Intrepid Travel

Highlights

• The stars of this trip are the dramatic and varied landscapes of lush Central America. Active volcanoes, ancient ruins, idyllic beaches and emerald jungles – this trip has got you covered.
• Escape the Mexican heat in the highlands of San Cristobal de las Casas. This old-world town is surrounded by indigenous villages that have retained their traditional customs and roots.
• Get to know contemporary Maya life during a homestay in San Juan La Laguna, a village sitting on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, where you can share meals and conversation with a local family.
• Clear sea perfect for swimming, shacks serving cold cerveza and sandy shores covered in starfish are waiting in Panama's Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon.
• Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde in Costa Rica – there’s so many ways to experience the lush canopies and unique Central American wildlife.

Highlights

• Venture into the wild and beautiful landscapes of northern Albania, explore spectacular lakes and rivers and experience a slice of rural life.
• Spend the night on a sustainable farm, where you’ll enjoy dinner made from fresh ingredients grown on site and learn about local farming practices.
• With the support of non-profit ecotourism organisation MEET, learn about conservation efforts at the Karavasta Lagoon in Divjake- Karavasta National Park, spend the night at a locally owned beach accommodation and rise for a sunrise breakfast atop a birdwatching tower.
• Visit the village of Babunje, where you’ll take part in a hands-on craft experience with local artists and be introduced to polyphonic singing, homemade raki and Turkish coffee reading plus enjoy a home-cooked lunch with a family.
• Get to know Albania’s capital as you explore Tirana with your local leader, and share a coffee in the garden of our local friends to learn about their culture and family history.

Highlights

• Trek deep – super deep – into the northern Thai hinterland with two days of trekking and two nights staying in a traditional hilltribe village, laughing with the locals and learning about their lifestyle.
• Immerse yourself in some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Thailand, from cascading waterfalls and mountainside views to a kayaking adventure on Mae Taeng River (followed by a spot of white-water rafting if you dare) to get a new perspective.
• Get your street food fix in bustling Bangkok and cool Chiang Mai and tuck into some of the tastiest eats in all of Asia. When you’ve had your fill (is that even possible?), be treated to traditional homecooked dinners during your hilltribe village homestays.
• Hit the nightlife in cruisy Chiang Mai, in the Nimman area that’s swarming with hipster bars and uber-cool lounges. Bar hop, hit the night markets and find all the best spots from a local leader with all the insights.
• Enjoy loads of free time to choose your own adventure, whether that’s a bit of rest and relaxation at the local Thai massage place or discovering new friends at the Chiang Chill Elephant Sanctuary.

Highlights

• Step into history at Kanchanaburi, home to the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai', before taking a swim in the turquoise water of Erawan waterfall.
• Get an introduction to Bangkok on an EV boat trip through its canals, then make a visit to Wat Pho where the larger-than-life reclining Buddha will blow you and your family’s mind.
• Learn about local life during a day trip to Ban Hua Tung village, then sample some delicacies with a traditional lunch cooked by the community.
• Spend a morning at the Chang Chill elephant experience, watching these incredible creatures freely (from a distance) and learning about the organisation’s conservation efforts.
• Let your expert leader take the hassle out of family travel as they guide you through the sights and bites of Thailand, so relax and hand over the responsibility – you deserve it.

Highlights

• Learn about Pakistan – its turbulent past, fascinating present, and hopeful future – from a local leader who knows and loves the country best.
• Discover the jagged snow-capped peaks, bright blue lakes and traditional culture of the Hunza Valley, a little touristed but unbelievably beautiful region of northern Pakistan.
• From its ancient museums, gardens and forts to its fantastic food scene, Lahore has so much to offer. Spend three days discovering this dynamic city.
• Travel to the incredibly remote village of Shimshal where you’ll meet the local families who live in this challenging environment and hike through the surrounding mountains.
• Visit a women’s group supported by the Aga Khan Foundation to learn about their projects and have lunch at a cafe run by local women.

Highlights

• Hike to Taktsang, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest, the small monastery clinging to a rocky cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and soak in its magnificence.
• Discover the 15th-century fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang, and visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, an ancient fortress and religious centre that sits at the confluence of two rivers.
• Feel the heat of Bhutanese cuisine when you tuck into traditional meals made with red rice, local cheese and lots of tastebud-tingling chillies.
• Experience Bhutanese hospitality in the Paro Valley when you enjoy a homecooked meal at a rustic farmhouse and opt to take a soak in a traditional hot stone bath.
• Spend a day exploring Thimphu, from the city to the woodlands, visiting the Cheri Dorji Dhen monastery, National Memorial Chorten, Simply Bhutan and the National Textile Museum.

Highlights

• Take a trek through Uganda's steamy forests to seek out acclaimed mountain gorillas, getting the rare chance to spend an unforgettable hour in their presence.
• Head out on an early evening game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, well known for its rhino population, and explore the plains of the Serengeti in search of lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes.
• Spend a few days at your own pace in Jinja, which can be either a relaxing riverside retreat or an adrenaline-pumping adventure capital, depending on your style of travel!
• Meet with Maasai communities – known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery – and gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community.
• Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.

Highlights

• Visit a local indigenous community and meet the Terraba people – a matriarchal community who have lived along the Terraba River for the last 500 years – and learn how to make a traditional wooden mask.
• Hike through the scenic landscapes of Manuel Antonio National Park with a local naturalist guide and learn all the hidden secrets of the rainforest, looking out for local wildlife like sloths and iguanas.
• Tuck into a super fresh garden-to-table lunch of Costa Rican favourites, including fresh tortillas that you’ll learn how to make from a skilled local woman, with ingredients from her orchard.
• Meet the family who run the Tierra Amiga organic coffee farm, and learn the whole process of the coffee bean, from planting to harvesting to tasting. Enjoy a cup fresh from the grinders and tuck into a locally made lunch.
• Wander through the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, home to more than 100 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds. Learn about the biodiversity of the region and look out for quetzal birds and howler monkeys.