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Austin-Lehman - Recent Press

July 2012

2012 World's Best Awards

Austin-Lehman Adventures is recognized as the #2 Tour Operator in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine

May 2012

The Boston Globe

  A family adventure in the Canadian Rockies by Steve Jermanok


April 2012

50 tours of a lifetime Austin-Lehman Adventures has made National Geographic Traveler's 50 Tours of a Lifetime with  their ground breaking Cuba tour. See the whole story>  2012 National Geographic Traveler's 50 Tours of a Lifetime

March 2012

2012 Outside Magazine Hall of Fame Travel Awards Recipient

Outside Magazine 2012 Hall of Fame Awards

Austin-Lehman Adventures is proud to be the recipient of the 2012 Outside Magazine Hall of Fame Travel Awards, recognized for being one of the first U.S. adventure travel companies to offer Cuba tours.

Feburary 2012

2012 World's Best Value for "Tour Operator and Safari Outfitters by Travel + Leisure

2012 World's best value The word is out and Austin-Lehman couldn't be happier to hear that the readers of Travel+Leisure have recognized us as a 2012 World's Best Value for "Tour Operator and Safari Outfitters" ...the only multi-destination Tour and Safari Operator to earn this distinction.

 

December 2011

Spain: Take a spin through La Rioja's wine country by The Los Angeles Times

Pedal to vineyards and medieval towns in northern Spain on a seven-day bicycle tour of La Rioja. The rural countryside, villages and castles in the foothills of the Pyrenees are the stars of this trip, which features easy hikes and five to 30 miles a day on a bike (easy to slightly difficult terrain).

November 2011

The Global Vision Awards winners, selected by our panel of expert judges, offer journeys that enrich the destinations you travel through.

Travel+Leisure Global Vision Awards

Corporate Innvovation winner Austin-Lehman Adventures- What to do with 120 used bikes in need of replacement? The lazy might trash them, and the thoughtful might donate them, but Austin-Lehman owner Dan Austin did something else entirely. He brought them to Ngoma, Namibia—where the company operates a luxury wildlife tour—and helped locals turn them into a rental and repair business, cleverly housing it in the bikes’ shipping container. The shop became self-sufficient within 10 months, inspiring Austin to create the nonprofit Wheels of Change. The benefits are significant: 10 million bikes are discarded annually in the United States, and each can give someone in the developing world vital access to water, schools, jobs, and medical facilities.


July 2011

2011 World's Best Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters by Travel + Leisure                                       World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure

June 2011

Taming the Wild by Private Clubs

Hearing that Austin-Lehman Adventures had just resurrected its trip to Glacier spoke to the explorer in me, and the company's promise of expert guides to show me the top spots, supply good food and bikes for the road, and wrangle scenic lodging every night sold me.


May 2011

Adventures, With Children by The Wall Street Journal

Good news for parents who start twitching at the first note of "It's a Small World": Adventure outfitters have been busy introducing new, family-friendly adventure outings and resurrecting similar itineraries they cut during the recession. From a rafting trip in Costa Rica to a campout on the Galapagos Islands, here's a sampling of ways to keep your gang's adrenaline going. And you thought your wild days were over.

It's Play Time! by Celebrated Living

Celebrated Living One of two new family-focused national-park trips from Austin-Lehman Adventures, the six-day Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks Adventure visits hoodoos, hanging gardens, and waterfalls in the company of guides known to surprise guests with fresh-churned ice cream on the trail. Their Yosemite trip offers rock climbing, rappelling, and hiking among sequoias

 

April 2011

Put the Groms on Belay by Outside Online and Outside Magazine

Want to explore Yosemite but have extra baggage? Take the kids and sample some of the park's best adventures on Austin-Lehman Adventures' new family-friendly trip. Kids as young as seven will learn the basics of climbing—how to tie figure-eight knots and rappel—in Yosemite Valley's Curry Village.

Feburary 2011

 Mild to Wild by Ken Alpine

Play in the Wilds of Chile and Argentina -Patagonia is wilderness at its best, and Austin-Lehman Adventures takes you through this land of alpine lakes, Andean peaks, sweeping vistas, surreal blue glaciers, and serene solitude over 10 days in multisport style — by foot, bike, horseback, kayak, and ice trek (over the Perito Moreno Glacier).

