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AUSTIN-LEHMAN ADVENTURES (ALA)
P.O. Box 81025
Billings, Montana 59108-1025
Telephone: 406-655-4591
info@austinlehman.com
www.austinlehman.com
Toll-free Reservations: 800-575-1540
P.O. Box 81025
Billings, Montana 59108-1025
Telephone: 406-655-4591
Toll-free Reservations: 800-575-1540
FACT SHEET
| Company Name | Austin-Lehman Adventures, LLC Headquartered in Billings, Montana USA |
| Founders/Principals: | Dan Austin - Billings, Montana (oversees day-to-day operations) Paul Lehman - Evanston, Illinois |
| Company Profile: | The choice provider of active vacations, ALA specializes in multi-sport, walking, biking and family travel experiences that are immersed in history, wildlife, culture and geography’s natural beauty. The company has built a reputation for exclusive, small-group active travel (limited to 12 guests, 18 for family trips), with a distinguished roster of trips to 22 countries in the Americas and Europe. It earned the #1 ranking as the world’s top tour operator by the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine in 2009 and holds top accolades as one of the finest adventure tour specialists in the industry. • All ALA vacations feature exceptional dining, access to distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. • A team of passionate, enthusiastic guides facilitate memorable and authentic excursions, at one’s own pace, off the usual tourist track. Guests enjoy “insider’s knowledge” and a local, close-up perspective that cannot be replicated independently. • In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized, trip planning for families, solo travelers and adults-only. • ALA offers all travelers a money-back guarantee, a rarity among adventure travel companies, to reflect its commitment to the highest levels of guest service. |
| History: | With a legacy going back over 35 years, the company evolved into Austin-Lehman Adventures under the helm of entrepreneurs Paul Lehman and Dan Austin. • 1994 -- Dan Austin purchased Montana-based Backcountry Tours, a well–recognized purveyor of small group, multisport tours throughout the western US. This was his second major foray in adventure travel since 1976, when he was a partner in a rafting company in the Pacific Northwest • 1997 -- Dan Austin sold his interest in Backcountry and created Adventures Plus, a provider of adventure tours with a commitment to exceptional client service. • 2000 -- Dan joined forces with Paul Lehman, a fellow entrepreneur and adventurer. These two passionate travelers merged their philosophy on company vision, goals and direction to form Austin-Lehman Adventures. Their shared vision created a company that provided unparalleled service and an active, experiential travel experience. • 2001 – Dan Austin and Paul Lehman acquired Backcountry and changed the name to Austin Lehman Adventures to reflect their commitment to put their name behind everything they do. • 2008 -- The company acquired Euro-Bike Tours. Originally founded in 1974 in DeKalb, Illinois, by Dutch natives Dr. Hendrik and Ellen Hoeve and Wim van Dijk, Euro-Bike was the first U.S. bike tour company to establish operations in Europe. Wim’s son, Ron van Dijk, joined the operations, and based in Amsterdam, Holland; he became an owner /partner in Austin-Lehman. |
| Philosophy: | Specializing in small-group, high-end adventure travel, ALA immerses its guests in one-of-a-kind, enriching experiences that capture each destination’s unique sense of place. By integrating activities like hiking, biking and rafting, each traveler experiences a destination in a highly memorable, fun and engaging way, to go beyond just “seeing” a destination. ALA is the tour company for those who “don’t like tours”. • Maximum of 12 guests per adult trip, 18 per family trip, • Each trip features “off-the-beaten path” experiences, comprised of exclusive channels to a destination’s most interesting, unique sites. • ALA hand selects excellent restaurants and premium hotels that provide a strong connection to a destination’s local culture and provide the utmost comfort. • Private custom trips designed for individuals and private group travel including family reunions, corporate retreats, big birthdays, etc. |
| Types of Active Travel: | Multisport, biking, hiking and family. |
| Adventure Trips: | Offered in 2010: Austin-Lehman Adventures offers 47 unique itineraries with more than 170 scheduled departures to 22 countries worldwide. * Designates new trips in 2010 Multi-Sport Vacations -- 12 destinations with 13 itineraries Alaska Best of the Greatland Whistler British Columbia Wilderness Adventure Yellowstone/Teton National Parks Best of the West Montana/Yellowstone Canyons, Calderas & Cowboys Yellowstone The Serengeti of the American West * Montana Glacier National Park Bryce/Zion Red Rock Wonders Costa Rica Wilderness & Wildfire Costa Rica Volcanoes & Jungles Peru Land of the Inca Galapagos Wildlife Sanctuary * Greek Isles Sun-Drenched Cyclades Austria Alps to Salzburg Biking Vacations to 17 destinations * Grand Teton Valley Floors to Jagged Peaks * Canadian Rockies Rock Mountain Treasures * Black Hills Great Plains of South Dakota * Utah Canyonlands national Park France – La Loire Castles to Coteaux France Brittany Coast to Normandy Beaches France Taste of Provence France Bordeaux to Dordogne Italy – Tuscany The Heartland Italy Veneto’s Prosecco, Prawns, Villas & Vistas Holland Windmills, Woodlands & Wildflowers Holland Highlights of Holland Holland/Belgium Flavors of Flanders Germany Meandering Mosel Valley Switzerland/Germany/France Lake Constance to Alsace Austria/Czech Republic Vienna to Prague Hiking Vacations * Canadian Rockies Ultimate Rocky Mountain Havasupai A Grand Canyon Oasis Grand Canyon & Sedona High Desert Country Machu Picchu Exclusive Lodge-to-Lodge * France La Provence Complete Family Vacations Alaska Glaciers & Wildlife Whistler Mountains, Meadows & Wildlife Canadian Rockies Might Peaks to Mountain Goats Yellowstone Geysers & Grizzlies Yellow/Teton Bull Moose to Bucking Broncos Montana/Yellowstone Cowboys, Canyons & Campfires Costa Rica Coastlines to Cloud Forests South Africa Cape Town to Kruger Holland Bike Paths, Windmills & Pancakes France La Loire: Valley of the Kings Austria Family Fun in the Alps Germany Mosel Magic |
| Awards: | 2010 • Travel + Leisure World's Top Adventure Trips 2009 • Travel + Leisure #1 Tour Operator in the World 2009 • National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” 2008 • Bicycling Magazine “15 Best Bike Trips” 2007 • National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” 2008, 2007, 2006 • National Geographic Adventure World’s 25 Best New Trips 2008 • Bicycling Magazine “15 Best Bike Trips “ |
| Media Contacts: | Rebecca Werner phone 312.440.3075 cell 406.671.6067 rebecca@wernerpr.com Dan Austin phone 800.575.1540 dan@austinlehman.com |
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 >











