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• Exploring Jordan with Intrepid Travel: A Review

Disclosure : Intrepid Travel hosted me on this trip in exchange for this review. As always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

Home to countless sites and stunning landscapes, Jordan is an ancient wonder that has delighted visitors for centuries. Every experience in Jordan is more enchanting than the last, whether it be camping in the vast, epic landscape that is Wadi Rum or hiking your way through Petra, with its well-earned title as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It was all of these things and more that led me to book the Discover Egypt and Jordan tour, a combination of Intrepid’s Explore Jordan and Egypt Adventure tours.

I’d always wanted to visit Jordan, and jumped at the chance when I saw I could combine it with a trip to Egypt . Jordan exceeded my expectations and beyond: to date, it’s my favorite country in The Middle East – and I’ve been to several of them. Jordan is truly the gem of The Middle East: more spectacular than your wildest dreams can imagine.

So without further ado: my review of the Intrepid Explore Jordan tour, complete with a day-by-day itinerary and a side-by-side comparison to some of Intrepid’s other Jordan tour offerings.

Table of Contents

A Review of the Intrepid Explore Jordan Tour

Out of all the trips I’ve ever done with Intrepid (I’ve been to Egypt , Turkey , Peru , and Southeast Asia with them), the Explore Jordan tour was my absolute favorite. I know that’s a big statement, but it was honestly perfect: I had some awesome travelers on my tour, my guide was the best I’ve ever had (no exaggeration) and Jordan itself doesn’t disappoint.

Because Jordan is small, this tour helps you cover the highlights of the country in just over a week. Yes, we did spend a few hours in the car everyday, but our guide Muhammad kept us entertained with stories of historical, present, and future Jordan.

Because Jordan isn’t a “typical” destination compared to others, it attracts travelers who are open-minded, curious, and respectful, and that’s exactly what I found with my fellow Intrepid travelers. Honestly, if you’re on the fence about Jordan for any reason, I strongly urge you to book one of Intrepid’s Jordan tours . You won’t regret it and I’m still talking about it several years later.

Should you book a tour to Jordan?

Although you can travel to Jordan independently, it’s definitely challenging to do so. Jordan is on the more expensive side, and I often find that costs tend to add up quickly when traveling independently in an expensive country. There aren’t many hostels in Jordan, and transport, while inexpensive, can be challenging for travelers since there’s no official bus timetable. Given all of that, I highly recommend booking a tour in Jordan.

If it’s your first time visiting and you’d prefer not to worry about all the hassle of transporting yourself from place to place or are short on time, I highly recommend booking a tour. I did the Explore Jordan Tour but you can check out all the Jordan tour options from Intrepid Travel  as well.

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Why Intrepid Travel?

I’ve been on four tours with Intrepid Travel across seven countries on four continents, so I’ve been fortunate to experience how they operate all over the world. Yes, Intrepid is the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, but that’s not why I travel with them. These are just a few reasons I love traveling with them – including why I chose them specifically for Jordan (you can also read my full review of Intrepid Travel here ).

• Small groups: As an introvert, I hate big groups with a fiery passion. Intrepid limits their groups to a maximum 12 people, which means you’ll have enough time to get to know everyone on your trip. On this group in particular, there were 5 of us in total – the smallest Intrepid group I’ve traveled with.
• Local guides: The guides are always from the country that you’re visiting, ensuring that you’re both supporting the local economy and traveling with someone who truly knows the country you’re visiting. Our guide, Muhammad, is from Madaba, and knew all the cool places to eat and hang out there.
• Responsible tourism: To Intrepid, responsible tourism isn’t just a buzzword. They carbon offset their tours, give back to communities through The Intrepid Foundation, promote gender equity within their tour guide force, and discourage all plastic usage. You can read about their responsible tourism practices here .
• Safety : Traveling in a group always makes me feel a little more relaxed about my surroundings and Jordan would have been a tad challenging to navigate on my own, especially since I don’t like renting cars abroad if I don’t have to.

Which Intrepid Jordan tour should you choose?

If you’re interested in only visiting Jordan on an Intrepid Tour, you’re in luck: Intrepid only offers two (three if you count the 18-29 year-old-tour) Jordan-only tours, making the decision on which Jordan tour you should choose relatively simple. If you’d like to visit Jordan as part of a longer tour, you have quite a few options to choose from.

I went on the Discover Egypt & Jordan Tour , which is a combination of Egypt Adventure and Explore Jordan . It was honestly the perfect way to see the highlights of both countries in two weeks. Either way, every Intrepid tour has something different to offer, depending on your budget, desired travel time, and sites you’d like to visit. I’ve picked a few of my top recommendations and broken them down below.

Explore Jordan

I did the Explore Jordan tour as part of the combined Discover Egypt and Jordan tour and I loved it. Jordan is on the smaller side, so although this 8-day trip doesn’t include a visit to Aqaba, it’s still pretty comprehensive. You’ll cover the highlights of Jordan including Petra, Jerash, The Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum. Almost everything is included in the trip price (except for Petra by Night and any optional activities in Amman), meaning the majority of your expenses will go towards tips and food.

In all honesty, the main things that differentiate this tour from the Jordan Discovery tour are spending 1.5 days in Petra (instead of just one – huge bonus!), an extra day in Wadi Rum (great bonding time with travel buddies), minimal time in Amman (a bummer but easily remedied with a couple of extra days) and Madaba as the final stop instead of Amman (there are plenty of buses that go to Amman though). Psst: If you’re between 18-29 and want to travel with people your age, check out the similar One Week in Jordan tour instead.

• Duration: 8 days
• Cities visited: Amman, Wadi Rum, Petra, Madaba / Jerash
• Travel style: Original
• Price: starting at USD $1,060

Jordan Discovery

If you’re keen on including Aqaba in your itinerary and you don’t mind missing out on The Dead Sea, then Jordan Discovery is the trip for you. It’s a Comfort trip (rather than the Original style Explore Jordan), which means your hotels will be nicer (think around 4*) and you’ll only camp for one night instead of two. You also get more time in Amman compared to Explore Jordan.

If I were visiting Jordan on its own, I’d personally lean towards this tour (it would have been cool to visit Aqaba). However, because I did the combined Egypt and Jordan tour, our first day in Amman actually included a guided tour to Amman (we visited the Citadel and Roman Theatre). Either way, you can’t go wrong with either tour option. Which you choose mainly depends on your preferences towards visiting Aqaba, time spent in Petra and Wadi Rum, and your hotel accommodation.

• Cities visited: Amman, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, Petra, Madaba / Jerash
• Travel style: Comfort
• Price: starting at USD $1,631

Discover Egypt and Jordan

Because Jordan is a small country (the highlights are easily covered in 7-10 days), you might want to consider combining Jordan with another country. That’s what I did when I took the Discover Egypt and Jordan Tour , a combination of the Egypt Adventure and Explore Jordan tour.

On this 15-day Original style trip, you’ll cover the main highlights of Egypt and Jordan, with about a week in each country. The Egypt portion includes two days each in Egypt’s three most popular cities (for historical sites) as well as one day cruising the Nile on a felucca.You’ll experience a good mix of optional and included activities (especially on the Egypt portion) and quite a variety of transportation. This was honestly an amazing tour of both countries and I strongly recommend it for those who want to see a lot in two weeks.

• Duration: 15 days
• Cities visited: Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Amman, Wadi Rum, Petra, Madaba / Jerash
• Price: starting at USD $2,528

Things to Know Before You Go to Jordan

Most people make certain assumptions about Jordan, knowing that it’s a Muslim-majority country that borders Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Palestine. Well, I say throw those assumptions out the window. Instead, keep an open mind and know the following before traveling within Jordan:

• Overall, Jordan is safe and Jordanians are incredibly kind and hospitable. The only time you need to be vigilant in Jordan is in Petra – there are a few well-known Bedouin scams that could happen.
• Yes, you should dress conservatively in Jordan (covering your knees and shoulders), but no you don’t have to wear a headscarf.
• PDA is a no-no.
• Jordan is a Muslim-majority country, but Christians, Jews, and people of various beliefs all co-exist peacefully.
• When greeting people from the opposite gender, let them take the lead. Some Muslims won’t touch people of a different gender unless they’re related by blood.
• It’s okay to eat with your hands, especially if it’s the national dish, mansaf.
• Bring plenty of cash as ATMs aren’t as readily available as you’d expect.
• Want access to the internet wherever you go? Consider getting an eSIM !

