Want to find out a bit more about Adventure Life? Check out some
of these great publications that have written articles about our tours.
Browse through these brief summaries or click on the links below to
read the full articles!
The Washington Post
Published: May 5, 2022
By: Danielle Braff
Forget infinity pools, couples’ massages and karaoke lounges; the newest luxury ships are all about scientific discovery. Rather than stopping at the usual crowded European and Caribbean ports, expedition ships are taking guests — along with scientists, historians and naturalists — to places rarely visited by tourists. Subtract the discomforts traditionally associated with research vessels, and expedition ships are attracting travelers who may not have considered cruising in the past... "You won’t find mini-golf courses, surf pools, slides, concerts, casinos, branded restaurants or Broadway-style entertainment," said Monika Sundem, chief executive of Adventure Life, a travel company in Missoula, Mont. Instead, in addition to the submarines and other tiny boats such as kayaks designed for further exploration, many of the expedition ships have helicopters, larger observation decks and educators.
Published: April 25, 2022
By: Rebecca Strong
"As travel resurges, tourists will return to this area, but for now, it feels as remote as it did 20 years ago," says Monika Sundem, CEO of Adventure Life in Montana. "The Galapagos was one of the first regions to return to operations since the start of the pandemic, and procedures are dialed in. Book a small-ship cruise for island landings to see boobies and finches, snorkeling excursions with sea lions, Galapagos sharks, and more."
Published: April 20, 2022
By: Sara Clemence
While dozens of countries have reopened for tourism, Monika Sundem, CEO of Montana-based travel-planning company Adventure Life, advises against destination-hopping. Testing requirements and policies from country to country (and region to region) are constantly in flux. Some travel suppliers mandate extra layers of testing to make guests feel safe. But any number of snafus—labs might have odd hours or run out of tests or results might be delayed—can upend your vacation. “If you can find one eco-resort that does day tours—beach adventures, water exploring, ruins—I really think that’s the best way to go,” Ms. Sundem said. “It will be much more relaxing because you don’t have to be worried about, ‘What if I don’t get the test?’” Among her recommendations: Hamanasi Resort in Belize; Manta Resort on Pemba Island in Tanzania; and Finch Bay Hotel in the Galápagos Islands.
Published: July 9, 2021
By: Liz Cantrell
The Galapagos National Park, Galapagos Islands
This park is absolutely beyond compare and is a must for National Park enthusiasts. As one of the most protected national parks in the world, the Galapagos Islands are full of incredible wildlife that are not afraid of humans and will come in closer contact with you than is possible in most other natural places in the world. You can experience a variety of landscapes in a small space, from lush highlands full of tortoises, to moon-like volcanic rock, covered in piles of iguanas. And the marine life is sure to excite even the most well-traveled guests when they have the opportunity to snorkel with penguins, sharks and playful sea lions, all while blue footed boobies dive for food in the distance. —
Erin Correia, Adventure Life
New York Times
Published: January 1, 2020
By: Nora Walsh
As the number of travelers cruising Antarctica swells, polar expedition companies are launching sustainable vessels designed for these bucket-list trips. According to the
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, approximately 56,000 tourists visited Antarctica in the 2018-2019 season, a 53 percent increase from the 2014-2015 season. “Climate change is a chief reason for the increased interest in visiting Antarctica,” said Mary Curry, a small ship cruise specialist and travel planner at
Adventure Life. “We truly don’t know if the region will ever be as magnificent as it is now.”“Antarctica itineraries often sell out one or two years in advance, so travelers should be prepared to book early,” she advised.
Published: December 2, 2019
Before joining the team at Adventure Life in 2011, Erin Correia spent six years traveling the world and teaching theater to children in places like South Korea and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Today, she's the company's go-to person for all things Galápagos. She personally sends between 300 and 400 travelers to the islands a year. Her trips range from island-hopping cruises to land-based expeditions and can include both active pursuits, like hiking and kayaking, and leisurely explorations.
Published: December 2, 2019
With fluency in Spanish and K’iche’, a Mayan dialect spoken in Guatemala, Kassandra Magruder can plan a variety of blood-pumping experiences in Central America and beyond. The adventure travel advisor arranges trips trekking in the Andres, mountain biking on safari in Zimbabwe, and kayaking in Antarctica. She planned some 400 adventures last year, all while jetting off to Peru to spend two weeks hiking in the Cordillera Huayhuash mountains, plus stints Botswana, Alaska, and South Africa.
Published: December 2, 2019
Iceland and Croatia are booming in terms of the small-ship adventure cruises that Mary Curry specializes in. She partners with expedition cruise lines like Quark, Lindblad, and Ponant, to help travelers to enjoy luxurious accommodations (private balconies, exclusive dining options, exclusive lounges) in some of the world's most rugged and remote environments. Her knowledge of the industry and stellar negotiating skills allow her to secure the best prices possible.
