What Modern Adventure does

Modern Adventure is an Oregon-based experiential travel company founded in 2017 that designs and operates curated small-group tours and bespoke private journeys worldwide, primarily serving affluent travelers interested in culinary, wine, artistic, and cultural immersion. Its product portfolio is organized into three core offerings: Group Trips (small-group departures across 18+ countries in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe & Africa), Tastemaker Tours (exclusive departures of 10–12 guests led by world-renowned chefs, winemakers, artists, and designers such as Traci Des Jardins, Gregory Gourdet, James London, Bonnie and Israel Morales, and Pushkar Marathe), and Private Travel (fully customized itineraries priced at $1,000–$3,000 per person per day plus a $500 planning fee and tiered deposits). The company monetizes primarily through per-person trip pricing (e.g., ~$15,000 per person on tastemaker departures), with non-refundable deposits and final-balance milestones tied to departure windows.

The business is founder-led (Luis Vargas, CEO; Joanne Vargas, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer; Scott McNeely, COO and Co-founder) and operates with 11–50 employees from Portland, Oregon. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer bookings via modernadventure.com and phone support with a B2B2C Travel Advisor Partner Program offering commissions, volume bonuses, and exclusive offers, supplemented by a For Partners brand collaboration program. The company is a Certified B Corporation and Climate Neutral Certified, has earned repeated third-party validation (Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice, Fast Company Brands that Matter 2022, Inc. Best in Business 2022), and has raised approximately $7.05M across three rounds led or participated in by Seal Rock Partners.

Name

Modern Adventure

Legal name

Modern Adventure LLC

Website

https://modernadventure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Modern Adventure is an Oregon-based experiential travel company founded in 2017 that designs curated small-group tours and bespoke private journeys led by world-renowned chefs, artists, and winemakers for affluent culinary and cultural travelers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Experiential Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Culinary & Wine Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary & Wine Travel Agencies (THAKAFAH), Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design (THAJALAB), Luxury Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAE), Culinary Walking & Market Tours (THAJAGAA)

Keywords

• Luxury experiential travel
• Curated small-group tours
• Private custom travel
• Culinary cultural tourism
• Tastemaker-led journeys

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Group Trips / Tastemaker Tours: Curated small-group tours (minimum 10 guests, max 12 on Tastemaker trips) featuring celebrity chefs, artists, and tastemakers. Examples include India with Pushkar Marathe ($15,000 per person for Japan with Jacob Kear). Revenue generated through per-person pricing based on double occupancy, with single supplements available.
2. Private/Custom Travel: Bespoke private travel experiences tailored to individual client preferences, group size, and travel style. Pricing ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per person, per day for luxury experiences. Includes planning fee ($500), 50% deposit to confirm booking, and remaining balance due 60 days before travel.
3. MO/AD Retreats: Specialized retreat experiences with non-refundable 25% deposit at booking confirmation and final balance due between 180 and 90 days before travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Modern Adventure designs and operates curated experiential travel journeys, including small-group Group Trips, bespoke Private Travel itineraries, and exclusive Tastemaker Tours hosted by world-renowned chefs, winemakers, artists, and designers. Trips are sold per person, with deposits and balance schedules tied to departure dates, and span destinations across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe & Africa.

Product overview

Modern Adventure is an award-winning travel company offering a portfolio of curated travel experiences centered around three core offerings: Group Trips (small-group tours across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Africa), Private Travel (custom bespoke journeys tailored to individual preferences), and Tastemaker Tours (exclusive trips hosted by celebrity chefs, winemakers, artists, and other industry leaders). The company also operates MO/AD Magazine as a content platform, maintains a Travel Advisors partner program for travel agents, a For Partners program for brand collaborations, and career opportunities for trip leaders. The product ecosystem is designed around experiential travel with access to extraordinary people, local expertise, and meaningful cultural immersion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Group Trips Award-winning small-group tours to destinations across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Africa, featuring curated itineraries with local guides, accommodations, and cultural experiences for affluent individual travelers.
• Private Travel Custom-crafted private journeys designed exclusively for individuals or groups, tailored around their passions, timing, and travel style, with access to hidden corners and iconic destinations worldwide.
• Tastemaker Tours Exclusive small-group tours led by world-renowned chefs, winemakers, artists, designers, and other industry experts, offering deep cultural immersion and access to extraordinary tastemakers at the top of their craft.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimum 10 paid guests required to operate departures, ensuring group quality
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• B CorporationcoreOthersModern Adventure is a Certified B Corporation, meeting high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. This certification demonstrates commitment to purpose-driven business practices and sustainable travel.
• Climate NeutralcoreOthersModern Adventure is Climate Neutral Certified, measuring its carbon footprint annually and taking steps to reduce emissions. Demonstrates environmental responsibility commitment to customers.
• Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)coreOthersModern Adventure is a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, connecting with industry peers, accessing resources, and participating in the adventure travel community.
• Traveller MademinorOthersDesignation partner network for luxury travel, connecting Modern Adventure with other elite travel providers and agencies worldwide.
• PURE Life ExperiencesminorOthersLuxury travel network connecting premium travel providers. Membership provides access to high-end travel advisors and agencies globally.
• International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN)minorOthersIndustry accreditation body for travel agents and agencies. Provides IATA numbers for travel advisors booking through Modern Adventure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Black Tomato: London-based luxury experiential travel company offering bespoke private trips and small-group "Discover" journeys led by experts and tastemakers. Closest direct comparable to Modern Adventure in the high-end, experiential, expert-led category.
• Butterfield & Robinson: Canada-headquartered luxury experiential travel company specializing in small-group guided journeys and private custom trips with a focus on cultural depth, food, and walking. Comparable on small-group luxury, expert guides, and high AOV.
• Kensington Tours: Custom luxury tour operator offering private, tailor-made international itineraries with a strong travel-advisor channel. Highly comparable business model—bespoke trips, advisor partnerships, premium pricing.
• Micato Safaris: Luxury experiential operator focused on Africa and Indian Ocean safaris with high-touch, small-group and private journeys. Comparable on small-group luxury, family/milestone celebrations, and tastemaker-style expert hosting.
• Jacada Travel: Luxury bespoke travel company specializing in private, tailor-made international itineraries with a strong travel-advisor program. Overlaps directly on premium bespoke design and advisor-driven B2B2C distribution.
• Pelorus: UK-based experiential travel company designing high-end, once-in-a-lifetime private trips and small-group expeditions with a focus on access, adventure, and storytelling. Comparable on experiential luxury, expert hosting, and premium pricing.
• Remote Lands: Boutique luxury tour operator specializing in bespoke private journeys to Asia, with culinary and cultural immersion at the core. Comparable on premium bespoke design, expert-led experiences, and high-touch service.

Broad incumbents

• Abercrombie & Kent: Globally established luxury tour operator with private tailormade journeys, small-group expeditions, and cultural immersion itineraries across all seven continents. Broader portfolio and much larger scale, but overlapping customer base and premium positioning.
• Adventures by Disney: Disney's guided small-group and private family travel brand offering curated international itineraries with VIP access. Competes for the same affluent family and milestone-celebration segment with much larger scale and marketing budget.
• Intrepid Travel: Large global small-group tour operator with a premium tier (Premium Trips) offering curated cultural and culinary itineraries. Overlaps with Modern Adventure on small-group experiential travel and culinary focus, but at a lower price point and greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@modernadventurists/videos

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Modern Adventure