The Northwest Passage
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersWilmette, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Northwest Passage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Northwest Passage
- Legal name
- The Northwest Passage
- Website
- https://nwpassage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Northwest Passage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adventure Travel Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Safety, Permitting & Logistics Support Services (Trip Leaders, Route Planning, Rescue Support) (THAAALAL), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
Keywords
Where The Northwest Passage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Northwest Passage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Adventure Trip Fees: Primary revenue from per-person trip fees. Prices range from $535-$7,585 depending on trip duration, destination, and accommodations. Based on double occupancy pricing with single supplement fees.
- Merchandise and Store: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($30-$35), hoodies ($60), gift certificates ($50), stickers ($1), journals ($24), aprons ($36), and eyeglass retainers ($6).
- Lessons and Instruction: Revenue from kayaking lessons and instruction programs. Kayak 101 courses at $90 for 3 hours, private lessons available, youth camps and school programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Crete Kayak Adventure Matala to Loutro |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Santorini Kayak Circumnavigation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Amalfi Coast Kayak Adventure |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Milos-Kimolos Kayak Adventure |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Small Cyclades Kayak Circumnavigation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Apostle Islands Kayak Adventure |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kayak 101 Lessons |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Devil's Lake Multi-Sport |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Crete Camping Adventure |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Certificates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Northwest Passage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Northwest Passage is a 40-year-old adventure travel company that organizes and operates guided small-group outdoor adventures, primarily kayaking, hiking, camping, rock climbing, and multi-sport trips across destinations in the US (Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, Devil's Lake), Greece (Crete, Santorini, Milos, Small Cyclades, Gavdos), Italy (Amalfi Coast, Aeolian Islands), Belize, and Africa (Mt. Kilimanjaro). All-inclusive packages include professional guides, equipment, lodging, most meals, and on-trip transportation. The company also runs local Chicagoland lessons, youth camps, and a branded merchandise store.
Product overview
The Northwest Passage is a 40-year-old adventure travel company offering guided outdoor experiences primarily centered on kayaking, hiking, and multi-sport adventures. The portfolio includes diverse products spanning Greek island kayak tours (Crete, Santorini, Milos-Kimolos, Small Cyclades, Gavdos, Aeolian Islands), Mediterranean coastal expeditions (Amalfi Coast Italy), North American paddling (Apostle Islands, Beaver Island, Wisconsin River), mountaineering (Mt. Kilimanjaro), rock climbing (Devil's Lake, Greek Islands), and youth programming (Jr PolarExplorers camps, Schools Out Adventures). The company operates a unified booking system via WeTravel and maintains a retail merchandise store. Adventures range from single-day skills classes and weekend trips to extended 8-12 day international expeditions, with accommodations varying by trip type (family-owned inns, 4-star hotels, tent camping).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Greek Island Kayak Adventures 8-day/7-night guided kayak expeditions across multiple Greek islands (Crete, Santorini, Milos-Kimolos, Small Cyclades, Gavdos) circumnavigating coastlines, sea caves, and volcanic islands with stays at family-owned inns. Includes guides, ground transportation, support vehicle, lodging, most meals, kayaking equipment, instruction, and entry fees to archaeological sites and gorges. Skill-level matched from beginner (Level 1) to advanced. For active travelers and families seeking Mediterranean adventure.
- Italian Mediterranean Kayak Adventures
Quantifiable outcome
- Family of 5 accommodated gluten-free dietary requirements seamlessly during Apostle Islands trip
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Northwest Passage
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Northwest Passage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Northwest Passage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TravelGuard (Travel Insurance)minorTravel insurance partner providing recommended coverage for adventure travelers. Company strongly recommends travel insurance to protect trip investments and provides direct link to TravelGuard plans.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Northwest Passage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Backroads: Active adventure travel company offering guided small-group biking, walking, and multi-sport trips worldwide. Directly comparable to The Northwest Passage in customer demographic, small-group model, and premium pricing, though larger in scale and destination breadth.
- REI Adventures: Adventure travel arm of REI Co-op offering guided hiking, kayaking, and multi-sport trips globally. Overlaps directly with The Northwest Passage's kayaking, hiking, and skill-level-based product strategy and shares the active-outdoor-enthusiast customer.
- Austin Adventures: Family-owned guided active adventure travel company offering small-group hiking, biking, and multi-sport trips. Closely matches The Northwest Passage's family-owned positioning, small-group format, and emphasis on personalized service.
- Wilderness Travel: Specialist adventure tour operator offering small-group expeditions worldwide with strong cultural immersion component. Comparable to The Northwest Passage in guided small-group format, premium pricing, and experiential travel positioning.
- Natural Habitat Adventures: Conservation-focused small-group adventure travel company offering wildlife and nature-based trips globally. Overlaps with The Northwest Passage's experiential, small-group, and skill-appropriate model across international destinations.
- Mountain Travel Sobek: Pioneer in adventure travel offering small-group trekking, kayaking, and multi-sport expeditions worldwide. Directly comparable to The Northwest Passage's Mediterranean kayak trips, Kilimanjaro mountaineering, and premium small-group adventure positioning.
- O.A.R.S. Outdoor Adventure River Specialists: Specialist in guided paddling, rafting, and multi-sport river adventures. Overlaps with The Northwest Passage's kayak-based product line, contracted guide model, and emphasis on active outdoor experiences.
- ROW Adventures: Family-owned whitewater, kayak, and multi-sport adventure operator. Comparable in small-scale, family-owned character, paddling-centric product mix, and emphasis on guided multi-day trips.
Broad incumbents
- Lindblad Expeditions: Established premium expedition travel company operating globally with a National Geographic partnership. Comparable in adventure travel focus and premium positioning, though larger scale and expedition cruise-led offering differentiates it from The Northwest Passage's kayak/hike specialty.
- G Adventures: Large-scale adventure tour operator with a global portfolio of small-group guided trips. Comparable product format (small-group guided active travel) but serves a broader, more budget-conscious customer than The Northwest Passage's premium Mediterranean niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Northwest Passage social profiles
Digital presenceThe Northwest Passage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Northwest Passage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Northwest Passage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Northwest Passage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Northwest Passage
What does The Northwest Passage do?
The Northwest Passage is a 40-year-old adventure travel company that organizes and operates guided small-group outdoor adventures, primarily kayaking, hiking, camping, rock climbing, and multi-sport trips across destinations in the US (Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, Devil's Lake), Greece (Crete, Santorini, Milos, Small Cyclades, Gavdos), Italy (Amalfi Coast, Aeolian Islands), Belize, and Africa (Mt. Kilimanjaro). All-inclusive packages include professional guides, equipment, lodging, most meals, and on-trip transportation. The company also runs local Chicagoland lessons, youth camps, and a branded merchandise store.
Is The Northwest Passage a public or private company?
The Northwest Passage is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Northwest Passage founded?
The Northwest Passage was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Northwest Passage based?
The Northwest Passage is headquartered in Wilmette, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Northwest Passage make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Adventure Trip Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Store and lessons and Instruction.
Who are The Northwest Passage's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Backroads, REI Adventures, Austin Adventures, Wilderness Travel, Natural Habitat Adventures, Mountain Travel Sobek, O.A.R.S. Outdoor Adventure River Specialists and ROW Adventures. Broad incumbents are Lindblad Expeditions and G Adventures.
Does The Northwest Passage have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Northwest Passage.
What industry is The Northwest Passage in?
The Northwest Passage's product category is Adventure Travel Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJABAL, Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips), with a secondary code of THAKAFAB, Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 7900.