Two Trusted Experts in Active Travel and Outdoor Gear, EF Adventures and Backcountry Launch Collection of New Hiking and Multi-Adventure Experiences Across Three Continents

• Travelers gain access to EF Adventures' leadership in guided, active travel, coupled with Backcountry's outdoor and gear expertise
• Collection includes hiking tour through Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park (near Backcountry's global headquarters), and additional tour adventures across Norway, the Italian Dolomites and Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Adventures, a leader in active-travel and cultural immersion, and Backcountry, the online specialty retailer for outdoor gear and expertise, today announced the launch of a collection of hiking and multi-adventure tours across three continents departing in 2027. The tours in the EF Adventures x Backcountry Collection were designed by two trusted experts in travel and outdoors gear, helping adventure seekers take on extraordinary terrain across stunning landscapes and waterways, supported by the right guidance and preparation intended on delivering EPIC, memory making experiences. Visit here to learn more: https://www.efadventures.com/backcountry.

The collection starts with a tour close to Backcountry's global headquarters in Utah. American Southwest Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion takes travelers through the red-rock canyons and high-desert trails of Backcountry's home state of Utah and the greater Southwest — the terrain the brand's Gearhead® Experts know best. From there, the collection of new tours reaches three of the world's most iconic mountain landscapes: the glaciers and fjords of western Norway, the alpine ridgelines of Italy's Dolomites, and the wind-scoured peaks of Patagonia.

Every guided tour in the collection is led by a tour director working with EF Adventures who has expertise in the local destination and the various activities involved, be it hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, etc. Tour directors go beyond logistical support, helping travelers learn about the local destination, inclusive of culture, food, environment, and about the locals living within a community. Tour directors also focus on community building within a traveling group, with the goal of turning strangers at the start of each hike into a community of lifelong friends once they summit the peak of each trail.

Tours are built around a Backcountry signature moment — a defining day on the trail or water, supported by gear selected specifically for that itinerary's conditions. Travelers are also paired with a dedicated Backcountry Gearhead, an outdoor expert who works with them one-on-one ahead of departure on gear selection, layering and packing, so they arrive prepared for the environment ahead.

"Our travelers come to EF Adventures because they want more from an active trip - incredible experiences in the outdoors, but also a deeper connection to the places, cultures and people they encounter along the way, guided by experts and local guides who bring each destination to life." said Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys, operator of EF Adventures. "Our partnership with Backcountry extends that experience to how travelers prepare for the adventure ahead. Confidence on the trail or on the water starts long before the trip begins, and connecting every traveler with a Gearhead who understands exactly what their adventure will need in terms of apparel or equipment gives them a new level of personalized support. Starting the collection in Utah, on Backcountry's home ground, felt like the perfect place to begin — and from there, we can't wait to help travelers explore this beautiful world."

The four tours span moderate to challenging activity levels and run from 7 to 14 days, with one departure per itinerary in 2027.

THE COLLECTION

American Southwest Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion
7 days (9 days with the Zion National Park region extension) | Departs April 25, 2027 | Activity level: Moderate | From $6,190 USD per person, land only

The collection's anchor adventure moves through three of the American Southwest's defining landscapes. Travelers hike Sedona's red-rock formations, descend into the Grand Canyon, and finish among the sandstone walls and slot canyons of Zion National Park, with an optional two-day extension that adds the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. It is high-desert hiking at its most dramatic — exposed, sun-drenched and, for Backcountry, home terrain.

Backcountry signature moment: A guided descent of the Bright Angel Trail into the Grand Canyon, with Backcountry hydration offerings at the trailhead, e.g., electrolytes, hydration packs, etc., and could include a professional photographer to capture the group on the trail.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Tahoe Sun Hoodies provided ahead of departure for sun protection in exposed desert conditions, plus an on-tour hydration solution travelers keep.

Norway Multi-Adventure with Backcountry: Bergen & the Sognefjord Region
9 days | Departs July 15, 2027 | Activity level: Intermediate | From $6,290 USD per person, land only*

A multi-sport route through western Norway's fjord country, beginning in the harbor city of Bergen and working inland through the Sognefjord region. Travelers move between hiking, glacier travel and paddling across changing coastal and alpine conditions — the kind of itinerary where layering decisions matter as much as fitness.

Backcountry signature moment: A guided hike on the Nigardsbreen glacier, followed by kayaking the narrow, UNESCO-listed waters of the Nærøyfjord.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Peale insulated jackets and co-branded dry bags, plus crampons selected for the glacier terrain travelers take on.

Italy Hiking with Backcountry: The Dolomites
11 days | Departs August 21, 2027 | Activity level: Intermediate | From $ 7,150 USD per person, land only*

Eleven days in the limestone towers of northern Italy, a range with as much mountaineering heritage as it has hiking. Travelers work through high alpine meadows and ridgeline trails between mountain villages, with a visit to the Messner Mountain Museum — founded by the first climber to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen — connecting the terrain to the climbing history that shaped it.

