We’ve always knew that Intrepid’s Andrew Slee likes to keep his nose clean when he travels, but turns out he knows how to keep everything squeaky clean in Peru…
“If you’ve ever wanted to bathe in the same waters as an ancient Inca king, then the Banos del Inca (meaning baths of the Inca) near Cajamarca, in the Peruvian highlands, is the place to go. Legend has it that when the Spanish conquistadore, Pizarra, found his way to this part of Peru, the king of the region, Atahualpa, was camped by these springs.
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In December 2006 Intrepid made a bold statement announcing our intention to become a carbon neutral company within 4 years. It was a long and winding road to achieve this gutsy move, during some of the most challenging global economic times. However, the hard work paid off and we proudly announced at the end of 2010 that we achieved this goal!
We have a firm Carbon Management Plan in place, with key principles to which we must adhere. We measure how we contribute to global warming; avoid where possible; and what we cannot avoid we reduce. Then where we cannot avoid or reduce, we purchase carbon offsets.
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It would be near impossible to have enough space in your backpack to souvenir all the wonderful handcrafted treasures of Jordan. The intricately decorated sand bottles, rugs woven by Bedouin women or kefiyas to keep out the red Wadi Rum sands. Fortunately for Tina Gerets, her weakness when it comes to shopping only takes up a little room…
“I had a most unexpected souvenir shopping opportunity in Jordan. We were spending two full days at Petra and I planned to make the most of my time there by hiking around the place. As soon as I arrived, I realised hiking was not the only possible activity at the beautiful carved city. There were souvenir stalls scattered around the grounds. Usually I avoid those ‘tourist traps’, but when one of my fellow travellers showed me a gorgeous necklace she bought, I gave in.
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Lisboa Menina e Moça is a well-known fado (Portugal’s famous mournful music) that talks about the city being the ‘women of one’s life’. So who better to show us around Lisbon from a female’s perspective than Ines Courela, our local Urban Adventures guide…
“Lisbon is like a menina or girl, with its many personalities and moods, but it’s also the ideal setting for a girl’s adventure. Why? First the sun, then the fantastic shopping and of course the delicious food. Just one thing: no dieting is allowed during your Lisbon visit!
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Even if you’ve got no intention of buying a carpet in Turkey, you need to read this travel tale by Tori Salman. Once travellers are swept up in the magic of the moment, it turns out that very few can resist the temptation of taking home a hand-woven memento of Turkey…
“Carpets and kilims, warps and wefts… I never realised that buying a carpet in Turkey would be so difficult. Many different styles of carpets have been produced in Turkey for centuries, so it wasn’t a lack of choice causing my dilemma. Should it be silk on silk, wool on cotton or wool on wool? Ahh, decisions!
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May 20th this year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence in Timor-Leste. There will be enormous celebrations and you could be there!
Our first Intrepid trip of the season starts on this anniversary, so it’s well worth arriving in the capital, Dili, a day or two early so you have plenty of time to kick up your heels with the locals. There’ll be parades, music and dancing in many of the districts, so no doubt the celebratory feel will carry on throughout Intrepid’s 15 day adventure.
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Who better to ask for tips on how to get ready for your next trip than Adventure Girl extraordinaire, Pamela MacNaughtan? Editor of SpunkyGirl Monologues and A.K.A. @spunkygirllogue, Pamela is always planning her next big trip. In fact, Intrepid is sponsoring her team in the Mongol Rally and that’s one incredible journey that you don’t want to risk by just winging it. So the question remains, what does Pamela suggest you tick off the list before you go?…
“You did it. You finally booked the adventure you have been dreaming about for months, possibly years. It’s exciting. It’s orgasmic. It’s OMG-what-do-I-do-now?!
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Gender inequality remains a massive issue, particularly in education. This is one of the reasons why Intrepid has been spurred into action and joined forces with Plan to set up SAMA, a 3-year global gender equality project that aims to improve the lives of communities and help bridge the gender gap through education.
We’re asking for your support and giving SAMA a High-5 will really help. This recent article from Plan gives an insight into the struggles youngsters in Laos face to get an early education and how much of a difference it makes when children are able to attend pre-school…
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So often it’s our first travel experiences that we remember most fondly and it is no exception for Margy Stevenson. Her overlanding adventures as a young woman may now be worlds away from her daily routine, but wow, what an incredible journey to look back on…
“The year was 1971, the place was Kathmandu, it was January 24th and it was my 18th birthday. Of all the fantastic places to be in at that time. Nepal had only been open to the rest of the world since about 1953 – the year I was born.
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