Austin Adventures

Website: http://www.austinadventures.com

The story of Austin Adventures is really about founder Dan Austin and his passion to create the world’s best active travel company. For a legacy dating back over 40 years, Dan has sharing his love of adventure with each and every guest. Austin Adventures' longtime insider's knowledge and extensive contacts in each destination they visit allow them to offer cultural and artistic experiences and encounters that give their guests a much more in-depth feel for the local people and their way of life.

Many companies may cover the world, but AA focuses solely on The Americas, Africa and Europe. They just want to be the best wherever they go. Itineraries are designed to deliver surprising luxury with an absence of pretension. They have done their research and know the best accommodations in each region to rest and recharge. Whether you dine in a 5 star restaurant or are served campfire-side, you will enjoy the finest local cuisine and wines, artfully prepared and deliciously sinful. You are a VIP with Austin Adventures and they promise to deliver on each traveler’s high standards for luxury, quality and comfort.

Activities and Destinations

BIKE / CULTURAL TOURS Asia / Pacific

    • Europe
      • Austria
      • France
      • Germany
      • Holland
      • Italy

MULTI-SPORT / CULTURAL / NATIONAL PARK TOURS

    • Africa
      • South Africa – Kruger NP
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica – Corcovado and Tortuguero NP
      • Mexico – Baja, Oaxaca and Chiapas
      • Panama
    • US & Canada - Mountain West
      • Alberta – Banff NP
      • Montana – Yellowstone  NP
      • Wyoming – Grand Teton NP
      • South Dakota – Badlands NP
    • US Pacific Coast
      • California – Yosemite NP
      • Oregon – Crater Lake NP
    • US & Canada - Northwest
      • Alaska – Glacier Bay NP & Kenai Fjords NP
      • BC – Okanagan Valley
      • BC – Vancouver Island – Pacific Rim NP
      • BC - Whistler
      • Washington – North Cascades NP
    • US Southwest
      • Arizona – Grand Canyon NP
      • New Mexico
      • Utah – Bryce & Zion NP
    • South America
      • Ecuador – Galapagos NP
      • Peru – Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

FAMILY MULTI-SPORT / CULTURAL TOURS

  • Alaska
  • Austria
  • Canadian Rockies
  • Costa Rica
  • France (Loire)
  • Galapagos
  • Germany (Mosel)
  • Grand Canyon (Havasu)
  • Holland
  • Panama
  • South Africa
  • Vancouver Island (BC)
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Whistler (BC)

FOOD & WINE / MULTI-SPORT / CULTURAL TOURS

  • France
  • Germany
  • Mexico (Chiapas and Oaxaca)
  • Tuscany
  • Canada (Okanagan Valley)

SAFARI / NATURAL WORLD EXPLORATIONS

  • Galapagos
  • South Africa
  • Zambia

 

 

Due to High Demand, Austin Adventures Adds Departures for Yellowstone National Park, Its Most Popular Family Destination

 

BILLINGS, MT, May 23, 2013– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the multisport tour company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, reports that it is adding capacity to its family tour departures this summer and fall to Yellowstone National Park because of higher-than-usual demand. 

“Inquiries and bookings this spring point to a strong trend toward domestic travel this year – especially to national parks,” reports Dan Austin, founder and director of Austin Adventures. “Pent-up desire, the prediction of lowering gas prices, a recovering economy, recent television documentaries and media attention are all helping drive the demand.”

Austinnoted that the additional Yellowstone family trip departures assure that clients will be accommodated in style in the park. However, he suggested that people book as soon as possible before this season’s inventory runs out and to book early for 2014. Scheduled 2013 ALA tour itineraries that specifically focus on Yellowstone now number 13 in addition to custom, private group departures.

The number of overnight accommodations available to the public has not increased in most of the National Parks since the 1960s. As a result, travelers have learned to reserve their rooms and cabins early. In Grand Canyon National Park, Xanterra, the official national park concessionaire, begins accepting lodging reservations the first of the month for that month the following year. In Yellowstone, Xanterra begins accepting lodging reservations in May for the following summer.

Other ALA tours that include Yellowstone (and combine Yellowstone with Big Sky or Grand Teton National Park) number 19 unique departures. Austin projects that these programs will run at 95 percent capacity, which means that over 450 people will experience ALA’s unique style of wilderness travel in this corner of Wyoming and Montana. (This is up from 400 last year.)

