REI Adventures

REI Adventures
Name	REI Adventures
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Outdoor recreation, Travel
Foundation	1948
Founder	Lloyd and Mary Anderson
Location	Kent, Washington
Area served	Worldwide
Parent	Recreational Equipment, Inc.

REI Adventures REI Adventures is an outdoor travel division of Recreational Equipment, Inc., offering guided trips emphasizing active travel, wilderness experiences, and sustainable tourism. Founded as part of Recreational Equipment, Inc. in the late 20th century, the brand built a portfolio of hiking, cycling, paddling, and expedition itineraries that connect participants with landscapes and cultures. The program coordinates logistics, professional leaders, and partnerships with conservation and community organizations across continents.

History

REI Adventures grew from the retail cooperative Recreational Equipment, Inc. as the company expanded into services alongside gear sales, influenced by outdoor pioneers such as Lloyd Anderson and Mary Anderson and contemporaries linked to The Mountaineers and Sierra Club. Early program development intersected with trends established by operators like Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School, and Wilderness Travel while responding to rising interest generated by events such as the Appalachian Trail thru-hiking movement and popular accounts like Into the Wild. Expansion through the 1990s and 2000s paralleled growth in adventure tourism highlighted by market reports from organizations like Adventure Travel Trade Association and regulatory shifts exemplified by policies from the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. Strategic hires and collaborations connected REI Adventures to expedition leaders with backgrounds at institutions including American Alpine Club, Royal Geographical Society, and guiding schools such as NOLS. The company’s product evolution reflected influences from operators such as G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, and Abercrombie & Kent while integrating conservation priorities similar to The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund programs.

Program and Offerings

Offerings span categories comparable to those of Backroads and DuVine Cycling—from active hiking inspired by routes like the Camino de Santiago to paddling trips echoing itineraries on the Inside Passage and the Amazon River. Trip formats include small-group departures, private charters, and custom expeditions akin to services by Exodus Travels and TrekAmerica. Specialized programs have been developed for demographics and interests parallel to initiatives from REI Co-op partners, including family-oriented trips similar to Outward Bound USA family programs, photography expeditions reminiscent of workshops run by National Geographic Expeditions, and skills-focused clinics borrowing curriculum elements from American Canoe Association and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Adventure categories cover alpine trekking on routes comparable to Mont Blanc circuits, glacier travel paralleling locations like Perito Moreno Glacier, cycling on corridors like the Munda Biddi Trail, and multi-day sea-kayaking along coasts such as Mendocino Coast.

Destinations and Itineraries

Itineraries span continents, incorporating routes through regions associated with Patagonia, Iceland, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, Japan, New Zealand, Bhutan, Chile, Costa Rica, Icelandic Highlands, Alaska, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Galápagos Islands, Seychelles, Fiji, Australia, Tasmania, Philippines, Bali, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Portugal, Istanbul, Petra, Machu Picchu, Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, Torres del Paine, and the Dolomites. Sample departures include trekking, cycling, paddling, wildlife-viewing, and cultural-immersion itineraries with accommodations ranging from backcountry camping to lodges similar to those used by operators like Llama Path and Andean Lodges. Collaborations with local outfitters mirror approaches taken by G Adventures and Intrepid Travel to integrate regional knowledge from entities such as Nepal Mountaineering Association, Tanzania National Parks Authority, and park services like Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.

Conservation and Community Impact

Conservation commitments align with organizations such as Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, and local NGOs in destination countries. Programs promote community-based tourism models practiced by groups like Cultural Survival and Fair Trade Tourism, supporting local guides, porters, and homestay networks resembling initiatives by Responsible Travel. Impact strategies include destination stewardship, permit and fee compliance as required by authorities like National Park Service and Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP), and contributions to conservation projects akin to partnerships between Conservation International and private tour operators. Educational components echo collaborations similar to Smithsonian Institution outreach and may incorporate citizen science methods used by programs from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Zooniverse.

Safety, Guides, and Training

Guiding standards draw on practices from American Mountain Guides Association and certification frameworks such as those of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations and American Canoe Association. Staff backgrounds commonly include experience with rescue and medical training similar to Wilderness Medical Society curricula, and guide onboarding may reference methodology from National Outdoor Leadership School and procedural guidance from Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards applied in outdoor contexts. Risk management integrates route planning comparable to protocols used by National Park Service backcountry teams, evacuation coordination with services like Mountain Rescue Association, and wilderness first aid certifications akin to courses by NOLS Wilderness Medicine.

Business Model and Partnerships

The business model operates within the cooperative structure of Recreational Equipment, Inc. and mirrors partnership strategies used by travel companies such as G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, and Abercrombie & Kent, combining retail customer channels, membership marketing, and strategic alliances with gear brands like Patagonia (company), The North Face, Black Diamond Equipment, MSR (company), and Arc'teryx. Supplier relationships include local outfitters, hoteliers, and transportation firms comparable to those contracted by Backroads and Travel + Leisure-listed operators. Corporate responsibility and membership benefits follow frameworks akin to those established by REI Co-op governance, while procurement and sustainability reporting reference frameworks similar to Global Reporting Initiative and standards promoted by organizations such as B Lab and Sustainable Travel International.

Category:Travel and holiday companies of the United States