Intrepid releases first-ever "how" to go list

With the impacts of COVID-19 continuing to be felt around the world, Intrepid Travel is putting the focus on how, not where, to travel.

The “How” To Go In 2021 compilation list replaces the annual “where to go” lists, outlining five key trends that form the foundation of Intrepid’s new 2021 tour offerings.

“Usually around this time, journalists would start to ask me about which destinations I’m most excited about for next year. But this isn’t a normal year,” says James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel. “So, instead of focusing on where we will travel; we’re thinking about how we will travel better in 2021 and beyond.”

With the timeline for reopening travel still unknown, Intrepid, who has been carbon neutral for over 10 years and operates over 800 tours on all seven continents, developed these five foundations by looking at internal booking data, search data, as well as wider societal trends. They all helped inform Intrepid’s new tours in 2021, as they continue to reimagine adventure travel in the post-COVID world.

1. Go slower: Travellers are looking to spend more time in a single destination, away from crowds and in a controlled setting, leading Intrepid to launch 15 new Retreat-style trips to places like Croatia’s Lastovo Island.
2. Go into the wild: With 2020 defined by lock-downs, travellers are ready for some fresh air. Last month, Intrepid saw a 70% spike in Antarctica searches, and they continue to see steady bookings to the Galapagos Islands and on Africa safaris.
3. Go on your terms: With varying comfort levels and travel restrictions, customization and flexibility are key. It’s no wonder Intrepid’s Tailor-Made offering has seen a120% increase in global search traffic. In 2021, all 800+ Intrepid trips will be fully customizable. Many travellers (31%) are also choosing to go solo as well.
4. Go on a human-powered adventure: With today’s current biking boom, Intrepid has released four new cycling trips, to places like England’s Peak District, as well as 90 active itineraries available in 2021.
5. Go to regenerate, not just sustain: COVID-19 has been a catalyst for the regenerative travel movement. As the world’s largest travel B Corp, fully carbon-neutral Intrepid has focused efforts on a responsible rebuild of the travel industry, open-sourcing our decarbonization guide and animal welfare policy as tools for our other businesses in tourism.

“Whether it’s closer to home or further abroad, travel has changed forever, and together we must create a new normal, focused on rebuilding travel better than it was before,” says Thornton.

To explore the full How To Go In 2021 list, visit: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/how-to-go-2021.