We are Travel Lovers and Matchmaking Experts
What is a Destination Work Experience?
A destination work experience is for the bold adventure seekers chasing new experiences in a structured and supported way.
It’s a choice to live intentionally, step out of your comfort zone, travel, have fun, try new things – gain life experience. All while earning money to cover the cost of your adventure.
Our Mission
At AdventureEXP, we believe in the power of meaningful travel. We believe in individual potential and how it is empowered when you take that leap of faith and choose to take charge in your own life.
All our programs have four basic cornerstornes
1. They are tangible – we make the connection to employers in destinations throughout the US, get you hired and then faciliate all the logistics of travel and housing.
2. They are affordable – all of our programs are paid opportunities that enable you to actually earn money on your experience.
3. They are supported – we are there when you need us most – coordinate your arrival, onboarding to your new employer and hosting regular excursions.
4. They are credible – you gain interpersonal skills from the overall experience, professional skills from joining a company and technical skills from your job – these are all building blocks for your future.
Our mission is to guide you on an adventure of transformative change. Choosing a destination work experience is a choice to be independent, to be courageous and to discover your passion. The destination is important to help you decide where you want to go but the real learning comes in the journey and the skills you gain along the way.
Our Leaders
Adventure Matchmaker
Adam works directly with our partner employers and Adventure Seekers as our Lead Matchmaker. His mission is to help people be the best version of themselves and that traveling helps you achieve this. He has traveled to 20+ countries, has lived in 3 states and traveled/worked in China for almost a year.
Adam’s Life Philosophy:
1. Do honest, ethical, quality work
2. Be here because you want to be
3. And have fun
Director of Student Experience
As an avid traveler herself, Anna has travelled to over 55 countries and visited more than 35 states in the USA. She finds exploring different cultures, creating new experiences, and meeting new people to be invigorating. Anna has studied abroad twice, in France and Latvia. In addition, she took a gap year in 2019 that allowed her to grow personally. Professionally, she has worked with students in higher education through admissions, student advising, and student coaching. Impacting students' lives meaningfully and purposefully is what Anna's passionate about. When she is not traveling, she enjoys being outside, trying new restaurants, and painting.
Partner Development Manager
Lexi believes three of the most important things in life are visiting new places, listening to other people’s stories, and getting outside of your comfort zone. She has visited over 40 states and 6 countries so far. Lexi studied abroad in New Zealand where she found her passion for helping others experience different cultures and gain new perspectives. This led her to work at various organizations with missions of connecting participants to experiential learning programs around the globe. You can usually find Lexi crafting, paddle boarding, spending time outside, or hanging out with her four legged friends.
Program Coordinator
Maria has lived in 4 different countries and has visited more than 10. She truly believes that traveling can change the world. Her professional life has always been centered on inspiring and helping adventurers to go on life-changing experiences. From college students to retired explorers Maria always finds a way to make a journey unique and authentic. She is also a Yoga Teacher. When she is not on the computer or the mat she enjoys hiking, biking, and reading about the mind and magic realism as she believes that there’s nothing more magical than real life.
Content Creator
Justin is the Content Creator for AdventureEXP. His mission is to share his passion for travel and inspire others to take journeys of their own so they can widen their perspective on the world – in his opinion, that’s what matters most. He has traveled to over 30 countries while teaching ESL, volunteering, and learning about new cultures along the way. When he’s not writing or traveling, he enjoys hiking, trail running, snowboarding, yoga, and studying languages.
Story Teller
A digital marketer by trade and avid outdoorsman at heart, Andy leverages his skill-set and passion to tell unique brand stories. His holistic approach includes developing a data-driven strategy, creating targeted content, and fully optimizing the website experience to evoke emotion and drive conversions. Growing up in Hawai’i, Andy studied abroad in Costa Rica and Spain, and has lived in Aspen for almost a decade – all of which have taught him valuable life lessons. Andy believes that new experiences cause change, transformation, and growth, and he enjoys creating that opportunity for others. Fueled by the will to travel and the ability to effectively create content while there, he seeks to tell the untold stories.
Our Core Values
Social Equity
An active commitment to fairness, justice and equality in our programs and resources. We design our programs with minimal barriers to entry so all people have the opportunity to travel and grow
Courage
The unique ability to persevere in the face of overwhelming adversity. Traveling, living on your own and working in a destination takes courage.
