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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
405
No. of Departures
4,340
Avg. Trip Length
11 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$281
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium
No. of Trips
988
No. of Departures
47,348
Avg. Trip Length
13 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$351
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
4.8
We had a great time. We loved having a small group. Everyone got along great. We had a young guide. He was great. The accommodations were so nice. We experienced the true Japanese culture, plus a lot of Western culture. Japan is a lot different from America.
We enjoyed the places we went. The history was so interesting. The sights were beautiful. read more The Cherry blossoms were in bloom!! They are beautiful! The food was amazing. We really enjoyed the tea ceremony. I will say we did not need to see all the temples and shrines. We went to too many. I am sure there was something else we could have gone to. Otherwise, we had a great experience..
We enjoyed the places we went. The history was so interesting. The sights were beautiful. read more The Cherry blossoms were in bloom!! They are beautiful! The food was amazing. We really enjoyed the tea ceremony. I will say we did not need to see all the temples and shrines. We went to too many. I am sure there was something else we could have gone to. Otherwise, we had a great experience..
Wonderful Trip to Patagonia 0
Adventures in Patagonia with Iguazu Extension
Pauline and Michael, NSW, Australia, Mar 2026
The trip matched the itinerary and we saw and were given experiences exactly as outlined. Each of the local guides gave great value and our overall tour guide Luciano was the best guide we have ever travelled with. He dealt with all issues and made sure everything ran as faultlessly as possible. The spectacular scenery, the trip across the Patagonian read more steppe and then through the mountains were all truly wonderful. We would definitely recommend travelling with your company to Patagonia, and we believe that doing this trip was very good value for our money.
As we were warned in the Itinerary, the schedule often involved changes to the itinerary, some requiring very early starts resulting from changes to flight schedules. Several times we would arrive somewhere very late (eg. 10.30pm) and be required to be up very early to be collected - such as at 3.00, 4.00 or 5.00am.
This particularly occurred during the 3 day Iguazu Extension. For example we arrived late into Buenos Aires the night before and had a very early start the next morning to get the plane to Iguazu. We arrived there at 9am but there were no activities planned for the rest of the day and then we couldn’t check in to our excellent hotel room for about 4 hours.
By the end of our trip after several nights of late arrivals followed by very early departures we were pretty exhausted.
As we were warned in the Itinerary, the schedule often involved changes to the itinerary, some requiring very early starts resulting from changes to flight schedules. Several times we would arrive somewhere very late (eg. 10.30pm) and be required to be up very early to be collected - such as at 3.00, 4.00 or 5.00am.
This particularly occurred during the 3 day Iguazu Extension. For example we arrived late into Buenos Aires the night before and had a very early start the next morning to get the plane to Iguazu. We arrived there at 9am but there were no activities planned for the rest of the day and then we couldn’t check in to our excellent hotel room for about 4 hours.
By the end of our trip after several nights of late arrivals followed by very early departures we were pretty exhausted.
The tour was fantastic. Very full on but we saw a lot. Highlights were the townships we stayed in along the way and climbing Mt Etna. Hannah gave us the confidence that we were getting quality for our money and we weren't being scammed.
Highlights of Sri Lanka with Maldive Dhoni Cruise 0
Highlights of Sri Lanka with Maldive Dhoni Cruise (West Coast)
Victoria, NSW, Australia, Feb 2026
My Sri Lanka tour was very good. Best accommodation. Right in front of the ocean. All the activities were very good. The food the family prepared was delicious. Most people over older so the ambiance was good except a lady who was talking on the bus and off the bus, continuously. She was answering the questions we were addressing to our guide. She was read more controlling everything. Maldives boat trip was absolutely amazing. The guide and crew took so much care of us and gave us the most beautiful experiences. I tell everyone in my world how amazing this 6 days Maldives cruises has been. Our Sri Lankan cook was excellent. He presented so many dishes for each meal. This cruise was above my expectations by far. I am still mesmerised. My best cruise ever.
We had a wonderful time exploring the picturesque country of Belize, and enjoyed seeing amazing Mayan sites, beautiful beaches and a wide variety of birds and wildlife. In our experience, a tour is only as good as the guide. Tarique was amazing with his knowledge, good humor, organization and people skills. He and our fellow travelers made this tour read more a real pleasure and an unforgettable experience! Our only suggestion would be to allow travelers to pre-book and pre-pay for excursions to reduce the need to bring or access currency for these bookings during the trip.
