Hi 👋

My name is Al. I was born and raised in NYC and my first group hike was when I was 23 with the late, great Charlie Cook. Once a year, I'd join Charlie on hikes until a personal experience got me going out weekly on my own solo hikes.

What started out as therapeutic hikes officially became Outerthere in the fall of 2012. And by April of 2013, after hosting a just few groups on trails in Harriman State Park in NY, I fell IN LOVE with this work.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that I was ready to quit my day job and just do it full time. But, how?

If you're here, you're probably just like me. You've had similar experiences and realizations. Back then, the only way to announce my trips was Meetup or Facebook (or flyers, like Charlie!), but those platforms didn't allow me to earn money from my passion.

Maybe a ticketing site? Didn't work. So, I started from scratch, putting together different ideas on different platforms. Until finally, the site you're on right now was born. This is the platform I wish I had when I first started!

Welcome to Outerthere, a platform specifically created to help you launch or grow your outdoor recreation business. More features are coming soon. But in the meantime, let's get you set up today! Feel free to ask any questions in the chat box below.

-Al, Founder/General Manager

Get reservations faster. Guests are more likely to book your trip within 1 to 2 visits after seeing it on Outerthere.com.

More repeat guests. If a guest loves your trip, they're likely to rebook. In fact, 30%+ come back to rebook!

Less time and money on marketing. Once your trip is featured on Outerthere, thousands of locals will see it. That allows you to focus more on what you want, your trip! 

A consistent income stream. The more trips you list, the more you'll earn.

What does this cost? There are no upfront costs for listing your trip. Outerthere receives a 25% platform fee from every standard reservation based on what you've opted into when you completed your listing. If you do not get any reservations, Outerthere does not receive a fee. See Terms below.

I've never hosted a trip in my life, but I want to. Is that OK? List My Trip is for you! Not sure how to get started, apply for the Host Accelerator Program. Curious about how the business of outdoor recreation works, subscribe to the Hosting Trips newsletter. And once you've listed your trip, you'll be able to continue to receive ongoing support and insights to turn you from a first-timer to an outdoor trip professional within weeks. 

How will I get paid? All payouts are sent next business day after your trip via PayPal and after you've accrued at least $100 in reservations. No PayPal? Visit here to get one. See Terms for more details.

What if my trips do not get any reservations? Don't worry. Unless you're an established host or influencer, it'll take about 2 to 3 trips (or 2 to 3 months) out of 10 suggested trips before your trip listing gets the traction it needs with guests. The good news is that you'll be able to tap into Outerthere's expertise and data insights anytime to understand trends and enhance your listing to improve your trip listing and increase your reservations.

What kinds of trips should I list? Any small group trip that gets your guests to participate in an outdoor activity is eligible to be listed. See terms.

How much should I charge for my trip? First, understand that you're providing a valuable service to your guests. We call it your "secret sauce". And providing this service has a cost. Understanding how much to charge for your trip starts with understanding your costs and then your value. We recommend seeing what others are charging on Outerthere.com for similar trips in your area and basing it off a price that makes sense for you and the audience you want to reach. But if you'd like to learn more about how and why to charge, we strongly recommend applying to our free virtual class, the Host Accelerator Program here.

What if I need help or have other questions? You're in good hands with Outerthere's support for hosts. In addition to ongoing guidance and pro-tips, you'll be able to reach us by using the chatbox at the bottom of any page or replying to any emails you receive.

This is a lot of work. Why should I list my trip on Outerthere? Your trips are a kind of inventory. And the best way to sell your inventory is to distribute them in as many places as possible. 30,000+ visitors go to Outerthere.com every year to discover amazing outdoor activities that they can book. You should definitely be in front of them! So the more trips you list, the more you'll earn from listing your trips.

I'm already using my website and social media to accept reservations and promote my trips. Why should I list on Outerthere? Your audience is already visiting Outerthere - yes, even the ones who will "only go out with you". They love trips like yours and are looking for yours to compare dates, prices and destinations with others. Additionally, your audience booking on Outerthere is providing benchmark data and other relevant feedback that can help improve what you make from your trips. For example, how does your trip rank vs. a similar one from another host and why? Wouldn't you like to know?

Why are hosted trips better for a guest? Because some guests prefer to go with a pre-organized group vs. on their own. A dedicated leader to hold a guest's hand and know their names works extremely well at getting beginners to try your activity (almost like a concierge or personal shopper, but for your activity). 

You're already a guide for a tour operator. Why should you list your own trips on Outerthere? Hosting is accompanying your guests and making them feel welcome in whatever activity they’re participating in and spaces where they’re going. There are no permits, licenses or insurance required, since ideally, you’d be working with expert guides, tour operators and outfitters. As a guide, you're a qualified expert. You've got certifications and licenses that set the standard for knowledge. And on Outerthere, you can earn from your own amazing trips during off-seasons without having to relocate halfway around the world to continue working.