Fun
This to us answers the question “why are we here”. At the end of the day we value fun and the potential fun has to pave way for future excellence
Impact
Through intentional travel you impact your own life and the lives of those around you. This is power that we treasure and work everyday to cultivate
Freedom
This is what we are chasing – whether it be financial freedom, emotional freedom or time freedom. We believe this is where we find our joy.
Program Alumni Testimonials
What We Do
Connect People With the Right Jobs For Them
Get Your Job Postings & Company Info Out to the World
Career Advice & Travel Resources
Free Resume Feedback & Connect with Employers
Check Out Where We've Been Featured
Gap Year Association
TeenLife
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are AdventureEXP programs?
Programs typically run 2-12 months with 3.5 months being the average length of participation in a single destination. The length can be flexible depending on your schedule and the season you are traveling. You pick your start date and we help you choose the best destination, job and experience for your goals, timeline and interests.
How does the job placement process work?
After you apply, you’ll connect with an AdventureEXP coordinator to review your goals, interests, and timeline. Once enrolled, you’ll work one-on-one with your coordinator to build your resume, create a realistic travel budget, and complete your program profile — which includes four key pieces:
1. When you want to go (your dates determine which destinations are open)
2. The types of jobs you’re interested in (not every role exists in every location)
3. Your interests and hobbies (so we place you somewhere that fits your lifestyle)
4. Your savings goals (some destinations are more cost-positive than others)
Using your profile, your coordinator curates personalized job opportunities and schedules interviews with our vetted employers. We’ll prep together so you feel confident, and once you find the perfect match… we’re off to the races.
Can I do this on a gap year or semester off?
Yes. AdventureEXP is designed for gap year students, college students taking a semester away, recent graduates, and early-career travelers. We tailor the experience around your school calendar or personal timeline. Because our programs run year-round, there’s always an option that fits — no matter what stage of life you’re in.
Who can participate?
AdventureEXP programs are open to American citizens ages 18–24. If you’re outside that range, reach out — we can often still support you or guide you toward the right option.
What types of jobs are available?
We run programs in seasonal communities across the U.S. and internationally, with roles primarily in hospitality, tourism, and outdoor recreation. You don’t need prior experience — and you don’t need to be pursuing a future career in these industries. Many participants join simply because it’s an affordable way to live in an exciting, beautiful place while building real-world, transferable skills.
Typical paid roles include positions in guest services, retail, recreation, food & beverage, and hospitality. Every job is fully vetted for safety, pay, and housing, so you can focus on growing, exploring, and enjoying your experience.
Does AdventureEXP help with housing?
Yes. AdventureEXP will secure safe, affordable staff housing for the full length of your experience. You’ll know your housing situation before you accept a specific job in a destination.
How much do I get paid?
Pay varies by employer and location, but the average wage is around $19/hour, with opportunities to earn more through tips and overtime. Our programs are intentionally designed to be cost-positive — meaning that after covering your housing, food, and living expenses, most participants finish their experience with more money saved than when they started.
What does AdventureEXP’s program fee cover?
Your program fee is a one-time fee that gives you unlimited access to AdventureEXP — meaning you can travel as many times and to as many destinations as you want without ever re-enrolling.
It includes:
- Access to our accredited Life Skills Foundation Course
- A dedicated program coordinator to help with your resume, budget, destination selection, and job matching
- Curated job options with vetted employers and full interview prep
- Support with housing, travel planning, and on-program guidance
Everything you need to confidently take on destination work experiences, again and again.
Can I travel with a friend?
Yes! Many participants choose to travel with a friend. Just let us know in your application and we’ll walk you through what it looks like to be placed in the same community, share housing if you want to, and go through the full program together.
Do I need previous work experience to join?
No. Most AdventureEXP roles don’t require any prior experience. Employers care far more about your attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn. We’ll help you get ready for the program — including full interview preparation — so you feel confident every step of the way.
Is AdventureEXP safe?
Yes. We vet employers, housing and provide 24/7 support during your program. You’re never truly traveling alone because you have a full team behind you that believes in the power of travel and work.
How do I get started?
Submit your free application — it takes about 5 minutes. After you apply, you’ll be directed to book a call with one of our coordinators. This conversation is your chance to talk through your goals, interests, and timeline, and to ask any questions you or your parents may have (they’re welcome to join!).
No pressure, no commitments — just guidance to help you decide if a destination work experience is right for you.