If you’re from The United States or Canada, you do need a visa to enter Jordan. However, you can easily obtain it on arrival at King Faisal Airport for 40 JD (USD $56.50 at the time of writing). Be sure to check your local embassy for up-to-date information about visas.

Travel Insurance

Intrepid requires its passengers to have travel insurance, but I wouldn’t even consider going to Jordan without travel insurance anyway. You honestly never know what could happen. My go-to insurance is World Nomads for every country I visit.

Packing for Jordan

Jordan is a Muslim-majority country, and I recommend dressing more conservatively there than you would at home – both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees. If you’re curious as to what sort of items I normally pack for my trips, check out my recommendations  here and check out my dressing for conservative countries packing list here . Also, be sure to bring:

• Bring a filtering water bottle to avoid single-use plastic and stay healthy.
• Always pack a scarf in case you visit a mosque or need coverage from the sun.
• Western toilets are readily available, but toilet paper isn’t, necessarily. Pack some .
• Bring sunscreen , even if you’re traveling in the winter (like I was). The sun is strong even when it’s cold out.
• Dress modestly – dresses like these ones (maxi, short or long-sleeved) are great for Jordan.

P.S. If you’re planning on using public Wi-Fi (likely), I strongly recommend purchasing a VPN subscription . A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that allows you to securely and privately route your internet through a server. Basically, it makes your internet think you’re in one place when you’re in a different one. Why do you need this? Well, if you want to access your bank account or any secure online account, the sites get super sketched out when you’re in a foreign country, making it difficult to access said sites. Additionally, you’re more liable to have your accounts hacked on an unprotected Wi-Fi network. NordVPN is powerful, secure, and inexpensive and a must if you’re planning to log in to any account using public Wi-Fi.

Explore Jordan Itinerary, Day-by-Day

Day 1: amman.

The first official day doesn’t start until the 6 pm welcome meeting, but I recommend arriving at least one day before so you can spend some time exploring Amman. Because four out of five us were in Jordan as part of the combined Egypt-Jordan tour and the fifth person was arriving late, our guide, Muhammad, gave us a city tour around Amman, taking us around downtown and to the Roman Theatre and the Citadel.

Otherwise, your welcome meeting will be at 6 pm, where you will meet your new Intrepid friends and go out for an optional group dinner. I highly recommend Hashem , the best street-food-style restaurant in Amman. It’s affordable, delicious, and loved by locals and visitors alike. Afterwards, the night is yours to do as you please – try some of Amman’s famous knafeh at Habibah Sweets , smoke some shisha (called argeela in Jordan) with your new friends, walk around Downtown, or call it an early night.

Day 2 – 3: Wadi Rum

You’ll wake up early on the first official day of the tour and start your day off with breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you’ll board a private mini-bus and start the 5-hour journey to Wadi Rum, one of Jordan’s most impressive landscapes. You’ll be spending the next day and a half here, so bring some entertainment (a pack of cards, Exploding Kittens , or other fun card games will do) and get to know your fellow travelers. On the first day, we explored some of the surrounding landscapes, went up to a couple of viewpoints, and enjoyed the spectacular Wadi Rum sunset before enjoying a home-cooked dinner by the Bedouins.

You’ll be camping in Bedouin tents on both days two and three, complete with mattresses, blankets, and communal bathrooms and showers. On day two, you’ll go on a trek around the Wadi Rum area in the morning, and the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. All your meals are cooked by the Bedouins and they’re delicious! Some people get a bit bored on this day, so I recommend bringing a book, journal, games, etc. I was close to my fellow travelers by this point, so we had a great time just hanging out. It was also winter when I visited (February), so the weather outside was quite pleasant as well.

Day 4 – 5: Petra

After a stop at the Wadi Rum visitor’s center this morning, you’ll continue your journey to Petra, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and one of the most amazing sites I’ve ever visited. After checking into our hotel in Petra, we headed to Petra itself for a guided tour. Muhammad was honestly my favorite guide I’ve had with Intrepid for lots of reasons, but I especially appreciated his candid warnings about Petra. He mentioned that our ticket included a “free” horse ride that we would have to tip for heavily later. He told us where in Petra to purchase souvenirs and refreshments if we wanted but that he would have to make a show of asking us if we wanted to buy things near the main entrance to maintain good relations with the vendors. We all really appreciated his candor.

Another thing to note about Petra (which I didn’t experience but have heard from many female travelers): be wary of the Bedouins who invite you to a party/dinner/the back entrance to Petra / etc. I’ve heard of various scams around these offers, so just be a bit wary of overly friendly locals.

Anyway, back to Petra. On the first day, you’ll spend a solid few hours exploring the site with your group, led by your guide. You’ll get your first glimpse at the famous Treasury and be enthralled by just how majestic and impressive Petra is. It’s truly mind-blowing.

We opted to have dinner at our hotel that evening since we knew we’d be waking up early the next day for a long day exploring Petra.

On day two in Petra, you’re free to explore on your own. There are tons of amazing hikes, viewpoints, and buildings in Petra (it’s the size of a small city) so bring plenty of snacks, water, sunscreen, and some sturdy shoes , and get ready for a full day of exploring. I separated from my group at various points, met up with them again, and so on. The day is yours to explore – the site is seriously amazing beyond words.

That evening, I’d pre-planned to do a cooking class with locals with A Piece of Jordan. I was beyond exhausted from the day of hiking but I’m so glad I opted to do it (a couple of my group members joined me as well). It was a great way to meet locals, learn how to cook some delicious Jordanian food, and just chat about culture and customs. I highly recommend doing an experience with them while in Petra!

Day 6: Dead Sea and Madaba

The next morning, you’ll head to Kerak Castle, where you’ll be enchanted by your guide’s tales of battles between the Crusaders and Muslim armies in the 12th century.

Next, you’ll head to the famed Dead Sea, a lake so salty that no animals or plants can survive in it. It’s the lowest point on Earth, and the density guarantees you’ll float, so go ahead and get those classic Dead Sea photos. Did I mention that the water also has healing properties? Just be careful not to shave for a couple of days beforehand – you’ll be extra aware of any cuts you have on your body! Also, don’t forget to bring a towel .

Next, you’ll head to Mt. Nebo, the spot where Prophet Moses is said to have seen the promised land and where he’s supposedly buried. Jordan is filled with tons of historically religious sites, making it extra fascinating for those who practice Christianity, Islam, or Judaism.

Your day will end in the small city of Madaba, famed for its beautiful mosaics and Ottoman-style houses. This is actually where our guide was from, so he knew all the good places to eat and hang out.

Day 7: Jerash and Madaba

The next morning, you’ll drive an hour and a half to Jerash, one of the most impressive Greco-Roman ruins I’ve ever seen. It’s huge with tons of nooks and crannies to explore – and explore we did, after getting the grand tour from Muhammad. Jerash has an incredible collection of theaters baths, archways and more, and you can easily spend an entire day exploring.

Back in Madaba, you’ll visit some of the iconic places in town (like the mosaic-filled St. George’s Church) and then the rest of the evening is yours. Dinner, dessert, and shisha are always a fun way to end the evening.

Day 8: Madaba

The tour officially ends after breakfast today. If you’re headed to the Amman airport, you can easily pre-book a transfer . However, I recommend taking the bus to Amman and spending an additional day or two in the city – there’s plenty to do, see, and eat!

What’s included and what’s optional?

This is an original style trip, but the majority of the activities are included – you mostly just have to cover your meals.

• 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
• All accommodation (5 nights in a hotel, 2 nights in a desert camp) and transportation
• Wadi Rum – 4WD jeep safari, guided trek, and desert camp
• Petra – Guided tour of Petra, 2-day entrance pass
• Kerak – Kerak Castle
• Mt Nebo – Mt Nebo visit
• Dead Sea – Dead Sea visit
• Jerash – Roman ruins
• Madaba – St Georges Church

Not included:

• Breakfast on the first day, most lunches (except on the second day in Wadi Rum), most dinners (except both days in Wadi Rum)

To be honest, almost everything I wanted to do in terms of activities is already included in this itinerary. The only additional add-ons I paid for were in Amman (the theater and the citadel) and the cooking class in Petra , which was independent of Intrepid. You can also optionally do the Petra by Night tour, which I’ve heard mixed reviews about. The main expenses on this trip are food-related.

