About Intrepid Travel

We recognise the immense privilege that it is to travel and will continue to act on our moral obligation and duty of care to the communities we visit.

We believe vaccinations play a key role in saving lives and helping to keep people safe. Around 70% of the world is vaccinated against COVID-19 but vaccination rates remain low in some of the destinations and communities we visit. We continue to support global vaccine equity and continue to strongly encourage all travellers and leaders to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

We also follow recommendations from the World Health Organization and the World Travel Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols.

All our itineraries undergo a comprehensive risk assessment and audit and our?leaders and operators complete?ongoing COVID-19 health and safety training and adhere to COVID-19 standards. In addition, the hotels, transport providers and other suppliers that we use must meet enhanced COVID-19 standards.


Are there vaccination or testing requirements for your trips?
Intrepid does not require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for most trips. However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

PLEASE NOTE: Our Polar trips and select adventure cruises are excluded and STILL require proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination. Polar trips also require pre-embarkation testing. Please refer to the Essential Trip Information of your chosen tour for more details. ....less

For over 30 years we've been taking travellers around the globe.
That's over 30 years of adventures, of visiting new places and old friends, of countless unforgettable moments. More than 30 years of changing the way people see the world, on small group tours with like-minded Intrepid people.

As a responsible business, we've always been committed to being there for our travellers and the communities we visit. So, you can trust that when you travel with us, we won't just be there for your first adventure, we'll be there every step of your journey. ....less

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We're following recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators. All our itineraries undergo a comprehensive risk assessment and audit, with our leaders and suppliers completing COVID-19 health and safety training.

Currently, Travellers are required to produce proof of COVID-19 vaccination. These new safety measures apply on all of our trips, except for tours in Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.?For those travelling on Urban Adventures tours, see specific details on the Urban Adventures site.

COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy from 1 December 2021 onwards. Travellers are required to produce proof of COVID-19 vaccination on all of our trips.?For those travelling on Urban Adventures tours, see specific details on the Urban Adventures site.

If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

Children under 18 are exempt. Children aged between 5 and 17 years old must provide proof of either vaccination, recovery or a negative COVID-19 test. Please see the below section on children for further details. ....less

Our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, is on a mission to create positive change through the joy of travel, community and connection.

We know that as Intrepid travellers you like to travel differently – you travel with purpose and seek to leave a positive impact in the places you go.

It was this desire to give back and do more that sparked the creation of The Intrepid Foundation in 2002. The foundation allows Intrepid travellers and our wider travel community to support important causes around the world.

How we're making a difference
Intrepid operates in over 100 countries, so when it comes to choosing new foundation partners, we’re backed by local know-how. Our Intrepid people on the ground identify where change is needed and carefully select partners in their local areas who are making it happen. We cover the admin costs so that 100% of donations go directly to our partners on the ground. Plus, to double your impact, we dollar-match all our travellers post-trip donations. Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has raised over AUD 15.5 million and supported more than 160 communities around the world. ....less

Responsible travel is about the attitude you take and the choices you make.
It's about choosing to respect and benefit the local people, their cultures, economies and the environment. While it’s up to all of us to be conscientious globetrotting individuals, Intrepid makes it easier by building responsible travel fundamentals into each and every one of our trips. When you hit the road with us, you leave lighter footprints, invest your travel dollars in local communities, show respect and curiosity for different cultures and traditions, and experience genuine connections with the people you meet along the way.

Intrepid’s top 10 responsible travel tips
Before leaving home learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting – the language, religion and culture, the local rules and values.
Learn what’s appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of ‘saving face” in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient – you'll meet local people and get to know the place.
Think first. It’s best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic or development project may be more constructive.
Leave only footprints…take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say ‘No’ to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
After returning home think how you can support programs and organisations (like those The Intrepid Foundation work with) that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you’ve been lucky to visit. ....less

Leave only footprints
In 2005, Intrepid’s co-founder Darrell was sitting under a tree in the African savanna when it hit him: his company and all the travellers that we take around the world were contributing significantly to the planet's carbon emissions. At the time Intrepid was considered to be a leader in responsible tourism, but he realised that the travel industry had a long way to go when it comes to minimising our environmental footprint. That realisation kicked off an effort to measure, reduce and offset the emissions generated by our trips, travellers and offices. By 2010, Intrepid had evolved to meet the carbon measurement requirements of Climate Active and gain their carbon-neutrality certification in 2018. ....less

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Safe and responsible travel, always.

As we get back on the road, we want to ensure our trips remain safe for everyone — for our travellers, our leaders and crew, and the people we visit along the way.

We're following recommendations from the World Health Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators. All our itineraries undergo a comprehensive risk assessment and audit, with our leaders and suppliers completing COVID-19 health and safety training.

We've also introduced a testing and vaccination policy for everyone's safety. See our FAQs for more details.

