comfort adventures - Intrepid Travel

comfort adventuresIntrepid Travel2008africa asia europe latin america middle east…real life experiences…

contentspg trip name trip code days lp* au$ † NZ$ †welcome to intrepid3 why travel Intrepid?5 Intrepid’s expert leaders7 about your trip9 responsible travel11 The Intrepid Foundationafrica36 bush & beyond UKD 9 ZAR1950 1915 231536 call of the kruger - lodge safari UAD 4 na 1145 133037 chobe & vic falls lodge safari UAE 4 na sgl1430 sgl1735na twin1345 twin163029 gorilla & chimpanzee lodge safari YAC 7 na sgl5410 sgl6550na twin4255 twin515027 kenya & tanzania lodge safari YKL 14 US$535 * 3625 439026 kenya lodge safari YKK 8 US$255 * 2190 265028 kilimanjaro marangu route YXM 7 US$435 1220 147535 kruger & two kingdoms UKJ 9 ZAR1950 2350 284531 madagascan beach break YAB 6 na sgl2230 sgl2700na twin2045 twin247531 mombasa beach break YAM 5 na sgl1080 sgl1310na twin815 twin99037 okavango delta lodge safari UAH 4 na sgl3065 sgl3710na twin2880 twin348532 southern africa encompassed UKG 21 ZAR5850 3260 394535 southern highlights UKC 14 ZAR3900 2330 281530 tanzania lodge safari YKT 7 US$310 * 2010 243034 the garden route UKK 13 ZAR3900 1330 161033 wild africa UKE 22 ZAR5850 3805 460531 zanzibar exotic spice island YAS 5 na sgl1640 sgl1985na twin1125 twin1365asia70 bhutan NKB 9 US$100 2960 358055 classic cambodia KKS 6 US$100 785 95061 classic china CKB 12 US$300 1900 230068 classic kerala HKS 12 INR10000 1355 164062 comfort yunnan CKY 9 US$150 1275 154553 essence of indochina VKU 18 US$550 2465 298567 food lovers india HKT 15 INR10000 1900 230063 food lovers japan JKT 14 ¥22000 3265 395055 food lovers vietnam VKG 15 US$200 1615 195560 grand china CKL 21 US$450 3025 366071 highlights of nepal in style NAH 8 na sgl2020 sgl2445na twin1315 twin159563 highlights of tokyo & kyoto JAZ 7 na sgl3670 sgl4445na twin2525 twin306065 india experience HKZ 21 INR25000 2435 294554 indochina experience KKH 20 US$300 2125 257566 north india highlights HKH 10 INR15000 1425 175564 rajasthan experience HKR 15 INR10000 1895 229571 royal nepal NAP 10 na sgl1775 sgl2150na twin1265 twin1535pg trip name trip code days lp* au$ † NZ$ †asia cont’d57 spirit of south-east asia MKT 17 US$100 1790 216558 timeless thailand TKK 10 THB4250 1025 124062 trans-tibetan express FAT 8 na sgl2100 sgl2545LP* : Local PaymentAU$ †/ NZ$ † : prices shown are a ‘from’ price only* : Plus Park/Permit Feesna twin1515 twin183558 truly malaysia MKP 8 US$100 1115 135052 vietnam experience VKT 15 US$200 1465 177562 yangshuo cooking school CAY 5 na sgl470 sgl57069 south asia Independent trips56 indochina Independent trips59 south-east asia Independent tripseurope & the middle eastna twin330 twin40015 a taste of italy ZKF 15 €300 3180 383018 central europe highlights WKA 8 €150 1810 218021 classic egypt EAC 8 na sgl1655 sgl2005na twin1285 twin155514 classic europe AKR 15 €300 3625 436516 comfort central europe WKD 15 €300 3575 430522 comfort morocco XKP 14 €300 1500 180520 comfort turkey RKP 15 €300 1350 163018 croatia and slovenia WKB 8 €150 2045 246021 egypt experience EKI 12 US$200 1595 192523 independent essaouira XAE 4 na sgl1050 sgl1210na twin570 twin65523 independent marrakech XAM 5 na sgl655 sgl755na twin415 twin47519 lucca apartment rental ZAL 8 na 880 105523 moroccan spice XAB 8 na sgl1840 sgl2105na twin1030 twin117519 prague city break WAP 5 na 413 46917 europe Independent tripslatin america41 a taste of costa rica QKR 9 US$200 1255 151041 captivating cuba QKA 8 CUC195 1400 168545 classic ecuador GKE 8 US$200 955 115047 galapagos adventure - 6 days GSH 6 US$400 1610 194047 galapagos adventure - 7 days GSG 7 US$400 1960 236547 galapagos adventure - 10 days GSF 10 US$400 2790 336544 inca encounter GKY 9 US$300 1385 166543 majestic peru GKP 15 US$400 1910 230540 mayan discovery QKC 15 US$300 2270 273545 peru jungle lodge GAN 5 na sgl1960 sgl2355na twin1895 twin227542 peruvian pathways GKI 13 US$400 1930 232549 rhythms of the south - northbound GKB 8 US$400 1300 156548 spirit of the south - eastbound GKR 15 US$500 2690 324049 torres del paine extension GAA 6 na sgl1265 sgl1520na twin1165 twin1400Cover: Intrepid Photography Competition 2007, Secret within the veils, India - Samir Madhukar Mohite

