Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel bills itself as a group tour for those not normally interested in traveling as a group. Group size on one of its trips maxes out at 12, which allows for taking advantage of local transport and spontaneous adventures, and makes travelers feel more like a group of friends than a herd of sheep. 

Originally started to get travelers off the beaten path in Asia, Intrepid Travel offers over 300 trips throughout Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. Whatever the locale, the company’s philosophy remains the same: To enrich people’s lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences that provide sustainable travel adventures and benefit the local communities.  

Intrepid has a fantastic web site that covers everything you need to know about traveling with it, including a word to the wise to think twice before booking: The company really gets in touch with the local culture, and from the sound of it you won’t be seeing a McDonalds on any of its trips.  

Travelers have a choice of eight trip styles. Intrepid Original, the first (and some say the best) plan, offers simple, comfortable accommodations with character, great flexibility in the itinerary, and a willingness to use any and every mode of transport – car, bus, train, wagon, bicycle, horse, burro, camel, rickshaw. Variety is the key to the package, and it allows the group to take advantage of whatever comes along.  

Premium is a step up in comfort, but has all the hallmark experiences of an Intrepid package. The Basix offering is fun, flexible and affordable, with no frills: think backpacks and roughing it.  

Intrepid’s more specialized offerings offer interesting twists on traditional group tours. Exploratory is true adventure. It can be rough but is also a once-inf-a-lifetime experience. Family trips are geared to introduce tykes to the world, and offer special treats for adults and children alike. The Gourmet trips, for those travelers to whom tasting all the local cuisine is a must, will wake up and inspire even the most discriminating taste buds. 

If you fancy yourself an intrepid traveler, Intrepid Travels’ trips can’t be beat. I already have my eye on a couple of them. . .