Home > Compare Tour & Adventure Operators > Explore vs Intrepid
Explore vs Intrepid
Compare the travel styles, pricing, destinations and popularity of Explore and Intrepid.The Low Down
Explore Worldwide is a UK adventure travel company that has been around since 1981. They run over 500 small group tours in more than 100 countries around the world with an average of 12 guests. Accommodation is often family run lodgings and guides are passionate locals. Itineraries are a mix of must-sees and who-knews, and guests can choose from different trip styles to suit their interests.Explore recognises that adventure is different for everyone, and their trips range from classic discovery group tours to active adventures such as hiking and cycling. They also have dedicated family trips, themed journeys such as those that focus on wildlife or their limited edition Explore Beyond collection which showcases rare one-off events. Explore have an impressive track record with 96% of past travellers saying they would travel with them again.
Intrepid specialise in small group adventure tours, and feature trips around the globe. With over 700 tours and 50,000 departures, Intrepid's itineraries are designed for the budget conscious adventurer, families and even adventures for those that prefer a bit of comfort at the end of each day. Like G Adventures, Intrepid also have a myriad of trips through South and Central America & Asia and operate dynamic pricing so prices can change daily - upwards if the trip is filling up, and down if they need to fill some spaces.Recommending the best Operator for small group adventures is a tough one. It's very subjective and we think a lot depends on the region, the itinerary and the trip leader you get. This will have a huge sway on whether your trip is good, great or average. Our advice is to choose the Operator which has the itinerary and departures dates that suit you best. Look at things like inclusions, group size and other details to help make your decision.
Stats
No. of Trips
542
No. of Departures
5,745
Avg. Trip Length
11 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$376
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium
No. of Trips
1,148
No. of Departures
33,460
Avg. Trip Length
12 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$410
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium
In Their Own Words We asked the travel companies themselves why you should travel with them
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures.
Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.
We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 30 years. Every trip is designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Led by a local leader, our small group tours offer a sustainable way to travel off the beaten track, while giving back to the places and people that travellers visit.
Recent Reviews
4.7
The trip lasted 7 days. For the first 4 days which included 3 days on Gozo and the 1st day in Malta was an absolute shambles. We were not met from the ferry in Gozo, the guide was too busy talking in the bus with the driver and didn’t notice this very big ferry had docked. One of our group decided to do a car park search after waiting for 3/4 an hour ...read more and found them ! The guide was not interested and did it because she had to. A very unpleasant experience. Arriving Malta and checked in to our hotel. A guide took us out to dinner but never saw her again. The next day was a public holiday which saw the group waiting in the lobby with no idea who, what or when we were being met. Phone call made to the local office to enquire what were the plans and that person was spoken to in such a condescending manner and the attitude was unbelievable which prompted another of the group to phone and email the head office in UK and made a complaint.
A guide was produced at 10 am who also did not want to be there, our entire ‘tour’ of Valletta took 2 hours only and then we were told to take the local bus home as the tour bus was leaving at 1pm!! After the complaint was made to the UK office, the next 3 days we had marvellous guides and the best driver ever who virtually saved the trip from total disaster. The accommodation was 3 star at best, however, was clean and breakfast provided. The group was made up of people from USA, UK and AUS. We all rubbed along quite well. From this experience, I have also emailed the UK head office with a more detailed description of the total lack of communication and attitude from the local Maltese office. Would I go on another Explore trip…. I would really have to think about it but at the moment, no.
A guide was produced at 10 am who also did not want to be there, our entire ‘tour’ of Valletta took 2 hours only and then we were told to take the local bus home as the tour bus was leaving at 1pm!! After the complaint was made to the UK office, the next 3 days we had marvellous guides and the best driver ever who virtually saved the trip from total disaster. The accommodation was 3 star at best, however, was clean and breakfast provided. The group was made up of people from USA, UK and AUS. We all rubbed along quite well. From this experience, I have also emailed the UK head office with a more detailed description of the total lack of communication and attitude from the local Maltese office. Would I go on another Explore trip…. I would really have to think about it but at the moment, no.