Bike Tour of Holland by USA Today

Explore Holland for five days from the seat of a bicycle with Austin-Lehman Adventures on the Netherlands Bike Tour. Travel from Amsterdam to Noordwijk and ride along coastal bike paths.

Exoctic Destinations for Baby Boomers by Today Show

Find out the top springbreak adventure travel destination recommended by Travel + Leisure International Editor Mark Orwoll

 

August 2008


Featured on TripAtlasTop Biking Adventures & Tours Around the World
TripAtlas by Dave Wiggins

Adventure Travel in Chiapas, Mexico
Travel and Leisure Chiapas tripTravel + Leisure by Christopher R. Cox
How does an adventure outfitter create the next great itinerary in uncharted territory? Christopher R. Cox goes behind the scenes in Chiapas, Mexico, to discover the benefits—and the challenges—of getting there first.

Inside the centuries-old church of the town San Juan Chamula, shamans kneel on pine branches and murmur pre-Columbian incantations, pour cane liquor over candles lit by villagers with a host of pleas—for health, wealth, even love—and strangle sacrificial chickens.

I’m taking in the scene with Paul Lehman, managing director of Montana-based Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), and Carl McLellan, one of the company’s guides. We’re on a test run for a new itinerary, a trip through remote and sometimes mysterious southern Mexico, home of Mayan sites—including the World Heritage–designated Palenque—colonial-era hill towns such as San Cristóbal de las Casas, and natural attractions like the Sumidero Canyon.
read more >>


 

June 2008


 

Getting to Crater Lake Takes a Little Climbing
The Eureka Reporter by Bob Ragaini
As if biking and hiking weren’t enough, Austin-Lehman had taken advantage of Crater Lake’s proximity to the Rogue River, famous for its rafting. In four-passenger rubber rafts (plus a guide), we furiously paddled over cascading rapids and blissfully relaxed on the tranquil stretches connecting them.
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Taking The Kids: Pare Down Baggage or Pay Extra to Take it
Venura County Star by Eileen Ogintz
"It's carry-on or bust," said Carol Austin, of Austin-Lehman Adventures. This summer, her family, including two teens, will travel overseas with only carry-on luggage (no worries about luggage getting lost that way). "I love clothes and shoes, but I figure if I start convincing myself now, I'll be OK by July," she said.
read more >>

3 British Columnia Adventures

Diversion Magazine by Tom Passavant
Okanagan Wine Country: Hike and bike among the vineyards, with tastings along the way
Do the words "Canadian wine country" strike you as an oxymoron? What about a “multisport adventure trip” in which one of the sports is wine tasting? Some attitude adjustment was definitely in order last July when my wife and I joined Austin-Lehman Adventures’ brand-new Okanagan Valley: Canada’s Wine Country trip— six days of bicycling, hiking and water sports, plus some really excellent dining and wine-tasting.
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A Place for Family Bonding
Ranch & Coast by Elizabeth Hansen
Ranch and CoastMy sister’s family gathered at Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to celebrate a significant anniversary, and they are still raving about the phenomenal views of the surrounding Tetons. They also appreciated the good choice of hotel rooms, condos, and houses and the wide range of activities — including a great spa — that suited a group with disparate interests. If Spring Creek Ranch is the site of a future family-wide reunion, I think we’ll ask Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) to handle the arrangements. This award-winning tour operator is well known for small group adventures, but they also have a great team of custom trip experts who drive shuttles, lead hikes, provide equipment, arrange picnics, and organize appropriate activities for all ages and abilities.
read more >>

May 2008


10 Favorite Least-Frequented National Park Trails
Chicago Tribune

Top Trails in National Parks to Avoid Crowds
Sports Guide Magazine by Jill Adler

Yellowstone: See Big Sky Country
Orlando Sentinel
Austin-Lehman Adventures shares an insider's perspective on its home state with Montana Big Sky Family: Cowboys, Canyons & Campfires Adventure.

Riding the HulahulaRiding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to Fifty Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler
New from National Geographic Books:
REDISCOVER THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT of traveling off the beaten path. In Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to 50 Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler, expert guides Don Mankin and Shannon Stowell offer both an inspiring collection of personal experiences and practical how-to advice, detailing some of the world's best trips. In-depth narratives convey the rich allure of 26 destinations with lively anecdotes and specialized information.