welcome to…Intrepid ComfortThere’s no need to rough it to have a real life experience. Intrepid Comfort Adventures are yourstyle of travel if you want the whole grassroots experience with a softer landing. You’ll stay insuperior style hotels and guesthouses and on many trips you’ll travel on private transport. Youmay choose to wake up in a hilltribe village by the Mekong Delta, stroll along coastlines bathedin Mediterranean sun, enjoy tea with a maharajah in a Rajasthani palace, follow in the footstepsof the Incas to Machu Picchu or come face to face with a magnificent beast or three in Africa.A lot can happenin 20 years. In 1988I was travellingacross Africa withManch and abunch of friends.As the kilometres rolled by wedeveloped the idea of Intrepid; smallgroups of people exploring the worldthe way we were, at the grassrootslevel. While we weren’t sure whatto name the company, we certainlyknew what values it would hold dear.The trips would be about meetinglocal people in an atmosphere ofrespect and experiencing theirculture without dominating it. By1989 Intrepid Travel was born, withjust 2 staff, 1 destination and only47 travellers!Little did we know that 20 yearslater we would be taking around80,000 travellers to over 100 countriesaround the globe every year. Perhapsthe most remarkable thing is thatdespite our growth, our philosophyon travel hasn’t changed one bit. Westill believe that the best way toexperience a country is to get closeto it and experience it in all its glory.After 20 years of creating theseamazing journeys, it’s hard for us topick our favourites, especially whencomparing ancient civilizations withwild safaris and sumptuous feasts.This brochure, however, presentsa selection of our journeys that wethink are very special. They’re allwithin the Intrepid ComfortAdventure range and offer real lifeexperiences with a ‘softer landing’.So relax, read on and get inspired foryour own real life experiences. Enjoy!Darrell WadeIntrepid CEO & Co-founder1

eal life experiences…As nice as it would be, few of us get to travel asmuch as we’d like. So when you do manage to breakaway and hit the road, it’s important to make themost of your journey and have what we like to callincredible real life experiences.Real life experiences are those moments youknow you’re really alive and experiencing somethingspecial. While it could be the instant you see one ofthe world’s great icons for the first time, it is morelikely to be the moment you find yourself practicingtai chi in a village square, being treated to a homecookedmeal by your new local friends or sharinga laugh with your fellow travellers as you try out anew mode of transport … an elephant jungle safarianyone? These unexpected moments are whattravelling is all about, and give you a holiday likeno other.In this year’s brochure we’ve included some of ourfavourite real life experiences for each region. Thesehighlights come straight from the minds of ourknowledgeable leaders and are just a taste of theamazing experiences waiting for you. Get inspiredand keep a look out for them and some greatIndependent add-ons.experience. Intrepid Comfortant the whole grassroots experiencerior style hotels and guesthousesansport. You may choose to wake, stroll along coastlines bathed inajah in a Rajasthani palace, followu or come face to face with a2