The Tour Leader

One thing I love about Intrepid is that they always hire leaders who are native to the country you’re visiting. Muhammad was our tour guide on this trip and he was by far my favorite Intrepid guide to date. He was incredibly and impressively knowledgeable about Jordan – both in terms of history and current issues. He also went out of his way to make sure we weren’t scammed in Petra, which I appreciated. Lastly, he was fun . He joked around with us and made us all at ease with him and each other – the five of us were all so close by the end of the trip.

Overall Muhammad, along with my fellow travelers, made this trip truly unforgettable – seriously, I can’t say enough good things.

Who travels with Intrepid?

Intrepid Travel attracts people from all over the world. In my experience, most of the travelers tend to come from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The age range varies wildly – I’ve been on trips with 18-year-olds and 80-year-olds, and everything in between (which makes for some seriously interesting perspectives and characters)! I have to say that the majority of the time, travelers tend to be curious about other cultures and genuinely interested in gaining new perspectives and experiences. Out of all my trips, I’ve only dealt with one unpleasant passenger (it happens) but have often left the trips with plenty of new friends. On this trip in particular, I traveled with four Aussies, all of whom were awesome.

What’s the transportation like?

This was an original trip and we took private, air-conditioned mini-buses as transportation everywhere. We also did a jeep ride in Wadi Rum.

What’s the accommodation like?

This is an original style trip, which means simple, tourist-style hotels (usually around 3 stars). We also glamped in desert camps for two nights. The camps were really comfortable – we had access to bathrooms, showers, and mattresses.

Our hotel rooms were all clean and comfortable – boutique-style and budget-friendly hotels that I would be happy to stay in again. Most of them were within walking distance from the downtown area with friendly staff and all the amenities you’d need. Overall, the hotel accommodation was good – neither bad nor amazing.

What’s the food like?

Jordanians take eating very seriously and it’s no wonder: their food is some of the best in The Middle East (in my opinion). The food is fresh and flavorful, influenced by spices and cooking techniques from both Africa and Central Asia.

Ask any Jordanian what the best dish is and they’ll tell you mansaf, a spiced rice dish made with lamb and fermented yogurt. It’s not for everyone, but definitely worth trying.

Other delicious dishes include kibbeh bi laban (fried meatballs in yogurt), mujadara (a rice and lentil dish), and fattet hummus (a bread, yogurt and chickpea dish) amongst many other delicious eats.

If you’d like to get a true taste of the food scene in Jordan, consider taking a cooking class in Petra and be sure to check out this awesome food tour in Amman!

Is Jordan safe?

I know that Jordan tourism suffers due to its location, but don’t let that deter you from visiting. Jordan is at peace with its neighbors and as long as you don’t go hanging out in the border towns, you’re good. I felt incredibly safe the entire time I was in Jordan. I wandered solo in both Petra and Amman without thinking twice. Men tend to stare, but I didn’t experience any catcalling or harassment.

As a word of caution, I’ve heard of a few concerning incidents from fellow female travelers (especially those traveling solo) in Wadi Rum and Petra – especially Petra. I did not experience this myself despite wandering through Petra on my own for most of day two (it helps that I’m ethnically ambiguous and blend in). However, I’m not discounting these experiences – please do not wander off with local men in Jordan. Yes, hospitality is a thing, but use your discernment – a quick Google search will show you the common Petra scams that women sometimes face.

Overall though, I’d say that Jordan is safe for travelers as long as you follow your gut and use common sense. Be sure to  get travel insurance too – you never know when you might need it.

Would I recommend the Explore Jordan tour with Intrepid Travel?

Yes, yes, yes, I would definitely recommend the Explore Jordan trip with Intrepid. It was incredibly organized and fun and covered the highlights of Jordan. It’s nice that nearly all the activities are already included, making it easier to budget ahead of time, especially considering that Jordan is an expensive travel destination.  Jordan is a country where a local guide / organized tour is a seriously beneficial addition to a trip – public transportation is difficult for tourists and expenses as a solo traveler tend to add up.

Jordan is truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so if you’re considering a tour, book Explore Jordan (or Discover Egypt and Jordan if you have time). It’s an amazing place.

In terms of improvements, I don’t have much to critique about this tour. Some travelers online weren’t too happy with the day three itinerary (a full day in Wadi Rum), but I loved it and had no qualms about spending a relaxing day in the desert. Additionally, although I arrived in Jordan early enough to do a little tour of Amman, I think it’s a shame that an Amman city tour isn’t included as part of the itinerary. Lastly, it’s a tad annoying that the tour ends in Madaba rather than in Amman, since there isn’t much more to do in Madaba at that point. However, this is a relatively painless problem as you can always take a bus or taxi back to Amman (or book a transfer if you’re heading directly to the airport).

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Other Essential Information

The tour starts at USD $1,060 but the actual cost depends on the departure date.

Best Time to Visit Jordan

Jordan is more or less a year-round destination, but hot summers and fairly cold winters make it a country best enjoyed in the spring and autumn. For budget travelers, winter is a definite option as long as you dress properly (I went in February and it was a little cold but fine overall). Note that you can still enjoy the water in the winter since the Dead and Red Seas are warm year-round.

March – May: Springtime is the best time to visit Jordan. It’s warm but not unbearable and the country is covered in wildflowers. Because the climate varies widely depending on where you are, this is the best time to enjoy temperate weather everywhere.

September – November: Weather starts to cool slightly in autumn, but stays pleasant until November, when it starts to cool into the low 60s F – still temperate by most standards.

The official language of Jordan is Arabic, which is spoken by everyone. In most touristy places, you’ll find that many people have a decent grasp of English, but you’re better off learning some Arabic phrases  just in case you find yourself in a jam.

Jordan uses Jordanian Dinars (JD) and at the time of updating this post (January 2024), the rate was about USD $1 to .71 JD. Credit cards are widely accepted in Jordan at touristy places (but not in smaller establishments and towns). You should still bring some cash to exchange or use one of the many ATM machines while there.

Want to extend your trip?

Although this itinerary is pretty thorough, it lacks sufficient time in Amman and doesn’t include a visit to Aqaba.  Even if you’re short on time, I recommend spending at least an additional couple of days in Amman. Here are my recommendations if you want to spend some extra time in Jordan:

• Explore Amman on a city tour
• Learn to cook some Jordanian food or eat your way through the city instead
• Trek to Wadi Mujib Siq
• Relax in some hot springs
• Visit Eastern Jordan’s castle ruins

Final thoughts

Discover Egypt and Jordan was my second trip with Intrepid Travel (I’ve now been on four total). You can read my review about why I like the company so much here . I don’t think group tours are necessary for every country, but I highly recommend doing one in Jordan.

Although I felt safe the entire time I was in Jordan, there’s something to be said about having all the details of your trip already planned and having an awesome guide who is knowledgeable both about the history and the customs. Transportation can be a challenge in Jordan and the same goes for keeping travel costs down (especially for solo travelers).

After spending 10 days in Jordan, my resounding conclusion is this: it’s time for you to get to Jordan. With its welcoming and fascinating culture and awe-inspiring sites, Jordan will surely shatter any misconceptions you have about visiting.

More Jordan Resources

• Jordan Travel Guide
• Shattering Stereotypes Over Food With A Piece of Jordan

Tell me: Would you consider taking an Intrepid Jordan tour? Why or why not? Share in the comments below!

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2 thoughts on “ Exploring Jordan with Intrepid Travel: A Review ”

Thanks for awesome story and pictures. I’m going there next friday and I’m super excited! And what was very interesting is your suggestion to purchase a VPN. I have NordVPN myself and always travel with it, however it’s very rare to see someone recommending it in a travel context. It’s a great app, I always save some extra money on tickets he-he and never miss a chance to watch US Netflix no matter where I am at that moment. All in all, thanks for all the info!