An excellent tour. Witt our tour guide was absolutely fabulous. He was very knowledgeable, extremely informed on history, architecture, religion, culture and customs. Nothing was too much trouble. He kept us well informed of activities and time schedules on a daily basis. The transport was spacious and comfortable with an esky full of cold water and ...read more refreshments towels. The accommodation was as stated in the itinerary and actually surpassed my expectations. Truly a very memorable holiday. I can recommend Witt as the best tour guide I have ever had. Thank you Witt for an unforgettable experience.
Houn (Tour Guide) and his team were very professional, friendly and attentive to all our needs. All went to plan. Would swap the boat trip experience for an additional 2 days cycling. Most of the group stated that would also be their preference.
This was a busy tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. We had many different experiences. My favorite was the Ben Tre home stay in the Mekong Delta, a long day to get there: 5.30am departure from Hoi An hotel, bus to Danang airport, flight to HCMC, bus to Ben Tre then finally a boat to the home stay with a great seafood lunch onboard. Our overnight train ...read more from Hanoi to Hue was impacted by floodwaters and we ended up travelling the last 3 hours by bus - we arrived safely.
Weather wasn't great, we had a lot of rain and barely saw the sun but it didn't impact on the planned itinerary. Most hotels were equipped with large golf umbrellas which was very handy. Accommodation was very nice. The tour was full: 16 people, all British except 2 of us from Australia and 1 American. 5 couples, 3 solo females and 3 solo men. I enjoyed the tour and I'm looking at travelling with Explore again. Some fellow travellers had done numerous tours with Explore. Booking with Georgie at Global Journeys is always straightforward.
Weather wasn't great, we had a lot of rain and barely saw the sun but it didn't impact on the planned itinerary. Most hotels were equipped with large golf umbrellas which was very handy. Accommodation was very nice. The tour was full: 16 people, all British except 2 of us from Australia and 1 American. 5 couples, 3 solo females and 3 solo men. I enjoyed the tour and I'm looking at travelling with Explore again. Some fellow travellers had done numerous tours with Explore. Booking with Georgie at Global Journeys is always straightforward.
The trip was exactly what was presented in the marketing. The guide was excellent, 25 yrs living in Turkey and therefore knowledge of culture and landscape was a lived, full of real experience. The accommodation was good as was the backup van service. Would recommend.
Unfortunately this trip was a bit of a let down. I couldn’t believe for the price that only breakfast was included not even a welcoming or farewell dinner. After just completing a tour of longer duration for not much more we had breakfast and a main meal, plus drinks included every day, sometimes three meals. The accommodation was very ordinary at times ...read more especially when we were so far out of town that we were dropped in to find somewhere to eat and told to find our own way back by Uber or taxi. Most of us had no phone connection or Uber account. This led to the guide having to use hers. Very disappointing. The walking activities were lovely but a lot of the other outdoor activities were set for the afternoon in free time but we were often too late back to do them. Danielle the guide was very kind and went out of her way to be warm, helpful and informative. The driver Stephan was very competent as well, they did their best on a very poorly put together trip.
4.3
Just returned from this fantastic cycling trip. Maisie was amazing, prompt, efficient, accurate and professional in making the booking for me. Some others who used different agents did not have final details of transfers communicated to them. The Global journeys website and Maisie's documentation meant my trip went without a hitch. I had done the same ...read more trip with a different company in 2014. The difference in population growth, motor bike numbers, scale of tourism development and the number of tourists in Vietnam was astounding.
On this trip the guide (and also his support crew) was fantastic, organised, super attentive to each persons needs, good fun, careful with clear instructions. The route was different to last time and although could have been challenging was very doable. Being a cyclist/tourer who has done many trips over the years I am finding people who ride electric bikes (because they think they can) can be challenging to a cyclists e.g. I have to wait till all the e-bike problems are sorted, trying to predict when they will turn their motor assist on so as to keep out of the way, not being aware of when to change gears (gears first THEN motor!!! NOT just turn up the motor) and when the electric bike riders get tired on a long day of say 80km they tend to ride faster which unnecessarily ups the pace. I will go to my grave with this complaint until all hire e-bikes are upgraded to torque sensors.