Noted family travel writer Eileen Ogintz (Taking the Kids) wrote of a 2011 experience: “Our Austin Adventures trip was one of the least stressful family vacations I’ve ever experienced.  All we had to do was relax and enjoy—very unusual for adults shepherding kids on a family vacation. Our stellar guides sweated all the details, entertained the kids and took us places we never would have found on our own. You’re lucky on a family vacation to get a couple of memorable moments; we had those I-can’t-believe-we’re-here-doing-this-together moments every day of our trip.”

The government has tracked visitors here since 1904 when it counted 13,727 park tourists. Last year, 3,447,729 people passed through Yellowstone Park gates (the second highest total on record). 2013 is already on pace to match or exceed that number. Austin Adventures Adventure’s first trip to Yellowstone was in the early 1980s (when the company was named Backcountry Tours). Since then this park and surrounding region has emerged as the company’s single most popular family trip destination.

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Follow Austin Adventures:

Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

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

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

Austin Adventures Africa Program Roars with Dedicated Specialist, Strategic Partnership with Wilderness Safaris

BILLINGS, MT, May 2, 2013 – Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the multisport tour company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, is off to a roar in Africa this year announcing double digit growth and the naming of a dedicated staff specialist to lead the Africa safari sales team. 

Such growth and expertise is made possible through a strategic partnership with Wilderness Safaris, one of the continent’s leading conservation and ecotourism companies. 

Dan Austin, ALA director and founder, said his company’s long-term commitment to Africa and developing meaningful and sustainable tour programs, especially in Namibia and Tanzania, are “as strong as can be.” This includes hosting in-office training sessions with Wilderness Safaris and appointing Carol Austin, a veteran member of the ALA team, to the new position of Africa Specialist. 

ALA’s deep commitment to Africa also includes Dan Austin’s founding of the 501c3 non-profit initiative Wheels of Change http://www.wocinternational.org/ that donates used bikes, parts and tools to various rural communities throughout Africa. A March 2013 shipment of 400 bikes from Billings, MT to Nambia will create a Bicycle Empowerment Center at the Wuparo Conservancy in the Caprivii region of Nambia. An award-winning safari camp in Namibia, Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge http://nkasalupalalodge.com/, expects to establish a village bike tour using some of the donated bikes. This tour will become part of ALA’s safari programming in the region. 

Of particular interest to Austin is the nation of Namibia where he envisions ALA as a leader in cultural and sustainable wildlife safaris. Austin points out that nearly half of the country’s 76 registered conservancies are adjacent to national parks or in key corridors between protected areas.  Wildlife-friendly land uses adjacent to and between parks are enhancing the viability of Namibia’s protected area network.  The recovery of prey species, combined with an increased tolerance of community, is facilitating the recovery of high-level predators in Namibia. 

“Namibia is the only country in Africa where black rhinos are successfully being translocated out of a national park and into communal conservancy land areas, in stark and dramatic contrast to the poaching taking place in many countries in the region,” explains Austin.  “Its free-roaming lion population is expanding thanks to a dramatic decrease in poaching.” 

“Namibia very well may be one of the greatest African wildlife recovery stories to be told,” believes Austin whose company has run multi-sport vacation opportunities here since 2008. 

In 2013, ALA is offering eight unique safari and tour itineraries on the African continent with both set departure dates and the ability to customize a private safari just for a single group of family or friends. The new Africa wildlife adventure itineraries in Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania include: 

Tanzania - Best of the Serengeti brings guests to the Great Rift Valley, home to Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro and one of Africa’s highest concentrations of wildlife. The 10-day program is from $6,498 per person, double.  

Botswana - Migration Routes reveals the wonders of constantly moving game herds on the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta and the wildlife-filled Linyanti concession with seasonal elephant herds. The 10-day program is from $5, 798 per person double. 

Botswana - Great Wilderness Journey explores Botswana's contrasts and extremes in prime wildlife viewing areas where few people travel. This is a nostalgic, first class camping / lodge safari that recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the great African explorers. The 11-day program is from $8,498 per person double.  

Diverse Namibia explores dunes, desert, plains and superb wildlife combined with exclusive accommodation in private reserves and concessions. The 10-day program is from $3,498 per person double. 

Namibia - The Great Journey reveals the dunes of Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert, the diversity of the Skeleton Coast, marine life just off Swakopmund, the volcanic rock-strewn landscape of Damaraland and game-filled Etosha National Park. The 13-day program is from $6,598 per person double. 