comfort adventure factsreal travel… with a softer landingsmall groups, real experiencesWe think the smaller the group, the better the experience.That’s why we limit the numbers on our Comfort Adventuresto just 12 people. In fact most of our journeys average just10 travellers. Travelling in such a small group is a bit liketravelling with a group of friends − you just haven’t metthem yet. It also means you get to experience more of thelocal culture, something that’s not always possible in a largergroup or by yourself. As a small group, we don’t dominate;you can actually get to know the people you meet and you’remore likely to be asked to join in, not just to buy stuff.freedom & flexibilitySometimes people hesitate to travel in a group, for fear ofbeing shepherded from one place to another, losing theopportunity to do their own thing. While Intrepid ComfortAdventures have many included activities, there is also plenty offree time for you to be spontaneous and explore what, when andhow you choose. Your leader will have plenty of great ideason what to see and do, leaving you with the convenience oftravelling in a group but the freedom to do as you choose.home away from homeWhere you stay is all a part of your Intrepid experience andsomething we put a lot of thought into. While you maynot be staying in deluxe hotels, Comfort Adventures offera superior level of accommodation that really captures theessence of a location. You could find yourself in anythingfrom the colourful painted havelis of Rajasthan to a wellappointedlodge in the heart of Africa or a simple apartmentin Tuscany. You may even find yourself the guest of a localfamily - getting a real insight into local life. Plus, solo travellershave the choice of paying a single supplement or sharingwith someone of the same gender.it’s all in the journeyHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself. That’swhy Intrepid adventures come with all mannerof weird and wonderful transport options. Onmost Intrepid Comfort Adventures you’ll travel inprivate vehicles although you’re as likely to findyourself paddling a kayak as relaxing on a cruisedown the Yangzi River. On many occasions you’llfind yourself joining the locals on an overnighttrain ride or zooming through their streets on atuk tuk. You may even ride a camel in the desert,a bicycle in Tuscany or float on a traditional junk,cruising through the majestic islands of HalongBay - it’s all part of the adventure!real valueAlthough your Comfort Adventure is fantasticvalue for money, what you’ll get from yourjourney is much more than just a great pricedadventure. The local knowledge that guides youis invaluable. You’ll eat in restaurants not foundin any guide book, stay in accommodation thatreally captures the spirit of the place and you’lljoin locals in their temples, markets and even theirhomes. The real value of travelling with Intrepidis that you’ll take home many unforgettableexperiences you can only find with local knowledge.innovative & interactive itinerariesOur trips are designed to give you so much morethan just a tour of the sights − there’s a newadventure everyday. From the amazing placesyou’ll visit, to the fascinating people you’ll meet,the activities you’ll be a part of and even theaccommodation you use; our trips are all designedto give you an insight into the real world, and havesome incredible experiences along the way.Previous page: Tea seller, Istanbul. Turkey - Cameron GazeLeft: Camel ride, Egypt - Sally Johnson3

eal life experiences…“I really cannot thank Intrepid enough for such a remarkabletrip; eye-opening, breathtaking and awe-inspiring, all in thecompany of a fantastic bunch of people. I shall be boringpeople with talk of it for years to come.”Nicholas Johns, travelled in Comfort

Intrepid leadersbehind every great Intrepid trip is agreat Intrepid leader…leading the wayBehind every great Intrepid trip is a great Intrepidleader. Their enthusiasm, versatility and knowledge oflocal culture is second to none − in most cases becausethey’re taking you round their home country! In fact,85% of our leaders are local. Others are westernerswith an urge to share their passion for travelling inforeign lands. Every one of them is the reason whyso many travellers return to us year after year. Insome destinations you’ll have the added bonus ofbeing accompanied by a local guide with specialisedknowledge on the history, culture or importance of yourdestination. We’d like to say our leaders and guidesare our unsung heroes, but there seems to be plentyof Intrepid travellers out there singing their praises. Infact, 5 of our leaders were nominated for WanderlustMagazine’s Paul Morrison Guide Awards in 2007!who are they?Intrepid leaders come from all walks of life, they’reteachers, accountants and we’ve even had a circusperformer or two! The recruitment process is fairlyinvolved, to make sure we get the person with the skills,knowledge and passion. Real life experiences are verymuch a part of the interview process. Then, if theymake it through the interview, it’s time for somerigorous training.There are two parts to leader training. First, they learnthe theory of running trips including managing groupdynamics, keeping groups safe and responsible travel.Only the trainees who pass are accepted into the team.These new team members then head out on the roadwith an experienced leader and a group of travellers toget an in-depth look at how it all comes together. Bythe time the training is complete they’re raring to go.experience Intrepid’s world…family adventuresafrica borneo cambodia china egypt france & more…2008real life experiences…travel for people who want to leave their world behindwww.intrepidtravel.comLeft: Intrepid Photography Competition 2007, Rug vendor, Guatemala - Hayley Anderson5

