Guide operator EF World Journeys will launch its third brand next month. EF AdventuresStart with more than 20 bike tours, hikes, walks and adventure tours on four continents.
EF Adventures joins sister brands EF Ultimate Break and EF Go Ahead Tours, which are open to EF's youngest guests, ages 14 and up. EF Ultimate Break is for guests ages 18 to 35, while EF Go Ahead Tours is for guests 35 and up.
The new brand was inspired by data showing strong demand for high-quality, culturally immersive adventure travel.
Heidi Durflinger Photo credit: EF World Journeys
“Travelers are more active than ever before, and they tell us directly that they want more adventure in their vacations while also learning about the people, history, culture and cuisine of the destinations they visit,” Heidi Durflinger, president of EF World Journeys, said in a statement. “One of the many reasons we launched EF Adventures is to better meet this growing market demand. We can better serve adventure lovers who want both sports and cultural experiences.”
Tours launching in October will cover more than 16 countries in Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the Pacific Islands. Options include bicycle and e-bike tours in Spain and Italy; trekking in the Alps and Bhutan; and kayaking adventures in Costa Rica and Bali.
Suitable for any fitness level
Tours are rated 1 to 5, from easy to challenging, based on fitness level. Tour options include using electric bikes instead of traditional bikes, walking instead of hiking, and flexible schedules that allow visitors to skip some activities. Experiences also include local food and drink, and guides who explain the culture and history of the destination during each tour.
The price includes hotel, excursions, equipment, local cuisine and professional guides. Accommodation types vary, including modern hotels, Farmhouse (independently owned farms offering accommodation), family-run boutique hotels and mountain lodges. Many hotels will offer healing services such as spas and facilities such as swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas.
EF said tour selection and design also prioritised sustainability, taking into account issues of overtourism and choosing “remote locations with a focus on attracting local businesses”.
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“More than half of the international travelers we surveyed had recently booked an adventure trip, but nearly a third felt these trips lacked cultural experience of the destinations they visited,” Durflinger said. “Similarly, travelers expressed disappointment with the quality of accommodation and food. Our goal is to change that.”
The EF survey of more than 1,000 North American travelers who have traveled internationally in the past three years, conducted by Qualtrics Research, found that 75% of travelers want to be more active on vacation; 79% prefer an active vacation where they can learn about the destination they visit (the people, history, culture and cuisine); and 80% say adventure travel excites them.
EF Adventures' nine-day, multi-adventure Portugal tour starts at $4,199.
