Intrepid Travel

Highlights

• Encounter nature at its finest as you follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, spotting some of the strangest and most beautiful creatures on earth in their natural habitats.
• Watch ponderous Galapagos tortoises at all stages of life and development in breeding centres, then search for these ancient creatures in the wild highlands of Isla Santa Cruz.
• The sea lions of the Galapagos are famously inquisitive creatures. Don’t be surprised if they swim over to check you out while you’re in the water!
• This tour combines active adventure with pure relaxation, including plenty of free time to unwind on the deck with a beer in hand in between hikes and snorkelling sessions.
• Island-hopping has never been easier (or more environmentally friendly) than in our compact, custom-built ship the Grand Queen Beatriz.

Highlights

• Head out on multiple safaris in 4WDs through Wilpattu, Minneriya, Gal Oya, Kumuna and Yala National Parks, looking out for herds of native elephants, leopards, buffalo, deer, crocodiles, hundreds of species of birds and more.
• Don infrared night goggles and witness sea turtles coming ashore at Rekawa beach to lay their eggs while hatchlings dash down to the water to start their new life.
• Visit Singharaja Forest Reserve – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and spend the night in a nearby lodge in the misty rainforest. Head out on nature walks here, looking out for butterflies, jackals, big cats, wild boars and toque monkeys.
• Explore the biodiverse Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary, unique due to its three vastly different ecosystems – the coast, the mangroves and the freshwater tanks.
• See the incredible site of Sigiriya – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this ruined fortress is one of Sri Lanka's most famous spots. Discover the ruins among thousands of birds, who thrive in the surrounding forests.

Highlights

• Get a true taste of Tasmania with visits to local vineyard and apiaries for tastings of wine, cheese and honey straight from the local producers
• Discover the Bay of Fires – an incredible stretch of coastline that's home to the fiery orange boulders that dot the beaches.
• Get active and choose a trail that suits your ability in Cradle Mountain National Park, keeping an eye out for furry critters such as wombats and wallabies.
• In Freycinet National Park, watch as clear waters lap the secluded shores, perhaps choosing to tackle the summit of Mt Amos for a panoramic views over Wineglass Bay.
• Learn how Tasmanian Aboriginal culture still survives and thrives with an afternoon spent with elders in Launceston.

Highlights

• Walk along Cinque Terre's rocky coastal pathways, calling into the sleepy pastel villages of Monterosso, Corniglia and Vernazza, and work up an appetite for incredible feasts of delicious local ingredients
• Wander around Rome's famous landmarks including the Colosseum, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica and much more. This is a city that bucket lists were made for
• Savour fine French fare in Dijon and taste the local wine in a famous vineyard of Burgundy, a place where wine is so much more than just a drink
• Be awed by the picture-perfect setting of Interlaken, with the stunning snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps as a backdrop
• Soak up the incredible lakeside scenery of Stresa and Lucerne, getting the best of the Italian and Swiss countryside

Highlights

• Mardi Gras season is a celebration for everyone, and this tour is a perfect opportunity to experience the festival at its cultural heart.
• Before celebrating on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, learn about the traditions behind the celebration: the krewes, king cake, throwing of the beads and more.
• By day, drive through the Creole Nature trails sighting marsh wildlife, and by night, dance on a parade float in Lake Charles.
• Experience the heart of Cajun country in Lafayette, with good food, swamp adventures and warm Southern hospitality.
• Even though Mardi Gras is the focus, you won’t miss out on other Louisiana hotspots! Eat down-home cuisine, experience traditional jazz and blues, and discover where the world-famous Tabasco sauce is made.

Highlights

• Tucked high in the Andes, Choquequirao may not get the same fanfare as Machu Picchu, but is no less spectacular. Few visitors make the journey each day, meaning you often have the whole Inca site to yourself!
• Your trek through the Apurimac Valley to Choquequirao may be challenging, but it’s incredibly scenic. See cloud forests and canyons, high passes and snow-capped peaks, often without another trekking group in sight.
• After visiting Choquequirao, continue on to enjoy a guided tour of Peru’s most acclaimed Inca city, Machu Picchu, as well as the Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.
• Spend time exploring artisan markets, lively squares, historic sites and thriving nightlife in Cusco – South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and an interesting blend of Inca and colonial influences.
• With a knowledgeable local leader and a team of guides and porters assisting you along the trail, all you have to worry about is keeping your footing and capturing the best photos you can.

Highlights

• Watch the ever-changing colours of Uluru, one of Australia’s most spiritually significant sites, as you view the epic sandstone monolith at both sunrise and sunset.
• Understand the connection between the landscapes of Watarrka National Park and the Luritja and Pertame people during a special Aboriginal cultural experience.
• Take a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole to see more of the incredible landscape and learn about its connection to the Anangu people.
• Explore Kings Canyon’s breath-taking scenery of soaring red cliffs, sandstone domes and tranquil gardens, then wind through two of the Kata Tjuta’s domed rock formations on the Walpa Gorge Walk.
• Deepen your connection to Country during a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.

Highlights

• Learn about Sri Lanka’s past first-hand during your Feature Stay at the gorgeous Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya – first established in 1891, this historic hotel has a modern outlook on sustainable practices.
• Discover the breadth of Sri Lanka’s food scene during Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class in Galle, a tea plantation tour, a high tea in Nuwara Eliya and a barbecue dinner in Dambulla.
• Search for crocodiles, elephants, monkeys and the ever-elusive leopards under the cover of darkness on an evening safari through the wild grasslands of Yala National Park.
• Uncover ancient treasures in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle as you explore the temples, ruins and stupas of Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy with the expert guidance of your local leader.
• Enjoy Exclusive Experiences in Kandy – dine at the Hela Bojun restaurant, which is focused on empowering and employing local women, and enjoy a private cultural dance performance.