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Explore Worldwide vs Intrepid Travel

Compare Explore Worldwide and Intrepid Travel small group tours, including their travel styles, inclusions, destinations, pricing, accommodation and popularity with past travellers, to see which operator is the better fit for your next journey.
Explore Worldwide

Explore Worldwide

219 Reviews

Why should we travel with Explore Worldwide?

We asked Explore Worldwide why you should travel with them, here's what they said...

Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for over 45 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 11 people – small enough to get right into read more 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 Sri Lanka, cycling in Croatia, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.

What types of trips do Explore Worldwide offer?

Adventure Tours Walking & Hiking Tours Cycling Tours Family Tours Wildlife Tours Rail Journeys

Where can you travel to?

Africa Asia Canada Egypt & Middle East Europe New Zealand South & Central America

Explore Worldwide snapshot

Total No. ToursTotal No. Tours
303
DeparturesDepartures
3,203
Average tour lengthAverage tour length
12 days
Average price per dayAverage price per day
$384

Our thoughts...

The low down on Explore Worldwide from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

Explore Worldwide is a UK adventure travel company that has been around since 1981. They run over 300 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 read more or their Upgraded Tours collection which adds premium accommodation for extra comfort. Explore have an impressive track record with 96% of past travellers saying they would travel with them again.

Who travels with Explore Worldwide?

A broad mix of travellers, with around half typically travelling solo and the remainder made up of couples, friends and families. Guests span a wide age range and come from markets including the UK, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

What's the age range on a Explore Worldwide tour?

Most travellers are around 40 to 60, although groups commonly include adults from their 20s through to their 70s.

How many people will we be travelling with?

Explore's small groups average around 11 travellers, with most trips carrying a maximum of 16. Some specialist or family itineraries can have different limits.

I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?

Yes. Solo travellers are a major part of Explore's small groups, so travelling alone is common and you will usually be joined by other solo guests.

What percentage of people travel solo with you?

50%

Do you offer single rooms?

Yes. Single rooms can be requested on most trips for a supplement, although availability and the nights offered vary by itinerary.

Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?

Yes. Solo travellers can normally share a twin room with another traveller of the same sex.

How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?

Accommodation varies by itinerary, ranging from simple local stays, homestays, lodges and camping to comfortable hotels. Upgraded trips feature more premium accommodation.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the tour price shown?

Optional activities and excursions and meals not included in the itinerary.

Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?

Generally yes. An Explore Tour Leader usually accompanies the group throughout the trip, although local representatives or specialist guides may join for particular sections or visits.

Do you use local guides?

Yes. Local guides, specialists and representatives are used where appropriate, alongside the Explore Tour Leader.

How much free time will we have on a Explore Worldwide trip?

Trips combine organised activities with free time and optional experiences. The amount varies by itinerary, with flexibility built in so travellers can sometimes explore or dine independently.

How fit do we need to be?

Fitness requirements depend on the itinerary. Explore grades trip pace and activity levels, with some cultural trips requiring only general mobility while walking, trekking and cycling trips can require a good level of fitness.

Recent Explore Worldwide reviews

Romania Bulgaria Serbia 0
, ON, Canada, Aug 2026
Booking process was easy and out agent was always available for questions. The tour provided by Explore was well run with seamless attention from arrival to drop off. Our guide was new and improved every day. Luckily we were a small group and all kept on time and respected each other. Felt well taken care of, with enough free time to explore.
All around Iceland with a solar eclipse as well 0
, Northland, New Zealand, Aug 2026
The landscape of Iceland is totally different from anywhere we have been before. There is a large ice shelf covering over 10% of the country with glaciers and rivers and waterfalls. A lot of the rest of the country is covered with volcanic lava leaving little land for agriculture. The waterfalls are beautiful and the icebergs in Glacier Bay spectacular. read more The solar eclipse we experienced was eerie as the sudden darkness enveloped us even with the cloud cover and no sight of the sun. An interesting place to visit but be prepared for expensive food and drinks.
Small Group Baltic Tour 0
, WA, Australia, Aug 2026
I did enjoy this tour as a solo traveller. It was a very small group of both British and Australian people. There wasn’t a lot of extensive bus travel which we all appreciated. However there was a lot of free time and apart from breakfast there are no meals annd few excursions included. You can expect to spend at least $50 on a meal and one drink. read more I did expect these countries to be a cheaper but they were not. The hotels are typical tourist hotels, but they were always in close proximity to the highlights. Breakfast was always excellent. The rooms were small and basic. Many of the participants on this tour, had done several trips with this company.
Better than the Rocky Mountaineer! 0
, VIC, Australia, May 2026
We decided to do the road trip instead of the train, and it was terrific. Great tour guide, good hotels and going to great lakes with snow most of the way! The train would have not gotten to the places we saw - lakes, snow, great hotels & restaurants too.
Mountain Climbing 0
, QLD, Australia, Apr 2026
Tracey was fantastic in handling the booking, the tour was fantastic, mainly due to Peter the tour leader in Greece. He is a gem, couldn't do enough for us two in particular because we had a few issues of our own. Those islands are incredible , we had never been to the mediterranean before , so it was all mind blowing and we kept on running out of phonebattery read more taking so many pictures. The only negative comment and it's only related to us personally, was that being over 80 and not used to walking 5 miles over goat tracks and up and down mountains, we may have chosen a less strenuous holiday. 10 out of 10.