About Wilderness Safaris

Established in 1983, Wilderness Safaris is a conservation organization and ecotourism company that specializes in memorable wildlife experiences in some of the most remote and pristine areas in southern Africa. In this way, it offers its guests private access to southern Africa’s finest wildlife reserves, while remaining fiercely committed to protecting our planet’s precious natural and cultural resources. 

Wilderness Safaris is privileged to operate privately on over 3 million hectares (8 million acres) of southern Africa's finest wildlife reserves in more than 70 lodges and camps. The company employs approximately 2,800 staff members across seven countries, 85 percent of whom hail from neighboring communities.

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Follow Austin Adventures:

Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

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

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

Kraft Foods Group (Capri Sun) Taps Austin Adventures To Provide International Trips for Three Grand-Prize Winners In National “Win an Epic Adventure” Contest

 

BILLINGS, MT, April 16, 2013– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the multisport tour company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, has been selected by Kraft Foods as its promotional partner in a trip giveaway contest promoting its Capri Sun juice drink brand. 

“From the hundreds of companies out there creating family adventures, Kraft chose Austin Adventures, and we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Dan Austin, ALA founder.  

“Capri Sun Epic Adventure” runs from March 4 through Sept. 30, 2013, with promotional artwork featuring the ALA logo on every box of Capri Sun juice drinks. The code to enter the on-line contest is on individual juice drink pouches.  At last count, 750 million juice drink pouches were scheduled to herald the national promotion. ALA is providing the three grand prizes that are six-to-eight-night, air-inclusive trips awarded to one four-person family for each destination. The trips include an African safari, an Hawaiian Island Hopping Adventure, and an exploration of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Each grand-prize winning family also receives a budget in addition to the trip and airfare and the opportunity to customize their holiday within budget parameters. There is no purchase necessary to enter.  For trip details and to enter the contest please see http://www.caprisun.com/kids

First and second prize winners receive rugged adventure gear such as backpacks, binoculars, boogie boards, cameras, LED headlamp and 2-way radios. 

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Follow Austin Adventures:

Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

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

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

Austin Adventures Pays It Forward: Donates $200 on Company’s Africa Bookings To Nonprofit Wheels of Change

 

Third Shipment of 400 Donated Bicycles to Depart Billings, Montana for Namibia in March

BILLINGS, MT, Mar. 10, 2013– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, announces that $200 on each Africa safari booking through its company in 2013 will benefit Wheels of Change, a non-profit created by owner Dan Austin in 2011, that was recently granted 501c3 status.

Wheels of Change through the donation of new and used bikes assists rural villagers of Africa gain access to much needed mobility. Bicycles are collected in Billings, MT, and other chapters in North America. The most recent shipping container of bikes is scheduled to ship from Billings to Namibia in March, reported Austin. http://www.wocinternational.org/. This is the third such shipment of bikes and parts to Africa in the past three years.

A representative of the Wuparo Conservancy in Namibia while visiting in Montana in September 2012 on a tourism exchange hosted by Austin Adventures gave his tribal blessing to the shipping container of some 350 donated bikes, parts and tools that will soon travel from Billings to his homeland. An award-winning safari camp in Namibia, Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge http://nkasalupalalodge.com/, expects to establish a village bike tour program using some of the donated bikes. The tour will augment ALA’s safari programming on the wetland paradise known as Mamili or Nkasa Lupala National Park created by the many channels of the Kwando-Linyanti river system. The lodge and the Wuparo Conservancy are part of the successful and award-winning Namibian conservancy program that won the 2011 Hospitality Association of Namibia Conservancy Tourism Award.

In Namibia, Wheels of Change partners with Michael Linke of the Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia who identifies areas of need and uses the donated bikes and converts the shipping container they come in into a Bicycle Empowerment Center creating jobs and economic development within the community.

Austin points out that numerous studies have demonstrated that bicycles are an appropriate technology for travelling short distances in developing countries, with the lowest operating costs of all available modes in sub-Saharan Africa. A bicycle carries up to five times the weight and can travel four times as fast as a person walking, using much less energy. 

As an example, bicycle-related activities can:

  • Improve access to income generation opportunities.
  • Provide sustainable transportation for low-income earners.
  • Increase access to government services, including health care and education.
  • Mobilize home-based care volunteers to visit more people living with HIV.
  • Provide sporting opportunities for young athletes.

