Active travel operator EF Adventures and outdoor retailer Backcountry have announced a co-branded collection of four guided hiking and multi-adventure tours, with departures in 2027. Itineraries run 7 to 14 days, span moderate to challenging activity levels, and each has just one departure — so anyone interested will need to plan early.
The routes cover some serious trail cred. The collection opens close to Backcountry's home turf in Utah: the American Southwest Hiking trip links Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Zion, a landscape the brand's own experts know inside out. From there it goes global — the glaciers and fjords of western Norway, the alpine ridgelines of Italy's Dolomites, and the famously wind-battered peaks of Patagonia.
The real hook is the preparation side. Every booked traveller gets paired with a named Backcountry Gearhead — one of the retailer's in-house climbers, skiers, paddlers and hikers — who works with them one-on-one before departure on gear, layering and packing, using a list built for that specific itinerary's conditions. Select Backcountry gear is provided for use on tour, and the packages also include a 15% Backcountry discount, Summit Club+ access and a co-branded welcome kit. As Backcountry president Kevin Lenau puts it, most gear questions are really trip questions — glacier travel in Norway, wind and rain in Patagonia, and desert heat in the Southwest each demand very different kit.
On the ground, a full-time EF Adventures tour director leads each trip alongside local guides, handling logistics while also covering local culture, food and environment, with activities ranging from hiking to kayaking and white-water rafting. Each itinerary is built around a 'Backcountry signature moment' — a standout day on the trail or water supported by gear matched to that day's terrain.
There are two extras worth knowing. First, EF World Journeys has launched a referral scheme across EF Adventures, EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break: travellers earn $100 credit per friend who books through their link, with every fifth referral paying $500, unlimited referrals and no expiry on rewards. Second, the EF World Journeys brands are now working with travel advisors and agencies, so you can book the collection through an agent as well as direct.
Who's it for? Travellers who want a genuine adventure but feel out of their depth choosing kit or route-planning in places like Patagonia or the Dolomites. The Gearhead model essentially bundles a personal equipment consultant into the trip price, which removes a lot of the guesswork that stops people booking more demanding active holidays. Given the single 2027 departure per itinerary and the range of trip lengths, it suits anyone from a first-time guided hiker to a seasoned trekker after an organised multi-sport week. Details and booking are via the EF Adventures site.
