Intrepid Travel

Story

Everything begins with a couple of friends and one big trip.

Travel back to 1988. While most people listen to Kylie Minogue and INXS, two friends in Melbourne spend their time planning a journey that changes the way people around the world experience travel.

Their names are Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester, but you can call them Darrell and Manch. As quintessential 80s backpackers, they crave adventure, venture beyond the guidebooks, and choose local homestays over lavish hotels whenever possible.

Already seasoned travellers in their 20s, Darrell and Manch raise the bar on adventure with a nine-month journey from London to Nairobi.

In true Darrell and Manch style, they take a different approach. They find a second-hand truck and transform it into what they believe will become the coolest overland vehicle on the savanna. They install extra seats in the back, add a sunroof on top and an awning on the side, then ship the refurbished truck from Australia to London. With 12 friends and plenty of supplies onboard, they set off across parts of Europe toward the wild landscapes of Africa.

Somewhere between the rolling scenery, countless card games and unforgettable moments along the journey, an idea begins to take shape.

"Hang on, mate," Darrell most likely says to Manch, or perhaps it happens the other way around. "Could this style of travel be something others would enjoy too?" At that moment, the idea for Intrepid Travel is born.

At the time, many tour companies show destinations from the comfort of a bus window. Intrepid Travel introduces a different way to explore the world by combining the freedom of backpacking with immersive, affordable and unforgettable adventures, while removing many of the hassles and isolation that often come with independent travel. Instead of all-inclusive tours, Intrepid Travel helps you experience each destination through the eyes of local people while learning from the communities that call those places home.

Darrell and Manch create Intrepid Travel for adventurous people around the world. They design journeys that satisfy a passion for adventure, encourage meaningful cultural immersion, bring like-minded travellers together, and create positive benefits for the local people and places you visit.

In 1989, less than a year later, Intrepid Travel operates its very first trip in Thailand with just five travellers.

Since then, Intrepid Travel takes hundreds of thousands of travellers around the globe, offering more than 1,000 trips across over 100 countries on all seven continents. From establishing The Intrepid Foundation in 2002 to becoming a certified B Corp in 2018, Intrepid Travel remains committed to the original vision of creating positive change through the joy of travel. And those iconic overland trucks still rank among the coolest set of wheels on the savanna.

Mission

Intrepid Travel inspires you to experience the world beyond the ordinary through immersive small group adventures that connect you with local people, cultures, and destinations. Every journey encourages meaningful connections, unforgettable experiences, and responsible travel that creates a positive impact for the places and communities you visit. Intrepid Travel helps you explore with confidence, guided by expert local leaders while giving you the freedom to discover each destination in an authentic way.

Vision

Intrepid Travel envisions a world where travel brings people together, strengthens cultural understanding, and creates lasting positive change. Every adventure inspires you to connect with the heartbeat of each destination while respecting local communities, protecting the planet, and making meaningful experiences accessible to travellers everywhere. Through purposeful exploration and responsible travel, Intrepid Travel continues to shape the future of adventure travel for generations to come.

Intrepid Travel creates positive change through the joy of travel. That is the mission because, when done right, travel becomes a force for good.

Since the very beginning, Intrepid Travel gives back and operates trips in a way that respects local people and places. When you travel with Intrepid Travel, you quickly discover that every journey is about more than beautiful views and memorable experiences. You connect with the destinations you visit, the people you meet along the way, and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid Travel experience. That is where Intrepid Travel strives to make a positive impact.

Wildlife and Places

Travel with respect for every destination, from the natural environments you explore to the wildlife that calls those places home. Since 2005, Intrepid Travel aspires to lead climate-conscious travel and follows a carefully developed animal welfare policy that guides every animal experience included in its trips.

People and Communities

Think globally, act locally, and engage personally. Intrepid Travel is a global collective with a local heart, featuring locally based leaders at the front of every trip and community-based tourism experiences across many adventures. From homestays to Indigenous community-led experiences, Intrepid Travel looks for opportunities to keep the economic benefits of travel where they belong—within local communities.

Certified B Corporation

Intrepid Travel balances purpose and profit and, in 2018, joins the B Corp™ community to certify its commitment to using business as a force for good. This certification serves as an independent global stamp of approval for the work Intrepid Travel does and the positive impact it creates.

The Intrepid Foundation

For more than 20 years, The Intrepid Foundation has given Intrepid Travel travellers the opportunity to make a greater impact in the places they visit. Together, the foundation raises more than $18 million and supports over 160 communities around the world. Intrepid Travel also dollar-matches travellers' donations and covers all administration fees, allowing every contribution to make an even greater difference.