The Bicycle Empowerment Network http://www.benbikes.org.za/namibia/ has grown since 2006 to more than 28 shops where Namibians can buy or rent affordable bikes and receive repairs. Bicycle Empowerment Centers provide refurbished bicycles free of charge to, among others, healthcare outreach volunteers and school children. Income from bike-related activities goes to assisting a sustainable business model while creating local jobs. Profits are reinvested in other community projects such as growing food for AIDS orphans, making micro loans to foster small enterprises, purchasing school uniforms, and paying school fees for disadvantaged children. 

For more information on the location of Bicycle Empowerment Centers in Namibia see: http://tinyurl.com/bky9uma

In 2012, the Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia assisted in part by Wheels of Change, reached a significant milestone - the 25,000th bicycle donated to Africa. This was made possible through public and private donations and financial support. Austin and Linke aim to expand their network of Bicycle Empowerment Centers in Namibia and neighboring African counties over the coming decade.

Donations can be made on line via PayPal:  http://www.wocinternational.org/donate/

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Follow Austin Adventures:

ALA Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

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

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

Austin Adventures Announces Company Version of Golden Globes & Academy Awards

 

Keeping an Eye Out for What’s Best In the World of Adventure Secures Top Guest Experiences 

BILLINGS, MT, Jan. 31, 2013– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, announces its version of the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for 2013. A panel of judges consisting of both staff and guides, selected the world’s best in 20 categories ranging from Top Hikes and Bike Rides to Best Picnic Spots and Desserts. 

“By asking our traveling team to keep an eye – and taste buds – always cocked for quality, we continue to notch up experiences for our guests. You’d be surprised what a pristine beach and a caring massage can do for morale at the end of a cycling day,” says Dan Austin, founder, whose own preferences led him to chair the category of Top Ten Massages. One of his favorites was at Ant’s Nest, a lodge in South Africa’s Waterberg district. “We were in a thatch hut overlooking the savannah enjoying the expert massage services of beautiful Bapedi women, who by the way are very strong.” 

Dan’s wife, Carol, ALA’s Guest Services Administrator is known for her sweet tooth. She can’t get enough of Chocoholic, a store in Bruges, Belgium, a must-stop and included in the best in Top Ten Desserts and Chocolates

Among the Top Ten Places to Unplug, Blake Eden, Marketing Associate, selects Fox Island, Alaska, as one of her favorites. The secluded island is the perfect spot to relax, spot marine life and, if you are brave enough, take a polar bear plunge. 

Kasey Austin, Field Operations Liaison & Guide, taps a picnic on a private yacht on Croatia’s Korcula Island near Lumbarda among her Top Ten Picnic Spots. Fountain Flats Picnic Area inside Yellowstone National Park is also high on her list. 

Cycling expert Ron Van Dijk, Director of European Operations, chose three domestic U.S. adventures among the Top Ten Bike Rides including South Dakota’s Mickelson Trail (110 miles), the state’s first rails to trails project. It follows the abandoned Burlington Northern line that took trains from Edgemont, SD, up north to the Black Hills and gold mines of the Deadwood area. Over some 110 miles of riding through blasted hard-rock tunnels and over 100 converted railroad bridges, cyclists see a lot of different country ranging from unique granite rock formations to farmland dotted with hay bales.  

Because heritage and culture are intrinsic to Austin Adventures anywhere in the world, guests visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites when located in the regions they’re traveling. In ALA’s Top Ten UNESCO Sites, Travel Consultant Bill Callahan says Mont-Saint-Michel, Franceis “my favorite spot on earth.” 

Costa Rica’s Arenal Observatory Lodge, is listed in General Manager Christy Hamill’s Top Ten Hotels/Lodges. Perched high on a ridge only 1.7 miles from Arenal Volcano, the lodge offers the area’s best views of Costa Rica’s most spectacular volcano and namesake lake - Arenal. She suggest that you, “Make time for yourself to sit outside on the observation deck, not only taking in the impressive views of the volcano but watching for one of the hundreds of species of birds to flit into view.” 