I thoroughly recommend the trip. NEVER be afraid to stop & take photos. March/April is the time of year to do this trip. Cool in the North and warms as you progress south. Accommodation was as expected great. Just don't expect every hotel to cater for the minority of Western tourists. Traffic looks like bedlam, but all over Asia & the subcontinent I feel safer riding than in Australia because traffic 'just works' without the need for regimented rules and each vehicle driver is considerate and mindful of other road users of ALL types. Friendly beeps to let you know there is traffic around is NOT aggressive like in Australia and road rage is never seen. Again thoroughly recommend Global Journeys, I thank Maisie and recommend this cycling trip with Intrepid. Just watch Intrepid's (in my opinion) 'unaustralian' way of increasing the price of the trip as it fills up - Dutch auction approach. Check Global Journeys website.
On this trip the guide (and also his support crew) was fantastic, organised, super attentive to each persons needs, good fun, careful with clear instructions. The route was different to last time and although could have been challenging was very doable. Being a cyclist/tourer who has done many trips over the years I am finding people who ride electric bikes (because they think they can) can be challenging to a cyclists e.g. I have to wait till all the e-bike problems are sorted, trying to predict when they will turn their motor assist on so as to keep out of the way, not being aware of when to change gears (gears first THEN motor!!! NOT just turn up the motor) and when the electric bike riders get tired on a long day of say 80km they tend to ride faster which unnecessarily ups the pace. I will go to my grave with this complaint until all hire e-bikes are upgraded to torque sensors.
I thoroughly recommend the trip. NEVER be afraid to stop & take photos. March/April is the time of year to do this trip. Cool in the North and warms as you progress south. Accommodation was as expected great. Just don't expect every hotel to cater for the minority of Western tourists. Traffic looks like bedlam, but all over Asia & the subcontinent I feel safer riding than in Australia because traffic 'just works' without the need for regimented rules and each vehicle driver is considerate and mindful of other road users of ALL types. Friendly beeps to let you know there is traffic around is NOT aggressive like in Australia and road rage is never seen. Again thoroughly recommend Global Journeys, I thank Maisie and recommend this cycling trip with Intrepid. Just watch Intrepid's (in my opinion) 'unaustralian' way of increasing the price of the trip as it fills up - Dutch auction approach. Check Global Journeys website.
I'd really rather you didn't go there and make it more "peopley" but - this tour, the tour guide we had and Iceland were epic, amazing, outstanding beautiful, absolutely awesome. This is a second to none destination in my opinion and this tour gives you a great starting glimpse of a wonderfully diverse country. The tour is perfect to get you started ...read more on an addiction to this country and it's people.
Our guide, Stefano, was one in a million......just enough care to keep you safe without smothering the life out of you, just enough running commentary that you're informed but not bored to death by a guide that won't shut up. Do the tour - you won't regret it. I will be back, I will be there for a lot longer and I'm very tempted to never come home!
Our guide, Stefano, was one in a million......just enough care to keep you safe without smothering the life out of you, just enough running commentary that you're informed but not bored to death by a guide that won't shut up. Do the tour - you won't regret it. I will be back, I will be there for a lot longer and I'm very tempted to never come home!
5 star for our communications with Hannah from Global Journeys. Hannah always responded quickly and comprehensively to our queries along the way for our booking on the Intrepid 18 day Best of Vietnam and Cambodia. We would have no hesitation in booking with Global Journeys and Hannah particularly in the future.
This was Intrepid at its best. Great tour leader Nova, well balanced itinerary and an excellent range of accommodation. I loved the blend of free time with included activities. It exceeded my expectations.
Such a great experience. I really enjoyed all aspects if the tour, it was all part of the adventure. Our Intrepid guides, Tuan in Vietnan and Ly in Cambodia went above and beyond to make sure every went smoothly.
I would highly recommend the Premium Northern Thailand tour - the accomodation was great. Our tour leader, Katie (Thai Name: Lalada) was very knowledgeable with a great sense of humour! I was originally hesitant, as I was travelling alone, but it was pretty safe and fun to travel with the small group of up to a maximum 12 people. Overall, I thoroughly ...read more enjoyed the trip with my tour mates and was impressed with the accommodation, the food, the places we visited and the tour dynamics. Would definitely recommend.
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