I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Sabrina! I’m SO excited for you – Jordan is amazing! And yessss haha I know that people discount the issue of internet privacy but I’ve had a lot of issues accessing accounts abroad (and Netflix of course) so I think it’s super important to recommend it! That one’s one of the more powerful ones out there so I swear by it! Happy travels 🙂

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Intrepid are great

Intrepid are Fantastice. We did 2 back to back trips in Central America so feel very qualified to comment. On both trips the accommodation way exceeded our expectations aside from one night on each separate trip.The hotel put us in a wrong room. We were highly impressed when on discussion with our guide the next morning he immediately got us a new room. You can only admire that level of service. The 2nd night was when all our rooms were like youth hostels. We fully understand that this was unavoidable due to the distances we travelled and the isolation. Not a biggy at all. We still had a good time! The guides" know their stuff" and genuinely have the groups well being and experiences at heart. Multiple times they both went out of their ways to help those in the group with various issues. The food and the optional extra tours were great! Do them and make the most of it all. We highly rate Intrepid and highly recommend. Thanks for the most amazing holidays. Gayle and Adrian

Date of experience : March 08, 2024

Reply from Intrepid Travel

Hi Gayle & Adrian! Thank you so much for your time and fantastic review. It is amazing to know that you both enjoyed your time travelling with us around Central America. We are happy to read that your tour leader was always helpful and that the accommodation exceeded your expectations. We are truly thankful for your kind words and can't wait to welcome you back on another Intrepid adventure!

Our Mini Sahara Tour was fabulous

Our Mini Sahara Tour was fabulous! Our guide and driver made us comfortable and they were very knowledgable. No time were we rushed and were able to see many interesting spots along the way. Our guide, Hamid Boulmane, was great!, he even arranged a birthday cake for my partner along with music and dancing. The camel-sunset ride into the desert was certainly eventful. One of the camels I was on bit me, so for revenge I ate a camel burger....delicious! a good friend went on a 7 day trip with Intrepid TraveI and highly recommended INTREPID TRAVEL and so do we.

Date of experience : January 24, 2024

Hi Sara! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your amazing comments regarding your time in Morocco. It is fantastic to learn that you had a fabulous experience, and that our tour offered you the best tour leader- Hamid. We can't wait to welcome you back on your next adventure!

Back from Everest Base Camp trek and…

Back from Everest Base Camp trek and what an incredible experience. A massive thank you to our guide Gyaljen Sherpa who made every day outstanding. The knowledge and stories of the mountains will never be forgotten and I hope to return and experience the mountains again. The trip was planned to an exceptional standard and whilst the accommodation standards are what we are used to, we soon came used to the teahouses and each one was great in its own way. The food was pretty exceptional along the way and the trekking was such fun with a great group of people. Some were hard days but the feeling of accomplishment made up for it and the views in the morning when you wake up more than made up for the cold nights and dubious toilets. Thank you Intrepid and your guide and our porters made this trip so special for us

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

Hi Lee and Nicola, thank you for your lovely review! We are thrilled to hear of your experience, and that your guide as well as your porters were a benefit to your group. We are so pleased to know of your accomplishment of 'conquering' such a trip- bravo! We know it is not easy. We hope to see you along with us in future, and thanks again for your review. Stay well.

My trip to Vietnam traveling with…

My trip to Vietnam traveling with Intrepid was amazing first time I've ever traveled alone I always felt safe,I did 2 adventure first was to Sapa for 5 days. Soso my Guide was good I enjoyed every bit of it.The Vietnam south bound tour our guide Doan was amazing always their to help. I would highly recommend the trip if you're looking for adventure culture and amazing street food to 5star get it all in one. When I do my next adventure I would definitely travel with Intrepid

Date of experience : March 02, 2024

Hi Wendy, thank you for taking the time to post a review and for your recommendation. It’s wonderful to know that being your first time travelling alone you had an amazing adventure whilst enjoying all that Vietnam has to offer. We hope to welcome you on another of our adventures soon.

India--not on my bucket list but now a favorite.

We went to India with several friends and did the Classic Rajasthan tour. India was not on our bucket list but it turned out to be one of our favorite tours. Things I really liked: small group (we were 6 of 12), our lodgings--old palaces, quaint, unique, the sights we were able to see in our short time there and best of all was our leader, Panchem. I would go to India again if it works out some time in the future.

Date of experience : February 25, 2024

Hi Jeff, thank you for taking the time to post a review. It’s wonderful to know that although not a bucket list trip, this turned out to be one of your favourite tours, that Panchem was a great Tour Leader and that you would like visit India again. India is a wonderful destination and there is so much to do and see. We hope you made some special memories of your time here, and that we can welcome you on another of our adventures soon.

An amazing experience

I was an fill-in for this trip having never had any desire to travel to India but always open for anything. This trip taught be so much about the country, the history & the people & I returned with a completely different opinion on it. I am so glad I went. There were some downs but mainly ups and although I wouldn't rush back, I think the trip was hugely interesting & worthwhile & would definitely travel with this company again.

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Catherine. It sounds as if India took you by surprise and you learnt lots about this incredible country. We are pleased to hear that you found the trip interesting and worthwhile and that you would happily travel with Intrepid again.

Premium Egypt in Depth

We just came back from Premium Egypt in Depth. Family of 4. Absolutely incredible experience. Everyday was a wow. Our guide, Ahmed, was fantastic and we felt very taken care of every step of the way. Gor to see and experience everything we wanted and more. Felt completely safe. Small group is amazing way to go. Can't say enough good things, far exceeded our expectations.

Date of experience : March 01, 2024

Hello Scarlet! Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience. It’s great to know how much you enjoyed your tour and that your leader did such a great job. Also, that you were able to experience the amazing history and culture that Egypt has to offer. We can't wait to welcome you back on your next adventure!

Splendid Cycling Trip in Vietnam

For many years, I had always wanted to go on a cycling tour in Vietnam. I finally took the leap and joined up with Intrepid for an epic adventure that far exceeded my expectations. The cycling was fantastic, the guides & support team were amazing, and my fellow travelers were a pleasure to be with. The food, the culture, the history, the people. . . Vietnam is such a special place!

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Hi Mark, thank you for taking the time to post your review. It great to know that having finally taken the leap to cycle Vietnam, the turned out to be an epic adventure with Intrepid that exceeded your expectations. That your guide, and support teams were amazing, and fellow travellers a pleasure to be with. Vietnam really is a special place to explore and take in the culture, history and amazing food. We do hope you will find another itinerary to your liking and that we can welcome you on another of our adventures soon.

Premium Vietnam with Intrepid

Another Intrepid adventure with all the details taken care of so I can just relax and experience it. When I travel I don't have space for trying to pick the right hotel, reading miles of info so I have a great meal, knowing the best way to get from A to B depending on whether I want the scenic route or the destination is more important. Intrepid and their experienced guide made sure I got what I wanted from my travel experience with the hassles. The small group was an ideal size enough people to have some to chat with but small enough to not take forever to go anywhere.

Date of experience : February 29, 2024

Hi LC, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. It good to know that when travelling with Intrepid you feel you can just relax and enjoy the experience. We are proud of our commitment to employ local tour leaders as we believe that with their intimate knowledge of their region, culture and of course the best places to visit, they really do serve to enhance the local experience, so it pleasing to know you got what you wanted from your experience. We do hope you will find another of our itineraries to your liking and we can welcome you on another of our adventures soon.

Northern light Iceland

This was one of the most amazing experiences and we would highly recommend this to anyone. It was very cold but that is to be expected as were interested in the northern lights however it was made up for by the natural spectacular beauty of Iceland. Our tour guide Ari was knowledgeable & superb; nothing was too much trouble for him and he went out of his way to assist in every way. The pace was just right for this tour, the accommodation good, the sights surpassed expectation and the bus was comfortable.

Date of experience : February 24, 2024

We are so pleased that you enjoyed the beauty of Iceland, Belinda, with all it has to offer with it's stunning scenery. It sounds as if this trip ticked all the boxes for you with good sightseeing, accommodation and comfortable transport. We look forward to welcoming you on another trip in the not so distant future.

What makes a great trip

What makes a great trip? The itinerary, the group, and the group leader. I was so lucky to have all of these on my recent trip to Jordan. I felt 100% safe the entire time, the group was fantastic, and our leader put it over the top. Don't hesitate if you want to see this wonderful country. Intrepid made it easy and I have wonderful lifetime memories!

Hi Sue, thank you for sharing your experience and posting this wonderful review and recommendation. It’s great to know how much you enjoyed your tour and that your leader did such a great job. Also, that you were able to experience the amazing history and culture that Jordan has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you on another of our adventures soon.