An additional 26 amazing trips, selected by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), are highlighted as top choices for people over 40. One of ALA's adventures made the list! Author Shannon Stowell comments, "Austin-Lehman is a company I've known and respected for years. Between its leadership and its guides, they bring a genuine, down-to-earth approach to adventure travel. I was pleased when the team selected them as one of the best companies featuring authentic and truly unique trips for our book."

WARNING: This book is guaranteed to put adventure-hungry boomers back on the road. Discover your next adventure! Order a copy of Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to Fifty Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler >>

Summer 2008 Family Trips
National Geographic Adventure Magazine by Kimberly Brown Seely
Featuring Austin-Lehman's Montana Family vacation.
Experience Boots-on-the-Ground Yellowstone
The average family spends six hours in Yellowstone National Park—all of them in the car. But Austin-Lehman avoids the pavement and heads right into the Rockies via foot, bike, raft, and saddle. "We take pride in our small group size," says director Dan Austin. "It's just six days, but you get to see a whole lot of country." The outfitter's Big Sky Family Adventure definitely isn't for slackers. On day one, tackle a downhill canyon bike ride to Gallatin Valley, then trek through wildflower meadows and the Spanish Peaks for killer views from Beehive Basin. Next stop: the geysers of Yellowstone, followed by sunrise grizzly- and wolf-spotting in Lamar Valley and rafting down Yellowstone River. The trip caps off with a daylong horseback ride into the Absaroka Range.
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April 2008


Family Travel Forum logoOrganized Family Adventures: 6 Great Vacations
Family Travel Forum by Caren Osten Gerszberg
There we were, watching our kids charge ahead on a pristine hike called Storm Peak -- across a meadow, through a forest, and along a lake where the hovering, gray clouds shot bolts of lightening far off in the distance.
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You Can be an Adventurer - Got a Checkbook?
Boston Globe and Boston.com by Richard P. Carpenter
Austin-Lehman Adventures' nine-day expedition Peru: Land of the Inca encompasses everything from the rapids of the Urubamba to the mountains of Machu Picchu. Among other activities, participants hike the Inca Trail, with its ruins, mountains, cloud forest, and tropical jungle. They also raft rapids and bike back roads.
Read more >>

Summertime's Grand Escapes offer Sun, Sand — and Adventure.
Palm Beach Daily News by Dian Vujovich
Features ALA's recommended top 10 trails to avoid the crowds.

Don't Get Fleeced
Where to Go Next
Austin-Lehman Adventures shares tips to help travelers avoid exorbitant fees.

Top 10 Trails - Least Visited in National Parks
KOOL-FM Radio: Vancouver, BC host Terry Spence
Interviewed Dan Austin about the Top 10 Trails chosen by Austin-Lehman.

Pick Your Passion

Agent@Home Magazine by David Cogswell
Article features information from Dan Austin on specialty travel.

The Trails Less Traveled

Green Globetrotter blog by Jessica Blair
Says Austin-Lehman Adventures tour operator Director, Dan Austin, "While it is estimated that fewer than 10 percent of national park visitors venture more than a mile from their vehicle, many popular trails still resemble a freeway at rush hour."
Want to steal some alone time with Mother Nature? Try one of these little-known favorite trails on the western half of the states... and then keep the secret to yourself!
read more >>

March 2008


Top National Park Trails
Where to Go Next

Top 10 Least Crowded Trails
Media Kitty by Morgan Sommerville

Adventures in the Northwest
Fort Worth Star Telegram
Mentions ALA's Montana Big Sky Family: Cowboys, Canyons & Campfires trip.

Get Your Kids Out in the Wilderness—Without the Work
Taking The Kids.com by Eileen Ogintz
Austin-Lehman adventures takes all the stress out of planning a foray to some of the national parks. You can also sign on for a family program at the parks themselves, like the Yellowstone for Families program run by the Yellowstone Association Institute.
read more >>

Here's the Deal
Exclusively Yours Magazine
Featured ALA's Panama vacation.

Persona Magazine
Featured ALA's Panama vacation and South Africa safari vacation.

Big Sky Roundup in the Trips, Tips & Deals column
ChicagoTribune.com by Margaret Backenheimer
Mention of ALA's Montana Big Sky Family: Cowboys, Canyons & Campfires vacation.

