Intrepid Reviews

Which style of trip is right for me?

Our four styles of travel – Basic, Original, Comfort and Premium – cover a whole gamut of travel experiences. To find out which one has ‘You’ written all over it, visit our trip styles page.

Are trips physically demanding?

Want to lie in a hammock and not move until cocktail hour? We’ve got a trip for that. Want to power up the side of a mountain at high altitude? We’ve also got a trip for that. To determine what type of trip suits you best, each of our trips comes with a Physical Rating to let you know how physically demanding it is… or isn’t.

Does Intrepid have family trips?

Intrepid offers a wide range of family adventures around the globe. The minimum age for family trips varies depending on the destination, and Intrepid has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range. Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age. Please check out our family tours for more information.

Who are Intrepid travelers?

Intrepid trips are for travelers with a yearning to get off the beaten track. Whether you're travelling solo or with a group of friends, there is an Intrepid adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Intrepid adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most trips, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world. Even on our camping trips, no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers.

How many people will be on my trip?

Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without negatively affecting the locals. On most of our trips, you’ll be part of an intimate group of 12-16 people, though our group sizes are, on average, 10 people. Our overland trips are in purpose-built vehicles that can carry up to 24 travelers. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website.

Are there age restrictions on your trips?

For the majority of our trips, the minimum age is 15. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Our overland adventures have a minimum age of 18. Younger children can join us on our family trips and Short Break Adventures, but make sure to check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a Self-Assessment Form is required for all travelers 70 years and over.

Who will be my group leader?

While we can’t tell you who your leader is prior to departure, we can tell you they will be awesome. Our leaders are experts in their regions, some because they’ve been travelling there for years, others because they’re local to the region and can’t wait to show you around. On longer journeys, or ones that travel through more than one country, you may change leaders part way through – but this just means double the awesomeness.

Can I just do part of the trip?

Although you won’t be reimbursed for any portion of the trip unused, you can opt to sign off the trip if you need to leave a day or so earlier. If you let us know before travel that you’ll be arriving late or need to leave before the trip ends, we will notify our team on the ground to best accommodate your requirements.

Can I make any changes to the itinerary of my group trip, either before or during the trip?

Please make sure you are happy with your group trip itinerary before booking because we are unable to change it for individual travelers. However, if you and a group of friends, colleagues or even your school would like your own personally designed itinerary, get in contact with our very talented Tailor-Made team, and they can help tailor an itinerary just for you.

Can I add an extra night at the beginning or end of my group trip?

You sure can. Just ask your adventure consultant at the time of booking.

I’m traveling alone – is that OK?

This is the beauty of the Intrepid style of travel: many of our travelers join because they are traveling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. Learn more about solo travel.

If I am traveling solo, will I be charged for having my own room?

On our trips, rooming is organized on a twin-share basis. We pair solo travelers with another traveler of the same gender, as per the gender marker on each of their passports. If you'd like your own space, the majority of our trips have the option to pay for an individual room with a single supplement.

As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

On a small selection of itineraries, some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multishare basis (for example, on a felucca in Egypt or an overnight train in Vietnam). In those instances, it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information prior to booking and traveling.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. Please carefully consider whether you are physically and mentally able to complete the itinerary you have chosen, recognizing that on many trips, you will be required to carry your own bags and use public transport.

Where we can, we will make reasonable adjustments to the operation of our trips to facilitate the requirements of disabled travelers – such as booking ground floor accommodation or having our leaders communicate important directions in writing as well as verbally. Many travelers with disabilities have been able to enjoy our trips by traveling with a friend or companion who can assist with specific needs. If joining a group trip is not practical, we may be able to provide you with a private departure. Please contact us for further information on any of our itineraries.

Learn more about accessible travel with Intrepid

We know that many of our travelers are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and our goal is that everyone feel comfortable when they travel with us.

Travelers should be aware of the local laws and customs in the destinations we visit, as some countries have laws that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people. We recommend you visit Equaldex and/or Smartraveller before you choose your trip for up-to-date advice and information about LGBTQIA+-related laws.

We pair solo travelers with another traveler of the same gender, according to your passport or the information in our booking system. If you identify differently from the gender marker on your passport, please contact us to let us know in advance. We have single supplements available on most trips for travelers who prefer to have their own room.

We don’t tolerate any form of discrimination, violence (verbal or physical) or sexual harassment, either between travellers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. If you feel that someone is behaving inappropriately while traveling with us, please inform your tour leader or local guide immediately. Alternatively, contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in the Problems and Emergency Contact section of your Essential Trip Information.