An incredible company

An incredible company. I’ve been travelling with them for over 15 years. They are professional in everything they do. I won’t book my holiday with anyone else. A great Australian company.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

Hi Gary, thank you do much for posting this review and for your loyalty to Intrepid. It’s great to know that having been travelling with us for 15 years won’t book with anyone else. We would love to hear more about your adventures with us, but I haven’t been able to locate your bookings from your post. If you could reach out to our Customer Care team, with your full name and contact information, we would love to arrange a call, to discuss your past and future travel experiences.

Family death and no customer care

Due to the death of my father I could not take my scheduled trip and wished to postpone. Intrepid would not allow this and showed no compassion nor customer care in their callous decision. I lost my trip money paid including a single supplement. My airline refunded my ticket, no questions. Note that I have travelled with them and an affiliated company, Imaginative Traveller, to Thailand, India, Cambodia, Cuba, Costa Rica and Egypt. I do not recommend them. Rescheduling two weeks in advance due to a death should not be an issue.

Date of experience : March 31, 2024

Lisa, we are so sorry for your loss and would like to send you our condolences. We do have a compassionate policy in place to support our customers, and I can see you have been liaising with our reservations team over this. Our reservations team will follow up with you to ensure you are receiving the support you need during this difficult time.

Policy of NO REFUNDS

Our problem was not with the tour we were thrown off, or the staff but with Intrepid Travel administrators. We were booted off the tour for ill-health but were refused a refund. There was little communication at the time of this no refund policy and our Travel Insurance were expected to give the refund but refused.

Date of experience : February 13, 2024

We are sorry to hear that you fell unwell whilst on tour. We are unable to locate your booking from the review, however, we trust our Customer Care team are already likely in communication with you, however if not please reach out to [email protected] with your booking number and name.

Unique and wonderful

I have travelled with Intrepid three times: Northern India, Southern India, Thailand and Laos. Each of the tours were uniquely wonderful with knowledgeable, fun and caring guides.

Date of experience : February 21, 2024

Thank you Jenny for taking the time to leave a review. We are so pleased to read that you have had a positive experience whilst travelling with us and exploring India, Thailand and Laos. We hope you will join us again on many more adventures to come.

Another fabulous Intrepid adventure. The Mountains and Mystics tour was filled with a wonderful variety of scenery, transportation, cultural insights. Pramod, our leader, ensured all went well and his calm manner was a welcome balance to the enthralling ‘noisy chaos’ of much of India.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Mountains and Mystics tour and that you found it to be a good variation of scenery and cultural insights. We are so pleased that your local leader was able to show you the sights with a calming influence. We look forward to welcoming you on your next Intrepid adventure, once you have chosen where that may be.

Incredible guide and local…

Incredible guide and local accommodations... the itinerary (even during Ramadan) was very well designed. Customer service totally went above and beyond. Can't wait to book another trip

Hi Jessie, thank you so much for your kind words. We are thrilled to know that you were able to explore your destination during Ramadan- we can appreciate that changes in scheduling often happen during these observances. We look forward to hosting you again when the time comes, stay well!

Once in a life time trip

We had a phenomenal, once in a life time trip to Jordan with Intrepid. The itinerary was fantastic and our guide (Mutaz) was so knowledgeable and friendly and really made the experience exceptional for us. I cannot recommend this trip enough!

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Kirsty. It sounds like an incredible trip with a tour leader who delivered an exceptional experience for you. We are delighted to hear that you would recommend this trip and we are excited to welcome you on another Intrepid adventure.

Nice trip but overpriced

Intrepid don't actually run the Patagonia Short Break - Torres Del Paine trip which I took, but coordinate the customers with the organization in Puerto Natales, Chile, which runs the day trips which comprise the "Patagonia Short Break". The day trips are all worthwhile, especially if the weather cooperates, as it did for me. The first day was somewhat rainy, but it involved mainly a bus tour of parts of the Torres del Paine National Park with plenty of stops at various scenic sites plus a tour of the milodon cave, which is well worth the visit. The second day turned out to be a beautiful one for the cruise along the Desolation Fjord with its spectacular glaciers and mountains. The third day involves a very tough hike to the base of the eponymous Torres del Paine peaks. The trip also includes four nights at a nice hotel plus a bus ticket to Argentina. This last often goes unused by the customers like myself, according to the local agency in Puerto Natales, which questioned why it is part of the trip package. It is a waste of about US$50 for the ticket to be issued, and in my opinion, should be an option, not automatically included in the trip fare. Speaking of cost, I find it hard to justify the total cost of the trip charged to customers. The activities are all worthwhile, and I don't regret the trip, but the price is definitely inflated.

Date of experience : February 19, 2024

Hi Anne, thank you for taking the time to post an honest review. We would welcome the chance to discuss your experience and suggestions in more detail. Please reach out to our Customer Care Team at [email protected] with your booking reference and one of the team will get back to you.

This company completely abandon their customers thousands of miles from home if they become ill.

This company completely abandon their customers thousands of miles from home if they become iunwell. Do not book with Intrepid! My 20 yr old son booked a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand and became seriously ill whilst in Vietnam. He was then left fighting for his life in a hospital where nobody spoke English with no means of communication except for Google Translate. If it hadn't made several phone calls to the British Embassy in Hanoi and repeatedly contacted Intrepid raising my concerns we would never have heard from them again. As a result I flew out there to be with him as Intrepid left him thousands of miles from home with no follow up. This company shows no duty of care towards it's customers and the group leader merely told him to "Be a man" before leaving for a jolly with the rest of the group (my son was also the youngest member of the group). Absolutely disgraceful company who have now tried to deny all responsibility for their actions and refused to refund any of the cost. My son had to stay in hospital for two weeks and was in serious risk of heart failure. Intrepid couldn't care less! Please please avoid them! He would never have made it back if I'd left it in their hands. Do not believe the glossy veneer and fake reviews. They don't even deserve a one star rating, I would give them zero if I could.

Dawn, we are deeply sorry to hear about your son's hospital admission and the distress this has caused. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers is our highest priority, and we take matters like this very seriously. We can see that our Customer Care team is already in contact with you regarding this matter.

Intrepid Egypt and Jordan Tour – A Comprehensive Review

Thinking of booking a group tour with Intrepid to Egypt and/or Jordan? Here’s my honest review and what you can expect from this trip. All your questions answered!

This post will cover:

• what’s the booking process?
• what are the hotels like?
• do you really need a sleeping bag ?
• what was the food like?
• do you need to be physically fit ?
• how many people were in the group?
• what were the buses and trains like?
• do you get much time to yourself?
• how much extra did I spend on tickets, food, etc?
• what did I pack ?
• what luggage did I take?
• what were the highlights ?
• where did I stay before/after?
• benefits of taking a tour
• thoughts on the itinerary
• some final tips

Which tour did you take? How much does it cost?

I went on Intrepid’s Jordan and Egypt Uncovered trip which is 22 days long and costs from £1936 (at the time of writing).

This itinerary is actually two tours combined:

• the 9-day Jordan and Egypt Express
• the 15-day Explore Egypt

Both of these trips are Lonely Planet branded itineraries at Intrepid’s Basix comfort level (more about that below).

If you’re interested in travelling to Jordan and Egypt but would prefer a shorter trip or a higher comfort level there are several further options?

• Real Egypt and Jordan – Basix, 15 days, from £1758 (18-29s only)
• Explore Egypt and Jordan – Comfort level, 19 days, from £3511
• Discover Egypt and Jordan – Original level, 15 days, from £2084
• Premium Egypt and Jordan – Premium level, 15 days, from £4005
• Premium Egypt and Jordan In Depth – Premium level, 22 days, from £5340

I chose this particular itinerary because it was the longest trip for the least money and it was the only tour which included Dahab.

The Lonely Planet branded trips also claim to have a decent amount of free built in to the schedule. This was important to me because I’m a slow traveller and an introvert who likes my space (this was my first ever group tour).

What’s the booking process like?

The website provides plenty of information on each tour. I recommend downloading the trip information PDF which will give you a day-by-day breakdown as well as packing and climate suggestions.

There is the option to pay the total or just the deposit upfront. If you select the latter option Intrepid will include a payment schedule with your receipt.

