What would you do if your best friend suggested a summer vacation that involved some cliff jumping, a little bit of parachuting, and a mountain climb to finish it all off? If you'd say, "All right! I'm already packed!" then maybe you should consider a career as an adventure tour leader.
Adventure tour leaders function in the same way that regular tour guides or ecotour guides do. Except, instead of showing people historically significant locations or guiding people on environmentally sound camping trips, adventure tour leaders guide and supervise tourists on exciting, heart-thumping vacations. Instead of relaxing on these vacations, visitors are guided by adventure tour leaders up mountains, down rapids, and on biking trips through tropical rain forests. They help make dreams come true for many people. Rafting, canoeing, diving, fishing, climbing, caving, or more, these leaders do it all.
Municipal, state and federal governments usually support adventure tourism. As well as providing a new source of economic growth for areas, adventure tour leaders are often key players in preserving natural resources, as well as promoting conservation. Often, adventure tours generate money for developing parks, environmental services, and for natural resource management. They even sometimes clean up messes made by other people (some adventure tour leaders lead trips up Mount Everest with the intention of cleaning up empty oxygen canisters left on the mountain by climbers).
Adventure tours are only some of the many tours offered by tour groups and travel agencies. But tourists who travel with adventure tour guides are challenged in ways that no trip to museums in France could ever challenge them.
Adventure tour leaders need to have a lot of interest in the more exciting sides of ecology, wildlife, and nature. They must have fantastic communication skills as well as be mature and responsible. Adventure tour leaders should be extremely organized, have a lot of self-confidence, and be skilled at hiking, camping, boating, horseback riding, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, or some other adventurous activity. They also need to be safety-conscious, and know some first aid. A good adventure tour leader will be a logical thinker, who can react to difficult situations calmly and professionally. Some skills with another language is also beneficial.
Typical Tasks
Advertise services
Answer phones, set up tours (including pre-arranged accommodation, food, and transport)
Meet members of a tour on arrival
Analyze members' skills and abilities
Teach techniques for activity
Assess weather conditions
Accompany members on adventures, like bungee jumps, white water rafting, and mountain climbing
Research and share information on indigenous cultures if appropriate
Provide first aid
Maintain written reports of daily activities and perform other administrative work
The typical day for an adventure tour leader will depend on the type of tours they do. Some spend a few hours on the water, canoeing a lake or kayaking the sea, while others take small groups on month-long treks through mountains. Regardless of their jobs, adventure tour leaders must be sure to be always on the lookout for the safety of the tourists as well as the environment and its inhabitants. Adventure tour leaders meet many types of people, and get to travel, either throughout their own communities or to areas far away from home. They spend most of each day outdoors, unless they are concentrating on administrative duties.
Workplaces, Employers and Industries
Adventure tour leaders work in natural environments, including national parks, at sea, underwater, mountain ranges, rivers, and forests. They may travel for months on end, or only spend a few hours a day out of doors. They may work alone with the tourists, or they may work alongside one or more guides. Their hours depend on the type of work they do. Sometimes their work will take them to other continents. They work indoors at desks, on the computer, and on the phone when arranging for tours, contacting clients, or responding to inquiries.
They are employed by tour guide agencies. Sometimes they freelance, or work with a few partners, in a smaller independent business.
Long Term Career Potential
Adventure tour leaders can start their own adventure tour agency or company, branch into other adventure sports, or open a shop that sells adventure equipment. They can work in ecotourism, or become ski patrollers, avalanche workers, or travel agents.
Educational Paths
There is no set path for people who want to become adventure tour leaders. However, there are some suggested guidelines. It is a good idea to complete a university degree in geography, environmental science or environmental studies, or a college diploma in travel and tourism. Some colleges offer programs in eco and adventure tourism, but as this is a fairly new career, there are a limited number of specific education programs available.
You should try and supplement your education with courses in geography, psychology, other languages, history, communications, as well as master some outdoor skills like hiking, skiing, canoeing, horseback riding, or white water rafting. You should also get some first aid and CPR training.