At Intrepid, the safety of our travellers, leaders and operators is a major priority.

Since our very first days as a tour operator, travelling responsibly and safely has been at the heart of everything we do. With this in mind, we monitor world events very closely. Intrepid makes operational decisions based on informed advice from a number of sources.

Travel advisories

Intrepid follows government travel advisories from our key traveller markets when making decisions about operating trips in destinations. As the advice may differ depending on your location, it is important to consult your own local foreign travel advisory when considering if travel to a destination is permitted or appropriate for you.

How we monitor safety on our trips

We constantly monitor global issues, ensuring we have an in-depth understanding of the areas we visit. With multiple operational offices around the world in a variety of destinations, Intrepid has access to real-time safety updates and information within the countries we travel to. These staff are available to provide support to travellers on the ground if required.

Flexible bookings for peace of mind.

We understand that plans change. That’s why, when you book with us, you have the flexibility to change your travels and re-book when it suits you.

Full refunds for cancelled trips for UK & European customers.

If we're unable to run your trip due to COVID-19, you’ll automatically receive a credit of the monies paid to Intrepid (excluding any third-party costs such as flights or insurance).

We understand this is an uncertain time and it might be a while before you're ready to travel again, so there’s no expiry on this credit.

Not interested in a credit? You can request a full refund instead. This policy is only applicable to our UK and European customers.
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Create positive change through the joy of travel.


That's our mission. It’s been on a journey, while staying true to itself – just like us.
Since the very beginning we’ve seen travel as a force for good.

Over 30 years later, we’re super proud to call ourselves the world’s largest purpose-led adventure travel brand. We’re here to give back – and have a great time while doing it.

CLIMATE ACTION
Our purpose is to inspire, create, share and lead the best travel experiences ever – for both people and the planet. That's why we’ve been carbon-neutral since 2010, carbon offset all our trips, and have a seven-point commitment plan that supports our Climate Emergency declaration. We are the first global tour operator with verifiable science-based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative, to limit global warming to 1.5C in the next decade. We’re here to find solutions.

B CORP™ CERTIFICATION
We are the world’s largest travel B Corporation™. We’ve always been about balancing profit and purpose, and in 2018 we joined the B Corp™ community to certify our commitment to using business as a force for good.
It's an independent global stamp of approval of the work we already do – like evolving to be more inviting, inclusive, engaging and you-friendly with our new Ethical Marketing Guidelines. It's all backed up by our vision of changing the way we all see the world.

COMMUNITIES WE VISIT
Our purpose is totally tied to our product (that's our trips). We're all about sustainable, experience-rich travel. That means using our trips as a force for good, as well as good times. We're genuinely connected to and invested in the places we go, the people we meet along the way, and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience. We think globally, act locally, and engage personally.

From Community-based tourism to new experiences that support First Nations and Indigenous communities around the world, we’ve been retooling our itineraries to dial back the carbon and dial up the impact. With our legendary local leaders out front, we’re a global collective, local at heart. Get out there and see it.

THE INTREPID FOUNDATION
The Intrepid Foundation is our not-for-profit. We accelerate community-led sustainable development through travel, enabling our partners to solve global issues locally. With our travellers’ help, it’s contributed more than AU $12 million to over 130 community organisations since 2002. ....less

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The year was 1988… While most of the world wasted their time dreaming of hoverboard-mounted lasers, joining wild pyramid schemes and listening to Milli Vanilli, two mates from Melbourne spurned these distractions and instead turned their youthful, entrepreneurial beards toward the thing they loved the most – travel.

Darrell and Manch were their names and adventuring was – lucky for us – their game.

Perhaps inspired by the impending release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the pair decided to up the ante on their adventuring and set off for the wilds of Africa.

Forgoing the comfort of an air-conditioned bus, they modified an ex-council truck and crammed it with friends, supplies, a handful of aviator sunglasses and a case or two of beer. It was to be the greatest road trip since Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, which had come out a few months earlier.

At some point during the trip, Darrell and Manch took off their flap-back sunhats and put on their world-changing sombreros.
'Hang on', they most likely said, their mouths only just visible beneath their robust facial hair, 'could this type of travel be something others would be interested in?'

Yep, just like Dr Jones, the pair had seemingly stumbled upon the holy grail of travel, and thankfully their attention spans were longer than their tiny, tiny shorts. Intrepid was formed not long after.

The rest, as they say, is history. Today, Intrepid runs more than 1,000 itineraries across the globe and employs more than 1,500 staff and leaders (many of whom don’t even have beards). And while Indiana Jones got bored of travelling after only three adventures (we don’t talk about the fourth), Intrepid is still adding to our list of itineraries across Europe, Asia, Africa, North & South America, the Middle East, Australia and both the Arctic & Antarctica. ....less