planning spanning over 40 years, Austin Adventures has perfected this concept and announces that for 2014, 13 new multi-sport adventures have joined its portfolio of 31 multi-sport itineraries now being conducted in 22 countries on five continents. 

Per person double occupancy rates range from $2,200 for a six-day trip in Utah to $19,000 for 10 over-the-top days in Tasmania. These programs accommodate up to 12 adults (ages 16 and up). See: http://www.austinadventures.com/activities/multisport/index-pages-580.php

“The concept of ‘adventure’ is deeply ingrained in the ethos of our company. We believe that for every destination we visit, there’s a unique way to best experience it. In Alaska it may be by sea kayak; in Montana it’s by horseback and there’s no better way to see Botswana’s Okavango Delta than by dugout mokoro,” says Dan Austin, Austin Adventures founder (http://www.austinadventures.com/).

Here are three examples the new multi-sport trips from Austin Adventures:

California Coast and Wineries Adventure, a 6-day/5-night program encompassing Napa and Sonoma valleys from $2,998 per person, double  ($780 single supplement) with departures Sept. 21, 28 and Oct. 5.Guests sea kayak pristine bays, hike and bike rolling hills and mountain trails, and visit hillside vineyards, polishing off lunches and dinners with fine local wines. The trip that begins and ends in San Francisco encompasses a cycle along a newly completed path through Presidio National Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge; hiking through lush, fern-lined forest and grassland to an overlook boasting out-of-this-world views of Mt. Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco’s city skyline; sea kayaking Tomales Bay, keeping an eye out for sleeping seals and elk grazing along the shore; biking into the heart of Napa Valley and breaking for a visit to the 1876 Beringer Vineyards, the oldest continually operating winery in Napa; and hiking through redwood forest to Coyote Peak in Napa State Park. Guests spend two nights at Point Reyes Seashore Lodge adjoining the 71,000 acres of Point Reyes National Seashore Park and three nights at Cottage Grove Inn tucked into the charismatic wine country village of Calistoga in Napa Valley. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/california-wine-country-tours-tour-trips-108.php

Croatia – Dalmatian Coast Adventure, a 6-day/5-night journey from $3,998 per person, double ($680 single supplement) with departures Apr. 27, May 4, June 8, 15, Sept. 21, 28 and Oct. 5. Croatia today claims a reputation as one of Europe’s must-see destinations. Renowned for crystal-clear coves, wooded islands, vineyard-clad hills and picturesque harbor towns, the Dalmatian Coast is an adventurer’s paradise. Here guests may be introduced for the first time to Venetian Renaissance architecture at Hvar Town before sea kayaking the peaceful waters around the Pakleni Otoci islands, cruising by private boat to Korcula to bike the island’s vineyard and olive grove-clad hills, enjoying the beach at Lumbarda and learning to bake a sweet and savory burek pastry (the breakfast of choice for farmers and fishermen) at the home of a local chef. The first two nights guests lodge at Hotel Adriana in Hvar, Croatia’s first and only member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World. Here a rooftop salt-water swimming pool and on premise spa can indulge guests at the end of their active days. The next three nights are at the four-star Hotel Marco Polo on the island of Korcula with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, and wellness and fitness centers, all a short stroll from the center of town. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/dalmatian-coast-croatia-tour-trips-95.php

Iconic Botswana Adventure, an 11-day/10-night safari from $5,998 per person, double offers year-round departures (please inquire). Guests travel from the game-heavy wetlands of the Okavango Delta and along the newly flowing Savuti Channel to the banks of the Zambezi River and the base of 350-feet-high and 5,600-feet-wide Victoria Falls.  In mokoro and motorboat in the riverine forests surrounding Paradise Island are probable sightings of elephant, hyena, tsessebe and the elusive sitatunga. From a private deck at camp on Hunda Island guests witness passing herds of zebra and wildebeest. On guided walks and game drives along Savute Channel the quest focuses on wild dogs as well as giraffe, leopard, lion, cheetah and red lechwe. In Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park the quest along wooden walkways shifts to elephant, hippo and crocodile.  Nights one and two are at Xigera Camp on an island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. The camp consists of 10 luxuriously furnished tented rooms raised on wooden platforms and walkways that offer superb views of the seasonal floodplains and lagoon.  Nights 3-5 are at Tubu Tree Camp (a recipient of Trip Adviser’s Certificate of Excellence) located on the largest area of permanently dry land in the region that attracts a variety of plains game species to its palatable grasses. Nights 6-8 are at Savuti Camp offering a viewing area with fire pit that extends outward on raised wooden decks. Nights 9 and 10 are at Toka Leya Camp overlooking the Zambezi River. Wooden walkways snake between safari-style tents, limiting the footprint on this pristine area. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/botswana-safaris-tour-trips-160.php

In addition to multi-sport adventures, Austin Adventures offers family, biking and hiking tours and small ship cruising, in total spanning 35 countries on six continents.

In March 2012 Travel + Leisure awarded ALA the 2012 World’s Best Values Award for Tour Operators. ALA has also received Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator Award (a Top 3 finisher) for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 the company was honored with the Global Vision Award for its Wheels of Change bicycle empowerment initiative. For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/. 

