Sometimes I mention guide services or travel companies I have used/or recommend in my posts here and there, but this page includes an easy-to-access list. I hope you find it helpful!
Just so you know, I only promote services and companies I personally use and can recommend without hesitation.
My goal is to connect you with good people, epic adventures, and hopefully make traveling and adventuring a little easier.
Here’s a quick reference for all of my recommended adventure travel companies ordered alphabetically:
- Ace the Himalaya
- Alpenglow Expeditions
- Alpenventures UNGUIDED
- Another World Adventures
- Hawaii Shark Encounters
- RMI Guides – Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
- Rubicon3
- Secret Compass
- Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland
- Valencia Travel Cusco
For a detailed list of what each company offers check below.
Here’s a quick reference for all of my recommended adventure travel companies ordered by the type of adventures and activities they offer:
Hiking/Trekking
- Ace the Himalaya
- Alpenventures UNGUIDED
- Another World Adventures
- RMI Guides – Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
- Valencia Travel Cusco
- Secret Compass
Mountaineering
Sailing
Scuba/Snorkeling/Shark Cage Diving
Sightseeing/Small Group Guided Tours
Unique Expeditions/Safaris
For a detailed list of what each company offers check below.
Here’s a quick reference for all of my recommended adventure travel companies listed by location or by country:
By Country
All Over the World
- Alpenglow Expeditions
- Another World Adventures
- RMI Guides – Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
- Rubicon3
- Secret Compass
Ireland
Nepal
- Ace the Himalaya
- Alpenglow Expeditions
- RMI Guides – Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
- Another World Adventures
Peru
USA
- Alpenglow Expeditions
- Another World Adventures
- Hawaii Shark Encounters
- RMI Guides – Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
For a detailed list of what each company offers check below.
Full List with Detailed Descriptions of Each
Ace the Himalaya are based out of Nepal and run treks and tours to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna, Manaslu, and all around Kathmandu. They offer many types of tours to fit each activity level. They are very organized and professional and they do their best to make sure you have an epic adventure.
What I love about Ace is that they use the guides and porters in Nepal to share their love and expertise with you. Your safety is their first priority, followed by making sure you have an amazing time. Watch their specials, because they’re a steal!
Activities: Hiking, Trekking, Volunteering, Sightseeing
Alpenglow Expeditions do expeditions all over the world and was founded by Adrian Ballinger, who recently summited Everest without supplemental oxygen and shared the entire adventure on Snapchat @EverestNoFilter.
What I love about Alpenglow Expeditions is they offer Mountaineering School trips that allow you safely learn while on an amazing adventure. As part of the trip, they also offer rental gear they mail to you to make sure you’re properly outfitted for the trip. They go above and beyond to answer questions and make sure you have a wonderful time.
Activities: Mountaineering, Hiking/Trekking Skiing, Rock Climbing, and Educational Courses
Alpenventures UNGUIDED is run by a couple out of Germany. One is American and the other is German and together they are able to help English-speakers find their way to some of the best kept adventure secrets in the Alps that tend to only come in Google in German.
They don’t offer tours, but they provide trip planning for all different budgets for experiences like hut-to-hut hiking, via ferratas (seriously cool way to see the alps), snowshoeing, european-style sledding (way cooler than it sounds), mountain biking, and bike touring all around and through the alps.
Activities: Mountain Biking, Road Biking, Bike Touring, Hut-to-Hut Hiking, Snow Showing, Via Ferratas, Extreme Sledding
Another World Adventures is my go-to place to find adventure inspiration! They have tracked down the most unique and off-the-beaten path experiences I’ve ever found. They are how I found out about the sailing adventure I went on in the Atlantic and the Faroe Islands.
They have an adventure idea for every time of year, every duration, every activity level, and every continent. Also, if you don’t happen to find anything on their site, email them because they have lots up their sleeve they just haven’t gotten up on the website yet. Very helpful and jus the kindest people you’ll ever meet.
