Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1726 reviews
Lee H
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| April 0000
Northern Patagonia Adventure
4.6 from 56 reviews
Shearon R
Recently home from this fantastic adventure, my 3rd with Active. Northern Patagonia is just spectacular in scenery and activity. Wonderful hikes, two kayak days, lots of time spent traveling multi-modal transportation seeing much variety in landscapes. Could not have asked for any better than our wonderful guide, Mayra!!
Lodgings were good and interesting, food always great and plentiful, and to be sure we had good wine in both Argentina and Chile. Fun fun group, lots of laughter!
| April 0000
New Zealand Biking Adventure
4.7 from 312 reviews
Robin P
I had heard about Active Adventures from a former customer, who said AA was outstanding in every way. She was not wrong!!
AA chose the very best bike rides for us. We would not have had to knowledge to plan this trip ourselves. Each landscape we rode through was stunning. The accomodations were also chosen with great care. They couldn't have been better. Two of the accomodations, in particular, had breath taking views, which you would pay thousands of dollars for in Europe! The guides were knowledgeable, kind, helpful and genuinely good people. They helped make the trip a success. I can't recommend AA enough. I am going on another AA adventure next summer.
| April 0000
Patagonia Hiking Adventure
4.7 from 1139 reviews
Richard D
Zach is a GOOD trip leader. Very attentive, easy going, the right mind set/attitude to be a
trip leader, organized, diligent in helping out. He's from Peru, when he mentioned that I asked him about alternative treks in Peru near Machu Pichu. He said He can give me information on that. I would go with him again.
The group was good. We all merged into one group, good talks, jokes, stories. It was a bummer to hear about Scott and Katheryn. Scott told good jokes. The weather was typical for Patagonia. The weather itself is part of the trek/trip down there. Accommodations in Punta Arenas, Natales, Calafata, El Chalten were good, almost to point of five star hotels. We ate well. Zach knew the places to go to for a good meal. The guides for the bike ride, the "W" trek, and El Chalten were good, fun to talk to, very helpful. The van drivers were good, no lead foots, the vans were clean and comfortable. Trip organization was good. The one small item that could be improved is a better notice that there will be a place where one can get laundry done. On the "W" trek I wished we had more time to get up to the Britanica viewpoint. We got as far as the France look out. IT was really windy that day but great sunshine. I know Zach has to keep the group moving to make the schedule. I felt I could have gone to Britanica with one of the other guides, either Andres or Camilia. We then would catch up with the group. The box lunches were bigger than I anticipated, the extra food/calories was appreciated. Breakfasts at the places we stayed were good. The boat rides were good. I wish when we at the Moreno Glacier we spent more time there. We only did an hour. I could have spent three/four hours there. I was a fast hiker, I know not all in the group could go my pace. I know the hike guides have to find the "right pace" to fit that group. On the first hike in Glaciares, Lucy, the local hike guide did a really slow pace and it was painful. I know one other trip member made a comment to Zach to hike at a faster pace. I wish we could have spent more time at to take in the views.
Overall a GOOD trip. I would tell others on this trek. I have already looked at your New Zealand trips, the hike one on the mountain bike one. I had a wild thought of doing both. Four weeks in New Zealand...sounds good to me.
| April 0000
Northern Patagonia Adventure
4.6 from 56 reviews
Lori T
We thoroughly enjoyed our Northern Patagonia trip. Endless beauty, perfect mix of hiking and kayaking, unique accommodations, fascinating flora and fauna, lovely lakes, plus yummy wine to sip at the end of the day! Everything lived up to the Active Adventure experience we have always enjoyed. Terrific trip...Highly recommend.
| April 0000
Great Walks of New Zealand
4.7 from 128 reviews
Judith C
I found the pretravel experience stressful, this is why I would hesitate to recommend Active Adventures to friends.
1. Payment. If you're going to have someone who only makes a trip into town once a week, make it that the check needs to be postmarked by a specific date. I sent my check by registered mail, so I knew it was at the Post Office in Montana well before the date needed. For some reason your guy didn't pick it up????
