Arc’teryx Enters the Group Adventure Travel Market With Climbing And Outdoor-Focused “Arc’teryx Trips”

Joining the likes of R.E.I., National Geographic and the more affordable G-Adventures, Canada-based Arc’teryx announced today the launch of Arc’teryx Trips, the new travel arm of the outdoor-focused brand’s offerings. The first trips will depart in June 2020 and are available for booking now. The 11 different trips will take guests to 10 different destinations around the world, including France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. Prices range from $2,300 to $7,600 USD per person and are limited to anywhere between four and 12 people per trip.

“We want to expand our connection to our customers beyond the sales floor, and the best way to do this is to provide them with truly unique experiential opportunities,” says Jurgen Watts, Arc’teryx’s senior manager of brand partnerships, on why they’ve chosen to enter the market. “We want to become solid advocates for the outdoors, and to anchor our brand in such a way that it becomes synonymous with leading an active outdoor lifestyle.”

Trips focus on the sports and activities for which Arc’teryx makes products, like hiking and camping, climbing and mountaineering. All trips are designed to pair trip attendees with experts from respective fields; guests are all certified by international climbing and mountain guiding bodies. According to Watts, the goal of the trips are threefold: to help people enjoy being outside, to explore global destinations and to connect with local communities and environments. Expert guides will lead attendees through each adventure of the trip and teach new skills to help travelers continue to grow as athletes upon their returns home.

Experts designed the trips for different skill levels. Though Arc’teryx is known for making technical and professional sporting gear, participants need not be skilled athletes. Arc’teryx provides training plans, fitness requirements, and guidance for all trips in advance of departure. Arc’teryx trip leaders will schedule calls with all participants in advance to ensure they're adequately prepared for the excursions.

Group travel is a growing trend among U.S.-based travelers. A 2018 survey from the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Travel Leaders Group found that 87 percent of travel agents reported an increase in adventure travel sales. The same poll showed that the age of adventure travelers is rising, as is the amount of time spent on each trip. Watts says that the trip offerings will ensure Arc'teryx Trips stand out in the growing group travel field. "What differentiates the Arc'teryx Trips program from other adventure travel programs is that we are focused on offering trips to off-the-beaten-path locations," Watts says, "where participants can experience and enjoy a sense of remoteness."

Trips available for 2020 include trail running adventures in Canada’s British Columbia and Corsica, rock climbing trips in Chamonix and the Italian Dolomites, and hiking trips through the Yukon. There are also women’s-specific trips, including a mountaineering and climbing trip to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park with female instructors. Trips run between three and 10 days and include on-the-ground expenses like lodging, most meal, and in-country transport. Airfare and travel insurance are not included. Additional trips for winter 2020 and beyond will be announced early in the new year.