Active adventure tours & trips

You don’t need to be a super athlete! Only a general level of health and fitness is needed to make the most of the experience. The physical level of activities does differ between trips and it is important to read the itinerary in detail to understand what level of exercise is involved. For instance, some of the trips deliver a great cardio workout (like cycling the mountains trails of Andorra) while others will be less demanding.

If you’re not sure if you’re able to participate on any of our trips, visit your doctor to see if you’re in a healthy shape to fully enjoy the activities included.

None of our Active Adventures are overly technical and you won’t need any previous training or experience to participate. However most of our trips will include a combination of hiking, cycling and water-based activities. You will need to have some basic skills to fully participate in these, such as being able to pedal a bike or swim a short distance.

While training is not necessary, some of our trips can involve multiple days of hiking and it’s generally a good idea to start training, such as walking more at home or undertaking regular cardio exercise, prior to these trips.

You bet. Safety is the first priority on all our trips. This means we conduct safety assessments on all our activities whether they’re included or offered as optional extras. All of our safety assessments are conducted in accordance with national and local laws, as well as our own internal safety standards.

We provide full safety briefings for all our activities and usually allow a chance to practice before diving into the real thing. We also regularly check the equipment we use to make sure it meets safety standards.

All activities are led by our experienced and qualified leaders, or by local guides who might be experts in a particular activity. Whether it’s cycling, trekking or kayaking, our leaders live for the outdoors and will be able to introduce you to their favourite hobbies.

While the fun activities we include on our Active Adventures are a focus of our trips, we still feature the same local interactions and real life experiences that are a hallmark of the Intrepid experience. Our aim is to help you discover new places in a new way while still learning about the culture and its people.

We give our travellers flexibility to choose which activities they’d like to be part of. So while we include a heap of inclusions on our tours, you also have freedom to choose. If you like mountain biking and would like to spend another day polishing your skills, we’ll give you the option to do just that. If you are really keen on walking, we can show you the best walks to try during free time too.

The beauty of our Active Adventures is their ability to adapt to the landscape of each country. One day you’ll be walking up volcanoes in Italy, cycling around the fairytale chimmneys of Goreme in Turkey, or snorkelling with seals around the Galapagos Islands. Wherever possible we include unique activities tailored for the region you are visiting, making the most of the special opportunities each country provides.

The majority of our Active Adventures include two key activities: hiking and biking. These may come in different forms, from an easy hike on flat terrain to multi-day trekking featuring overnight camping, or short city cycling tours to full mountain biking expeditions. Make sure to read the itinerary for full details on how much hiking and biking will be involved, as well as the Essential Trip Information provided.

Water-based activities are included in almost every itinerary we offer. This mostly takes the form of rafting or kayaking. Rafting activities will usually take place on Grade II and Grade III rapids and you should feel comfortable in the water, including a basic level of swimming ability, before participating. We provide full safety briefings before each rafting excursion. Our kayaking activities may take place at sea or in rivers but either way we will provide full safety briefings and all necessary safety equipment.

No. There is no compulsory equipment on any of the trips, however it is always important to check the packing list for each particular itinerary. There may be items we suggest you bring with you, such as cycling gloves (that may come useful on other activities like zip-lining too!), gel seats, hiking boots, day packs or water shoes. Check the packing list of your trip for a full list, including what clothing and footwear might be needed. Cycling helmets are always provided as well as other safety equipment.

One thing to consider is packing a sleeping bag on trips involving overnight trekking. For instance, our trips in Madagascar require travellers to bring a sleeping bag with them.

We take care of all the little details so you can focus on tackling that next climb or paddling those rapids. We transport your main luggage for you while you are trekking, cycling or taking part in any other activity. We recommend carrying a day pack to hold some essential items from day to day, such as your sun screen, camera, water bottle, snacks and all the other items you may need for the day.

Because of the active nature of our trips, we require all travellers to hold an appropriate level of insurance coverage prior to their departure. This includes coverage for included and optional activities on your tour. Most insurance providers will covers all the activities we offer on our trips, however it is important you read your product information summary (or equivalent insurance policy document) carefully to ensure you are covered.  

When reviewing your insurance coverage, keep an eye out for included activities such as Via Ferrata, rafting and high altitude trekking (checking what exact altitude you are covered for is essential). If you have problems finding insurance, please contact our team for further advice.

We choose to stay at small, locally-owned accommodation wherever possible. You can expect clean, charming lodgings run by friendly staff willing to take you in at the end of a big day. Some of our included activities will take us deep into the jungle or high up in to the mountains, where we may stay in basic accommodation. It might be a homestay in a bamboo hut in Thailand, a traditional teahouse in the Himalayas or a Maori marae in New Zealand.

On trips involving multi-day trekking, rafting or canoeing excursions, expect to camp out before continuing your expedition the next day. This is fully supported camping where tents are put up and down for you, meals are freshly prepared and basic washing facilities are provided.