The top 7 outdoor travel affiliate link programs in 2027
Elliot Schoenfeld · Published
Note: We use affiliate links which provide us a little kickback each time you use one of our links and make a purchase, without any additional cost to you. We do not recommend products that we don’t already love or have heard great things about, so you can trust we’re only suggesting great products to you.
When you're new to affiliate marketing, it's hard to know which programs are worth your time. There are thousands to choose from, and it's not obvious which ones will accept a small creator, suit your content, or ever pay you.
We've been travel content creators since 2019 and these are the top 7 outdoor and travel affiliate programs we recommend to creators at any level of their business. One of the biggest mistakes that new creators make is to just throw all their affiliate links into Amazon and call it a day. While Amazon has a great program, there are a couple pitfalls. Firstly, Amazon pays some of the lowest commissions and second, it's extremely popular so you have a high possibility of someone else being the "last clicked" and taking ownership of your sales.
Our top travel affiliate programs for new creators
1. RockPorch
RockPorch is an affiliate platform built around outdoor and adventure brands. You get access to hundreds of brand programs from one account, so you don't have to apply to each one separately. It also connects creators with brands for paid campaigns and product gifting, and says it prioritizes creators with strong affiliate sales for those deals. RockPorch is how we market REI and has some of the highest commissions out there. It's a smaller company but they're able to negotiate well and are always adding more brands.
2. Travelpayouts
Travelpayouts is an affiliate network that focuses on travel. It brings together programs for things like flights, hotels, tours and car rentals, with commission rates that vary by brand. It's a practical way to monetize a trip guide without joining every travel brand separately.
Best for: creators who publish destination guides and trip planning content.
3. Impact
Impact is one of the larger general affiliate networks. It's free for creators to join, and you apply to individual brands through its marketplace. Each brand sets its own commission and terms and decides whether to accept you, so expect some applications to be turned down while your audience is small.
Best for: creators ready to apply to specific brands they already use.
4. Amazon Associates
Amazon is often the easiest place to start, because your audience already shops there and you can link to almost any piece of gear. The tradeoffs are that commission rates are low in many categories and the standard cookie window is only 24 hours. New accounts also need to make three qualifying sales within 180 days to stay in the program.
Best for: gear lists and everyday products your audience already looks for on Amazon.
5. GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide sells tours, activities and attraction tickets around the world. Published listings put its base commission at roughly 5% to 8% depending on the market, with a cookie window of around 30 days. That longer window suits travel, where people often read about a trip well before they book.
Best for: destination content where you're already recommending things to do.
6. Partnerize
Partnerize is an affiliate network where brands run their own programs. It's free to sign up, and you join each brand's campaign separately under the terms that brand sets. There's no single commission rate, so check the terms of each campaign before you start promoting it.
Best for: creators who've found a brand they want to work with and that runs its program there.
7. Stay22
Stay22 helps you earn from accommodation recommendations. You can embed a map showing places to stay from booking sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda and Vrbo, or use its script to convert your existing accommodation links on your website. It doesn't publish its commission splits, so ask what you'd earn before you commit.
Best for: bloggers with destination guides who want to add accommodation options without much extra work.
How to choose the right affiliate program
Start with what your audience already wants from you. A program with a high commission won't earn much if it doesn't fit your content.
Should you sign up for more than one?
Usually, yes. No single program covers everything, and a gear review, a hotel recommendation and a guided tour may each belong to a different one.
But you don't need all of them on day one. Start with two or three that match what you already publish, then add more as you need them. Spreading a small audience across too many programs can also make each payout threshold take longer to reach.
What to look for
- Commission percentage. Compare it against the typical order size. A lower percentage on an expensive product can earn more than a higher percentage on a cheap one.
- Cookie window. How long after a click can you still earn credit? This matters most for trips and big purchases, which people take time to think over.
- Who owns your content. Read the terms before you agree to anything. Does the program or brand get the right to reuse your photos and videos? For how long, and do you get paid for it?
- Payout terms. Check the minimum payout, how often you're paid, and which payment methods are available.
- Requirements to join and stay. Is there a minimum audience size or a sales requirement?
- Where you can share links. Some programs restrict certain channels or link types, so make sure yours are allowed.
- Fit. Would you recommend this brand if there were no commission?
When to use a brand's own affiliate program
Not every program runs through a network. Some brands run their own, and if you're pushing a high-value product, it may be worth using theirs.
As an example, we do this with OGO Composting Toilets, which we use in our van. They are a part of Amazon affiliate links but with their own affiliate program we're able to apply our discount code which helps conversions.
If you love an expensive product, check the brand's website for an affiliate or partner page. If there isn't one, it's worth emailing them to ask.
Where to go from here
Pick one or two programs from this list, apply, and add your first links to content you've already published.
Once you're in more than one program, your links and numbers start to scatter. That's why we recommend setting up an affiliate link management system early.