I received an initial ‘Thank You for Booking’ email followed a few days later by the full confirmation which states:

‘After a thorough review, we are happy to advise that, at time of writing, your trip will be operating as scheduled. * * Subject to your trip meeting minimum numbers, if applicable.’ 

So you might want to hold off on booking any flights until you’ve received that full confirmation .

A quick moan : when purchasing, you can tick a box to indicate interest in help with extras transfers and additional nights. It’s also mentioned in several e-mails. But no-one ever got in touch, nor did they reply to the contact form.

Eventually I phoned only to be told I couldn’t book any extra nights through Intrepid because we were now outside the contracted booking period with the hotel. Which is fine but I wish this information was somewhere in booking info – I would have booked it sooner! It would be nice if you could just add these as part of the booking process but for now it’s still a manual step. 

What were the hotels like?

Intrepid do explain what to expect from the accommodation on different trip styles but you have to go hunting for it (you can find it here ).

On Basix trips expect:

‘… clean and centrally located accommodation to give you a good night’s rest along with a great trip price. Generally Basix trips use budget accommodation, sometimes with shared facilities and occasionally on a multishare basis… Typical accommodation types include budget hotels, local guesthouses, camping or homestays. ‘

It’s worth noting that hotels in Jordan and Egypt are not of comparable standard to Western hotels with the same star rating.

I found most of the hotels basic but comfortable enough. Expect a few hard beds and pillows, crispy/small towels, lack of wi-fi, mouldy showers, AC/heating issues, street noise – but thankfully not all at once. 

If you’re used to roughing it or staying in hostels then you’ll be fine. If you prefer a certain level of comfort, cleanliness, and convenience then you might be better off choosing a higher category.

Wi-fi is patchy and in many hotels it’s outside the lobby only. Upload/download speeds are sometimes slow. If you want to upload a lot of photos/video then it’s worth buying a SIM cards, they are pretty cheap in Egypt. Your guide can help you with this in Aswan.

Do I really need a sleeping bag?

I travelled in March which is towards the end of the winter season, and the trip information/packing notes suggested bringing a sleeping bag for the outdoors accommodation (the Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum and the traditional wooden felucca boat in Egypt). We were also supposed to stay in a beach camp but for this trip we were upgraded to a resort.

Most of our accommodation seemed to have plenty of thick blankets available so personally I didn’t feel the need for a sleeping bag. I did bring a sleeping bag liner but didn’t use it. Freshly laundered sleeping bags were also available to hire on the felucca.

I was colder in some of the hotels which only had thin blankets. If you’re travelling in the winter/shoulder season then I do recommend lots of thermals and layers.

The felucca deck is pictured below – everyone’s on the deck, sleepover-style.

How are the toilets?

Maybe this is one benefit of having a tour guide – they know where the good toilets are. We didn’t come across a single squat toilet in 3 weeks. Most toilets cost 5EGP to use, occasionally 10EGP. Nearly every toilet had paper but it’s worth having a small packet of tissues on you just in case.

Is there a toilet on the felucca?

Yes! But you’ll be sleeping on deck under blankets and there are no shower facilities. We were informed by our guide that most feluccas don’t have a toilet but if you’re travelling with Intrepid you should be ok.

What was the food like?

To be honest, the food was not bad but a bit samey by the end of 3 weeks. There’s a lot of falafel (especially if you’re a vegetarian) and beans , especially at breakfast. The quality varies. Bring snack bars if you think you might get bored of the same breakfast. There were a few hotels with buffet breakfasts which we swooped on.

The best restaurants were in Dahab and Luxor. 

Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth I recommend trying the doughnut balls in Dahab!

Do you have to be physically fit?

Intrepid rate this trip 3/5 active – ‘ This trip will raise your heart rate. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.’.

As a responsible travel company Intrepid don’t recommend using the camels/donkeys/horses at the ancient sites, and sometimes the only alternative is a long walk.

Petra was the day with the most walking – we easily did 27k steps. You could cut this in half if you don’t do the hike to the Monastery which also has lots of steep and uneven steps.

Electric carts are available at the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel. Coaches can drive between the main points at the Pyramids.

Balance might be more of an issue as there are several boats on this trip.

Staff at the snorkel sites are used to guiding those who aren’t confident swimming using a life ring. The life jackets will help you to float too.

How early were the mornings? And how late were the nights?

The pace of the tour wasn’t as gruelling as I expected. I found the itinerary well-planned in that respect.

The busiest bit was Cairo > overnight train > Aswan > early start for Abu Simbel . It probably wasn’t so bad for those joining the trip in Cairo who were still feeling fresh! Thankfully it was followed by the very relaxing felucca trip.

Most mornings were 7-8am. There were two brutally early starts for Abu Simbel and the hot air balloon. These are both optional but personally I wouldn’t miss either of them.

There were several days/scheduled activities scheduled in which were a slower pace, and the second Egypt week was less hectic than the first.

Nights were mostly early, perhaps because our group skewed slightly older but also everyone wanted to get the most out of the ancient sites.

Egypt and Jordan aren’t exactly known as party destinations and not all restaurants serve alcohol but your guide will point you to bottle shops (hello Drinkies!).

How many people were in the group?

There were just 4 of us doing the Jordan portion of the trip but the group size went up to 16 in Egypt.

Our group was 50% under and 50% over 60, the majority women but a few men. It was mix of people travelling together as either friends or couples, and solos.

It truly was an Intrepid bunch – most were well travelled and had been on at least one Intrepid trip before. Some had been on upwards of 10!

I must say that 16 felt a bit too many people for me – although it’s still much smaller than many other tour companies. In the future I would look for trips with a max size of 12.

I was very lucky with my roommate who was lovely. A single supplement is available if you’d rather have a room to yourself.

Do you get much time to yourself?

If there’s one thing I was really worried about before taking a tour it was was having enough time to myself.

When we did have free time I mostly spent it chilling in the hotel rather than doing any extra activities or sites. But I need plenty of time to recharge, your mileage may vary.

I ate with the group most nights but it’s another opportunity to go off by yourself if you’re craving some alone time. 

If you’re still concerned then I recommend getting a single supplement.

What were the buses and trains like?

One bonus of having a bigger group is a bigger bus. In Egypt we mostly travelled on private coaches . We used different buses in different places rather than one bus for the whole trip.

In Jordan we were a smaller group so used minivans . This can feel more tiring for long trips.

The longest drive was 6 hours, most were 2-4 hours.

Don’t be surprised if you get the odd bus which smells of smoke, it’s still very common in this region.

At most stops we were able to leave ours things on the coach and I felt perfectly safe doing so. There was no scary driving, all of our drivers were safe and careful .

How much extra did I spend on meals, tips, and tickets?

Intrepid do give guidance in the Trip Information PDF on how much to put aside for the tipping kitty and tipping your guide. Neither are compulsory but they are the done thing, so to speak. 

However they don’t provide much guidance on how much extra to allow for your personal spending. The Trip Information PDF gives a long list of prices for extra sites and activities but it’s really hard to work out how many you’ll be able to fit in, if any.

I had a quick look on competitor website G Adventures and found that for Egypt they suggested $250 per week. I found this to be roughly accurate for me if you exclude shopping but include food and the main optional extras (guided tours of the Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, a few extra tombs and smaller sites, and the hot air balloon).

Jordan is more expensive, I spent around $330 in 5 days including a private driver for Jerash.

What was on my to-do list before flying out?

• Book flights
• Travel insurance (check if your government advises again all but travel in Egypt as this can invalidate your insurance and you’ll need to find a specialist company, I used Battleface as Intrepid suggested)
• Book any extra hotel night in Amman and Cairo plus transfers
• Scan your travel documents and save them somewhere you can access from abroad like Google Docs
• Apply for any visas that you need and can’t get on arrival
• Check vaccination/test requirements
• Check in for your flight and print your boarding pass if necessary
• Download Google Maps offline for your starting city with your hotel saved in it
• Get cash if you need it (I mostly use ATMs but took some Jordanian dinars for my transfer and first day)
• Charge anything that needs charging
• Check that you have the right adapters
• Let your bank know you’ll be travelling abroad
• Take a photo of your luggage before checking it (I also like to keep a packing list with all my items, and make sure your contact details are easily found inside.

What did I pack/wear? And what did I take but not need?

I was expecting a mix of hot and cold weather in March so I packed two outfits of jeans/sweaters plus thermals and fleeces for extra layering, a few maxi dresses, and tunics/leggings.

