Adventure Travel Camping in the Wild

Adventure
Guide Programs

Skills | Qualifications | Culture

What Is An Adventure Guide Program?

We believe in experiential learning; education that happens through hands-on experience. In our outdoor guiding courses, students take the lead in real-world challenges, like navigating group treks or managing logistics during outdoor expeditions.

Our focus is on building practical, transferable skills like leadership, decision-making, and teamwork. These skills not only prepare participants for outdoor careers but also create lasting personal growth. Lessons learned in the outdoors are applicable to work, study, and everyday life; and their impact lasts far beyond the course itself.

program Components

Live the Journey

Build confidence, gain transferrable skills and venture into the outdoors all under the guidance of our passionate instructors.

More than Mainstream travel

Embrace the extraordinary with off-the-beaten-path expeditions and highly immersive experiences.

Slow Travel

Over 6 to 28 weeks discover, explore and truly discover each location as a local; don't just visit it

Community Living

Our inclusive, social environment encourages responsibility and self-sufficiency while providing a safe space for everyone.

Self Discovery

Every expedition has a purpose; linked to personal goals and feelings, seeking continuous growth and development.

Transformative Experiences

From learner to leader; who you are when you start, is not who you'll be by the end of the journey.

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Learning rock climbing skills
Group standing in front of a glacier in Patagonia

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Why This Program?

We sought something beyond the typical tour bus experience, something that combined the thrill of adventure with the excitement of travel. Not too extreme, yet far from ordinary, a journey that offered progressive learning, a tight-knit community and a wide range of outdoor activities.

Driven by our passion to truly understand the world and immerse ourselves in its environments, we created the Pure Exploration Adventure Guide Programs. These programs were born out of a mission to transform everyday travellers into lifelong adventurers through skill acquisition and life-changing experiences.

Who is it for?

Our Adventure Guide Programs are perfect for those seeking a chance to gain the required skills and qualifications to confidently explore the outdoors, or create a career within the outdoor industry. These programs offer a chance to connect with like-minded adventurers from around the globe, develop essential personal and professional skills and experience truly transformative travel.

Qualifications you will gain:

  • Pure Exploration Certificate of Guiding
  • Outdoor First Aid
  • NZOIA Bush Leader (New Zealand)
  • NZOIA Rock Leader (New Zealand)
  • Swift Water Rescue 3 (New Zealand & India)

Our Approach

We believe in progressive learning experiences; allowing you to build skills and leadership qualities you never knew you were capable of. Our intentional and guided outdoor education modules are made up of different activities that encompass specific components, each designed to progressively elevate you from learner to leader.

Skills you will learn:

  • An introduction to the outdoors, including group safety, backcountry cooking, camp craft, navigation, interpretation, leadership and personal growth (and more!)
  • How to become a guide in the outdoors
  • Depending on the course you choose, your technical skill acquisition will be in rock climbing and/or hiking

Program Outcomes

All activities on our programs are designed to build transferable skills and attitudes. Our guiding programs and courses focus on helping you gain confidence in the outdoors to decide on your future direction.

Program outcomes:

  • Confidence within yourself and with groups to make effective decisions
  • Experience leading your peers and guiding them in the outdoors
  • Increased resilience and determination
  • Become a competent outdoor guide with both hard and soft skills
  • A calmer attitude and approach when under pressure
  • A collaborative and team-based approach to challenges

Choose Your Program

Our courses range from 6 to 28 weeks, with a variety of locations and outdoor disciplines to choose from; each program has been designed to ensure you gain the required skills, qualifications and mindset to become a competent and confident outdoor guide.

Patagonia Adventure Guide Program

Length: 12 Weeks
Start/Finish: El Chaltén, Argentina
Intakes: Jan or Oct Yearly
What: Hiking & Rock Climbing

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Nepal Adventure Guide Program

Length: 12 Weeks
Start/Finish: Kathmandu
Intakes: Feb or Sept Yearly
What: Hiking & Rock Climbing

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New Zealand Adventure Guide Program

Length: 12 Weeks
Start/Finish: Queenstown
Intakes: Jan or Sept Yearly
What: Hiking & Rock Climbing

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New Zealand Rock Leader

Length: 6 Weeks
Start/Finish: Queenstown
Intakes: Jan or Sept Yearly
What: Rock Climbing

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Nepal Trekking Leader

Length: 6 Weeks
Start/Finish: Kathmandu
Intakes: Feb or Sept Yearly
What: Hiking

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New Zealand Trekking Leader

Length: 6 Weeks
Start/Finish: Queenstown
Intakes: Jan or Sept Yearly
What: Hiking & Rock Climbing

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Thailand Rock Leader

Length: 6 Weeks
Start/Finish: Change Mai
Intakes: Jun & Dec Yearly
What: Rock Climbing

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India Trekking Leader

Length: 6 Weeks
Start/Finish: New Delhi
Intakes: July Yearly
What: Hikin

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Outdoor Instructor Program

Length: 28 Weeks
Start/Finish: Queenstown
Intakes: Sept Yearly
What: Advanced Hiking & Rock Climbing

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Who we work with, Department of Conservation logo | Pure Exploration
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Setting You Up
For Success

Hear it from those who have done it before you.

Beyond The Program

Franzi has always loved the outdoors and travelling in new countries; she saw Nepal as the perfect place to combine these two passions! Enjoying every experience from trying the local food, learning technical skills and embracing the Nepali culture she has finished the program with a newfound passion for exploration in wild places.

After completing the program and realising her potential; she has gone on to confidently travel to far off places like Mongolia, hike remote trails in California, volunteered with adventure programs in South America and work as a trekking guide on a sled dog farm.

"You will experience and learn in breathtaking environments, spend most nights in shared tents in stunning areas, make friends from different parts of the world, immerse yourself in the simple way of life and learn a lot through action and experience."
- Franzi H. Germany

Program Testimonials

★★★★★

The Adventure Guide Program is an amazing program! Learnt so much and had so much fun! Already been offered employment in adventure guiding!

Gabriel F.
Canada
★★★★★

The adventure guide program not only equipped me with the technical skills for rock climbing and hiking, it also greatly helped me in my personal development and growth, my confidence in these activities, as well as working with others and as a team with my course-mates and instructors.

Rachel T.
Singapore
★★★★★

This program is fantastic for so many reasons. Whether you are trying to get a foothold in the adventure tourism industry, or just need a reset/break in your life, come out and explore New Zealand!

Grayson R.
USA
★★★★★

Staying in New Zealand for these 3 months has been the best choice of my life. I've had a complete career change. Spending all of this time in the outdoors has made me very appreciative of the nature around us especially in these trying times of the world.

Chace C.
USA
★★★★★

The experience was everything I could've hoped for. Learned a ton, had a blast, did awesome things in incredible places and made lifelong friends.

Max S.
USA

Download Our Program Catalogue

Program Gallery