Activities: Sailing, Trekking, Mountaineering, Biking, Safaris, Running, Food and Culture, and so much more
Hawaii Shark Encounters are for those who crave adrenaline as well as adventure. They’re based in Oahu on the North Shore/Haleiwa in Hawaii. They are one of the best when it comes to safety, teaching you about the sharks you’ll encounter, love and respect for the animals, and just a lot of fun.
Basically, you go out a few miles off shore, you jump into a shark tank with snorkeling gear, the tank has strong, clear plexiglass all around it to allow you to see the sharks up close and personal, but not close enough for things to get dangerous. It will make your heart race, but it’s an unforgettable experience and will earn you bragging rights.
Activities: Shark Cage Diving
RMI Guides are based out of Ashford, Washington at the base of Mt. Rainier. They are one of the best when it comes to guiding trips up Mt. Rainier and so many other places in the world. They also offer treks to Everest Base Camp, and if you go in the spring, you get a chance to STAY at EVERST BASE CAMP. They’re one of the few groups that do that.
They have amazing guides who are all about making sure you have an epic time, learn more than you thought you could, and do everything possible to keep you safe. They offer quality gear to rent, have an amazing website with lots of resources, and offer a few women only expeditions with all of their other expeditions.
Activities: Mountaineering, Trekking/Hiking, and Educational courses
Rubicon3 is based out of England and they are all about sailing experiences and helping anyone learn to sail. They offer journeys that take you to some of the most spectacular places on earth, well away from the tourist traps.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never sailed a day in your life or if you’ve been sailing for years, Rubicon3 has experiences for anyone who craves a bit of adventure and is willing to share space with 8-9 other adventure cravers. They have 2 beautiful and self-sufficient ocean going yachts ready to explore the world. Amazing journeys and top-notch customer experiences keeps me coming back. To get an idea of what a sailing adventure is like, read about my Faroe Islands Sailing Adventure.)
Activities: Sailing, Training, and Exploring
Secret Compass is another go-to place when looking for adventure inspiration. The expeditions and adventures they offer are more on the extreme side, but in the most awesome way possible. For example, if scaling secret peaks in Iraq, helping with the reindeer migration in Siberia with the Nenets, or a multi-day horseback expedition to the volcanoes of Argentina sounds like your kind of adventure, Secret Compass is the place.
They also offer more classic adventures to Kilimanjaro, Bhutan, and Panama if that’s more your thing. Since they’re based out of the U.K., they offer adventure weekend getaways for those close by.
Activities: Trekking, Desert Crossings, Pack rafting, Horseback expeditions, Camel Expeditions, and Repelling/Abseiling
Vagabond Tours of Ireland are small group tours that are fun, personal, extremely educational, and allow you to see parts of Ireland that the big bus tours will never get to.
If you don’t want to do Ireland on your own, but hate the idea of a big tour bus, this is the perfect middle ground and maybe the preferred way to go. You’ll experience charming bed and breakfasts, traditional Irish breakfasts, see more historic sites than you realize existed, plus all the must-see places, but before everyone else.
The guides are worth their weight in gold for their charm, knowledge, and humor. Their custom 4×4 Land Rovers aka Vagatrons, are the best way to roam the Irish countryside. This was the very first small group tour on my first solo overseas journey and it was better than I could have imagined.
Activities: Sightseeing, Exploring, Food and Culture
Valencia Travel Cusco are based out of Peru and offer treks and tours to Machu Picchu in Peru. They not only offer the classic Inca trail hike, but several other treks that are far less crowded, but still make their way to Machu Picchu.
I love working with companies in country because I feel like it gives back to the economy. This group loves their country and love sharing their passion and knowledge with those who come on their treks. They are professional, organized, and lots of fun.
They also have amazing deals, so watch their site or subscribe to their newsletter to be the first to know. Also, if you book through them, they often can book airfare through Miami to Lima way cheaper than we ever could. It’s a perk of having a Peruvian postal code when booking airfare.
Activities: Hiking / Trekking, Sightseeing