The history of Austin Adventures is really the history of founder Dan Austin’s passion to create the world’s best travel company.
Dan wasn’t born into travel. In fact, he got his start in construction management in places like Alaska and Hawaii. But along the way, he became enamored with global travel and the personal transformation it brings. Dan first cut his teeth in the adventure world as a commercial rafting outfitter in the mid-1970s, learning firsthand how to (and how not to) put a smile on a customer’s face.
A major epiphany took place for Dan during the 1990s that would set him on the path he is still forging today. It was a group bike trip in Wyoming that he took with Bozeman, Montana-based Backcountry Tours.
After his trip, Dan was sold on adventure travel. He leveraged his knack for business and customer service and, with the help of a few friends willing to invest, purchased Backcountry Tours. He had a vision and a talent for it, and in his first season increased bookings by nearly 50%. Three years later, he had the know-how and capital to launch a new concept of his own, a “higher-end” active tour company he named Adventures Plus that offered both biking and multi-sport adventures.
Then fate arrived at Dan’s door. At a travel show Dan met Paul Lehman and immediately struck up a friendship. They quickly found they shared a vision for creating the preeminent active travel company. Change was in the air. It was 2000, a new millennium, and Austin-Lehman Adventures was born from Adventures Plus. Headquarters were established in Billings, Montana, Backcountry Tours was soon acquired, and the dream was under way.
With a new vision to carefully expand the ALA brand of upscale, active, and culturally rewarding vacations throughout the world, new programs were developed in Central and South America and Southern Africa. In the fall of 2008, ALA acquired the distinctive 34-year legacy of Euro-Bike & Walking Tours and for the 2009 season added 26 new European biking and family programs to their portfolio. Future years saw the addition of tours to Morocco, Israel, Greece, New Zealand, and Slovenia, among other destinations.
In 2010, Lehman left ALA to pursue personal interests, but essentially, everything stayed the same—from the guides, to the staff, trips, and even the company’s name! With hard work, innovation and the support of an exceptional staff and loyal following of alumni travelers, it did not take long for Austin-Lehman Adventures to get noticed.
Within two years of inception, major publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Chicago Tribune, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Outside and the New York Times were all taking note and singing the praises of ALA’s unique style of travel. In 2009, the readers of Travel + Leisure named Austin-Lehman Adventures the World’s Best Tour Operator—an accomplishment that was repeated again in 2010.
In 2012, Travel + Leisure awarded ALA with the title of Top Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter for Families. The same year, National Geographic Traveler recognized ALA trips in its list of 50 Tours of a Lifetime and the company received a Hall of Fame Travel Award from Outside Magazine.
In September of 2013, Austin-Lehman Adventures became Austin Adventures when the company was acquired by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Dan stayed on as president of Austin Adventures, and there were no changes made to the company’s management, staff, or location. In late 2017, Dan purchased Xanterra’s shares of Austin Adventures back and Austin Adventures is now a completely family-owned company.
This hallmark of being completely family owned continues to drive the ethos of Austin Adventures. Staff, guides, and guests thrive in a culture that values empathy, attention to detail, expedient and thoughtful customer service, and an all-around sense of western hospitality and friendliness. Guests have direct access to Dan, Carol, Kasey and Andy Austin, and it doesn’t take long before Austin Adventures guests become Austin Adventures family.