2. I communicated to you that I'd changed where we were staying the night before our meeting. I got a confirmation call back but this wasn't communicated to the trip staff.
3. I saw I could be picked up at the airport at 9am or at the Heritage Hotel earlier. It wasn't made clear that if I choose to be picked up at the airport I was missing breakfast and the initial meeting. Luckily just before leaving when, I checked the travel wallet, I only saw the Heritage Hotel pickup and so changed my reservation.
4. The travel wallet said to meet at 7:30am. When no one was there by 7:35am I tried to call only to find your offices were closed. All trips I've previously done I've been given a local contact number in case of the need to contact someone locally . I've never had anyone arrive late. The trip leaders said they had been told to arrive at 7:40am
| April 0000
New Zealand Biking Adventure
4.7 from 312 reviews
Robin P
Active Adventures is an outstanding tour company. Every single thing is done professionally. The routes we rode were stunning. The guides were so helpful, kind and fun. It couldnt have been a better experience.
| April 0000
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
Marisa M
Good, really enjoyed it
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
Julie H
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
Elizabeth P
The entire 14-day experience was incredible from start to finish. Our guides, Liana and Kelly, were superb! Their professionalism, knowledge, experience, meal preparation, hike selections, music playlist, mythical stories, and friendliness made for a memorable adventure. Their love for New Zealand was palpable and generated much excitement within our group. Experiencing New Zealand through them was a gift I will cherish for years. While our safety was their number one priority, they ensured we got the most out of every activity. I would hike with Liana and Kelly and Active Adventures again!
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
Nancy S
I would strongly recommend this company for the New Zealand (south island) tour!! Two weeks might seem as though it's a long time, but it was so packed with activities, it flew by! Diverse events, consideration of fitness levels and ability, consideration of nutritional needs, etc. were all taken into account while planning each day. The initial communication when setting up the trip to leading up to the final days before the trip, the staff was available to answer questions. I will use them again for future trips!
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
Adam S
What a great way to see the best that the South Island of New Zealand has to offer! Everything about the trip was great, from the itinerary itself to the excellent staff. This was one of our best ever holidays- totally full-on, so not for the lazy or beach lovers, but it packed so many great experiences into 2 weeks. Highly recommended.
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1726 reviews
Jesse B
Holly and Noah were nothing short of amazing. They were great. When the weather cancelled two of our events, the alternatives they came up with were GREAT. Holly's stories on the bus rides were really enlightening and entertaining. We learned a bit about the history, Maori culture, and the geography. Noah was also a great source of information, especially out on the trail. Noah should be a chef. The meals were superb. The boat ride in the fiord on the last full day was truly outstanding (again, in spite of some intermittent cold and rain).
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1726 reviews
Danette T
Our 8 days with Active Adventure was more than we could have imagined. Our guides were Holly and Noah. Holly was a fantastic driver, storyteller and organizer. Noah was our chef. He created delicious breakfasts, snacks, picnic’s and suppers. Not only can he cook, he can hike mountains with ease and educate us on the flora. Our tour guides were companionate and adaptable for each one of us on the team. My husband was unable to participate do to illness. They made him feel apart of the group and also respected his need to lay low. Highly recommend Active Adventures.
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1726 reviews
Paul S
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1726 reviews
Alice H
We had a few things canceled due to weather and the team was able to pivot quickly and with great options.
| January 1970
New Zealand Walking Adventure
4.8 from 387 reviews
Jeannette J
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
New Zealand Walking Adventure
4.8 from 387 reviews
Rita N
I highly recommend the 14 day Active Adventures tour of the South Island of New Zealand. We had two amazing tour guides, Elize and Max. They went above and beyond to make this tour exceptional! Their energy and enthusiasm were astounding. This country is extraordinarily beautiful and our guides added to the magic by taking every opportunity to highlight its unique features. The activity level was just as described, and perfect for me and my traveling companion. We had a great variety of activities including hiking, kayaking, swimming, shopping, taking boat rides and visiting wineries.