eal life experiences…“Brilliant trip - so many memories! We did things that wouldhave been impossible to do without our guide’s “ insiderknowledge” and it was so much more fun in a small group!”David Nicholson, travelled in Comfort

the facts about your tripimportant information about travellingwith Intrepidguaranteed departuresBecause of our small group sizes, we’re able to guaranteedepartures for almost all of our trips. Unlike other operators,we generally run trips on a ‘maximum number’ basis, not aminimum. So unless minimum numbers are specified, onceyou have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is on!local paymentMost of our trips involve a local payment that is collected byyour leader on day one of your trip. The local payment will beheld by the leader and disbursed for your benefit in acquiringincidental in-country services. Further details and informationon your local payment are shown in our website and in thetrip notes. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds to localsuppliers in countries that we travel through, keeping ourprices competitive and in turn, we pass our cost savings on toyou.multiple trip discountThere’s nothing quite like beating those post-adventure bluesby heading out on another trip. Each Intrepid traveller whobooks three trips or more for themselves in the same booking,will receive a 5% discount off the total trip price (someexclusions do apply).Find out more at www.intrepidtravel.com/multitriphow was it?We think all our trips are fantastic, but naturally you’ll want toknow what past travellers think of us. Find out by checking theTraveller Rating of each trip in the Trip Facts Box. At the endof every trip, we ask our travellers to complete a survey. Thekey question ‘How would you rate your overall experience?’is used to determine the Traveller Rating, which is simply anaverage of all the scores given to this question. You can alsohead to our website where unedited (and unbiased) feedbackis published for every trip.Physical gradings...You'll find the physical grading under the travelstyle logo. This indicates how much physicalactivity is required of you on the trip − fromnone at all (unless you feel like it) to 8+ hours aday hiking or biking up mountains. It also tellsyou how fit you need to be to enjoy it. ComfortAdventures usually range from easy andcomfortable, this is a relaxing break;to , a journey with inclusive activities −such as walking and kayaking − that only requirebasic fitness and a tolerance of hot weather.Intrepid’s other journeys range all the way toonly for the seriously fit, ‘happy torough it’ crowd who are ready for a high-altitudeadventure.culture shock gradings...You'll also find the culture shock grading underthe travel style logo for each trip. This gives you anidea of how much 'difference' you'll find − whetherthere's any familiar food available, whether you'llneed to adapt to the surroundings and localbehaviour as well as the kind of home comforts(if any) you can expect. Culture shock gradings onComfort Adventures usually range from littleor no adjustment required, western-style hotelsand English speaking guides; to , you canexpect the occasional cold shower or squat toilet,but you'll be pretty comfortable most of the time.Other Intrepid journeys range all the way totake-it-as-it-comes roughing it inplaces completely different from home.Left: Sacre Coeur, France - Sally Johnson7

eal life experiences…“Intrepid was exactly what I was hoping for. The mixbetween free time and planned activities was perfect.Since this was not a ‘nose to the bus window’ type of trip,it allowed us to not only see the sights, but to experiencethe heart and soul of the country.”Dawn Dawson, travelled in Comfort