Other Top 10’s include The Best Family Trips, Top Must Pack Items, Top Canyons, and Wildlife Destinations and more. For a complete list of the company’s Top Tens in 20 categories please see http://www.austinlehman.com/about-us/Austin Adventuress-top-tens-pages-677.php 

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Follow Austin Adventures:

ALATwitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

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

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

Austin Adventures Introduces Glamping Along Peru’s Inca Trail

 

10-Day Epic Journey Kicks Off Peru Program Expansion – Combines Adventure with Glamorous Camping and Gourmet Fare

BILLINGS, MT, Jan. 16, 2013 – Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company setting standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, introduces another first in adventure travel – glamorous camping (a.k.a. glamping) along Peru’s legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. 

New for 2013 is a Peru - Inca Trail Glamping trek Sept.7-16, 10 days / 9 nights at $3,898 per person double ($880 single supplement) inclusive of four on-trail days of exploring archaeological sites in ecological zones from high desert to alpine to Andean tropical rain forest, culminating with an arrival at the ruins of Machu Picchu. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/inca-trail-peru-tour-trips-148.php

On staff as special co-host will be Austin Adventures’ Latin America Director, Troy Glennon, named one of the world’s leading experts on Peru travel in Condé Nast Traveler’s 13th Annual Top Travel Specialists list for 2012. 

“Our Peru vacations are targeted for careful expansion in 2014 beginning with this first new luxury camping experience on the Inca Trail,” explains Dan Austin, company founder and director. “We are tapping into Troy’s extensive connections and sustainable tourism experiences in Peru to develop a series of trip options second-to-none!” 

It all starts with glamping on the Inca Trail. An enhanced level of service and amenities along a trail better known for its ruggedness and beauty brings an Andean-trained camp chef into focus as he prepares gourmet meals along with his own recipe for pain killing Pisco Sours, the national cocktail of Peru. Meals are served on white linen tablecloths. Amenities include safari-style stand-up tents with inflatable beds, cozy liners and warm duvets and hot shower facilities. To further rub out the aches of trekking, a massage therapist accompanies each group. Native Quechua porters transport all the duffel and camping gear.  

The trip begins in Lima where guests are met at the airport for transfers to a four-star hotel. Day two brings a flight to Cusco and tours of, among others, this Colonial city and Koricancha, the most sumptuous temple of the Inca culture, and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Day four goes to the Sacred Valley and Awanacancha, the llama project where guests learn about the South American camelids: llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas and have the chance to see the traditional weaving and dying techniques which have been kept by the local people for centuries. Later in Pisac, a connecting point between the highlands and the jungle, guests transfer to Ollantaytambo, one of the last Inca cities still accessed on foot. 

The glamping-while-trekking adventure begins on day five through semi-arid terrain along the Urubamba River and views of snow-capped mountains. The first campsite is on the Kusichaca River in Huayllabamba.  The next morning guests walk to the Warmihuañusca Pass (4200 mts – 13,776 ft.) to enjoy distant views of the Runkurakay ruins.  The campsite this night is at Pacaymayo (3530 mts. – 11,578 ft.). Day seven includes and exploration of the Runkurakay ruins before trekking to the Sayacmarca ruins. Naturalist historian guides will share insights on Inca Empire and its connection with the Amazon jungle. Then it’s on to the Phuyupatamarca ruins (3640 m. / 11,939 ft). The next day guests trek down trail through the Andean cloud forest rife with orchids and epiphytes to Wiñay Wayna ruins (2650 m. / 8,692 feet), the most important after Machu Picchu, and then toward Inti Punku the last pass (2700 m. / 8,856 ft) before the final climax. From this site Machu Picchu (2400 m. / 7,872 ft) spreads beyond, surreal and beautiful. The day ends at EL Pueblo de Machu Picchu for an overnight before exploring the site early the next day before the crowds arrive.  The transfer back to Cusco is on day 10. 

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

 

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Austin Adventures Celebrates 35 Years of Cycling the Loire Valley

 

Special Trip to be Hosted by European Director Ron van Dijk Who Guided the Original 1979 Tour

BILLINGS, MT, Jan. 8, 2013– Taking a two-wheel journey back to its roots, Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), announces a 35th anniversary cycle tour of France’s Loire Valley hosted by ALA European Director Ron van Dijk who guided the company’s first adventure travel trip in this region over three decades ago.

According to van Dijk, nearly everything has changed one way or another over the years with the exception of “the landscape, the gentle Loire River, the beautiful stone villages and towns, and the authenticity of the French cuisine.” 

