Company Background

In pursuit of a dream – building a world-class adventure travel company.

The history of Austin-Lehman Adventures is really the history of founders Dan Austin and Paul Lehman and their passion to create the world’s best travel company. Neither Dan nor Paul were born into travel. In fact, Dan got his start in construction management in places like Alaska and Hawaii. Paul, after a five-year stint as a social worker, joined his family business manufacturing gaskets and seals for internal combustion engines.

But along the way they both became enamored with global travel and the personal transformation it brings. Dan ran a commercial rafting outfit for a few years, learning firsthand how to (and how not to) put a smile on a customer’s face. Paul’s family business boomed and through innovation and creativity, was named one of the top 10 companies to work for in Fortune and Working Mother magazines.

Successful in business, Dan and Paul continued their wanderlust for travel but now with wives and kids along. A major epiphany took place for both Dan and Paul during the 90’s that would set them on the path they're still forging today. For Dan it was a group bike trip in Wyoming that he took with Backcountry Tours. For Paul it was the selling of his family business and the ability to now underwrite his dreams of owning an elite travel company.

After his trip, Dan was sold on adventure travel. He leveraged his knack for business and customer service, and with the help of a few friends willing to invest, purchased Backcountry Tours. He seemed to have a talent for it and in his first season increased bookings by nearly 50%. Three years later he had the know-how and capital to start his own “higher-end” tour company, Adventures Plus.

As fate would have it, Dan and Paul crossed paths, struck up a friendship, and together shared their vision of creating the preeminent multisport travel company. Change was in the air. It was 2000, a new millennium, and Austin-Lehman Adventures was created from Adventures Plus. Headquarters were established in Billings, Montana, Backcountry Tours was soon acquired, and the dream was under way.

With a new vision to carefully expand the ALA brand of all-inclusive, upscale, active and culturally rewarding vacations throughout the world, new programs were developed in Central and South America (starting in 2003) and Southern Africa (launching in 2008). In the fall of 2008 ALA acquired the distinctive 34-year legacy of Euro-Bike & Walking Tours and for the 2009 season, added 26 new biking and family programs to their portfolio.

With hard work, innovation and the support of an exceptional staff it did not take long for Austin-Lehman Adventures to get noticed. Within two years of inception, major publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Outside and The New York Times were all taking note and singing praises of ALA’s unique style of travel. But it’s Dan’s and Paul’s belief the best is still yet to come!

Travel + Leisure
World's Best Award Winner
Austin-Lehman Adventures was recognized as the #1 Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter in the World by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. Read the Press Release >

National Geographic Adventure
Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth
ALA is added to the list of Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth in 2009. Read the Press Release >

National Geographic Traveler
50 Tours of a Lifetime
The editors of National Geographic Traveler single out ALA's Montana Adventure as one of their top tours in 2007. See the Complete List >