Intrepid’s new Premium Signature Experiences take you behind the scenes, away from the crowds and into the minds of local experts for one-of-a-kind moments.
It’s one thing to wander around a crumbling temple complex in Vietnam; it’s another thing entirely to visit with the archaeologist who’s restoring it. It’s nice to admire Spain’s religious artworks, but it’s something else to meet the master sculptor creating them.
The new Signature Experiences coming to Intrepid’s Premium trips in 2027 don’t just show off a place, they go deeper – giving you rich, carefully crafted insights into history, art and culture – that you won’t find anywhere else.
1. Make a traditional dish in a family home in Croatia
In a small 14th-century village in Croatia’s Dalmatian hinterland, a local family opens their home to Intrepid travellers on the Premium Venice to Split trip. Here, soparnik – a giant chard and onion pie recognised as a protected cultural dish – has been perfected over generations. You’ll learn to make the beloved recipe and help prepare it for the family’s traditional wood fired hearth. While it cooks, wander between the well-preserved stone houses and get a taste of how life here once unfolded. Then, gather around the table to discover why this humble pie has earned a name for itself.
2. Help restore native flora in New Zealand
Between exploring the South Island’s scenic mountainscapes and thriving local food scene, travellers on the Premium New Zealand South Island trip will join an ecology expert for a hands-on regeneration experience. Go behind the scenes at a community-led environmental project where you’ll learn about the region’s unique ecosystems before planting a native seedling to help protect and support one of the country’s last intact wetlands.
3. Craft a ceremonial candle with a matriarch in Mexico
During the Premium Mexico City to Oaxaca trip, step inside the workshop of Dona Viviana, the seasoned artisan credited with single-handedly reviving her neighbourhood’s centuries-old beeswax candle-making tradition. See her hand-carved heirloom candle moulds and watch as locally sourced beeswax is melted, dyed and shaped into intricate floral designs. You’ll even learn from the legend herself, creating your own colourful candle to take home.
Read more: 10 new Premium trips to amp up your adventures
4. Raise a blessed prayer flag in Bhutan
You won’t just observe spiritual traditions on the Premium Bhutan trip; you’ll become part of a unique ritual designed specifically for Intrepid travellers. Join a blessing ceremony at the hilltop Gangtey Monastery, where a monk or lama will bless two prayer flags for you. Freshly blessed flags in hand, write your name on them before unfurling one to flutter in the breeze. The other is yours to keep, a touch of Bhutan’s peace and prosperity to take back home with you.
5. Get a fresh perspective over rooftop drinks in India
Travellers on the Premium India trip are treated like old friends and welcomed into a haveli (traditional townhouse) that’s been in the same family for six generations. With the buzz of Jaipur’s busy marketplace below, kick back with panoramic rooftop views and a traditional local liqueur in hand. Your hosts will share their family history and personal anecdotes that bring Jaipur’s regal past to life.
6. Enjoy folk stories and great food in Morocco
An intimate dinner in a private riad in Marrakech will not only ignite your taste buds, but your imagination too. Over a homemade meal, listen to Moroccan fables told by a charismatic professional storyteller. The evening is an ode to the country’s age-old tradition of hikayat (oral storytelling) which once captivated crowds in city squares with tales of history, folklore and legend. While the tradition has faded in recent years, a new generation is bringing it back to the fore and travellers on the Premium Morocco in Depth trip will be part of its revival.
7. Explore ancient temples with an archaeologist in Vietnam
From the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, take a day trip to My Son Sanctuary on the Premium Vietnam in Depth adventure. Constructed between the 4th and 13th centuries as part of the Champa Kingdom, these Hindu temples are impressive on their own but seeing them alongside archaeologist Nguyen Van Tho brings them all to life. Tho has dedicated more than 20 years to the conservation, excavation and restoration of Champa monuments in the region, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a question he can’t answer.
Read more: 8 new Premium Family trips that’ll change the way you travel with kids
8. Visit a 400-year-old samurai home with an architect in Japan
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s best-preserved Edo-period cities. Anyone who visits can spot historical samurai districts and traditional townhouses coexisting alongside contemporary architecture. But on the Premium Highlights of Japan trip, you’ll see it all through the eyes of a local architect, ensuring you won’t miss any of the details when you come across a 400-year-old samurai house or step into a dye shop that’s been standing for a century. With an expert by your side, you’ll unlock a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship that shaped these buildings and the way this city blends old and new.
9. Step into the private studio of a master sculptor in Spain
Religious art plays an important part in Spanish culture. And while plenty of travellers admire the country’s ornate churches and intricate sculptures, few get to meet the people creating them. On the Premium Spain trip, meet Jesus Richarte, a master imagineria (religious-art sculptor), in his private workshop. See the traditional techniques and meticulous craftsmanship used to create his artworks and even get an exclusive, up-close preview of his works in progress.
10. Cruise Turkey’s coast with a conservationist
When you’re not wandering ancient ruins or gazing at Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, you’ll soak up some of Turkey’s turquoise coastline on the Premium Turkey in Depth trip. But in true Intrepid style, this isn’t just any trip to the beach. You’ll visit a local non-profit that protects marine and coastal ecosystems, join a conservationist for a walk along the coast and see their work in action during a boat trip along the Manavgat River.
11. Hike to a hidden waterfall in Sri Lanka
Sometimes, the simplicity of a moment is what makes it truly special. As part of the Premium Sri Lanka in Depth trip, your group will take a short hike to a quiet, lesser-known waterfall for a swim and a picnic by the water. This place offers a rare kind of serenity – a chance to connect with nature in relative seclusion, making you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a secret.
Get more out of your travels and do it all in style on Intrepid’s Premium trips.
