Intrepid Travel

Highlights

• Chill out in the cultural mixed bag of Hoi An and hit up the local beach, cycle through rice paddies or get some sweet threads tailor-made. Then, pick your own ingredients for lunch during a garden-to-table experience with a local chef. 
• Who'd have thought green seas and giant mossy rocks could be so pretty? Take in the views of Lan Ha Bay by kayak as you explore the limestone islands during your visit to Cat Ba Island. 
• Cycle around the ancient temples and expansive fields in Nin Binh – a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. With loads of free time, you can hike to Mua Cave or take a boat down in Tam Coc to the nearby caves.  
• A homestay in rural Sambor Prei Kuk puts you right in the heart of everyday village life in Cambodia – cycle through the village for the best perspective and see locals working the rice fields or getting stuck into handicrafts. 
• See the sunrise over the incredible Angkor complex and take a guided Tuk-tuk tour of all the best sites (including Angkor Wat and jungle-covered Ta Prohm) with a company focused on employing local women in the community.   

Highlights

• Explore stunning landscapes, villages, towns and cities, immersing yourself in the culture of Split, Bled, Zadar, Rovinj and Motovun, and island hop out to Brac and Korcula.
• Hunt for your own truffles, sip on glasses of local wine, taste cured meats and cheeses iconic to their regions, indulge in the finest ocean-fresh seafood and the world’s best oysters and savour local deserts that will set your tastebuds alight.
• Dine with a local family in the village of Rakovica, experiencing a slice of life in Croatia and enjoying a home-cooked local dish.  
• Learn how to make traditional Croatian delicacies like soparnik and zrnovo makaruni, before cooking and eating your creations.
• Meet the people who create and produce regional delicacies across Slovenia and Croatia, from olive farmers to Benedictine nuns who grow fresh fruits and vegetables in their nunnery. 

Highlights

• Uncover the wonders of Sao Miguel on a day tour of the island, from plantations of tea and pineapples to an active volcano and some truly memorable viewpoints.
• Step out for a spectacular hike around the Caldeira Santo Cristo on Sao Jorge Island – the cinematic views of the island’s colourful and diverse landscape are sure to stop you in your tracks.
• Check out the lava tunnels on Pico Island, visit a family-owned distillery and learn about life on the island over a tasting of their products and be amazed by the stunning UNESCO-listed landscape of Pico's vineyards.
• Travel to the island of Faial, visit the island's resident volcano, Capelinhos, and learn about how its last eruption in 1957 dramatically changed the landscape of the island.
• Experience a lunch like no other – a ‘Cozido das Furnas’ is a delicious stew cooked underground by steam from a volcano.

Highlights

• With a maximum group size of only eight people, you'll have the opportunity to have a real personal experience of this often visited (but seldom truly explored) destination.
• Visit a remote tribal village in the New Caledonian foothills and see what it’s like to live among the local Kanak tradition. Learn the lifestyle and customs of these communities and spend the night in a traditional fare house.
• New Caledonian beaches are the stuff of dreams. Go snorkelling and swimming on the lagoons of Poe Beach – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and see the highlights of Bourail, like Turtle Bay and Nera Beach.
• Gaze in awe at the diverse landscapes of this island nation, from the mighty Kaori trees in the Blue River National Park to lush rainforest and endemic plant species in the Giant Fern Park near Farino.
• Your leader has got you front of mind to ensure you get the best out of your stay. Learn about the region's cultures, traditions and way of living as you travel along the coast and get the low-down from someone who lives and breathes New Caledonia.

Highlights

• Central Asia is a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and striving to redefine nations post independence. Geographically and for a time historically, it is the real centre of Asia
• The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums
• Experience for yourself the legend that is Central Asian hospitality - there's really nothing like being welcomed into a local home or yurt for a meal, chatting with stall holders at bazaars or simply marvelling at the sights alongside locals
• Kyrgyzstans mountains are its monuments and its majesty. The landscapes here will stay with you long after the journey is over
• Marvel at the beautiful Son-Kol Lake, where in mid-summer you may see flocks of sheep, goats and herds of horses watched over by nomadic herdsmen and their families

Highlights

• Take part in punting – a truly timeless, quintessentially Oxford pleasure that will see you floating along the idyllic waters of this university city, seeing the beautiful architecture and gardens from the perspective of a boat (or punt).
• Spend a day exploring arguably the most beautiful and most British countryside – the Cotswolds. Explore the sleepy villages, walk through endless fields and taste some of the best ales in the neighbourhood.
• Discover cities Cardiff in Wales and Liverpool in England with leader-led walking tours, the best way to discover the city! In Cardiff, explore Dr Who filming locations and in Liverpool, tune in to everything The Beatles.
• Walk the famous Lon Gwyrfai path in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), and explore the rolling hills, woodlands and picturesque villages. Then, travel to the mountainous landscape of Lake District National Park, taking a relaxing walk along Lake Windermere.
• With Edinburgh Castle overlooking your every step, walk the winding streets of the Old Town and take a walking tour of the New Town Scotland’s artistic treasure – the birthplace of Harry Potter.

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in the communist past and vibrant present of Bucharest, a city often underrated by travellers
• Travel through the scenic Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, mingling with monks at the 10th-century Rila Monastery
• Breathe the crisp air on a hike and take in stunning view in the Pirin Mountain.
• Discover the incredible ancient and modern history of Turkey as you explore thousands of years of history hidden within the remarkable ruins of Ephesus and discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about the significant events that took place in this area.
• Taste local fruit wines in one of the best-preserved Greek Ottoman villages in the country. Get to know the friendly locals with a home-made lunch at a local family in Cappadocia.

Highlights

• Combine the best cycling, hiking and kayaking experiences that Otago has to offer from one central base in stunning Wanaka.
• Spend a morning hiking to the dramatic hanging glaciers beneath the towering Rob Roy Peak then kick back at a local winery where you’ll meet the winemaker and learn the local craft.
• Hike to a lake within an island in a lake on an island, looking out for rare birds and insects along the way, then cool off with a swim in crystal clear waters.
• Cycle a spectacular brand-new track along man-made wooden trails secured to the bottom of sheer rock faces – arguably the best bit of cycling trail in Otago!
• Experience the beauty of Lake Wanaka from a different perspective as you take a guided kayaking tour across its waters, surrounded by unforgettable mountain views.