Florida Adventure

The city of New Orleans is notorious for its rich culture, music and nightlife. See the iconic French and Spanish Creole architecture and enjoy music in the city where jazz was born

Summon your inner child in Orlando with a visit to Universal Studios or Disney World

The tropical island of Key West may be known for its idyllic snorkelling and diving spots, but its also home to the delicious key lime pie. You'll have enough free time to search out the best pie in town, even if every shop in the Keys claims to sell the original recipe

Throw yourself into Miami's world famous nightlife. The city's Cuban population, beachside setting and balmy nights set a sultry scene

Soak up the sun on Panama City Beach and paddle in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. If you’re looking for space to spread out, there’s 27 miles of white sandy beach to do it on

This is a participatory trip. That’s a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride – you’re part of a team! You know the phrase ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’. Well that’s extra true on this trip. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. It’s all about giving your new travel mates a hand – everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!

That teamwork also extends to our optional food kitty of approximately US$10 per day, run to cover the cost of meals. This kitty saves you worrying about stuff like where to get food or what exactly sales tax is, and actually helps keep your costs down. Instead of paying individually as you go, it means we can bulk purchase items and cook our own food – though there’s always the chance to use it for the occasional pizza night! The kitty is optional and for your convenience, so if you've got specific dietary requirements you can opt out and purchase (and cook) your own food.

The United States is a world of endless possibilities – that’s why our Basix trips are designed so they fit together as (not quite endless) combinations. That means while you might just be starting your trip, some of your new travel mates may have been travelling together for a week or more (and so have some great tips for you). You can see how our trips fit together and all the different possible combinations at www.intrepidtravel.com/brochures. Simply click view/download on the North America brochure and look at the combo map on page 12.

On this trip you'll be spending a fair amount of time in a van with other travellers, so conditions may feel a little cramped. This is all part of the adventure, however, and you might even make some long-term friends.

Travel times between some destinations can be long and tiring, taking between five and eight hours in some instances.

The weather in Key West can be extremely hot and humid, so it’s a good idea to bring sun protection and drink plenty of water. Although hurricanes are less common during the summer, they do come through in August occasionally.

As we’ll be travelling between multiple locations at a fairly quick pace, there won’t be too much time spent at Panama City Beach. While there will be some time to relax on the beach, you won’t get a full day here.

Although there's no age limit, this trip tends to attract travellers in their early 20s, so it's a good idea to consider whether this atmosphere is right for you.