Adventure Travel

Finding Nature’s Finest

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations

Your last two steps involve a few quick but crucial probes into the most important issue: safety. In order to make sure you can trust the outfitter, see if other people trust the outfitter. A good indicator of a company’s commitment to safety and quality is the associations or organizations it supports or belongs to. They could range from a better business bureau or chamber of commerce to a sport outfitter association or safety organization.

“People should look for outfitters that are part of professional associations,” says David Brown, executive director of America Outdoors. “Generally, it indicates that they have some interest in professionalism.” It also indicates that they are held accountable for the quality of their trip by someone other than you. America Outdoors, for example, provides courses and accredits its members on risk-management practices. Sustainable Travel International has a list of outfitters that are committed to environmentally and culturally conscious operations, and the members of the U.S. Tour Operators Association are required to have $1 million in professional liability insurance.

Lastly, be sure to ask for guest references. A good outfitter should be able to provide at least a few, if not an extended list, of former clients willing to give you their impressions of the trip.

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations