What Wanderlust Tours does

Wanderlust Tours is a privately held, family-owned outdoor tour operator founded in 1993 by Dave and Aleta Nissen in Bend, Oregon, now co-owned by Jared (Operations) and Courtney (Sales) with Dave remaining actively involved. The company offers half-day and full-day naturalist-guided experiences year-round across Central Oregon, with primary categories including canoeing and kayaking on Cascade lakes, lava tube and gated cave exploration, volcano and sunset hiking, stargazing and dark-sky tours (including Fort Rock in the Oregon Outback), snowshoeing and snow camping, and craft beverage tours of Bend-area breweries and distilleries. Operations rely on professional naturalist guides rather than any proprietary technology platform, with the only named custom feature being the GPS Eco-Challenge team-building exercise; booking is handled directly through the company's website and phone line.

The underlying operating asset is a portfolio of permits and access rights that is difficult to replicate: Wanderlust is the only guide company permitted in certain special gated lava caves and operates under special use permits from the Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest, and the National Park Service (Crater Lake), and is registered with the Oregon State Marine Board. The company sells through three go-to-market motions: direct-to-consumer online/phone booking (its primary channel), an enterprise field sales motion for corporate retreats and team building (with named clients including Nike and Red Hat), and a community-led motion targeting Mt. Bachelor-affiliated ski clubs with dedicated group packages and hotel pickup. Distribution is regional, concentrated in Bend, Sunriver, Sisters, the Oregon Outback, and Crater Lake National Park, with no global footprint claimed.

The business model is transaction-based, with per-person pricing on guided tours ranging from $120 (e.g., Cascade Lakes canoe and kayak, lava tube cave) up to $725 for the premium Crater Lake Overnight Photography Workshop, and children's discounts applied uniformly. Custom private itineraries are available for groups of 10+ or price-equivalent through a dedicated group sales team, and gift cards are sold as an add-on. Revenue is generated entirely from selling these guided experiences and from ancillary corporate/ski-club custom bookings, with no disclosed financials; marketing is driven primarily by the company's own website, organic search, Google/Trip Advisor/Facebook reviews, and an email newsletter, with no paid acquisition channels called out.

Name

Wanderlust Tours

Legal name

Wanderlust Tours

Website

https://wanderlusttours.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wanderlust Tours is a Bend, Oregon-based outdoor tour operator founded in 1993, offering daily year-round naturalist-guided canoeing, kayaking, caving, volcano, snowshoe, stargazing, and craft beverage tours to tourists, corporate groups, and Mt. Bachelor ski clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Adventure Tour Operators (Mixed itineraries) (THAAADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Outdoor Local Operators (Trekking/Safari/Diving) (THAKAEAF), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Guided Nature Walks & Interpretive Hikes (THAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Guided outdoor tours
• Nature tourism
• Kayak excursions
• Cave adventures
• Wildlife experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Guided Outdoor Tours: The primary revenue stream comes from selling tickets to guided outdoor tours including canoeing, kayaking, caving, volcano tours, snowshoeing, stargazing, and brew/libation tours. Tours are priced per person with children's discounts available. Revenue is transaction-based, one-time per tour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bend, Oregon-based outdoor tour operator founded in 1993 that offers half-day and full-day guided naturalist tours including canoeing, kayaking, caving, hiking, snowshoeing, stargazing, and craft beverage (brewery and distillery) tours across Central Oregon year-round.

Product overview

Wanderlust Tours is an outdoor tour company offering a diversified portfolio of guided outdoor experiences centered in Bend, Oregon. The core offerings include water-based activities (kayak tours, canoe tours, paddle tours), cave exploration (Lava Tube, Limited Entry, Prohibition, and Starlight cave tours), volcanic and geological tours, hiking experiences (including sunset and volcano tours), stargazing and dark sky experiences, winter activities (snowshoeing and snow camping), and craft beverage tours (breweries and distilleries). The company operates year-round daily tours across four seasons (summer, fall, winter, spring) with special event offerings including Perseids Meteor Shower tours, Clear Lake tours, and Crater Lake photography workshops. Custom group experiences include corporate retreats, ski club packages, weddings, and multi-day adventures. All tours are led by professional naturalist guides who provide interpretation of natural and cultural history. The company holds special use permits from the Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest, and National Park Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canoeing Tours
• Kayaking Tours
• Spelunking / Cave Tours
• Guided Hiking Tours
• Snowshoe Tours
• Stargazing Tours
• Brewery and Distillery Tours
• Accessible Adventures (AdvenChair)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reviews consistently cite exceptional guide knowledge and memorable experiences across Google and Trip Advisor

