Intrepid Travel

Highlights

• Learn how to prepare and present the traditional 11-dish Northern Thai speciality khan tok and experience Thai life from a local's perspective at a village homestay.
• See dishes whipped up before your eyes, like kaeng som, spicy fish cakes at a community farm and roti sai mai at a market food stall in Ayutthaya.
• Cruise Bangkok’s floating market on a paddleboat and sail aboard a longtail boat to an island Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya

Highlights

• Fall in love with Vietnam one bite at a time, from pho, slurped on a busy street corner to a vegetarian feast in a Buddhist nunnery.
• Sail through Halong Bay's limestone karsts and island caves, visit a centre that turns the bay's discarded trash into treasures and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
• Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.

Highlights

• Cycle along the Loire River, passing by classic quaint villages and the verdant countryside in the north west of France.
• You haven’t seen chateaux until you’ve seen the ones in France. Marvel at the Chateau de Chenonceau, which spans the banks of the Cher River, and the acclaimed Chateau de Villandry, among others.
• Discover the Loire's charm on a river cruise and toast the moment with a glass of exquisite local wine.

Highlights

• Discover the fantastical world of alebrijes – folk art sculptures of mythical creatures – during a visit to a women-run workshop outside Oaxaca. The artists will share their process and stories of how they came to specialise in these artworks.
• Take a step way, way back during enlightening guided tours through the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Palenque and Mitla.
• Get a taste of Maya culture during a homecooked pibil lunch with a local family, sampling this traditional method of cooking which involves barbecuing food underground.

Highlights

• Witness still alpine lakes, glacial plains, frothy rivers and valleys covered in pink blossoms, depending on the season.
• Experience the comradery of trekking with a small group as you challenge yourself to reach new heights on one of the world’s greatest hikes.
• Get your first glimpses of the mighty Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – the famous airport in the sky.

Highlights

• Experience living like a local with a night in a locally run guesthouse in the Mekong Delta, with friendly hosts and delicious homecooked meals.
• Discover the bustling centres of Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City – these diverse cities are a fascinating mix of ancient culture and new-age cityscapes, and you’ll get the chance to visit all the most iconic spots.
• Feast on the mouth-watering, fresh delights of Vietnam. From slurping traditional bun bo Hue and digging into a vegetarian feast at a local nunnery, to enjoying a home-cooked lunch with locals in Ninh Binh – the food of Vietnam is definitely a highlight!