Guided tour operator EF World Journeys will launch its third brand, EF Adventures, next month with more than 20 biking, hiking, walking and multi-adventure tours across four continents.
Joining sister brands EF Ultimate Break and EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Adventures opens EF to its youngest age group, 14+. EF Ultimate Break is available to guests aged 18-35, while EF Go Ahead Tours are aimed at those aged 35+.
The new brand is inspired by data showing strong demand for culturally immersive, high-quality adventure tourism.
Heidi Durflinger Photo courtesy of EF World Journeys
“Travelers are more active than ever, and they tell us they want more adventure while on vacation, while also learning about the people, history, culture and cuisine of the destinations they visit,” Heidi Derfflinger, president of EF World Journeys, said in a statement. “One of the many reasons we’re launching EF Adventures is to better serve this growing market demand, allowing us to better serve adventure seekers who combine movement with cultural immersion.”
The tour, which debuts in October, visits more than 16 countries in Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. There are multi-adventure tours, including cycling and e-bike tours in Spain and Italy, hiking and walking tours in the Alps and Bhutan, and kayaking in Costa Rica and Bali.
Suitable for all fitness levels
Tours are rated from 1 to 5 based on fitness level, from easy to challenging. They include options such as using e-bikes instead of traditional bikes, walking tours instead of hiking tours, and flexible itineraries that allow travelers to skip some activities. The experience also includes local food and drinks, and guides who provide insight into the culture and history of the destinations on all tours.
The price includes hotels, excursions, equipment, local cuisine and a professional tour director. Accommodations range from estate style to modern hotels. Agriturismos (independently owned farms with lodging), family-run boutique lodges and mountain lodges. Many hotels offer restorative services such as spa treatments and amenities such as pools, hot tubs and saunas.
EF says its tour selection and design also prioritizes sustainability, taking into account overtourism and choosing “off-the-beaten-path destinations with a focus on local business involvement.”
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“More than half of international travelers we surveyed have recently booked an adventure-oriented trip, but nearly a third of travelers felt these trips lacked cultural immersion within the destinations they visited,” Durflinger said. “Likewise, travelers are expressing disappointment with the quality of accommodation and food. We want to change that.”
In a survey of over 1,000 North American travelers who had traveled internationally in the past three years conducted by EF and Qualtrics Research, 75% of travelers said they wanted to be active while on vacation, 79% said they liked active vacations that allowed them to learn about the destination they were visiting (the people, history, culture, food, etc.), and 80% said they found adventure travel interesting.
EF Adventures prices start at $4,199 for a nine-day multi-adventure tour of Portugal.