How big are these groups and why can't we just use our regular group sales process? These groups are not organized solely to try your experience. They're hosted by enthusiastic members of their own communities and often want to try different outdoor activities. These groups are typically 5 to 15 participants which often lies outside of most group size requirements of 20 or more. But to be clear, group sales are about discounts, which are not always the incentive that gets outdoor hosts to bring their groups to try your experience.

Why go through the trouble of listing a hosted trip on Outerthere.com? No trouble. We do the work for you, including customizations and integrations between your system and ours (depending on your goals). But here's the more important reason. Because guests who are just getting started with outdoor recreation love being able to reserve all kinds of experiences in one place, seamlessly and conveniently, with unified cancellation policy and an outdoorsy community they love seeing over and over on every trip (we see a 60% return rate month-over-month). Suffice it to say, visitors trust Outerthere to get them on the best trips for them. Additionally, your experiences are a kind of inventory. And the best way to sell your inventory is to distribute them in as many places as possible. 30,000+ visitors go to Outerthere.com every year to discover amazing outdoor activities that they can book. You should definitely be in front of them! So the more trips you list, the more you'll earn.

How hard is it to list a trip? Not hard at all! Start your listing by completing the request form above and/or schedule an onboarding call here or via the chat box below with a brief description of your trip and where it is, along with your preferred contact info. 

How much does this service cost? There are no upfront costs for listing your trip. Outerthere receives a 25% platform fee from every standard reservation based on what you've opted into when you completed your listing. If you do not get any reservations, Outerthere does not receive a fee. See Terms below.

How will I get paid? All payouts are sent next business day after your trip via PayPal and after you've accrued at least $100 in reservations. No PayPal? Visit here to get one. See Terms for more details.

What if my trip does not get any reservations? Don't worry. Unless you're an established host or influencer, it'll take about 2 to 3 trips (or 2 to 3 months) out of 10 suggested trips before your trip listing gets the traction it needs with guests. The good news is that you'll be able to tap into Outerthere's expertise and data insights anytime to understand trends and enhance your listing to improve your trip listing and increase your reservations.

What kinds of trips should I list? Any small group trip that gets your guests to participate in an outdoor activity is eligible to be listed. See terms.

How will Outerthere support our trips? You're in good hands with Outerthere's support for hosts. Outerthere provides extensive marketing for your listing through email, social media, search and other digital channels. In addition, you'll receive ongoing guidance and pro-tips on how to get your group trips booked. Finally, you'll be able to reach a live representative who'll be familiar with your listing by using the chatbox at the bottom of any page or replying to any emails you receive. 

There are no upfront costs to listing your trip on Outerthere.com. 

Unless otherwise stated, Outerthere charges a 25% platform fee of the base price for your trip from every reservation. It does not charge a platform fee for any add-on services reserved via Outerthere platform partners (including roundtrip transportation, equipment, 3rd party guides, instructions, demos or accommodations). Platform fees apply for add-on services reserved and added from 3rd party providers.

501(c)3 non-profits using their trip listings to collect donations are charged a reduced 22.5% commission from every reservation.

Outerthere makes no guarantees that your trip will receive any reservations.

Payouts are sent via Paypal after every trip and after your outstanding earnings reach the payment threshold of $100, as long as there are no holds on your account and you're in compliance with our our terms. Outerthere has no relationship and does not control Shopify's or Paypal's terms of use.

If you decide to delete your trip listing and your outstanding balance is greater than the deletion threshold of $10, you'll receive your final payment within approximately 90 days of the end of the month, provided that you've completed the necessary steps to get paid (i.e. submitting a trip report from your last trip and provided your PayPal payment information).

Submitting your trip does not guarantee your trip will be listed. All listings are subject to approval by Outerthere. 

Approvals usually take 24 hours after submission. You will see your listing within 48 hours of approval.

If your trip gets approved but you have to cancel for any reason, we adhere to a "2-strike policy". After the 2nd cancellation, your trip will be delisted. You are welcome to re-submit the same or another trip.

If your trip does not get approved, you will be notified as to why and what, if anything, needs a change before getting listed. 

Venues (i.e. retailers, lodging owners), equipment renters (i.e. canoe, kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, offroad vehicles) and charter companies (i.e. boating, flying, overlanding) that are interested in hosting small group tours are welcome. Direct providers only. Sorry no resellers. 

List My Trip does not providing ticketing services for theme parks, ski resorts, or organized races. 

Outerthere, its partners and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any advice, guidance or support you accept regarding your trip or anything that happens during or after your trip.

You are hosting your trip at your own risk and at your own expense. You may request support and/or resources from Outerthere.

Your trip may be covered by Outerthere's insurance. Please confirm by asking in the chat box below.

Discounts are appreciated, but not necessary. If a discount is extended, it may or may not be passed on to guests.

Outerthere reserves the right to package and promote your trip as it deems appropriate.