Unfortunately it turned out to be a cold month with only one or two days warm enough for dresses.

So I wore my packable down jacket a lot. My sandals didn’t get a look-in.

I wish I’d packed an extra couple of pairs of jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies.

It wasn’t too much of an issue being a bit cold during the day but some hotels were very cold at night. I slept in a sweater and thermals most nights. I’m a cold soul so I also  brought a mini hot water bottle which I was very thankful for in Alexandria in particular.

If you’re travelling in warmer months then lots of light loose layers will be most comfortable.

You’ll need a scarf for visiting religious sites (every tourist shop will have them for sale). In more conservative places it’s appropriate to cover your knees, shoulders, and elbows.

A big water bottle (mine is 1.5L) is handy.

What about luggage?

Nearly everyone in our group had at least one rolling suitcase and one carryon . There were a few places we would have to walk with our bags for 5 minutes to reach the hotel so if you’re packing extra make sure you can carry them.

It’s recommended that you bring padlocks for your bags. We didn’t have any issues but better safe than sorry. Not all of the places we stayed had safes in the room.

What were the highlights of my trip?

So many! Petra was a stand out. The site is so much bigger than I had expect and the landscape is totally stunning too.

Everything in Luxor was amazing – Karnak Temple , the Valley of the Kings , and the hot air balloon at sunrise. We had a fun surprise when we checked in and realised we could see the Avenue of the Sphinxes from our balcony!

I loved the chaos of Cairo and the lush beauty of Zamalek , our neighbourhood base.

I’ll never forget the night train to Aswan and the felucca – the Nile scenery took my breath away.

My favourite food was the baba ganoush in Jordan. The best restaurant was Al Sahaby in Luxor.

And my favourite place was unsurprisingly Dahab with its relaxed boho vibe and endless cafes.

Where did I stay before/after?

In Amman I booked a few extra nights at the hotel Intrepid used. This was my least favourite of the hotels and if I was doing it again I’ll book myself into a nicer hotel to make the ease myself in gently.

It’s worth getting to Amman at least one day early because the itinerary does not include anything in the city, nor does it include the huge Roman site Jerash which is undoubtedly one of the country’s highlights. The easiest way to see it is to organise a private driver through your hotel, although it is possible to get the bus if you’re feeling adventurous. I paid 35JOD.

If you only have the one day then it’s worth booking a driver for longer to incorporate any sites you want to see in Amman itself (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Citadel), because Amman is super hilly and it’s attractions are spread out.

I choose not to stay any extra nights in Cairo because I thought we would see enough on the tour. However all of our time there felt rushed. 2 or 3 extra days at the end would be perfect for extra tours to Saqqara, Islamic and Coptic Cairo, and extra shopping time.

I really liked the neighbourhood we were staying in (Zamalek) but I would probably move somewhere with a pool like the Hilton Zamalek which is just down the room.

Is it worth booking the transfers?

I think so yes. I’m a big fan of taking the stress out of arrival in a new place. Although Uber is popular (and cheap) in Cairo we had some problems getting them to actually turn up at the hotel.

Benefits of taking a tour

I’m so glad I went on a tour can’t even imagine trying to do all that by myself!

This point should really be at the top of this page because it’s really the most important – it’s so amazing to have a local guide in Egypt in particular. One who not only can introduce you to Egyptian culture but also has a degree in Egyptology and can translate hieroglyphics for you! Who can help you out with logistics, the tipping, the police permissions, SIM cards, tout hassle, cultural differences, shopping tips, and where to find the best falafel sandwich.

It certainly makes sense for an itinerary that includes a lot of historic sites.

As someone used to travelling solo, it was a real treat being able to leave all the organisation up to someone else. I felt quite relaxed by the end of it (if a little bit passive).

Both my Intrepid guides were amazing and really made the trip special.

Also some of the experiences would not have been possible travelling on my own – like the Nubian homestay and the felucca.

I would happily to return to Jordan, Cairo and Dahab on my own and hire drivers where needed, but I was thankful to be on the Intrepid tour for Egypt’s major sights.

Some thoughts on the itinerary

The Jordan and Sinai section of the trip was perfectly balanced, I loved it.

The middle bit was busy but packed with riches.

But second week in Egypt felt like it was missing a focus. Alexandria was refreshingly untouristy but dedicating a whole day to the war museum didn’t feel like the best use of time. 

On the flip side, I could easily have spent more time in Luxor and Cairo – there were plenty of extra sites that we didn’t have a chance to squeeze in such as Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Saqqara. If your main priority is the Ancient Egyptian sites then consider an itinerary which spends longer in these areas.

I could also happily have spent more time drifting down the Nile!

Any final tips?

• Make sure you read the detailed itinerary and trip information and are happy with the group size and standard of transport/accommodation before booking. 
• Be prepared for a lot of sad looking animals in Egypt.
• Make sure you have the Uber app on your phone for Cairo (but always have a backup plan).
• Keep an eye out for Black Friday and post-Christmas sales on the Intrepid website, you can usually bag yourself a chunky discount!

All images © The Mediterranean Traveller

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Jordan & Egypt Uncovered

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Christmas & New Year

Places You’ll See

• Visit the jewel of Jordan - Petra
• Enjoy a dinner cooked by Bedouin host
• Go diving or rock climbing in Dahab
• Visit Giza's Pyramids and Sphinx
• Eat some fresh seafood after exploring Alexandria
• Introduction
• Day 1 Amman
• Day 2 Petra
• Day 3 Petra
• Day 4 Wadi Rum
• Day 5 Nuweiba
• Day 6 Dahab
• Day 7 Dahab
• Day 8 Cairo
• Day 9 Cairo
• Day 10 Aswan
• Day 11 Aswan
• Day 12 Nubian Homestay
• Day 13 Nile Felucca
• Day 14 Luxor
• Day 15 Luxor
• Day 16 Hurghada
• Day 17 Hurghada
• Day 18 Cairo
• Day 19 Alexandria
• Day 20 Alexandria
• Day 21 Cairo
• Day 22 Cairo

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Customer photos.

Operated by Intrepid Travel

Back in 1989, two guys from Melbourne, Australia by the names of Darrell and Manch set off on an adventure to the other side of the world. They travelled to Africa and without air conditioning on their modified truck, they filled it with supplies, some beer, a bunch of aviator sunglasses, and some friends. On that trip, they came up with the idea that perhaps others may be interested in this style of travel too. Just like that, Intrepid was born. Intrepid has come a long way since then, now giving over 100,000 travelers a year the opportunity to experience small group travel across all 7 continents. They use local transport, sleep in local accommodation from Cambodian stilt houses to Moroccan riads, and employ 100% local leaders. With three different travel styles including basix, original and comfort, themes ranging from cycling trips to family holidays, and itineraries crafted with the perfect balance of must-see sights and free time, Intrepid caters to every type of traveller no matter their age, budget or travel style. The company has grown but their mission remains the same: to change the way people see the world through sustainable, experience-rich travel

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Good 3.8
• Itinerary Average 3.0
• Guide Excellent 4.5
• Transport Good 3.3
• Accommodation Average 2.5
• Food Average 2.8
• Tour Operator Intrepid Travel 4.6

• RR Robert · 6th November 2017 I enjoyed the tour overall. I did not like the hotels as I would not rate any of them as even a 1 star. Didn't like the Nubian homestay at all, I mean sleeping on a porch, basically outside, with only 1 bathroom, pretty primitive. The mini buses and... Show more Trip date: October 2017

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• December 2025
• -20% Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 18 May, 2024 Saturday 8 Jun, 2024 English Filling Fast €2,795 €2,236 Confirm Dates
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• -20% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 5 Sep, 2024 Thursday 26 Sep, 2024 English Filling Fast €2,905 €2,324 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
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• -20% Get Instant Confirmation Thursday 10 Oct, 2024 Thursday 31 Oct, 2024 English €2,905 €2,324 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

Got a question about this tour?

Reach out to our travel experts.

