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Airbnb moves into adventure tours market

Short-stay home rental platform Airbnb is expanding its portfolio to offer multi-day, small group adventure tours.

Airbnb Adventures features more than 200 tours that are either exclusive to Airbnb, or provided by small, local operators that are not typically found on any other major booking platform.

The platform describes the tours as “bucket list-worthy multi-day experiences hosted by local experts that take groups to epic, off-the-beaten-path locations and immerses them in unique cultures and communities”.

The trips will be led by local experts and meet certain quality and safety standards.

The new venture is an offshoot of Airbnb Experiences, which launched in 2016 to travellers to boost excursions, classes and activities.

Airbnb Adventures has expanded the concept to include accommodation and meals along with the activities.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) advised Airbnb about safety and best practices for its new offering.

Hosts offer a range of prices, from $79 for an overnight trip up to $5,000 for a 10-day trek.

Joe “Joebot” Zadeh, Airbnb’s experiences vice-president, said. “Instead of just a few hours, [people] have the option to be fully immersed off-the-beaten-path, to push themselves out of their comfort zones and have experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Tours available include treks in the Amazon, a paranormal tour of the US southwest, cliff-side camping in Colorado (pictured), culinary kayaking in Sweden, and a farm stay in Indiana Amish country.

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