The adventure travel industry in California is a vibrant and dynamic field, characterized by a diverse range of companies offering thrilling experiences to avid travelers. These companies offer a variety of curated outdoor experiences, ranging from hiking and biking to camping and group tours that explore California's vast landscapes. The industry continues to evolve with advancements in technology and growing interests in sustainable travel thus, increasing opportunities for unique and personalized adventures. The potential for further market growth is immense with a new generation of travelers seeking experiences that offer physical activity, cultural immersion, and interactions with nature.


Top 22 adventure travel companies in California

1. Contiki

  • Website: contiki.com
  • Headquarters: Cypress, California, United States
  • Founded: 1962
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Contiki.com is a travel company that offers unique and immersive travel experiences for young adults. With a focus on adventurous destinations and group travel, they provide guided tours, accommodations, and local experiences to create unforgettable trips for their customers.


2. Backroads

  • Website: backroads.com
  • Headquarters: Berkeley, California, United States
  • Founded: 1979
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Backroads.com offers active travel experiences around the world, allowing travelers to explore destinations through biking, hiking, and multi-adventure tours. With superb hotels, meals, and knowledgeable Trip Leaders, Backroads provides flexibility for travelers to discover the world on their own terms.


3. AllTrails

  • Website: alltrails.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Private Equity
  • LinkedIn

AllTrails is an app and website that provides trail guides and maps for hiking, camping, and running. It offers inspiration and guidance for outdoor adventures, allowing users to pick the right trail for their day. All trails are verified by experts and reviewed by a global community of outdoor enthusiasts.


4. OARS Companies, Inc.

  • Website: oars.com
  • Headquarters: Angels Camp, California, United States
  • Founded: 1969
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

OARS is an adventure travel company offering a wide range of trips including whitewater rafting, dory trips, sea kayaking, hiking, and fishing trips. They provide personalized and catered camping experiences under star-filled skies, making it the best vacation ever.


5. Peek

  • Website: peek.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series C
  • LinkedIn

Peek.com is a platform that allows customers to discover and book everyday adventures and experiences. With a focus on providing delightful things to do, Peek.com offers a wide range of activities in various destinations.


6. Wilderness Travel

Wilderness Travel is an award-winning adventure travel company that offers a wide range of trips to destinations all over the world. With over 200 journeys, they provide incredible experiences for every interest and ability.


7. La Jolla Kayak

La Jolla Kayak is a leading ocean adventure company offering kayak tours, rentals, and snorkel tours in the beautiful La Jolla area. With over 20 years of experience, they prioritize providing the best experiences for their customers, whether they are locals or visitors. They have a passion for the local community, Ecological Reserve, and wildlife.


8. MT Sobek

  • Website: mtsobek.com
  • Headquarters: Emeryville, California, United States
  • Founded: 1969
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

MT Sobek is an adventure travel company that offers active group adventures and customized private trips. With over 200 incredible trips to choose from, including hiking and trekking tours, rafting and kayaking tours, and polar regions expeditions, they inspire people to explore the world.


9. Quarry Park Adventures - Rocklin, CA

Quarry Park Adventures is an outdoor adventure park located in Rocklin, California. It offers a variety of aerial adventure attractions, including zip lines, climbing walls, and a via ferrata. The park also features a Kidz Kove area and Paddle Boat Rentals for younger visitors. With six distinct adventures in one accessible location, Quarry Park Adventures provides fun and excitement for families, friends, and groups.


10. Ocean Divers

Ocean Divers is a Key Largo-based company offering diving, snorkeling, and watersports services. With a dedicated team and a diverse fleet of boats, they provide trips to various dive sites and ensure a memorable experience for customers.


11. Sonoma Canopy Tours

Sonoma Canopy Tours is a non-profit organization located in Occidental, California. They offer thrilling zip line adventures through the Redwood forest, providing breathtaking views and an immersive experience in the world-famous California Coastal Redwoods.


12. Alpenglow Expeditions

Alpenglow Expeditions is a premier guiding company offering backcountry skiing, rock climbing, mountainous expeditions, and outdoor skills training. They provide expert guides and instructors who are knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated to ensuring a safe and fulfilling adventure. With a focus on unique and challenging experiences, Alpenglow Expeditions aims to help their customers push their limits and achieve their goals in the wilderness.


13. EXP Journeys

EXP Journeys is a travel company that offers unique and immersive road trips and journeys to various destinations in North America, South America, and Antarctica. They specialize in creating personalized experiences tailored to individual preferences and desires, providing unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.


14. Nekton Diving Cruises, LLC

Nekton Cruises offers luxurious and adventurous cruises to remote and exotic destinations, providing a unique experience to its passengers.


15. Blue Waters Kayaking

Blue Waters Kayaking is a full-service outfitter offering sea kayaking experiences and adventures in the Point Reyes area of California. They provide rentals, tours, and classes for individuals and groups of any size. With a commitment to protecting the environment, they invite visitors to adopt the principles of the Leave No Trace program. From bioluminescence tours to birding by kayak, Blue Waters Kayaking offers a variety of exciting activities for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.


16. Blue Water Ventures

Blue Water Ventures offers naturalist-led field trips and adventures specializing in sea kayaking field trips for schools and adventures for women. They provide customized field trips for schools and design adventurous and educational vacations for adults.


17. Adventure Collection companies

Adventure Collection offers a range of adventure travel experiences and packages to explore nature’s finest and most exotic locations around the world. Our members are award-winning adventure travel companies dedicated to providing unique and unforgettable experiences that cater to every traveler’s needs.


18. Bio Bio Expeditions World Wide

BBX Rafting offers guided river rafting excursions on the most popular rivers across the United States, catering to adventurers of all levels.


19. AdventureSmith Explorations

AdventureSmith Explorations is a travel company that offers small-ship cruises and land tours to remote and unique destinations around the world. Their trips emphasize exploration in nature with activities such as hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and skiff tours suited to varying activity levels.


20. Wild Nature Travel Mongolia

Wild Nature Travel is a company that provides outdoor adventure travel packages and tours for individuals and groups looking to explore nature in an immersive and sustainable way.


21. Travel Access

Access Travel provides curated and personalized travel experiences with group tours and private tours all around the world. They bring you to meet the world through various activities and sightseeing.


22. The Turtle Expedition

Turtle Expedition is an adventure travel company offering off-road expeditions with a focus on exploring remote and inaccessible areas of the world.


Want to find more adventure travel companies?


If you want to find more companies that offer unique experiences like immersive group travels and active outdoor adventures you can do so with Inven. This list was built with Inven and there are hundreds of companies like these globally.


With Inven you'll also get to know the company's:


  • Ownership: Which of these are private equity backed? Which are family-owned?
  • Contact data: Who are the owners and CEO's? What are their emails and phone numbers?
  • Financials: How do these companies perform financially? What are their revenues and profit margins?

...and a lot more!