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  • At Intrepid Travel we know we're cool because since 1989 we have been operating culturally and socially responsible small group adventures. But don't just take our word for it... 98% of our travellers say they'd travel with us again.

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  • Intrepid Express is so excited to have won the 2008 PATA Gold Award. It's an honour to be internationally recognised for our e-newsletter and a big part of the thrill is sharing this award with everyone who has told their travel tales or enjoyed reading Express each week - thank you!
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first Intrepid Foundation day

intrepidexpress | intrepid foundation | Wednesday, 18 November 2009

intrepid travel staffWhen a group of people who are passionate about responsible travel and helping local communities get together, you never know which direction their fun activities may lead!

The 6th of November marked our first ever Intrepid Foundation Day and it was a huge success around the globe. The purpose of the day was to increase our staff awareness of all the fantastic projects the Intrepid Foundation is supporting and also stimulate ideas on how they could be more involved…

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machu picchu insight

intrepidexpress | active adventures, responsible travel | Wednesday, 18 November 2009

machu picchu peruWalking high in the mountains of Peru was a step in the right direction for Intrepid Express winner Karen Tait. Not only did this journey help her discover a world beyond her own, but travelling with Intrepid turned some of her ideas upside down…

“For me, travelling is all about people and stories. When I heard that I had won a place on the Inca trail trip, I was of course ecstatic, but I never imagined just what a wonderful experience it would be.

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a corner of china

intrepidexpress | active adventures | Wednesday, 18 November 2009

lijiang chinaOnly one mountaineering team has successfully climbed the highest peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China. This stunning massif forms the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge on one side and the views from all angles are worth every step, as Intrepid Express reader Belinda Mortlock discovered…

“As we slowly wound our way up the narrow rocky path through flowery shrubs and pines, I could not believe the drop in temperature compared to when we left the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but even the cool climate could not distract me from the breathtaking views over the countryside looking down to Lijiang rooftops, a beautiful ancient village of the Yunnan province.

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Intrepid rolls out carbon free future

intrepidexpress | about Intrepid, responsible travel | Wednesday, 11 November 2009

laos cyclingWe’re thrilled to announce that Intrepid Travel now has 500 carbon offset trips available in 2010!

The move comes on the back of Intrepid’s successful experiment this year with offering 38 carbon offset trips. Our reports show that there were no significant changes in booking patterns to these 38 trips in 2009, with the increased cost not discouraging travellers (on average less than 50 cents per day per traveller). These trips sold more or held steady against other small group adventures.

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rising sun soundscape

intrepidexpress | mind, body and spirit | Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Japanese geishaThere’s more to Japan than meets the eye and Intrepid leader Aaron Davis explains why the Land of the Rising Sun can also be music to your ears…

“Japan is a photographer’s dream. From the austere beauty of traditional shrines to the vibrant embroidered designs of women’s kimono or the explosive beauty of cherry blossoms in spring, there’s no doubt that this land is a feast for the eyes! But I always advise Intrepid travellers to take time to close your eyes or put down the camera and just listen to the sounds of the country. There’s a lot to hear.

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it started with a sniff

intrepidexpress | real life experiences | Wednesday, 11 November 2009

proboscis monkey borneoThere’s no need to turn your nose up when you travel, in fact as Intrepid Express reader Paul Lynch explains, follow your nose and you can end up on some unforgettable adventures…

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single sniff” - not exactly the Lao Tzu quote that made the philosopher famous, but it’s close enough. Point being, do cities or countries possess a unique odour?

Travel should broaden the mind but more often dilates the nostrils, depending on the destination. You don’t have to possess the prominent feature of Cyrano de Bergerac to catch a whiff of the Guinness factory in Dublin, nor do you require a GPS to let you know that you have reached Faridabad, a sprawling industrial city north of New Delhi. The schnoz will let you know you have arrived.

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eat your greens

intrepidexpress | responsible travel | Wednesday, 04 November 2009

green restaurantsBear for breakfast, langur for lunch or tiger for tea? We certainly hope these are not on YOUR dinner plate, but sadly these endangered creatures can be found on some menus in Indochina.

Fortunately we have good news that this situation is changing thanks to the work of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and our Intrepid Foundation partners, TRAFFIC.

Choosing a restaurant in Vietnam’s capital city just got a little easier with the help of a tiny green chef. This cheery culinary figure is turning up on posters in eateries around Hanoi as the logo for WWF and TRAFFIC’s Green Restaurant Campaign to end illegal and/or unsustainable wildlife consumption.

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west africa’s gift

intrepidexpress | about Intrepid, overland adventures | Wednesday, 04 November 2009

mali camel rideSince Jacquie Burnside joined Intrepid as a group leader many moons ago, she’s seen the company grow to be one of the world’s most respected adventure travel operators. You can pack of whole lot of amazing real life experiences into twenty years, and as Jac has just discovered on her latest adventure, it’s amazing how much fun you can cram into 26 days in Ghana and Mali

“In 1988 on my very first big trip overseas, I took a five month overland safari from Egypt to Tanzania and then up through Central Africa and across the Sahara to Europe! This was at about the same time that Darrell and Manch were travelling with friends on the southbound route from London to Nairobi, when they conceived the business idea that was to become Intrepid Travel. I joined this fledgling company some 5 years later.

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bali birthday adventure

intrepidexpress | real life experiences | Wednesday, 04 November 2009

birthday cakeThe Balinese have always been renowned for their wonderful hospitality, and Intrepid’s Chimene Barrett discovered what generous lengths they will go to for a birthday in Indonesia

“My husband and I have been lucky to celebrate our birthdays in a few exotic places around the globe. This time we were enjoying the 9 day Bali Adventure and although my husband tried to hide the fact, we all knew he would be celebrating his birthday on this trip.

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