How do you arrange room sharing on the trip and who will I have to share with?

On our trips, rooms are assigned on a twin-share basis. We pair up solo travelers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. If you'd like your own space, you also have the choice to pay for an individual room (available on the majority of our trips).

As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis (for example on a felucca in Egypt or an overnight train in Vietnam). In those instances, it will clearly be stated in your trip’s Essential Trip Information prior to booking and travelling.

Can I book a single room?

Most trips have an individual room available – check a trip’s overview page on our website or the Essential Trip Information to see whether an individual room is offered. If so, please request this at the time of booking.

Can we book a triple room?

You may be able to request a triple room depending on the trip style you choose. You can request a triple room at the time of booking, though as our bookings are made well in advance, room requests can’t be guaranteed.

Do I still have to pay for an individual room if I'm the only solo person of my gender?

If you happen to be the only solo person of your gender on the trip, you may be given your own room. We can’t guarantee this will be the case as we may have travellers book onto a trip last minute.

I'm traveling with a partner, can I make sure we have a double bed?

If you’re travelling with a partner, just let us know you want to share a room (and a bed) at the time of booking. We can’t guarantee a double bed, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you. In some destinations, the option may be two single beds pushed together to form a ‘double’.

I'm travelling with a friend and want to share a room with them but make sure we have separate beds. Can I do this?

As most of our trips are organized on a twin-share basis, if you’ve booked with a friend, you’ll automatically be bunked into a room together—unless you pay for individual rooms. Most twin rooms have two single beds, but please let us know you want separate beds at the time of booking so we can pass this information on to the accommodation provider.

I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?

We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements, but in some out-of-the-way places, this can be very difficult to guarantee. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies, and we’ll pass the information onto your leader. It is also a great idea to bring a card with your dietary requirements written in the local language for those times you are eating away from the group.

What will the food be like on my trip?

Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. There may be some familiar fare, but often, you’ll be confronted with the new, interesting and downright weird of the culinary world. We like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own—this means you can eat to suit any budget or desire.

Can I drink the water in the countries I visit?

In some destinations, it may not be wise to drink the local water. For more details, you can find country-specific information in our destination pages.

Flights

All transport during your trip is included in your trip price.

Flights to and from the starting point of your trip are not included. If you'd like help booking international flights, contact us for a quote.


Please note that we cannot book International flights if you’re in North America, but our flight partner, Ovago has access to some very affordable prices. Their expert team will save you time and effort by crafting a customized itinerary that meets your travel needs. Visit Ovago to get started.

Transfers

Transfers to and from your trip aren’t included in your trip price but can be booked at an additional cost.

Some trip styles have transfers included, so please check your Essential Trip Information and itinerary for a full list of what’s included.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

You can find information on visa and entry requirements in the visa section of your Essential Trip Information.

Countries can change their requirements and advice at short notice, so check the latest information and travel advice. As stated in our booking conditions, it’s your responsibility to make sure you have everything you need to travel to and from your destination.

You should also check:

• Our Safe Travel Hub to find out how you can travel safely and with ease.

• The Essential Trip Information for your trip to find other important details such as travel insurance, accommodation, joining point instructions and what to pack.

On most Intrepid trips, you will be required to carry your own luggage, sometimes up stairs and on and off transport. For a full list of what to take on your adventure, see our Ultimate Packing List.

Can I store excess luggage at the starting point hotel?

Most starting point hotels can store your excess luggage for you; however, this is at your own risk. A fee is often charged for this service. Of course, this is only an advantage if your trip is circular (i.e. returning to the same starting point).

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

We only have a handful of itineraries where sleeping bags are required, and these are generally camping trips. When we use homestays, blankets are provided, but some travelers feel more comfortable with their own sleeping bags or sleep sheets. Refer to your Essential Trip Information if you are unsure whether a sleeping bag is required.

What clothes and footwear should I take on treks?

Hiking boots are definitely recommended on a more physical trip. If the physical rating is under 3, hiking boots or sneakers/runners will be adequate. Please be sure to research the climate and weather conditions at the time of year you will be trekking and pack accordingly. There is also a packing 'checklist' in your Essential Trip Information.

What essential documents do I need to take?

It’s important to always travel with your current passport, visas, travel insurance and Intrepid documentation. For more information, see our Ultimate Packing List.