Created by locals, for locals.

When we think of travel, we often picture far-flung journeys to the other side of the world. So, it’s easy to forget that you can experience real adventures on your doorstep too. That’s why we’ve created Intrepid Retreats, a brand-new way to discover incredible places just a few hours' drive or a short flight away from home. We’ve taken the best bits of an Intrepid adventure – the insider info and guidance of a local, support for local communities, memorable stays, and experiences you can’t have on your own – all rolled up into a short getaway. You’ll have the time to uncover the specialties of a region, and connect with yourself and the people you meet – and only have to unpack your bags once. Intrepid adventures have always had a local heart, now they’re just a bit more local to you. Welcome to a whole new way to explore your own backyard.

Browse by region

Our Retreats

4 Days From 38129

Explore Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and Monument Valley on this 4-day...

4 Days From 8915

Relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with nature on this four-day retreat in the serene...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Retreats experiences

Flavours of the Valley

Experience the seasonal tastes of the Yarra Valley with a five-course meal, hand-crafted by a sustainability and regional produce focused local chef.

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Homestead yoga

Connect with the land, your body and soul as you begin each day with a sun salutation, part of guided yoga sessions overlooking the sprawling grounds of a hinterland homestead.

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Heavenly Highland whisky

Savour the scenery of mountains and lochs, and the flavours of the moors, with a whisky tasting at one the oldest distilleries in Scotland.

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Live the local life

Learn what a self-sustaining lifestyle looks like when you spend a day at sea with a Croatian fisherman and his wife, hooking the days’ catch for an onboard lunch.

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Ancient rainforest adventure

Step back 180 million years in a World Heritage-listed section of primeval Daintree forest, the oldest in the world, and learn how the locals live amongst it.

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Dreamy Douro Valley

Taste the flavours of the Douro Valley's laboriously terraced hillsides, strewn with vineyards that produce the grapes for Portugal's signature drink.

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Why choose Intrepid

Local hosts

You’re here to kick back and focus on being in the moment, so make the most of being hosted by a local who’ll take care of all the important bits and give you unique insights only the locals know about.

Sustainable travel

Since we started running small group tours over 30 years ago, we’ve known travel has the power to support the livelihoods of local communities. By exploring our regional areas and supporting local businesses and people, we can use travel as a force for good.

Local experiences 

Intrepid Retreats give back to the community, but they’re also about giving back to yourself. Our included experiences – from walks and yoga, surfing and cycling, to cooking lessons, tastings, artisan masterclasses – are crafted with local expertise and will help you connect with nature, local culture and cuisine, and your own body and mind.

Small groups

Now more than ever, we know how important our connection with each other is, and how sharing a story and making a new friend can be the highlight of a trip. With 10 travellers on average, our groups are small, safe, and if you’re travelling solo, it’s the perfect number of new friends.

Memorable stays

We know where you stay is just as important as where you go. That’s why we’ve carefully selected memorable, comfortable, locally run accommodation where you’ll connect with and support the local community.

Unpack once

They might be a convenient journey from major cities, but Intrepid Retreats feel a world away. And with the ease of unpacking once for your whole trip, you’ll get more time to travel slow and properly immerse yourself in the local area.

FAQs

An Intrepid Retreat has all the best bits of our classic adventures, with the convenience of being based in one central location. Hosted by us, you’ll have the time to immerse yourself in one location. Stay in handpicked, locally owned accommodation, all chosen for how they match our core values. Intrepid Retreats are focused on local experiences – from hiking, biking or yoga, to visits to wineries, farms, and local producers – and giving back to the surrounding community. Think ‘slow travel’ away from the hustle and bustle of urban centres.

Yes! Your Intrepid Retreat comes with a new, specially named expert local host. They’re here to look after you, take care of all the important bits, and give you their unique insights into the region. Travelling with an experienced host means you can just enjoy the moment, rather than worrying about what happens next.

Our groups are made up of 10 travellers on average. You get all the benefits of travelling in a group – safety, new friends – but small enough to feel like your exploring a destination independently and not stuck in a big crowd.

Like all Intrepid itineraries, we’ve made sure our Intrepid Retreats provide the right balance between the structured and the spontaneous, giving you the flexibility to digest a destination either with your group or on your own. Want to sleep in instead of getting up for morning yoga? No worries! You might spend the morning on a guided walk with your host, then partaking in a cooking a delicious local dish with your group before heading off on your own to explore the town. Needless to say, your host will be there every step of the way with suggestions and recommendations.

Most dietary requirements can be catered for, please advise us at the time of booking.

 

Our Intrepid Retreats uses only locally owned accommodation and transport, and local hosts to guide the itinerary. By choosing to visit – and spend – with local and small businesses, we help ensure our money stays in the local economy and benefits the places we visit. Above all, we’re committed to a style of travel that is culturally, environmentally and socially responsible.

Yes, we offer optional arrival and departure transfers, please ask your consultant at time of booking.  If you have your own car or are hiring a car for onwards travel you are also welcome to use it to make your way to the trip starting point. Once you’re in your trip location, transport will be provided to and from activities. However it may be possible to use your own vehicle at certain times if you feel more comfortable. Your own vehicle also offers the chance to explore more of the local area before or after your retreat if you have time.

Intrepid will ensure that our up to date COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines are adhered to at all times. Intrepid Travel has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that we have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so you can experience ‘Safe Travels’. Intrepid will put in place additional measures – in line with government health advice and with global health authorities (including the WHO and CDC) – to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. These include:

  • Pre-departure online health self-declaration form to be completed by all travellers and hosts.
  • Enhanced sanitation processes.
  • Requirement of all travellers and hosts to comply with any local regulations or requirements that necessitate the use of a mask in public or certain places.
  • Hand sanitiser available in public areas and on transportation.
  • Thorough cleaning of accommodation and transport between groups of travellers, with all high-touch surfaces in shared areas regularly cleaned and disinfected.
  • General escalation process in place for travellers with symptoms.
  • Displaying appropriate signage of COVID-19 symptoms to enhance awareness.

Note, Intrepid will not require a negative COVID-19 test as proof of health from travellers or hosts at this stage, unless it is required by local law or regulations.

View our full COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines 
 

Yes, we measure and offset the main sources of emissions on our Intrepid Retreat trips, from transport to accommodation and waste. Learn more here.

Absolutely! Single Supplements will be available to book on the majority of Intrepid Retreat itineraries.

Yes you can. Please let your booking consultant know you would like to use your credit on your new booking and it will be applied.

Our Intrepid Retreats offer included and optional activities. If you don’t want to participate in any included activities you are free to do so, however please note that no refund will be provided for unused services.