These past years lots of tour companies narrowed down their choices of adventure tours to safe, best-selling trips. True adventures seemed to be off-limits.
Intrepid has hopefully set a standard by introducing some great new expedition itineraries, Adventures with a capital A!
Baikonur & Kazakhstan In the middle of nowhere on the dusty Kazakh steppe, if all goes to plan, we’ll witness a live rocket launch. Join us on this one-off expedition through Kazakhstan, from the shrunken Aral Sea to the ancient city of Turkistan and the Silk Road portals of Sayram and Shymkent. Ready for a rare, fascinating adventure through one of the least-explored corners of the earth? In search of the Snow Leopard One for the wildlife lovers, this expedition takes you into the high mountain passes of Ladakh in search of the elusive snow leopard. Teaming up with specialist local guides, venture to the remote Uley Valley, back-dropped by jagged cliffs, dramatic snow-capped mountains and the occasional gold-hued gompa. Rivers and Mountains of Bhutan Embark on an adrenaline-filled journey through one of the world's most reclusive nations. See the natural beauty of the country with an itinerary that ventures into its valleys and peaks as well as tours its regular attractions. Djibouti - Footsteps of the Afar
If you want to experience life like a nomad as we traverse the Djibouti landscape alongside a camel, hike to the top of a volcano, float in one of the world’s saltiest lakes and come face-to-face with whale sharks then this expedition is right up your alley. The scenery is diverse and spectacular. Great Wall Marathon
Step your running goals up a notch with this incredible, yet challenging, marathon course along the Great Wall of China (Full, Half or 10km), navigating rough paths, sloping trails and narrow stepst. Recover with a week of travel around Northern China, taking in the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Xi’an’s famous Terracotta Warriors and stylish Shanghai.
There are three ways to get to the abandoned city of El Mirador, deep in the Guatemalan jungle: by helicopter, on horseback, or on foot. We take the third option and trek through over 60 kilometres of thick jungle to this fascinating Maya city. Myanmar's Naga Festival
Each year, the clans of the Naga tribe converge in one place for a two-day celebration. Meet the Naga people in their elaborate traditional dress, explore colourful local markets and traverse a tract of land rarely travelled on this one-off trip into the remote tribal lands of northern Myanmar. Moldova, Ukraine & Romania
Welcome to Bessarabia, a land so remote that tourism is yet to get a foothold. Escape to Eastern Romania, Moldova and the Black Sea Coast of Ukraine. From the breakaway republic of Transnistria – where Soviet values persist – to the eerie wastelands of Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, this brand new, one-off trip showcases some of the least visited sights in Europe. Get ready for adventure. Morocco – Walking with Berber Nomads
Every year in May, following 4,000-year-old routes and guided by the seasons, hundreds of nomadic Ait Atta families migrate into the High Atlas Mountains to escape the heat of the lower valleys. In 2017, we’ll be joining one such family on a special walking expedition through the mountains. Sleeping in moving campsites and partaking in daily chores – like animal herding and traditional bread making – you’ll meet locals in tiny Berber villages and breathe enough fresh air to last you a lifetime. This is a rare opportunity to form real connections with people from another part of the world, and experience an authentic, ancient and well-preserved way of life likely very different to your own.
Home to wolves, grizzlies and the densest concentration of geysers on the planet, Yellowstone was the world’s very first national park. Tour the highlights of the park – Old Faithful, the Fountain Paint Pots and Yellowstone’s own Grand Canyon – before heading deeper into the wilderness for a full day of hiking. Unlike many tours, this trip also takes in the natural wonders of nearby Grand Teton National Park. Camp on secluded Grassy Island, explore Jackson Lake by kayak and float down the Snake River as eagles swoop in the air above. Russia - Footsteps of the Reindeer Herders
Extending far above the Arctic Circle, the isolated Yamal Peninsula has been home to the Nenets, a tribe of nomadic reindeer herders, for centuries. For the first time, the Nenets are inviting travellers into their community for a first-hand glimpse at their daily existence. Learn about life on the frozen tundra, how they stay warm when the temperature hits -50°C, and how much the nomads rely on their reindeer herds. Svaneti, Georgia
Wedged between plenty of rocks and all manner of hard places, it’s probably none too surprising that Georgia’s Svaneti region isn’t a regular fixture on the Eurasian tourist trail. Isolated and independent, tribal traditions still hold sway here in a major way: the wheel only made an appearance in 1935, pagan elements suffuse Christian beliefs, stone watchtowers dominate the verdant valleys of Mestia and Ushguli, and provincial cuisine is still preferred. Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia
Among the rocky mountains and green fields of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia there are plenty of shepherds, monasteries, lakes, valleys and Byzantine churches – what’s lacking is crowds. Rabaul Mask Festival, Papua New Guinea
Rivers, valleys, gorges, mountains, volcanoes, lagoons and inlets make for an environment where different cultures have been able to develop in virtual isolation from each other – not to mention the outside world. For the visitor, the most striking evocation of this comes in the form of a traditional ceremony. And this trip, designed to get you into the guts of rural PNG, takes in some of the best.
