Chelsie Carvajal
Photo Courtesy of: Adventure Life
Adventure Life focused on Peru and the Galapagos Islands. But with each passing year, its scope grew, guided by a simple philosophy: people are not numbers. That principle has carried the Montana-based travel company into nearly every open country in the world, offering custom itineraries and small ship expeditions that strike a balance between discovery and care.
In an industry where many operators rely on rigid group tours and cookie-cutter itineraries, Adventure Life forged a different path. By 2008, it had become one of the first adventure travel companies to design truly tailor-made trips. That meant every itinerary was crafted around individual travelers’ preferences rather than predetermined schedules. The approach resonated. Competitors soon copied the model, but Adventure Life held its advantage by investing in on-the-ground expertise. Its staff spends an average of 550 days abroad each year, ensuring that recommendations remain rooted in lived experience rather than catalog descriptions.
Expertise at Sea and on Land
Adventure Life’s most defining strength lies in small ship expedition cruising. Whether in Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, or the Mediterranean, travelers face an overwhelming array of reputable operators. Adventure Life’s value comes from helping clients make sense of those choices, finding the vessel, route, and style that best match their expectations. As CEO Monika Sundem explains, “Our job is not to sell a ship. It’s to connect someone with the experience that fits who they are.”
But the story does not end when a ship docks. A significant portion of Adventure Life’s business comes from designing pre- and post-cruise land extensions. Private drivers, boutique hotels, and immersive cultural activities allow travelers to experience more than just the shoreline. For many clients, the ability to book both the expedition cruise and a personalized land tour with one trusted planner makes Adventure Life indispensable.
The Human Advantage
Technology has reshaped the travel industry, but Adventure Life has doubled down on the human element. When borders closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, many travelers who booked directly with cruise lines or online portals found themselves stranded with limited recourse. Adventure Life clients, on the other hand, often received credits, refunds, or rebooked journeys — outcomes secured through the company’s advocacy. “Customer service is not just a line in our brochure,” Sundem says. “It’s why people book with us, and why they return.”
This personal, high-touch approach has earned the company strong alumni loyalty and consistent reviews: 4.9 on TrustPilot, 4.7 on Google, 4.8 on Facebook, and 4.8 on Travelstride.
A Global Reach, a Responsible Approach
With more than 85,000 travelers served since launch, Adventure Life now operates in nearly every corner of the world. The company offers everything from African safaris to Arctic lodge stays, with Australia land tours scheduled to launch in 2026 — the final continent to complete its portfolio. Yet growth has not come at the expense of responsibility. Adventure Life carefully selects overseas partners who prioritize sustainability, community benefit, and cultural respect.
The company’s success is also rooted in its people. Adventure Life’s team includes some of the most recognized experts in the industry, among them Mary Curry, named a Condé Nast Top Agent and Travel + Leisure A-List winner for small ship cruising, and Erin Correia, also a Travel + Leisure A-List recipient for Galapagos and Antarctica cruising. Erin personally visits the Galapagos each year and has set foot on nearly every vessel sailing there, bringing firsthand insights back to the entire staff. Their expertise, shared across a team of similarly credentialed travel specialists, highlights Adventure Life’s core belief that the key to exceptional journeys lies in keeping knowledgeable, passionate people on its team.
For Sundem, the future is about maintaining that balance. Expansion continues into “off-the-map” destinations such as Greenland, Japan, Madagascar, and Albania, but each is approached with the same deliberate care that shaped the company’s beginnings. Adventure Life has proven that even in an industry dominated by digital booking engines, the value of human expertise, personal advocacy, and responsible partnerships remains undeniable.