Aspiring Adventures is a small group adventure travel company with operations in South America (specifically, Peru), New Zealand, Australia, and Vanuatu.[1]
The travel company was formed specifically for travelers interested in hiking, biking, kayaking and other outdoor activities, along with a focus on unique cultural events, local food and locally owned accommodations.[2]
Established by Steve Wilson (from New Zealand) and Katy Shorthouse (from Australia), who started working together in the adventure travel industry in 2005, Aspiring Adventures was created out of the desire to operate individualized itineraries which included visiting unique cultural events, such as the Inti Raymi festival in Peru, and the Naghol Land diving ceremony of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu.
In 2009, Aspiring Adventures created their first Mountain biking trips in Peru, pioneering biking on the Inca Trails.[3]
The company head office is located in Dunedin, New Zealand, and has a satellite office in Cusco, Peru. In 2010, material for the 7th edition of a Peru guidebook published by Lonely Planet was authored by Katy Shorthouse.[4]