Our leaders
The best folk to show you the heart of a destination are the ones that live there
That’s why we work exclusively with locally-based leaders. And our leaders aren’t just tour guides; they’re your enthusiastic purveyors of grassroots experiences.
Working with local leaders creates jobs within communities and supports the local economy while giving travellers the opportunity to learn about culture from the ones who know it best.
While working with local leaders is a major cornerstone of our business, we believe there’s always more we can do. That’s why we established The Intrepid Foundation, which supports initiatives across four key focus areas: protecting the environment, advocating for wildlife, addressing inequality and empowering communities.
Meet our leaders
‘What I love most about Intrepid is the family-like environment. I love to teach travellers simple Vietnamese phrases with a smile to help them connect with locals, we stick together as a group—like a "sticky rice family."'
'At this job, I get to show all the wonders of Peru... but also the idea of being part of the memories of people feels amazing. I do believe that the best way to get to know a country is through its food, and we are in the country with the most variety of gastronomy. I love to tell the history behind every dish or product.'
'I love to stop in the upper part of the highlands of Guatemala and enjoy the landscape of Lake Atitlan, my home area. While travelling, we see places where locals are selling fruits and we end up eating passion fruit, sugar apples, and other fruits of the highlands.'
Meet Robina from Nepal:
‘There are fewer opportunities for women in Nepal. People say women can’t do it because they’re too weak or have too many problems. But when they see us out on the trail, carrying the bags and working hard, their minds change. That makes me feel so proud of what we’re doing.’
We’re committed to increasing employment opportunities for women globally. In parts of the world where societal norms mean tourism is mostly male-dominated, we’ve doubled the number of women leading our trips in recent years. Our Women’s Expeditions create immersive local experiences for women.
Why local matters
Our leaders have friends all over the place. So, whether it’s dropping in on the village baker in Assisi for a chat, sharing a mint tea with an Amazigh nomad in Morocco or learning traditional dance in Peru, our leaders are the bridge between you and the local people in the places you visit.
Our leaders make your trip as seamless as possible. Yes, they'll get you from one destination to the next, but they'll also help you navigate public transportation, bridge language barriers, make restaurant reservations, organise museum passes and sort out allllll the nitty-gritty details so you don’t have to.
Our leaders are true locals. So, they know the urban legends behind every town square, the handy shortcuts down timeworn alleys and the traditional dishes you won’t find on the tourist menu – and they’ll take you there.
Tango classes in Buenos Aires? Attending a sumo match in Osaka? Searching for sloths in the jungle? Our leaders can suggest the best ways to fill in your free time at each destination and even help arrange it for you.