In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts® entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts as well as a cruise line, railway and tour operator. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., and The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ.; Yellowstone; Zion; Crater Lake; Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Austin Adventures.

# # #

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures

Blog: http://www.austinadventures.com/blog

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/AustinLehman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustnAdventures

Austin Adventures Launches New-for-2014 Lineup of 13 Domestic and International Hiking Adventures

Details

Released on Monday, 27 January 2014 08:45

BILLINGS, MT, Jan. 27, 2014– Avid walkers can explore some of the world’s iconic regions with Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com/) that for 2014 has introduced a Hiking Adventures dossier of 13 trips to be enjoyed on foot in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia. 

“We’ve always had a day or two of hiking included in our week-long multisport trips but felt it was time to launch a dedicated trip series focused purely on hiking a selection of the world’s most breathtaking trails and paths,” says Dan Austin, Austin Adventures founder and president.  “For us the ultimate hiking trip includes an element of surprise – an off-the-beaten-path picnic spot, a hidden waterfall, a chat with a village farmer. It also includes a variety of trails to choose from, breathtaking views and of course, the opportunity to pause – to take it all in!” See: http://www.austinadventures.com/activities/hiking/index-pages-88.php

Among the new programs are mountain hiking adventures in the Canadian Rockies, Patagonia and Bavaria. 

Alberta - Hiking the Canadian Rockiesis a trekker’s dream beginning and ending in Calgary. A short shuttle takes guests to Kootenay National Park where home for three nights is Baker Creek Chalet while trekking Stanley and Athabasca glaciers (crampons included) in Jasper National Park. Here Summit Mountain and Sentinel Pass may yield sightings of wolves, elk and big horn sheep. Two nights follow at Banff Royal Canadian Lodge in Banff National Park that offers a hike at 7,500 feet while straddling the Continental Divide. Six day/five night packages are $2,898 per person, double ($780 single) with 2014 departures July 6 and Aug. 24. http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/candian-rockies-hike-tours-tour-trips-163.php

Chile - Hiking Patagoniais a flexible itinerary that can span from five to nine days starting at $3,000 per person double ($1,000 single). Guests transfer from the airport in Punta Arenas to Hotel Salto Chico, the region’s only lodge with a privileged location in the center of Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The lodge on the banks of Salto Chico waterfall affords an excellent view of the Paine Massif and two of the three impressive torres, or towers, which give the park its name.  Guests can plan their own outings choosing from 20 different treks along glaciers, lakes and mountainous formations of magma and granite. Another option here is to become a guest gaucho, enjoying some of 14 different rides on horseback. One outing includes sailing along the face of an electric-blue glacier. Dining here introduces guests to the southern king crab and Magellanic lamb with Chilean wines. Departure dates are available upon request. http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/patagonia-adventure-vacations-tour-trips-97.php

Germany – Hiking the Bavarian Alpsis a seven-day, six-night program from $3,298 per person double ($780 single) that begins and ends in Munich. Departures are May 11, June 8 and Aug. 17. The journey begins in Grainau along Lake Eibsee where a cable car to the top of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 8,724 feet, reveals panoramas of the High Alps of Tyrol. Two nights at Hotel Waxenstein access the twin Alpine villages of Garmisch/Parenkirchen for a woodland walk to the top of Eckbauer peak.  After a transfer to Oberammergau guests enter the world of “Mad” King Ludwig II and Linderhof Castle, followed by Fussen, a magical town of old burgher houses and a stroll through shady forests to Lake Alpsee and Ludwig’s childhood home at Hoenschwangau Castle. Two nights are spent at Hotel Hirsch. Oberstdorf and Lake Freibergsee offer a cable car and chairlift to Nebelhorn peak for splendid views to the Appenzell Alps and as far as the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. From Parkhotel Frank an exhilarating cable car ride places guests in Austria for a descent on footpaths through the Kleinwalsertal Valley and the Breitachklamm Gorge. http://www.austinadventures.com/tours/germany-hiking-vacations-tour-trips-170.php

Other walking itineraries include

• Arizona - Havasupai
• Peru - Salkantay Lodge to Lodge
• Montana/Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park
• Utah - Hiking in Bryce and Zion
• Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest
• Peru - Inca Trail Glamping
• France - Walking in Provence
• Australia - Hiking in Tasmania
• Botswana - Okavango Delta to Kwando
• Morocco - Atlas Mountains to Atlantic Coast

About Austin Adventures

For over 40 years Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has provided adventure vacations, now on six continents, building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its specialty is adult adventure (multi-sport), family, biking, hiking and small ship cruising adventures, all focused on history, culture and nature’s gifts.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

Austin Adventures has received Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator Award (a Top 3 finisher) for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 the company was honored with the Global Vision Award for its Wheels of Change bicycle empowerment initiative.  In September 2013 Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. 

For a comprehensive 2014 catalog, call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinadventures.com/.  

# # # 

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

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

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a Portfolio of Past News Releases Visit: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

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