esponsible traveltravel in a way that both respects andbenefits local people…responsible travel…Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitudewith us. That means travelling in a way that both respectsand benefits local people, their culture and the environment.We mostly take public transport, stay and eat in small-scale,locally-owned establishments, travel in small groups andspread the word of sustainable tourism wherever possible.And every year we evaluate each trip to ensure its compliancewith our Responsible Travel Code of Conduct. By takingthese small steps, we’re able to make a big difference. Andthat goes for the whole trip experience, too. Our travellershave the chance to meet local people and really get to knowtheir culture first hand. You’ll contribute directly to localeconomies and help develop cross-cultural understanding.In other words, enjoy a real life experience. In fact our wholeResponsible Travel philosophy starts with this brochure. Weuse paper from sustainable forests, and every year Intrepidstaff get together to plant hundreds of native trees.Part of our responsible travel commitment is to reduce ourimpact on climate change. Intrepid aims to become a carbonneutral company by the end of 2009. It’s a big goal, but withthe support of our staff and travellers we think we can do it.Find out more about how to be a responsible traveller atwww.intrepidtravel.com/responsibletravel5 tips for being a responsible traveller…q 3 Learn as much as you can about the country you’re visiting:its religion(s), values, customs and rules.3q Pay particular attention to appropriate behaviour, dress and3body language.q Learn some of the local language and don’t be afraid to use it3− even simply saying hello can help break the ice.q Always ask before taking photos of people and offer to send3copies if possible.q Treat the environment as if it were your own home.We’re incredibly proud of the awards wehave won in the past year and take it as asign that with the help of our travellers andour local friends, we’re on the right track tocreating sustainable and enriching travelexperiences...2007 WinnerPATA Gold AwardCorporate EnvironmentProgramme2007 FinalistAustralian NationalTravel Industry Awardsfor ExcellenceBest Tour Operator – International section.2007 WinnerThe British Travel AwardsMost environmentallyresponsible small tour operator.2006 WinnerResponsible Tourism AwardsBest Tour OperatorBest Tour Operator.2006 WinnerResponsible Tourism AwardsOverall Joint Winner.Left: Intrepid Photography Competition 2007, Geisha, Japan - Daniel Schwartz9

eal life experiences…“This trip exceeded all expectations - a lifetime of experiencein just 22 days. The use of local leaders enabled us to reallyunderstand the complex customs and religious beliefs thatmake this such a wonderful destination.”Elizabeth de Burgh, travelled in Comfort

Intrepid Foundationcreate lasting benefits…see the world, then change it…Travel can be an enormously enriching experience, givingyou very special and long lasting memories. Now you havean opportunity to give something lasting back to your traveldestination. In 2002, Intrepid Travel established The IntrepidFoundation, providing travellers with an opportunity to givesomething back to the many wonderful communities wetravel to. By donating to The Intrepid Foundation, travellerssupport community organisations and projects in healthcare, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainabledevelopment and environmental and wildlife protection.Since The Foundation’s creation we have disbursed overAU$1 million to a variety of long-term charitable programmes.You could help us contribute even more. For every dollaryou give, we’ll match it − and guarantee that 100% of yourdonation reaches your nominated programme (because wecover all administration costs). Find out more and make adonation at www.theintrepidfoundation.orgtwo ways you can help…By donating to The Intrepid Community Project Fundyou’re supporting the grassroots work of non-governmentorganisations that are making a valuable contribution to thelocal community. These include many small organisations youmay visit during your Intrepid adventure.Donations to The Intrepid Perpetual Support Fund aredivided equally each year. Half is retained in the account toconserve and grow capital for the future and half is put intoan annual grants pool, supporting a number of well-knownand respected international non-government organisations.Find out more and make a donation atwww.theintrepidfoundation.orgSpring Bud Plan, ChinaThe Spring Bud Plan is apublic service that assistsgirls from China’s poorerareas to return to school. Due to uneven socialand cultural development, there are still manyilliterate young Chinese, and two thirds of themare girls. The girls usually drop out due to familyfinancial difficulties. Spring Bud gives them theresources to return. Spring Bud Plan issupported by The Intrepid Foundation.animal care in egyptOn the outskirts of Luxor isthe Animal Care hospital,working to rehabilitatemistreated donkeys, camels and other animals.It also aims to educate local people on appropriateanimal care. You’ll be able to get an upclose look at the good work that ACE is doing,on our Egypt adventures. ACE is supported byThe Intrepid Foundation.nochlezhka, russiaFive times a week twospecially equipped mini vanstravel through St Petersburgstopping to give up to 150 senior citizens,homeless adults and children a hot meal. Theyalso provide clean clothes and medical care.Specialised social workers are also on hand toprovide help to the children. Nochlezhka issupported by The Intrepid Foundation.amani children’s homeAmani Children’s Home isa small non-governmental,not-for-profit organisationthat runs a residential homefor orphans and street-children at the base ofMt Kilimanjaro. You can visit Amani on many ofour trips through Tanzania. Amani is supportedby The Intrepid Foundation.Left: A perfect way to view the wildlife - Intrepid Travel11