A man with a beard sitting in a throne surrounded by Christmas decorations, wearing a crown and multiple bead necklaces, with a decorated Christmas tree beside him.

I'm Nate Butler, founder of Mountain Man Travels, an independent travel advisor with WorldVia, a Travel Leaders Agency, based in Arvada, Colorado. I'm also a husband, stepdad, and EMT. I'm not what most people picture when they think of booking through an advisor, and I'm fine with that.

Not Your Average Travel Advisor

  • Independent travel advisor based in Arvada, Colorado

  • Specializes in active and adventure travel: custom trips, ocean and river cruises, escorted groups, and all-inclusive escapes

  • Certified Leisure Travel Specialist and Accredited Cruise Counselor through CLIA

  • Backed by WorldVia, a Travel Leaders Agency, for supplier access, pricing, and support

  • Voted Best Travel Agency in Arvada by Community Votes, 2025 and 2026, and named Best of the Best by Colorado Community Media in 2026

  • Founded in 2021

The Short Version

How I got there

I grew up in Vermont around my stepdad's tour bus company, watching what it takes to move people and make sure their trips go well. Years later, I paid off my student loans and rewarded myself with a cruise out of New Orleans, though I wasn't totally sure I'd enjoy it. I came home hooked, and that trip is where "Cramily," my small, tight group of friends who are basically family, was born.

A Mexico trip near the end of the COVID shutdowns, spent swapping stories with international travelers and fueled by a little (or maybe too much) tequila, is where it clicked: why wasn't I doing this for a living? A good friend in the industry gave me the push I needed, and Mountain Man Travels was born.

A man with a beard and blue Columbia shirt holding a small glove in front of him, with a monkey on his shoulder in a tropical outdoor setting with trees and water in the background.

I plan active and adventure travel: fully custom trips, ocean and river cruises, escorted group adventures, and all-inclusive getaways. Instead of you spending hours comparing cruise lines, sorting through resort reviews, and trying to figure out which tour operator is actually worth the money, I do that legwork using relationships and knowledge built from years in the industry.

I match you with the destination, pace, and operator that actually fits how you travel, whether that's a slower, immersive custom itinerary, a high-energy escorted group trip, or a cruise where you want the logistics handled and the itinerary built in. Once it's booked, I handle the details: transfers, timing, documentation, and the small things that turn into headaches if nobody's watching them.

And if something goes sideways- a canceled flight, a missed connection, a resort that doesn't deliver what was promised- you're not on hold with a call center trying to explain your situation to a stranger. You call me.

I'd rather put you on the trip that's genuinely right for you, even if it earns me a smaller commission, than steer you toward something bigger just because it pays better.

What I actually do

A smiling man with a beard and mustache wearing a Columbia hat and jacket, taking a selfie with a scenic mountain and water background.

Ready to plan something real?

Have a destination in mind, or not sure where to start? Either way, tell me what you're after, and I'll help you find the right trip.