Published: November 30, 2019
By: Kristy Alpert
Take a Cruise to Antarctica
WHERE: Antarctica
Earn the ultimate honeymoon bragging rights by spending the first nights of your marriage traveling to the end of the earth on board a
luxury cruise to Antarctica. Bare-bones expedition ships still make the trip but treat yourselves to a little luxury by booking a private stateroom through
Adventure Life, a travel company that specializes in responsible travel with authentic experiences. Their trips range from 12-day Antarctic Peninsula cruises with kayaking and camping options for shore excursions or 10-day Polar Circle Air Cruise that avoids the dreaded Drake Passage (a.k.a. the “Drake Shake”) portion of the cruise.
Published: July 25, 2019
By: Alison Godfrey
With many of the world’s top travel destinations threatened by climate change and neglect, “last-chance tourism” is on the rise. Below are 11 destinations that will dramatically change in the next decade. It’s not just the Arctic. Some of these destinations will really surprise you.
Pack a suitcase, grab a
camera, and head to one of these amazing destinations before they disappear.
Published: April 24, 2019
By: Georgina Lawton
As I’m drifting down the tar-black waters of the River Negro in a tiny canoe, in the dead of night, the only thing I can see is the outline of the towering trees all around me. I’m totally engulfed by rainforest.
The treetops are illuminated by a carpet of stars so bright, the sky appears almost CGI-designed. The only noises I can hear is the defiant rattling of the cicadia beetles in the reeds, and the ominous growl of howler monkeys in the distance. It’s eerie, isolated – and totally ethereal.
Published: March 25, 2019
By: Fran Golden
It used to be that if you wanted to see blue-footed boobies and giant colonies of sea lions sunning in the Galapagos Islands, you had to travel a bit as Charles Darwin did, on a research-style vessel whose creature comforts came second to up-close nature encounters. That’s changed.
Published: December 28, 2018
By: Jill Schildhouse
Some destinations are best explored by boat just as snow begins falling in North America—so grab your passport and hit the high seas before spring arrives.
Published: December 15, 2018
By: Kristy Alpert
From what to expect to what to bring and what to leave home, here are the things every passenger should know before leaving on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Published: September 25, 2018
By: Anne Harnagel
Explore the Patagonian landscape on the lesser-known Dientes Circuit. For those up to the challenge,
this adventure is a unique way to experience the End of the World!
Published: August 7, 2018
By: Phil Marty
"Namibia is probably best known for its huge, brilliantly colored sand dunes. For those attracted to Africa’s famed wildlife it would seem a less likely destination than East Africa and the Serengeti. Yet it’s a place that’s home to elephants that have adapted to the desert as well as zebra, giraffe, various antelope, ostrich, lion, cheetah and leopard." Discover this land of dunes and denizens on our
Namibia Adventure trip.
Published: August 1, 2018
Our Trip Planner,
Mary Curry, was named the
Travel+Leisure "Top Travel Advisor" for Small Ship Cruises this year! She specializes in family travel and adventure travel. However, she has personally traveled to numorous destinations and is an expert who can help you with most ANY travel dreams you might have.
Published: August 1, 2018
Travel+Leisure named our very own
Erin Correia as the
2018 Top Travel Advisor for the Galapagos Islands! Some other destinations she specializes in include Antarctica, Peru, & Patagonia. This is a much-deserved honor for our expert Trip Planner.
National Geographic
Published: July 23, 2018
By: Norie Quintos
Adventure Life's
Laos in Motion trip has been recognized as one of the National Geographic "
Must-Take Tours Throughout Asia"
Published: June 18, 2018
By: Larry Bleiberg
Cruise Critic seeks the input from our very own "
Mary Curry an expedition cruise expert at Adventure Life, a travel company that helps passengers organize trips, who has been working with the industry for 17 years" for the discussion of why it is important for cruise ships to operate with sustainability as a priority.
Published: May 25, 2018
By: Ashley Williams
Our General Manager, Jonathan Brunger, was interviewed for his ideas of how to get involved in ecotourism to foster a more sustainable travel experience. Check out his input in points #2 & #3 of this article.
Published: May 25, 2018
Photos of
Antarctica just simply cannot do it justice. Explore the Great White Continent up-close with Adventure Life!
Published: May 23, 2018
By: Lea Lane
Forbes Magazine named our very own
Cotopaxi Mountain Biking tour one of "
Eight Of the Best Bicycling Vacations Around The World". Just in time for World Bicycle Day on June 3rd!
Published: March 8, 2018
Elite Traveler magazine scoured the globe to compile an ultimate list of adventures. We are honored that this prestigious publications named our
Samui Seascapes itinerary in Koh Samui, Thailand one of the "
Top 50 Adventures" to take this year!
