(Photos courtesy/ INTREPID TRAVEL)
Intrepid Travel, is launching more than 100 new tours for 2020, increasing the number of itineraries the operator will now be offering to over 1,000, with over 13,000 departures in the coming year – and that’s up 11% from 2019.
From “dark tourism” to culturally immersive festivals and Olympic-sized adventures, these new itineraries embrace the Intrepid way of travelling: utilizing local guides, accommodations and businesses to provide real-life experiences in a responsible manner.
The B-Corp certified travel company will also be introducing a number of new destinations to its roster, including Sudan and Scotland, and will officially become a seven-continent operator with the launch of a new program of sustainable small-group Antarctica expeditions on the newly refurbished Ocean Endeavour ship, which will begin departing in October.
Some of Intrepid’s new 2020 offerings include:
Greenland: Greenland had its moment in the spotlight when President Trump expressed interest in buying the country, where the tourism industry is just starting to bloom. As a result, Intrepid saw a huge spike in interest for its new 2020 Greenland Expedition, which explores the local Inuit culture, Nuuk – the country’s modern capitol, and the famed Ilulissat Ice fjord.
Ukraine & Chernobyl: Go beyond the HBO miniseries madness and explore Ukraine with Intrepid Travel’s new Highlights of Ukraine trip. Tapping into the dark tourism trend, this tour respectfully and safely visits the Chernobyl disaster site and travels through the beautiful scenery and charming towns of Ukraine from Kiev to Lviv. Additional new trips to Ukraine include an epic journey through all of Eastern Europe, and 20- and 13-day itineraries that cover Moldova, Ukraine and Romania.
Japan: With Japan hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics, travelers who want to get active in the spirit of the athletes can take on a trekking trip along the ancient countryside trails of Koya-san and Kumano Kodo. Or, cold-weather lovers can experience a winter wonderland with a tour of Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, that includes days of dog sledding, whiskey distilleries and ice bars.
Turkey: Despite political concerns, Turkey remains one of Intrepid Travel’s fastest growing destinations, with four new itineraries available in 2020 to meet demand. Travelers can island hop on a coastal cruise, dive into the country’s history on Turkey Uncovered, discover the hidden gems of Turkey’s backroads and double the adventure with the Turkey and Georgia tour.
Expanding beyond popular itineraries available in East and Southern Africa, Intrepid Travel is also encouraging travellers to head to coastal West Africa, where they can discover the wildlife rich wetlands of Senegal and Gambia or dive deep into the often misunderstood Voodoo religion in Benin, Togo and Ghana.
For those looking for a reason to celebrate, well Intrepid has a host of options. Travellers can experience the Baining Firedance Festival with a local village in Papua New Guinea; Samba their way through Rio’s Carnival; see the colours of Holi in Rajasthan; and celebrate Mardis Gras as it should be – from the back of a float.
As trekking trips gain increasing popularity and well-loved trails experiencing overcrowding, Intrepid Travel has scoped out new, equally rugged and beautiful routes across the globe for those looking to hit the trails and take in views.
These hikes and climbs include traversing the Transcaucasian Trail in Armenia, trekking from Portugal to Spain on the coastal Camino Trail and climbing the summits of Simien Mountain National Park in Ethiopia.
For more, check out www.intrepidtravel.com.