The eight-day/seven-night anniversary trip is July 13-20, 2013. The per person, double occupancy rate is $3,498 (single supplement $880). See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/loire-valley-france-tour-trips-65.php

According to van Dijk, today’s adventure embraces some of the same villages, castles and chateaux of the original tour, but the quality of lodging and dining is “significantly enhanced.”  Yesterday’s 10-speed bikes are replaced with today’s 27-speed bikes and lightweight aluminum frames. Guests even have to option of an e-bike to provide welcomed assists up hills and inclines. Today’s tour is shorter and is less about the number of kilometers covered and more about the cultural experiences enroute. 

“All in all, everything got only better, if you overlook the fact that the 1979 tour was for 15 days/14 nights and cost only $648 per person. Then our group consisted of about 40 guests, serviced by three guides. On today’s adult trips we now cap it at 12 guests, accompanied by two guides, so you can imagine that the level of service has greatly improved and trips have become much more personalized.” 

Van Dijk noted that most locals can now speak/understand English, making it easier to ask questions and be understood when traveling. Bicycles are more comfortable with straight handlebars that are better for sightseeing. The infrastructure (bike paths) has greatly improved. Participants stay at four (instead of two) star hotels, enjoy gourmet meals and drink fine wines. 

A few tour highlights of the Loire Valley anniversary tour that begins in Versailles and ends in Tours include pedaling toKing François I’s Château de Chambord and counting the staircases in the magnificent 440-room estate, practicing French with a farmer at an open-air market in Loches, riding to Le Clos Lucé in Amboise, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci and home to his many inventions, sipping award-winning wine at the world-famous Chinon and Cravant wineries and dining like royalty at the Château de Pray. 

Joining van Dijk on the tour will be two guests who pedaled the same trip with him 35 years ago. Chuck and Judy Silberstein are two alumni travelers who have done more than 50 bike trips with Ron and ALA. 

ALAis also offering other dates for this trip, guided by professionals trained by van Dijk; June 1-8, June 22-26, July 20-27 and Sept. 14-21. A family version geared for age seven and up is scheduled June 22-29 and Aug. 3-10. Youth rates begin at just $2,798 per person in a shared room. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/loire-valley-france-family-tour-trips-68.php

When asked about the future of cycle touring in Europe and what might be the craze 35 years from now, van Dijk predicts that “bicycle vacations will grow in popularity and become a way of life for many. I foresee that three decades from now the electric bike will be the standard and even more popular and affordable than they are today. They will have become lighter, with longer-lasting batteries, making it the ultimate way to travel from town to town, from site to site, regardless of the hills and mountain passes along the way.”

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize 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, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

 

ALA Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/austinlehman

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

Austin Adventures Announces New-for-2013 Family Trips Spanning Serengeti to Oregon’s Crater Lake

 

BILLINGS, MT, Dec. 19, 2012– Known for its insight and innovation, Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company named the 2012 “Top Family Adventure Outfitter” in the world by the editors of Travel + Leisure, announces new-for-2013 family trips spanning the Serengeti to Oregon’s Crater Lake. 

“Biking, hiking and rafting are usually part of our family adventures. But most important are the unscripted and often spontaneous opportunities these trips provide for multi-generational travelers to experience phenomenally beautiful landscapes, local cuisine and culture and rare and iconic wildlife,” said Dan Austin, founder.   

Two national parks are among the new offerings for 2013. Oregon - Crater Lake National Park Family is a six-day/five-night trip with two departures, Aug. 11 and Aug. 18. The per person rate is $2,498 ($580 single supplement), children from $1,998. Activity highlights include biking the rim of an extinct volcano, hiking scented forests of pine, hemlock and red fir and rafting the world-famous Rogue River. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/oregon-family-crater-lake-tour-trips-143.php

Crater Lake National Park was chosen in 2013 as the recipient of ALA’s annual Preserve a Park Program which gives back to non-profits promoting park preservation and heritage. ALA has pledged a $100 per person donation for each guest booking a Crater Lake vacation. Since its inception in 2010, ALA has donated over $30,000 through this program. 