I really enjoyed the small group configuration of this tour. We had many delicious "family meals" provided by Max, an outstanding cook, interspersed with lovely meals in restaurants and cafes. Again, Elize and Max made these gathering special with their kindness and attention to detail. I truly felt pampered on this tour. The small group size allowed us to all get to know each other. We had a delightful group of people on this trip, which really added to the fun. Every day was a different adventure with wonderful surprises along the way.
I am very grateful to Elize and Max for making this such a special experience. Active Adventures is clearly dedicated to finding high quality staff to make their tours so wonderful. The pacing was great and the locations we visited were really spectacular. I especially loved visiting the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki and the many hikes we had in tropical and coastal settings.
This tour exceeded my expectations in every way! Thank you, Elize and Max!
Rita Navatka
| January 1970
New Zealand Walking Adventure
4.8 from 387 reviews
Beverly G
Overall a great experience I will always remember. It was faster paced than I would have done on my own, but the end result was that I saw more and experienced things and places that I would have otherwise missed. The trip was greatly enhanced by our two wonderful guides.
| January 1970
New Zealand Walking Adventure
4.8 from 387 reviews
Robert R
After examining trips from competing companies I selected this trip and was very pleased with my choice. The itinerary provided lots of information with hike profiles (distance and climb) being very important. At home I generally hike 6 mile trails as I find that 3 hours on the trail provides an optimum combination of exercise and scenery. The hikes provided on this itinerary provided great scenery without being overly strenuous.
I can't say enough about the quality of our two guides. We have taken a number of small group tours with very good guides. But these two raised the bar in terms of guide quality. Elize's main task was driving and she did a great job. She was also great to have as a guide during our hikes. Max's main tasks were as chef and guide. I was really impressed with the teamwork that they displayed during all aspects of the trip.
I was a bit concerned about having meals prepared by the staff but Max did a great job. His dinners were always creative, beautifully plated with great attention to detail. He also did a good job with breakfasts and packed lunches. One key advantage of home cooked meals is that they are BYO, the meal can be augmented with wine from a local supermarket or wine store. On those days where we had restaurant meals, the restaurants selected were very good with nice selections. It appeared that vegetarians were well taken care of.
During the trip I developed some congestion that impacted my stamina. While hiking, I tended to lag the group a bit. Both guides provided just the right amount of concern and encouragement to keep me going.
The itinerary was excellent. It provided a variety of experiences including hiking in different environments, kayaking, wine tasting and general great scenery. We were able to hike portions of 4 of the 10 Great Walks. The boat ride in Milford Sound was amazing, helped along by rainfall earlier in the week that fed a large number of waterfalls. Having a free day in Queenstown allowed us to select activities that were of interest to us.
| January 1970
Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure
4.7 from 1376 reviews
Robert G
We had the most spectacular time on this tour. The Galapagos and all it has to offer was amazing. It was made even better by our guide, Pablo. He was a wealth of information with a flair for the dramatic, which made the tour both educational as well as entertaining. Paulo, I’ll call him our support guide, made sure everything ran smoothly. All in all would highly recommend this tour.
| January 1970
Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure
4.7 from 1376 reviews
Janelle G
Fabulous trip, well organized with great variety of activities. Excellent guides! Great group of people to train with.
| January 1970
Patagonia Hiking Adventure
4.7 from 1139 reviews
Joseph T
The tour was well designed and the tour leader and guides were wonderful! The variety of activities was very good, with a focus on hiking. We got the active trip we were hoping for! We also got exposure to the local food and culture. Overall, we got a wonderful adventure in beautiful Patagonia!
| April 9600
Patagonia Hiking Adventure
4.7 from 1139 reviews
David T
We just returned from a a 14 day trip to southern Patagonia. Once we arrived we were well looked after and the guides, scenery, food and accommodation were top notch. Our guide Gustavo Martinez, in particular, was excellent.
| April 9600