Intrepid Travel vs Apple Vacations - Tour Companies Compared

Intrepid Travel - Quick Facts

Founded in 1989

No Single Supplement (rare exceptions)

Small Groups: max 16 on most trips (10 max during Covid-19)

Average Age: 48

Travel Style: Cultural immersion, adventure, overland, sustainable, and active

Accommodation Style: Camping, Hostels, 3 /4 star hotels, locally owned

Average Tour Price: $2,377

Top Regions: Asia, Africa, Europe, South America

Other Brands: Peregrine

Commonly compared with G Adventures »

Intrepid Travel is all about ‘real life experiences.’ With a name meaning fearless and adventurous, Intrepid offers nothing less than big travel adventures -- such as an 11-day hike through Papua New Guinea. However, Intrepid is broad-based enough to offer varied experiences such as food tours in Greece, complete with a visit to a Kalamata olive grove.

What Makes Intrepid Travel Stand Out?

• Responsible travel
• Industry experts
• Authentic experiences
• Small groups

Intrepid believes that with great travel experiences comes great responsibility. They are focused on responsible tourism which includes not only treading lightly but also making a positive impact on the destinations they send travelers to. As a Certified B Corp since 2018, Intrepid donates to grass root projects around the world, are a carbon-neutral business and are committed to animal welfare.

Travelers can rest assured when they travel with Intrepid because they will be in the hands of industry experts. Intrepid partners with local leaders to be guides for travelers. This gives travelers first hand experiences from someone who knows the area well.

Above all else, Intrepid strives to get its travelers off the beaten path and under the surface of the local culture. To accomplish this, group sizes are small, maximum of 16 on most trips. This allows for more use of local transportation and lodging, along with fostering cultural immersion. Intrepid also employs local English-speaking leaders who act more as a resource for local exploration than do typical ‘guides,’ shepherding groups from one place to another. 

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With Intrepid Travel?

• All ages
• All types of travelers
• Cultural enthusiasts

Intrepid is one of the early pioneers of the “adventure”-style guided trip. Despite its informal beginnings and emphasis on younger, highly adventurous travelers, Intrepid has expanded to a global company with a broad range of trips to fit all ages.

Intrepid divides its small-group trips into three separate styles of travel, all priced accordingly. “Basix,” for budget travelers, keep inclusions to a minimum and offer plenty of free time. “Original” journeys offer more included activities and hotels, while “Comfort” trips offer luxury experiences that include the highest level of included activities and standards of accommodation, as well as roomier vehicles. No matter what kind of traveler you are, there is a style right for your specific desires.

The age range on Intrepid tours varies widely from tour to tour, and they are welcoming to all ages. The only exception to this are their 18-29 themed tours which are specifically for that age group. 

Intrepid travelers have  a real sense of adventure - whether this means hard adventure, or simply going deeper off the beaten path. Interacting with locals is an important factor when you travel, as is gaining a unique cultural perspective. A sense of fun is also essential, whether it means going out at night with your tour mates, trying new foods, or exploring the local markets.

Which is better? Intrepid Travel or G Adventures?

Commonly compared, both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel specialize in culturally immersive and off-the-beaten-path experiences. They are top companies to consider if you enjoy local & authetic travel and value having lots of free time during the itinerary. See our ultimate guide to decide which is right for you: Intrepid vs G Adventures, full comparison »

Top Destinations

Originally focused on small group adventure tours to Asia, Intrepid has expanded rapidly over the years, while maintaining its classic, adventurous, and immersive style. Today Intrepid Travel offers more than 1,000 different experiences in over 100 countries, on all seven continents. Regions with the most trips include Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe.

Does Intrepid Travel include flights?

While all your internal transportation is taken care of, often utilizing traditiona local methods such as tuk-tuks in Thailand, international flights to and from your home and the tour destination are not included. Their travel specialists can recommend where to look for flights however.

Intrepid Travel Style

Intrepid enjoys using local, unique forms of transportation. You might find yourself traveling by felucca in Egypt or in a tuk-tuk on the best Thailand tour of your life.

Accommodations, which could range from guesthouses to home stays, are also locally owned, allowing a more authentic taste of the region while contributing to the local economy.

There are a few broad travel styles to choose from when deciding on an Intrepid tour:

1. Basix - Budget travelers who don’t mind, and in fact prefer, simple accommodations - camping and homestays with basic amenities, and crave a lot of free time for exploring independently will love these tours. Public transportation is used exclusively so pack light! These trips often attract a younger crowd who love the idea of throwing a backpack on, keep plenty of room for the unexpected in their schedule, and allocate their travel funds towards spontaneous bus tickets and street food instead of museum tours and 5 star restaurants.

2. Original - These trips take the backpacker spirit of local immersion, incorporating all the benefits that come with going with a planned itinerary. This style is called “Original” because it’s the type of travel that put Intrepid on the map...pun intended. Accommodations are still simple and budget minded - often homestays are used to give you a true sense of place, personality, and culture. Mostly public transportation is used.

