What Launched
EF Adventures and Backcountry released a co-branded collection of four hiking and multi-adventure tours, each with one 2027 departure. The four run 7 to 14 days across the American Southwest, Norway, the Dolomites and Patagonia.
EF Adventures operates guided active-travel tours. Backcountry is an online outdoor gear retailer. The Adventure Travel Trade Association’s Member News copy is dated 20 October 2026 and still reads “today announced”, so treat that copy as a republish.
Four Itineraries
U.S. Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion runs 7 days, or 9 with the Zion National Park region extension. The operator lists it from $6,190 per person, land only. The route covers the Bright Angel Trail descent into the Grand Canyon, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, and a Zion leg.
Norway Multi-Adventure with Backcountry: Bergen & the Sognefjord runs 9 days from $6,290. It starts in Bergen, works through the Sognefjord region, and mixes hiking, sea kayaking, glacier hiking and a sauna.
Italy Hiking with Backcountry: The Dolomites runs 11 days from $7,150. The route works the Seceda ridgeline and the Cinque Torri circuit, and includes the Messner Mountain Museum at Kronplatz.
Chile & Argentina Hiking with Backcountry: Patagonia runs 14 days from $11,290. It crosses Torres del Paine and Mount Fitz Roy, with internal flights between Santiago and Puerto Natales and between El Calafate and Buenos Aires inside the fare.
The release titles the first tour American Southwest Hiking. The operator’s own page titles it U.S. Hiking. Quote the operator’s title.
The Gearhead Service Agents Can Sell
Every booked traveler is introduced to a named Backcountry Gearhead after booking. That expert works with the traveler one-on-one in the months before departure on gear selection, layering and packing, from a gear list built for the itinerary’s terrain and conditions.
Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys, the company that operates EF Adventures, tied the service to the trip. “Confidence on the trail or on the water starts long before the trip begins, and connecting every traveler with a Gearhead who understands exactly what their adventure will need in terms of apparel or equipment gives them a new level of personalized support,” she said.
Gear and Benefits Inside the Fare
Select Backcountry gear comes with each tour. The Southwest tour provides a sun hoodie and a hydration pack. Norway provides a Peale insulated jacket and dry bags. The Dolomites provides a down vest. Patagonia provides a rain jacket the traveler keeps.
The release lists four benefits beside the gear. A 15 percent Backcountry discount, Summit Club+ access, a co-branded welcome kit, and a full-time EF Adventures tour director with local guides.
What Each Fare Covers
Group size on all four tours is 6 to 20 travelers. Land-only prices include accommodation in handpicked hotels, included excursions, activity equipment, most meals and a tour director for the full itinerary. Airfare, trip protection and extensions sit outside the land price.
The Southwest tour lists 6 nights, 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners. The Dolomites lists 9 nights, 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners with beer or wine. Norway lists 7 nights. Patagonia lists 11 nights, 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 5 dinners.
EF Adventures advertises Black Friday priority access from 26 October, with savings up to $600 plus a further $200.
Advisor Commission and the Referral
EF World Journeys works with travel advisors and agencies across its portfolio, which covers EF Adventures, EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break. The co-branded collection sits inside that access. Advisors register through the operator for commission details and advisor resources.
A booked traveler can share a referral link by email, text, social media or the EF World Journeys app. The referrer receives $100 in travel credit for each booking made on the link, and $500 on every fifth referral. Rewards do not expire.
One Departure Each
One departure per itinerary sets the shape of the sell. A group that cannot travel on the single 2027 date inside this collection has no alternate date at this price and with this gear package. The operator sells the same itineraries without the Backcountry partnership on other departure dates.