Overall a good tour. Good guides. Everyone got along. The hotel selected for us in Phnom Penh was the Frangipani Hotel which was not a good hotel. Very low end. Broken bathroom fixtures, terrible service, basic breakfast. Good location. The second hotel in Siem Reap, Hari Suites and Residences, was very good and a nice upgrade from first hotel. I give read more the tour overall a 3 due to the very sub par hotel in PP. Otherwise it would be a 4.
4.4
North Island New Zealand (North to South) 0
New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound)
Peter and Janette, VIC, Australia, Mar 2026
The tour was well organised and the tour leader/driver Taylor was exceptional both in knowledge and inclusiveness of the group.
Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Kangaroo Island 0
Melbourne to Kangaroo Island Adventure
Elisabeth and Richard, NSW, Australia, Mar 2026
We combined 2 Intrepid tours to see many bucket list sights in SW Victoria and Kangaroo Island — linked by a train ride from Stawell to Adelaide. Every day was full of surprises and delights. Amazing landscapes and wild life too numerous to list. The two guides were very professional and ensured that everyone was catered for - from the most adventurous read more to those less able bodied.
This was an amazing trip. Yarina Lodge is a wonderful place to go. Room facility is good and clean. A special praise to the staffs - the management, the restaurant, the kitchen, they are very attentive care. The guide is very professional, he customize programs according to your fitness level and requirement. This is a place for relaxation and also adventure.
We did the above trip with Intrepid in Jan 2026. There were only 6 of us on our tour so it was nice & intimate. Our guide Stefan was great, always welcomed us on the bus with a tale about the elves or trolls or sometimes with a sing song as well as being a wealth of knowledge on the history of Iceland etc. Accommodation was of a good standard but the read more Foss Hotel Glacier Lagoon was outstanding. I know most people do the Golden Circle but do yourself a favour & book a tour that also includes the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you won't be disappointed.
The only comment I'd make is that I thought a farewell dinner should have been included, first time I've been on a tour where it hasn't been, however Stefan organised one at our expense (Iceland is VERY expensive). Our Consultant Hannah Campbell was great, always got back to me promptly whenever I asked a question. Our experience with Hannah & Global Journeys was such a good one that we currently have another 2 active bookings in the system. Would 100% recommend Intrepid, Hannah & Global Journeys to anyone.
The only comment I'd make is that I thought a farewell dinner should have been included, first time I've been on a tour where it hasn't been, however Stefan organised one at our expense (Iceland is VERY expensive). Our Consultant Hannah Campbell was great, always got back to me promptly whenever I asked a question. Our experience with Hannah & Global Journeys was such a good one that we currently have another 2 active bookings in the system. Would 100% recommend Intrepid, Hannah & Global Journeys to anyone.
Overall positive experience with destinations well chosen. Unfortunately bus & accommodation left a lot to be desired, with many of group becoming ill as bus ventilation was non-existent so viruses spread rapidly. Hotel beds were invariably hard & uncomfortable, while heating was usually non operational. Home cooked food was special as it gave authenticity read more to Moroccan experience. Sahara camel ride at dawn was highlight, though tent accommodation was freezing overnight.
Considering the distance from Istanbul to the Anzac sites (5 hours on a mini bus), it was absolutely fabulous. Pickup smooth, trip smooth, comfort stop half way, lunch plentiful, transition to guide smooth. 12 on our bus, Australian, Kiwi, Canadians. Our guide for the afternoon’s tour of WW1 sites was Burak, and he was pure gold. We stayed on for the read more second day (others headed straight back to Istanbul). Gorgeous half hour across the Dardanelles to the delightful surprise of Canakkale. Staff transitioning us across and to our hotel fantastic. We then bar hopped our night away and met the most wonderful Turkish people. Çanakkale was fantastic. Slow morning. Cafe hopped. Short (25 min) bus ride to the ruins of Troy - it was nice, but that’s all. Back across the Dardanelles and to our hotel in Istanbul by 9.30pm, which was ahead of schedule. If you must see Gallipoli, you also must have a night out in Canakkale. Glad we did it.
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