Partnership and Profit - ALA Finds its Groove with Multisport Outings
Modern Agent by David Cogswell
Tour Operator Profile on Austin-Lehman Adventures

Domestic Travel Up
Hospitality Trends
Demand for domestic destinations is booming, reports Dan Austin, director and founding partner of Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), a multi-sport adventure company.
read more >>

Open Air
USA Today by Christine Egan
Interview with ALA guests and Dan on luxe hiking adventures.

Family Adventure & Educational Tours - The Best, Most Educational of 2008.
Family Travel Forum by Kyle McCarthy
Austin-Lehman Adventures listed

February 2008


Family Vacations: How to Have a Break that Won't Break Down
Globe and Mail by Laszlo Buhaz
Austin-Lehman Adventures listed
Okay, you really want to share the sound of a glacier calving with your daughter. And wouldn't it be educational to see the Pyramids your son has been learning about in school first-hand? But once kids come into the picture even intrepid travellers may want to consider organized tours to farther-flung destinations.
read more >>

Austin-Lehman Adventures Offers New Alaska Wilderness Programs
ModernAgent.com

The Best Adventure Travel Companies
BellaOnline by Candyce Stapen
One of the best ways to go “adventuring” is with a reputable tour company. Why?
The outfitters take care of transportation, lodging and food, and, importantly, add an extra element of safety. The guides know the region, whether it’s how to navigate the class III-IV rapids, where to look for lion in the bush or how to find the best paths to hike along China’s Great Wall.
read more >>

The Best New (Outfitted) Adventures
MSNBC by Sarah Tuff for 2008
Mentions Austin-Lehman's Panama adventure vacation.

"Best of the Northwest" Adventure Travel Package
About.com by Angela Brown
The multi-sport travel company Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) has created a new, 6-day/5-night "Best of the Northwest" program that focuses on Washington State’s North Cascades National Park. The itinerary follows the Cascades Scenic Loop highway and includes hiking, biking, and gourmet cuisine. This looks like an exciting opportunity for fit and adventurous travelers. Austin-Lehman Adventures also offers multi-sport travel packages to Alaska, Oregon, and British Columbia.

New Trip - On Fringe of Most Remote, Least-Visited National Park
Media Kitty by Morgan Sommerville
Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) has created a new, 6-day - 5-night 'Best of the Northwest' program taking guests to Washington State’s North Cascades National Park.

Kayak a Fiord, See a Sing-Sing, Ride in Ireland
Boston Globe and Boston.com by Richard P. Carpenter
Mentioned ALA adult and family trips.

What's New for 2008
Agent@Home by David Cogswell
Mentioned Austin-Lehman's Africa programs.

"Where Next" Chiapas
National Geographic Adventure by Bob Howells. Photos by Dennis Coello.
Destination Story on ALA's Chiapas trip.

January 2008


Family Vacations: How to Have a Break that Won't Break Down
Newsday by Ron Berthinal
Featured Austin-Lehman's Costa Rica vacation: Beach, Rivers and Rainforest.

The Best New (Outfitted) Adventures for 2008
Concierge.com by Sarah Tuff
Includes Austin-Lehman's Panama adventure vacation.

Friends take a safari for the digital age
Billings Gazette by Brett French
Article covers the photo/exploratory virtual South Africa safari Dan, Vanessa & Dennis took in Africa with photos.

Austin-Lehman Launches Multi-Sport Africa Safaris
Modern Agent

3LUXE
Chiapas, Mexico vacation featured as a “Best Of” adventure vacation.


Press Pre-2008 >>



PRESS INQUIRIES:
Email: pr@austinlehman.com
Phone: 1-800-575-1540

Austin-Lehman Adventures has also been featured in:

2012 Travel + Leisure World's Best AwardsTravel + Leisure
World's Best

For the fourth year in a row, ALA was recognized as one of the top Tour Operators in the World by Travel + Leisure. Read the Press Release >

Outside Magazine 2012 Hall of Fame AwardsOutside Magazine
2012 Hall of Fame Travel Awards

ALA was inducted in Outside Magazine's 2012 Hall of Fame Travel Awards for our groundbreaking Cuba Tours. Read More...
50 tours of a lifetimeNational Geographic Traveler
50 Tours of a Lifetime

The editors of National Geographic Traveler single out ALA's Cuba tour as one of their top tours in 2012. See the complete list>