3. Comfort - Intrepid is known for the active adventure style of travel and these trips keep that mentality, with a few more creature comforts thrown into the mix. You can expect higher luxury accommodations that include a wider variety of included amenities, transportation is mostly private, though you can still expect to use some public transport, as is the Intrepid way. More meals are included in the trip price, and more group activities - which means a bit less free time to explore on your own.

Why Choose a Tour With Intrepid Travel?

Intrepid is a good tour company if you don’t mind foregoing some creature comforts for a truly authentic, local experience. If you enjoy meeting locals when traveling, sampling new and exciting foods, and traveling in mixed-aged groups of 10-16 people, Intrepid could be a good fit for you.

It’s important to note, sometimes “ample free time” can be a blessing and a curse. It sounds great on paper, but if you’re looking to maximize your dollar and your vacation time, be sure you understand the implications of having a lot of free time during your itinerary.

For some travelers this is an absolute requirement, but for others it can be tough to branch off and explore independently - you also need to make sure you allocate enough travel money for independent meals.

The tour leaders are great resources of information for how to spend your free time, but if you like having a full day scheduled from breakfast to dinner, Intrepid may not be the best company for you.

Lastly, if sustainable and responsible travel is important to you, Intrepid has poured millions of dollars into local economies, and has a very strong emphasis on responsible travel. So you can feel good knowing that your money helps support some of the innkeepers, vendors, and communities that you’ll meet along the way.

Is Intrepid Travel Safe?

Yes, Intrepid is a very safe company to travel with and they take the safety of their tour goers very seriously.

In response to Covid-19, Intrepid has reduced their group size to an average of 10 people. Their guides have been fully trained on new sanitation requirements and Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.

They have also implemented flexible booking options. 

General Covid-19 Travel News

Some countries are beginning to reopen to international visitors, with entry restrictions, while others have remained closed. 

Keep checking back regularly to keep up to date with the frequently changing situation of the coronavirus.

Want more information about travel safety and the coronavirus? Read about where it's safe to travel to in 2020 >>

Since 1969, Apple Vacations has been one of the top U.S. purveyors of all-inclusive vacations to mostly warm-weather resort destinations.  

What Makes Apple Vacations Stand Out?

• All inclusive vacations
• Transfers included
• Award-winning tour company
• Exclusive non-stop vacation flights
• Easy-to-reach Apple representatives
• Great value

Operating on huge volume, Apple offers a wide array of discounts and will match any competitors’ prices if lower than theirs. Round-trip transfers between the destination airport and hotel are always included with every package. Transportation is taken care of at no additional cost, rather than overcharging for pick-ups like most travel sites. There is also a variety of added values such as room upgrades, golf discounts, and free weddings just to name a few.

Who Travels With Apple Vacations?

• All ages
• Those who love beach vacations
• ‘Soft’ adventurers
• Solo and group travelers

Anyone looking for an all-inclusive vacation package will love traveling with Apple Vacations. Majority of their travelers are US natives, but they welcome everyone onto their tours. It should be noted that all tours are conducted in English.

Apple Vacation tours typically aren’t physically demanding - the most you’ll have to potentially prepare for is 1 hour of walking at a leisurely pace.

Top Destinations

• Mexico
• Carribean
• Hawaii
• Central and South America

Apple Vacations will take you to all the tropical destinations that are popular with North Americans. White sand beaches that stretch for miles in Aruba, volcanoes and hidden waterfalls in Hawaii - the types of destination that everyone dreams of going to. Whilespecializing in warm-weather destinations, they also offer ski destinations in the winter. Go skiing with Apple Vacations in the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, and even Japan!

Apple Vacations Travel Style

Apple Vacations is all about the classic fun-in-the-sun adventures. They typically focus on culture, nature, and soft adventure-themed activities. This could mean exploring a Riviera Maya adventure park on an Apple Vacations tour to Cancun, or snorkelling with tropical fish on an Apple Vacations Hawaii tour.

Accommodations range anywhere from 3 star hotels to 5 star resorts. You can choose what type of hotel you’d like to stay in depending on your interests, budget, and occasion. They work with big hotel chains that are great for weddings, family reunions, parties, and the like. It’s suggested to do some hotel research as every place offers a different experience. However, if you’re hoping for quirky local accommodations or culturally immersive homestays, you won’t find it here. Most meals are included, with many being large buffets catered by the hotel.  

On Apple Vacations’ non-stop charter flights, they’ll typically leave in the morning and return in the evening, maximizing your time at your destination. (If departure cities aren’t convenient, they’ll work with commercial airlines to get you there.) Once you arrive at your destination airport, you’ll get a free transfer to your hotel (with a few exceptions).

Why Choose a Tour with Apple Vacations?

If you enjoy tropical vacations with open bars and buffets by the poolside, then you should travel with Apple Vacations. You get to choose what activities you’d like to do, and be in charge of how much free time you’d like. Additionally, the non-stop charter flights are a big plus, enabling you to avoid the delays and hassle of traveling by commercial airlines. If you don’t want to do a lot of planning or prep work and are primarily looking for a relaxing vacation, Apple can be an excellent choice.

However, if you’re hoping for quirky local accommodations or culturally immersive homestays, you won’t find it here.