Tour Operator EF World Journeys Launches EF Adventures

EF World Journeys, a tour operator focused on educational
programs, has launched EF Adventures. The company also operates EF Go Ahead
Tours and EF Ultimate Break, which are targeted at different demographic
groups. All the brands are part of EF Education First, which is based in
Switzerland and has a North American headquarters in Boston. 

The new brand, according to Heidi Durflinger, president of
EF World Journeys, speaking at an event in New York, was inspired by surveys
showing travelers are more active than ever before and are saying they want
more adventure in their vacations where they can also learn about the people,
history, culture and cuisine of the destinations they’re visiting.

EF Adventures, said Durflinger, will deliver a more active
travel experience and offer a deeper understanding of global cultures. The
operator’s decades in business as an experiential, guided tour operator, she
said, will benefit diverse age groups of adult travelers with varied fitness
levels booking with EF Adventures.

The tours will begin departures in October 2024, with more
than 20 programs across 16 countries available for booking into 2025.

According to Durflinger, “More than half of the
international travelers we surveyed have recently booked an adventure-oriented
trip, yet nearly a third of travelers felt these tours lacked cultural
immersion within the destinations visited. Similarly, travelers are expressing
disappointment about lodging and food quality. We aim to change that.”

The operator’s survey of over 1,000 North American travelers
who have traveled internationally within the last three years revealed that:

• 84% plan to travel internationally in the next
  two years
• 75% said they want to be more active on
  vacations
• 79% of travelers said they liked the idea of an
  active vacation where they also learn about the destination (people, history,
  culture and cuisine) they’re visiting.  
• 78% of travelers strongly agreed that they would
  like to engage more directly with the people, places and cultures they
  encounter when traveling abroad. While
  on an adventure tour, 84% of travelers also expect to see the iconic and
  historical landmarks. 

Durflinger told TravelPulse that all of EF World Journeys
programs are currently commissionable to internal sales consultants, but commissions
will be extended to travel advisors and other travel sellers in the next few
months. 

The programs themselves will be scored 1-5 based on easy to
challenging in terms of fitness levels. Tour experiences are offered for a wide
range of age groups and fitness levels, including e-bikes, walking tours and
flexible schedules that enable travelers to seek adventure at their own
pace.

In addition to sightseeing and visiting attractions, EF Adventures
will offer the services of highly experienced tour directors – included in the
price of every trip – who will introduce travelers to local food and drink and
provide insights into the culture and history of destinations on the itinerary
of every tour. Several tour directors addressed the media at the New York event
to describe the granular experience travelers will enjoy on EF Adventures
excursions.  

While they are adventure tours, according to the company, hotel
selection criteria include preferred properties “with a clean and fresh style,
characterized by a touch of elegance, featuring outdoor spaces, and with a
distinct, boutique-style ambiance.”

Lodging, according to the company,  will range from property styles that include
modern hotels to agriturismos (an independently owned farm with lodging) to
family-run boutique properties and mountain chalets. Many hotels will offer
recovery services, including spa treatments and amenities like pools, hot tubs
and saunas (where available).

There will be more than 20 hiking, biking, walking and
multi-adventure tours across Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the Pacific
islands. Inclusive pricing covers boutique lodging, excursions, high-quality
equipment and support, local cuisine and professional tour directors who will
ensure travelers learn about the people, places and cultures they visit. Optional
roundtrip flight package pricing is also available.

Prices begin at $4,199 (for a multi-adventure tour in
Portugal), with the ability to secure tour spots with down payments of $150 and
interest-free monthly payment plans with enrollment in AutoPay.

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