In Montana, ALA’s home turf, the Glacier National Park Family Adventure is a six-day/five-night “glaciers to grizzlies” program offered July 7 and July 14. The per person rate is $2,698 ($680 single supplement), children from $2,158. Here the American and Canadian Rockies shake hands over alpine lake swims, hiking with eyes peeled for mountain goat, big horn sheep and deer, rafting Flathead River and biking through its glacier-carved valley. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/glacier-national-park-montana-family-tour-trips-118.php 

Families flock to Costa Rica and ALA’s - Arenal Rainforest to Manuel Antonio Adventure, a seven-day/six-night program departing March 24 and 31, July 14 and 21, Aug. 4 and Dec. 22 and 27. The per person rate is $2,798 ($1,080 single supplement) and children as young as age five $2,158. Families can relax in the sulfur-rich waters of Costa Rica’s hot springs; traverse the treetops along a series of hanging bridges watching for sloths, agoutis, green iguanas, basilisk lizards and howler, squirrel and white-faced monkeys; kayak; snorkel and surf off the beach in Manuel Antonio National Park; swim under a tropical waterfall and learn about the life cycle of nearly 1,000 species of butterflies. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/arenal-rainforst-to-manuel-antonio-costa-rica-tour-trips-52.php 

ALA’s international family focus targets France – Normandy Family, a six-day/five-night trip departing Aug. 11 and Aug. 18.  The per person rate is $2,898 ($680 single supplement) and children from $2,318. Beaches, battlefields, lighthouses and colorful tapestries from Barlfleur to Bayeux involve sweeping coastline, rolling woodlands and charming ports while reliving a pivotal chapter in American history by walking in the footsteps of Allied World War II victors in Carentan and on Utah Beach, biking the beautiful cliff-top roads of Pointe du Hoc overlooking Omaha Beach and cemetery, and also examining William the Conqueror’s conquest of England while viewing the colorful 230-foot Bayeux Tapestry. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/normandy-family-france-tour-trips-147.php

Tanzania – The Best of the Serengeti lures families for ten days/nine nights on weekly year-round departures. The per person rate is from $6,498 ($1,880 single supplement) and children from $3,698. Guests experience sunken volcanoes, a spectacle of wildlife and sumptuous sundowners in the Serengeti. Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley is home to Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro, three of Africa’s most prized attractions. Also there are evening game drives, stalking big game and exploring diverse ecosystems that may reveal, among others, baboons, monkeys, elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, the famous tree-climbing lions, black rhino, wildebeest, zebra and eland. See: http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/tanzania---best-of-the-serengeti-trips-135.php

In addition to scheduled family departures, one of ALA’s fastest growing offerings is Family Customs for multi-generational groups ranging in age from 8 months to 80 yrs old.

About Austin Adventures

With a 40-year legacy, ALA provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.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/

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

Austin Adventures Sponsors Facebook Photo Contest With New Retail Partner, Eastern Mountain Sports

 

“Most Adventurous Moment” Photo Will Earn One Photographer  a Weeklong Trip for Two to Montana Rockies

Billings, MT, Dec. 4, 2012– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active tour company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, is co-hosting a Facebook photo contest with its new (as of August 2012) exclusive retail partner, Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS).

Launching Dec. 5, 2012, the “Your Most Adventurous Moment Photo Contest” will celebrate the spirit of adventure travel. Adventurers are invited to upload to the EMS Facebook Page, photos that capture the excitement of visiting new places, meeting new people and trying new things. The winner (based on the total number of votes received from the EMS Facebook community) gets a trip for two to the Montana Rockies with Austin Adventures. For trip details please see http://www.austinlehman.com/tours/big-sky-yellowstone-and-paradise-valley-montana-tour-trips-15.php

The contest begins Dec. 5 and photos can be submitted until Dec. 17, 2012. A panel of ALA and EMS judges will choose 50 finalists based upon the photos’ beauty and overall appeal to EMS customers. Facebook votes can be posted beginning Dec. 17 until midnight on Dec. 23. To enter, contestants can upload photos to the Eastern Mountain Sports Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/EasternMNTNsports. The winning entry will be revealed just in time for Christmas.

The contest was announced by ALA’s founding director Dan Austin and EMS.

“At Eastern Mountain Sports, we’re all about inspiring our people to get outside, challenge themselves and have new experiences,” Eastern Mountain Sports Vice President of eCommerce Scott Barrett explained. “Our new partnership with Austin Adventures makes it easier for our customer to do all those things and this photo contest is the perfect way to celebrate that.”  

“This new preferred partner relationship brings together two companies whose respective clientele expect only the best in quality and service,” said Austin. “Clients of both companies will benefit from the alliance as EMS refers customers to ALA for their active adventure tour needs and Austin Adventures in turn, directs tour participants to EMS for fulfillment of apparel and equipment needs.”