Backcountry signature moment: A full-day hike along the Seceda ridgeline, with a photographer accompanying the group across one of the most recognizable skylines in the Alps.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Waas LT Down Vests, an insulated layer built for the swings between valley warmth and exposed alpine cold.

Chile & Argentina Hiking with Backcountry: Patagonia
14 days | Departs November 4, 2027 |Activity level: Challenging | From $$11,290 USD per person, land only*

The collection's most demanding itinerary and its bucket-list departure. Two weeks of hiking across the Chilean and Argentine sides of Patagonia, through the granite spires of Torres del Paine and out onto the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Big mileage days, remote terrain and weather that can turn several times before lunch.

Backcountry signature moment: The ascent to Mirador Las Torres for the classic view of the Torres del Paine towers, plus a mini-trek on the surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Kanarra Rain Jackets, a shell chosen specifically for Patagonia's fast-moving wind and rain.

* Land only prices on tours include accommodations, included excursions, adventure equipment, most meals, and a tour director for the entirety of each EF Adventure. EF Adventures also makes flights (with included airport transfer), "cancel for any reason" insurance, and trip extension opportunities available for an additional fee.

A GEARHEAD FOR EVERY TRAVELER

Backcountry's Gearheads are the retailer's in-house outdoor experts — climbers, skiers, paddlers and hikers who advise customers one-on-one. In the co-branded collection, every booked traveler is introduced to a named Gearhead after booking and can reach that expert directly in the months before departure, working through a curated gear list built specifically for their itinerary's terrain and conditions.

"We've spent thirty years helping people figure out what they actually need for the conditions they're heading into, and the honest answer is that most gear questions are really trip questions," said Kevin Lenau, President at Backcountry. "These four itineraries gave us something specific to solve for, glacier travel in Norway, wind and rain in Patagonia, sun and heat in the Southwest. Our Gearheads get to work with travelers on a real adventure with a real date on it and then see them use the gear where it matters. Having the collection start in Utah, in our own backyard, makes it that much better."

TRAVELER BENEFITS

• A dedicated Backcountry Gearhead for one-on-one gear, layering and packing guidance ahead of departure
• A curated, itinerary-specific gear list built by Backcountry's outdoor experts
• Select Backcountry gear provided for use on tour, matched to each destination's terrain and conditions
• A 15% Backcountry discount and Summit Club+ access
• A co-branded welcome kit
• A full-time EF Adventures Tour Director, plus local guides, throughout the itinerary

REFER A FRIEND

Any traveler who has booked with EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, or EF Adventures can now share a personal referral link via email, text, social media, or their respective EF World Journeys mobile app. Travelers receive $100 in travel credit for every friend who books using their referral, with every fifth referral earning $500. There is no limit to how many referrals can be made, and rewards never expire. Click here to learn more. 

NOW WORKING WITH TRAVEL ADVISORS

EF Adventures, EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break are now working with travel advisors and travel agencies across the EF World Journeys portfolio, giving advisors access to the full range of guided, experiential travel for adults — including the new EF Adventures × Backcountry Collection. Interested advisors can sign up or learn more about commission details, partnership opportunities and exclusive advisor resources. Click here to learn more.

About EF Adventures

EF Adventures is a culturally immersive and premium adventure travel company offering 40+ guided tours across 25 countries and 5 continents.

Launched in September 2024 as part of the EF World Journeys family of experiential travel brands, EF Adventures builds on more than 60 years of EF's global expertise in educational and cultural immersion. Each small-group tour blends active exploration with authentic learning, inviting travelers to engage with local traditions, communities, and ecosystems through guided experiences like hiking, biking, and multi-adventure activities such as kayaking, yoga, ziplining, and more. Tours also include premium boutique accommodations, curated healthy meals, memory-making excursions, and tour extension opportunities. Designed for varied fitness levels and age groups, the EF Adventures experience combines adventure-based activity with hands-on cultural discovery that transforms how people see the world.

EF Adventures invites publishers and creators to become part of its growing affiliate network. Earn competitive commissions on confirmed bookings by referring travelers to efadventures.com. Learn more and apply here.

About Backcountry

Backcountry is the leading online specialty retailer for outdoor gear and apparel, serving skiers, snowboarders, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, trail runners, and water sports enthusiasts since 1996. Founded in Park City, Utah, Backcountry differentiates itself through its Gearhead® Expert program, a team of passionate outdoor specialists available by phone, chat, and email to provide personalized gear guidance. With more than 500 brands, a growing portfolio of owned labels, and the Backcountry Garage brand incubator, Backcountry equips the outdoor community for any adventure. Backcountry is owned by CSC Generation and headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Learn more at backcountry.com.

SOURCE EF Adventures