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cascade Lakes Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCascade Lakes Brewing Company is the brewing partner for Wanderlust Tours' Brews & Views canoe and kayak tours on the Deschutes River and Cascade Lakes. Local micro-brews are provided during tours as part of the experience.
• Sparrow BakeryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSparrow Bakery provides local desserts for Starlight Cave Tour, Bonfire on the Snow tours, Perseids Meteor Shower tours, and Fort Rock stargazing tours. Treats include hot cocoa and pastries.
• Crater Lake SpiritsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCrater Lake Spirits provides hazelnut espresso vodka used in hot cocoa on Bonfire on the Snow tours.
• Bend Photo TourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBend Photo Tours, led by photographer Toni Toreno, partners with Wanderlust Tours to offer the Crater Lake Overnight Photography Workshop. Toni provides professional photography instruction while Wanderlust provides naturalist guiding. This is a co-branded, co-developed tour offering.
• Luckey's WoodsmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWanderlust Tours has partnered with Luckey's Woodsman for gourmet back-country catering on custom group tours and camping trips. The partnership enables custom menus including three-course meals by a river or desserts paired with local beer, wine, or spirits.
• Deschutes National ForestcoreOthersWanderlust Tours operates under special use permits from the Deschutes National Forest.
• Willamette National ForestcoreOthersWanderlust Tours operates under special use permits from the Willamette National Forest.
• National Park ServicecoreOthersWanderlust Tours operates under special use permits from the National Park Service for tours at Crater Lake National Park.
• Oregon State Marine BoardcoreOthersWanderlust Tours is registered with the Oregon State Marine Board.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Backroads: Premium active-vacation operator offering guided biking, hiking, and multi-activity trips globally. Comparable as a guided, naturalist-led, multi-activity outdoor experience provider targeting higher-end leisure travelers and corporate groups.
• O.A.R.S. Long-established multi-region whitewater and adventure rafting operator with deep permit assets and broader geographic reach. Comparable in product category (guided water-based outdoor experiences) and customer segment (outdoor experiential travelers), but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• REI Adventures: The adventure travel arm of REI Co-op offering guided hiking, kayaking, and multi-activity trips worldwide. Competes for the same experiential outdoor traveler and corporate retreat buyer as Wanderlust, but at national scale with a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe: Bend-based kayak and canoe shop offering guided paddling trips, lessons, and rentals on local rivers and lakes. Overlaps with Wanderlust's Cascade Lakes kayak and canoe tours in the same Central Oregon geography.
• Cog Wild Bicycle Tours & Shuttles: Bend-based guided mountain biking tour operator offering shuttles and custom group rides across Central Oregon. Competes with Wanderlust for the same corporate retreat, ski club, and group custom-tour spend in Bend.
• Austin Adventures: Family-owned guided adventure tour operator offering small-group hiking, rafting, and multi-activity trips in U.S. national parks and wilderness areas. Comparable as a small, family-led, naturalist-guided outdoor tour company with multi-activity portfolios and national park access.
• Big Eddy Adventures: A Bend, Oregon-based outdoor outfitter offering kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and float rentals and guided trips on the Deschutes River. Directly competes with Wanderlust on the canoe and kayak tour product in the same Bend market.

Others

• Oregon State Parks (Crater Lake / State Park Concessionaires): Public agency and concession structure through which special use permits for cave, forest, and Crater Lake access are administered. Comparable as the regulatory ecosystem that both enables Wanderlust's permit-gated products and constrains its operating footprint.

Regional players

• Discover Central Oregon: Regional tourism organization promoting Central Oregon including Bend, Sunriver, Sisters, and Mt. Bachelor. Comparable as a regional marketing and booking funnel for the same outdoor experiences, and a channel through which Wanderlust's tours are aggregated and distributed.

Emerging players

• Bend Photo Tours: Bend-based photography experience company led by photographer Toni Toreno, currently a co-development partner with Wanderlust on the Crater Lake Overnight Photography Workshop. Comparable as a small, specialized experiential operator that overlaps on photography-led nature experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reviews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wanderlust-tours

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Wanderlust Tours