About Eastern Mountain Sports

Founded in 1967 by two New England rock climbers and based in Peterborough, N.H., Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the nation’s leading outfitters of outdoor gear, clothing, footwear and accessories with 69 retail stores in 12 states.  The Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School was started in 1968, and currently has four major locations and seven satellite locations throughout the East, making it the oldest and largest climbing school in the eastern U.S. More information is available at http://www.ems.com/.

About Austin Adventures

Austin Adventures, with a 40-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.com/.

# # #

For photos and/or more information on Austin Adventures please 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.

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

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

Austin Adventures’ Troy Glennon Named among 150 Top Travel Specialists for 2012 In Condé Nast Traveler's 13th Annual Travel Specialists List

 

Billings, MT, Nov. 20, 2012– Award-winning tour operator Austin Adventures (ALA - http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company setting adventure travel standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa, Arctic and the Caribbean, announces that Troy Glennon, its Latin America travel guru, has been named one of the world’s leading experts on Peru travel in CondéNast Traveler’s13th Annual Top Travel Specialists list for 2012.  This is the first time that he has been named to this prestigious list.

“What a pleasure to have Troy on our team and to share this exciting time with him,” said Dan Austin, founding director. Glennon’s affiliation with ALA was formalized last summer when his company, Go South Adventures, was acquired by ALA. Glennon subsequently was invited to join the Billings, MT-based company as its Latin American expert, enhancing the company’s program development team as well as supporting the sales team. He has worked for over a decade guiding travelers through the region and developing sustainable tourism experiences.

Conde Nast Traveler’s Wendy Perrin, Director of Consumer News & Digital Community, has published her 13th annual Top Travel Specialists in the December 2012 issue of CondéNast Traveler..

Condé Nast Travelersays of Glennon: A former tour guide in Peru, Glennon is perfect for active travelers who want to explore without a heavy reliance on guides. He knows how to avoid crowds at the country’s highlights and where the less-touristed gems are—say, the Colca Canyon, where you can watch condors soar in the thermal currents …”  See: http://www.cntraveler.com/travel-tips/travel-specialists/troy-glennon 

In his 13 years of traveling about Peru, Glennon has opened visitors’ eyes to this country that boasts 75 percent of the earth's ecosystems plus the archeological remains of many expansive pre Columbian civilizations found spread across Peru's deserts, mountains and cloud forests." 

“The Lost City of Machu Picchu is of course a must when visiting Peru. It has a mystery and air about it that captures everyone’s imagination. However, knowing how to avoid the tourist crush will have a big impact on your experience,” Glennon advises, adding that one big mistake people make is not spending enough free time in Cusco, the center of the Inca world, where history radiates along it's cobbled streets once walked by Inca noblemen and Conquistadors.  He suggests exploring beyond the picturesque main plaza to experience the quieter, local side of charming Cusco. 

In upcoming ALA itineraries to Peru he envisions adding Colca Canyon that is considered one of the deepest canyons in the world along with less-visited regions of southern and eastern Peru. Here guests are imbued in Andean culture while sleeping comfortably on an island in Lake Titicaca and accessing the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, all a short flight from Lima/Cusco. 

Glennon has been both a solo traveler and group tour leader in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. He studied in Mexico and has a degree in Spanish Literature and Culture from the University of Washington. 

According to Perrin, “The travel planners featured represent the best blend of destination knowledge, insider connections, user-friendliness, and value for your dollar that I’ve found in more than two decades of scrutinizing the travel industry for this magazine. They have all been road-tested by Condé Nast Traveler readers, editors, or both. Of the more than 10,000 travel agents and tour operators who have tried to break onto this list since its inception 13 years ago, only a tiny fraction have made the grade. Getting into this group is, statistically speaking, tougher than getting into Harvard.” 

Staying on Perrin’s list is tougher still: It requires not only an absence of valid reader complaints but also ongoing positive assessments from both readers and editors. 

About Austin Adventures

Austin Adventures, with a 40-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on six continents building an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in The Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim, Africa and (new for 2013) Antarctica. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, and biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms.  Small group trips feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee. 

In the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure, ALA was ranked the #1 Family Tour Operator in the World; in March 2012 the magazine 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 2013 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.austinlehman.com/

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos 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.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

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