Add a twist to your travel stories with these all-new, out-there trips and experiences.
Sometimes, there are bundles of thought and reasoning that go into choosing your next adventure. And sometimes, it’s as simple as asking ‘why not?’. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to swim in a pink-coloured lake in Senegal? Or learn how locals make their yurts in rural Kyrgyzstan?
Going beyond the usual is the Intrepid way – so here’s how you can do exactly that in 2025.
1. Uncover the sounds and sights of Senegal
What springs to mind when you think of West Africa? If you said lively jazz bars and striking pink lakes, we’re on the same page – and you can experience that natural beauty and cultural richness for yourself on the new 12-day Senegal & The Gambia Adventure. Visit the aptly named Pink Lake, where you can choose to take a dip in the brightly-coloured water, before spending the night in Saint Louis – a World Heritage site where jazz rhythms and melodies resonate through the lively streets.
2. Hop on over to the island of Hokkaido
Japan holds a huge draw for many travellers, but few choose to head north. This all-new Northern Japan & Hokkaido Adventure looks to shed new light on the country’s rich tapestry of culture, history and natural beauty. Experience a slice of this during a visit to the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Museum and learn about the rich culture of Ainu people – an Indigenous group from the northern regions of Japan. After, get familiar with Ainu food during a cooking demonstration showcasing Ainu dumplings (and then sample some for yourself).
3. Listen to myths under Greenland’s midnight sun
Usually, exploring such a remote corner of Earth would be a story in and of itself – but not for travellers on the new Greenland Expedition. Once you’ve gotten your bearings in Nuuk, you’ll get to meet a local monster hunter and storyteller. Settle in and hear all about local legends and mythological creatures like the Mother of the Sea, the Mountain Walker and many others, as well as where your storyteller’s interest in monsters began. Later, once you get into the raw and wild landscapes, the stories will all start to make sense…
4. Gain a new appreciation for the afterlife in Ghana
‘Going out in style’ is given a whole new meaning on this new Benin, Togo & Ghana Adventure. In Accra, you’ll get to meet the fantasy coffin makers who build elaborate coffins to represent the profession, dreams or even vices of the deceased. Ancestors are believed to wield great power, so honouring them with a grand coffin – called okadi adekai in the local Ga dialect – is a way to earn favour. Combine that with a Vodun ceremony, which showcases the traditional spiritual practices taken to the Americas by enslaved Africans.
5. Meet the yurt craftsmen of Kyrgyzstan
Take yourself off the typical tourist track and weave your way along the Silk Road (with all the added extras) on a new 9-day Premium Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan trip. As you go, you’ll get to meet local artisans keeping traditional crafts alive. In Kyzyk Tuu village, for example, yurt makers will show you how they make these iconic structures without electrical tools – then that night, you’ll get to experience their creations up close as you stay in a comfortable yurt camp.
6. Find the hidden gems of Georgia and Armenia
Georgia and Armenia hardly leap out as peoples’ first choice as a holiday destination. For others, though, that’s exactly the point. This new Georgia & Armenia Explorer trip will help you experience the often-overlooked natural landscapes and welcoming, local people of these two neighbouring nations. A visit to the Arpa Protected Landscape will show you the best of both – on a guided hike, learn how the locals protect the flora and fauna, including the rare Caucasian leopard, Armenian mouflon, European lynx, brown bears and bezoar goats.
7. Set up camp (literally) in Alaska’s landscapes
Alaska’s home to all sorts of adventures, and on this new eight-day Hiking the Great Land of Alaska trip, you can get even closer to the action. You’ll kayak along Homer’s impressive coastal scenery, stay right in among it all as you set up camp each night in Alaska’s varied landscapes, and hike through forests of alder and cottonwoods to the Harding Icefield – seeing the ice stretch toward the horizon while hearing about the impacts of climate change in the region.
8. Hear the stories of Saudia Arabia’s intrepid women
While the eagle-eyed among us would’ve spotted the new Saudi Arabia Women’s Expedition going live in 2024, 2025 marks its first full offering of departures. Designed with women across all elements of the adventure, you’ll spend 12 days with a group of like-minded women, led by a female local leader. You’ll meet a variety of local women, each of whom will give you an insider’s perspective on Saudi history and culture while sharing their own personal stories. Other highlights include a sunrise visit to Hegra, a Nabataean site that serves as a lesser-known alternative to Petra.
9. Tuck into baursaki in Turkmenistan
Isolated geographically and long secluded politically, there are few places on Earth like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. But, with this new experience on the Tashkent to Ashgabat trip, you’ll get a chance to learn about daily life straight from a local. Visit a horse breeder’s farm for a cooking demonstration of baursaki, then sit down with your host to enjoy some of the fried-dough treats as you learn about his family and his passion for Akhal-Teke horses. This breed of horse is specific to the region and has a reputation for its speed, endurance, intelligence and distinctive metallic sheen.
10. Visit villages and valleys in Vietnam
Vietnam might be one of Intrepid’s most-loved and most-visited destinations, but there’s always more to explore. A new homestay on the Best of Vietnam trip proves this, as travellers will get to spend two nights in the stilted houses of Lam Thuong. By day there are chances to bike ride through the village and the valley, passing rice fields and learning about the local’s day to day life, as well as a visit a local handicraft workshop to learn about bamboo weaving, natural dyeing and how the locals make Tay hats.
11. Get a firsthand account of El Salvador’s history
Suchitoto is widely considered El Salvador’s cultural capital, but its tranquil lakeside setting belies a formative chapter of its – and the country’s – history. On Nicaragua & Beyond, you’ll get the chance to learn about this on a newly included visit to the bordering Cinquera Forest. Meet a former guerilla fighter to learn about the forest’s significance during the Salvadoran Civil War, see the former camps and take a tour around the small mountain community. Dinner will round out the day of learning, with a hands-on cooking class of pupusas – a thick cake or flatbread made with cornmeal or rice flour.
Find out what else is new for 2025 with The Goods.