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8 Day Walking in Madeira (Explore)
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Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel

176 Reviews

Why should we travel with Intrepid Travel?

We asked Intrepid Travel why you should travel with them, here's what they said...

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.

What types of trips do Intrepid Travel offer?

Adventure Tours Expedition Cruises 18-to-30's Walking & Hiking Tours Cycling Tours Sailing Trips Family Tours Rail Journeys Short Breaks

Where can you travel to?

Africa Asia Australia Canada Egypt & Middle East Europe India & Sri Lanka Indonesia & Bali More...

Intrepid snapshot

Total No. ToursTotal No. Tours
841
DeparturesDepartures
55,083
Average tour lengthAverage tour length
13 days
Average price per dayAverage price per day
$408

Our thoughts...

The low down on Intrepid from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

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 read more 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.

Who travels with Intrepid?

A diverse international mix of friendly, open-minded and curious travellers, including couples, friends and a high proportion of solo travellers.

What's the age range on a Intrepid tour?

A broad age mix, with travellers commonly ranging from 18 to 70.

How many people will we be travelling with?

Most trips have a maximum of 16 travellers and average around 10. Some overland trips operate with larger groups of up to 24.

I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?

Over 50% of Intrepid travellers travel solo, and the small-group format is designed to make it easy to meet like-minded travellers.

What percentage of people travel solo with you?

50%

Do you offer single rooms?

Yes. Most trips offer an individual room for an additional single supplement, although some shared accommodation such as homestays, overnight trains or camps may be excluded.

Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?

Yes. Solo travellers are normally paired with another solo traveller of the same gender, based on the gender marker on their passport, on a twin-share basis.

How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?

Accommodation varies by trip style and can include budget and standard hotels, locally owned guesthouses, homestays, campsites, comfortable hotels and handpicked Premium Feature Stays.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the tour price shown?

Meals and optional activities not specified as included, some airport transfers and tips.

Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?

A locally based Intrepid leader normally accompanies the group, although longer or multi-country journeys may change leaders during the journey.

Do you use local guides?

Yes. Intrepid works exclusively with locally based leaders, and additional specialist local guides may also be used for particular sightseeing and activities.

How much free time will we have on a Intrepid trip?

There is a deliberate mix of organised activities and independent time. Basic trips generally offer the most free time, while Comfort and Premium trips include more organised experiences.

How fit do we need to be?

Most trips suit travellers with an average level of fitness, but requirements vary considerably. Every trip has a physical rating, and more active trekking or adventure itineraries may require additional preparation.

Recent Intrepid reviews

Turkey Highlights 0
, NSW, Australia, Aug 2026
This was our first Intrepid tour and it did not disappoint We were fortunate to have an amazing tour leader Ergun whose knowledge of Türkiye was exceptional The small group sizes allows for a more authentic experience. Grace from Global Journeys made the booking process seamless.
Intrepid - Gorillas, Game parks and Beaches 0
, VIC, Australia, Jul 2026
What a fantastic trip. This has it all, from trekking through the Jungle to visit the Gorillas, Camping in the Serengeti where the animals roam free, Game drives to see the Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros) and relaxing on Zanzibar's Northern Beaches truly is amazing. There are also plenty of other animals to see - Zebra, Hyena, read more Antelope, Elan, Cheaters, Jackles, Hippopotamus and many more. There are also lots of birds including Vultures. Watching the Vultures clean up a Cheater Kill was something to see.

This trip is actually a combination of 3 tours, 2 camping where one puts up and packs up a tent and 1 where you get to stay in hotel luxury. There are a lot of long driving days on this trip but you do get to appreciate just how the people live there lives and the challenges they have. An African Safari should be on everyone's bucket list and this one will take some beating.
Amazing adventure in Egypt and Jordan. 0
, New Zealand, Jul 2026
I had a wonderful two weeks and ticked off so many sights that had been on my bucket list. I was also fortunate to be travelling with a fantastic group of people, which created a great atmosphere throughout the trip. A helpful tip for future travellers: because I was travelling with a group from Egypt to Jordan, I was exempt from Jordan’s 40 JOD visa read more fee. We were met by a guide on arrival and escorted through the process, making entry quick and easy.
Enjoyable trip 0
, SA, Australia, May 2026
We have had a great time, covering a big distance from Mexico city to Playa Del Carmen. We have has a deep dive into mexoamerican culture, which was amazing. We also enjoyed their arts and crafts. Local food is so delicious! There were several long days, and windy road didn’t make it easy, especially in a 12 seater van. But our fellow travellers companionship read more did make our trip much more enjoyable.
Biking Beside & Over The Danube Through 3 Countries 0
, ON, Canada, Apr 2026
This was our first guided bike tour and certainly won't be our last. There was a minor blip at the beginning when the airline change our flight to the next day and we could not get a refund for our missed hotel reservation. Other than that, things went smoothly. Our guide Gabor and support vehicle driver Zoran were excellent. The cycle tour was challenging read more with the length of time in the saddle, but beautiful scenery and an opportunity to explore the cities where we stayed made the trip memorable. Our accommodations were excellent. We highly recommend the adventure.

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