Intrepid Travel to launch new UK domestic product

Retreats marks a change in travel style for Intrepid, with small groups immersing themselves in a single location and taking in its culture and local experiences. Activities include hiking, fishing, cooking, cycling and stargazing.

Itineraries have been designed to "empower and support" local communities as they recover from the economic and social impact of coronavirus.

Intrepid’s three-day Suffolk retreat leads in from £425pp, while its four-day Scotland retreat starts from £840pp, with dedicated walking and cycling tours available in the Lake District and the Peak District.

Beyond the UK, destinations include Greece, Croatia, Iceland, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Morocco and Jordan.

Zina Bencheikh, Intrepid managing director EMEA, said: “We are excited to launch Intrepid Retreats, our latest product range created by locals for locals that brings travellers safely back together, offering trips closer to home that support local communities and businesses rebounding from the pandemic."

Retreats will be available from 29 July, pending lockdown restrictions being eased in the UK and the Foreign Office softening its travel advice.

An Intrepid survey of more than 1,000 UK travellers found 87% plan to travel in the UK this year, with only 47% indicating plans to travel abroad.

Asked what motivated their travel plans, 78% said hiking and nature walks, 62% said history and culture experiences, while 46% said they sought to relax and unwind. A further 38% said their next travel experience would be activity-based.

“We’ve worked hard to respond to our customers’ feedback and travel preferences post-pandemic, whil continuing to deliver on sustainable experience-rich travel experiences,” said Bencheikh.

“Our retreats offer a diverse range of experiences from ’comfort’-style hiking trips in the Scottish Highlands to staying in a national park on one of Croatia’s most remote islands."

All retreats will be 100% carbon offset, and designed to have a low environmental footprint and a positive impact on local community.

All trips will be operated under the WTTC’s new Sage Travels protocols, and the operator’s flexible booking policy will allow travellers to change, move or cancel their plans without issue.

Suffolk Retreat: Halesworth (three days, from £425pp)

• Glamp in a countryside yurt
• Bake woodstove pizzas baking using local produce
• Enjoy a wine tasting tour at an award-winning English vineyard
• Explore the countryside and stargaze during a guided night-time walk

Scotland Retreat: Glencoe (four days, from £840pp)

• Hike to the Pap of Glencoe, one of the area’s most striking mountains
• Cycle around Loch Leven
• Visit one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland on a tasting tour
• Explore the village of Inverlochy, including its hill-side castle
• Sit down to a traditional Scottish feast