Employers

Commercial adventure travel agencies naturally employ adventure travel specialists. In addition, several not-for-profit organizations, such as universities and environmental groups, offer nature and adventure programs.

Starting Out

Make a list of adventure groups and do some research. How long have they been in business? Do they specialize in soft or hard adventure travel? You can narrow your search to companies specializing in the activity or activities you have experience with. Use the Internet to help you do this; many companies have Web sites that advertise their specialties and list job openings. Other organizations, such as The International Ecotourism Society, also provide information on jobs and internships on their Web sites. Remember that you may have to relocate to get the best chance of finding a job in adventure travel, so your search should be geographically broad.

Several magazines may be helpful in compiling a list of companies involved in adventure travel. Some good publications to look into are Outside (https://www.outsideonline.com), Backpacker (https://www.backpacker.com), and Bicycling (https://www.bicycling.com). Adventure travel organizations and associations may provide a list of their members.

To find not-for-profit organizations that hire adventure travel specialists, consider the National Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. Check with your local library for a complete listing of environmental groups. You might also contact universities to see if they have a wilderness/adventure travel division in their physical education or recreation schools.

Also, use any contacts you have—from clubs, organizations, previous travel experiences, or college classes—to find out about possible employment opportunities. For example, if you belong to a diving or bicycling club, ask other members or instructors if they are familiar with any outfitters you could contact. If you have dealt with outfitters in some of your adventure trips, contact them for potential job leads. New hires may start as office assistants or assistant guides until they gain enough experience to lead expeditions or take on more demanding tasks if they work in the office.

There is no clearly defined career path for adventure travel specialists. For those who work in an office environment, advancement will likely take the form of increased responsibility and higher pay. Assuming a managerial role or moving on to a larger company are other possibilities for advancement.

For those who work in the field, advancement might mean taking more trips per year. Adventure travel in many locations is seasonal, so tour guides may not be able to do this sort of work year-round. It is common for an individual to guide tours only part-time and have another job to fill in the slow times. For those who become experienced in two or more particular areas of travel and develop a reputation of expertise, however, there may be the opportunity to spend more, or even all, of the year doing adventure touring.

Another option for the office worker or the guide is to learn about the other side of the business. Ambitious travel specialists can own their company with experience in all aspects of developing, selling, and leading tours.

Read publications such as Adventure Travel News (https://www.adventuretravelnews.com) to learn more about industry trends and potential employers.

Use social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to stay up to date on industry developments and learn about job openings.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://careers.adventuretravel.biz
• https://careers.outdoorindustry.org/
• https://www.ecotourism.org (society members only)

Attend the Adventure Travel World Summit (https://www.adventuretravel.biz/events) to network and learn more about the industry.

Join the Adventure Travel Trade Association, The International Ecotourism Society, and other professional associations to access training and networking resources, industry publications, and employment opportunities.