Good to Know

• Currencies £ Egyptian Pound Egypt د.ا Jordanian Dinar Jordan

As a traveller from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M, J, G. As a traveller from England you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M, J. As a traveller from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, J, G.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Egypt and Jordan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Egypt and Jordan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Egypt and Jordan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Rabies - Recommended for Egypt and Jordan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Egypt. Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Jordan. Ideally 10 days before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 1st July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 1st July 2024, a minimum payment of €400 is required to confirm your booking with Intrepid Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Intrepid Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Intrepid Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Intrepid Travel Review – the Largest “Small Group” Adventure Travel Company

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

780 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

34 Published Articles 3151 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article 1172 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10 U.S. States Visited: 20

Who Are Intrepid Travel Tours Good For?

Intrepid travel styles, destinations, intrepid australia, intrepid cambodia, intrepid costa rica, intrepid cuba, intrepid egypt, intrepid greece, intrepid iceland, intrepid india, intrepid jordan, intrepid morocco, intrepid peru, intrepid sri lanka, intrepid vietnam, intrepid travel reviews, intrepid travel vs. g adventures, intrepid travel insurance, intrepid promo code, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Traveling the world is an exciting adventure, but for many, it can be a stressful experience. Worries of safety, navigation, and tackling language barriers can be enough to put off many travelers, especially if you’re considering going solo.

Intrepid has been operating small group tours for over 30 years and is one of the major leaders in the industry. You can choose from over 1,000 tours to 100 destinations, selecting the comfort level that suits your budget and travel style. You’ll be guided throughout your journey — right from the point of booking — with advice on visas , currency, and other essential trip information .

Intrepid has been a fully carbon-neutral company since 2010 by investing in projects that actively reduce CO2 emissions. So you can feel safe in the knowledge that you’re traveling as green as possible while embarking on your adventure. Intrepid small group tours usually accommodate up to 16 people but tend to have an average of around 10.

Solo Travelers

Most of us have been in a situation where we’ve been desperate to go traveling, but none of our friends or family are in the position to go with us. You’re then left with the dilemma of going it alone or missing out on the experience altogether. Thankfully, that’s where a small group tour can help.

Even though you’re traveling solo, you’re never really alone on an Intrepid tour. There are rarely single supplement rates as you’ll buddy up with another traveler of the same gender. Of course, you still have the option to upgrade to your own room if you would like to.

Friends or Groups

Joining a tour with a group of friends is great if you like the idea of spending time with them while also being open to mixing with other people. No one likes being the organizer, so joining a small group tour eliminates the pressure from 1 person having to book everything and manage payments. You’re all equal participants on an Intrepid tour.

If you’re traveling with children under 17 , you’re welcome to join a family tour. Let someone else do the organizing and navigating so that you can enjoy the experience of traveling with your family . An Intrepid family tour can be a fun and educational experience for your child and can help them gain confidence by interacting with new people.

Hot Tip:  You might have a long flight or some lengthy road trips to contend with. Prepare yourself with some entertainment by checking out the best podcasts and audiobooks for travel .

If you’re on a budget or believe that a hotel is simply somewhere to rest your head for the night, a Basix Tour could be for you. This tour style focuses on simple accommodation (such as camping or homestays) and lots of free time, so you’re not spending money on excursions that you have no interest in.

Original Tours combine tourist-class accommodation (2- to 3-star hotels) with local and private transport. There’s a blend of planned excursions and independent exploration , suiting those travelers looking for a balance between guided local knowledge and free time.

Comfort Tours feature more comfortable and unique accommodation with more frills than the Basix and Original Tours. Private transport is used throughout, and these tours run at a slower pace with exploration and activities usually led by a guide.

Intrepid Travel Tour Themes and Destinations

18 to 29s tours.

As the name suggests, these tours are specifically for those that fall into the 18- to 29-years-old age bracket and tend to cover the highlights of a destination with lots of free time. With around 10 people per tour, there are plenty of opportunities for making friends , while also allowing you to explore independently if you prefer.

Hot Tip: Contiki is a similar tour company that caters to young travelers in a similar age bracket —  18 to 35 years old. Some tours can accommodate much larger groups, upwards of 50 people. Read more about the tour types and destinations in our Contiki review !

Adventure Cruising

Adventure Cruises accommodate less than 50 passengers  so the ships can explore places that large cruise liners can’t reach. Groups are large enough to socialize with various travelers but are small enough to feel that your arrival on land doesn’t swarm a destination impacting that local experience.

Hot Tip: Our ultimate cruise vacation packing checklist helps ensure that you have everything you need to be dressed for any occasion.

Cycling Tours

Cycling Tours are an excellent way to enjoy the journey and the destination , peddling along with incredible views and authentic encounters. Each tour has a physical rating , so you can determine whether the trip is right for you, and includes a tour leader and support vehicle.

Hot Tip: If you’re an adventure seeker, you’ll want to pack all of the essentials for your next active vacation.

Family Tours

Family Tours consist of family-friendly activities and accommodation mixed with flexible free time. Your tour leader will be specifically trained in family travel with groups accommodating 3 to 5 like-minded families.

Food Tours will give you a true flavor of some of the world’s most famous culinary destinations . Discover fresh food markets and local restaurants, or try your hand at a cooking class.

Lonely Planet Experiences

Intrepid has partnered with Lonely Planet to provide exciting tours for adventurous and independent travelers. Seek out the mountain gorillas of Uganda or ride the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto. You’ll have a knowledgeable local leader and can read all about the destination before your trip with 12 months of free access to the Lonely Planet app .

Hot Tip:  Tours often include a fair bit of walking to see the sights, so you’ll need a good pair of hiking boots or shoes . 

Polar Tours

They may be polar opposites, but the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic have 1 thing in common — they’re both incredible destinations. Look out for polar bears and the Northern Lights in the Arctic and kayak among breaching whales in the Antarctic. Exploration ships have modern amenities , and expert leaders hold interesting seminars and guide travelers on exciting excursions.

Hot Tip: One of our writers sailed to Antarctica on a trip booked through Intrepid .

Retreats are short breaks that could be just a short drive or flight from your home, where you live and explore as the locals do . All retreats feature 1 accommodation, so you’ll only have to unpack once with all your free time spent immersing yourself in the local community rather than traveling.

Other Tour Themes

• Active Adventures
• Expeditions
• Short Breaks
• Tailor Made
• Urban Adventures
• Walking and Trekking
• Women’s Expeditions

Hot Tip:  Avoid the temptation of pickpockets and keep your hands free to explore with these crossbody bags and purses . 

Intrepid Travel offers over 1,000 tours to over 100 countries within these continents and regions:

• Antarctica/Arctic
• Australia and Oceania
• Central America
• Middle East
• North America
• South America

Intrepid Travel Top Tours

From lush rainforests and glistening beaches to baron deserts and cosmopolitan cities, Australia is a country of contrasts. Every region is uniquely different, and due to the sheer size of the country, it’s unlikely that you’ll get to see everything in a single trip. Most tours stick within a particular region . You could be snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, heading out to Kangaroo Island, or exploring the vineyards of the Margaret River.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, most meals, and some excursions

Hot Tip:  As flights are not included in the tour price, you may want to check out the best ways to fly to Australia with points and miles

The Cambodian people are the country’s shining stars. Incredibly friendly with smiles all around, this inspiring nation has risen from the 1970s bloodshed of the Khmer Rouge and welcomes visitors with open arms. It’s an unforgettable moment seeing the sunrise over Angkor Wat or spotting a rare freshwater dolphin swimming along the Mekong Delta.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, some meals, and most activities

With an ecotourism scene , farm-to-table restaurants, and unspoiled natural surroundings, it’s not surprising that Costa Rica’s motto is “Pura Vida” – the pure life. Spot toucans in the mysterious cloud forests, try your hand at a surf lesson, or glide through treetop canopies on a zipline adventure. There is so much to see and do in Costa Rica , and with a tour, you can let someone else do the driving.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, and some activities

Hot Tip:  Intrepid tours use locally run guesthouses, homestays, and restaurants to support local communities rather than large chains.

When you think of Cuba, you think of colorful colonial buildings, vintage cars, and turquoise waters. But there is so much more to see apart from the vibrant capital Havana and its beautiful beaches. Head out to Vinales to tour a traditional tobacco plantation or enjoy some salsa dancing in historical Trinidad.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, and excursions

Egypt is a land of ancient wonders with a history as long as the Nile itself. Marvel at the magnificent pyramids and bargain for souvenirs in the bustling bazaars of Cairo. Sail down the River Nile on a traditional felucca and discover the ancient city of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and some meals

Discover the ancient ruins of Athens before crossing the Aegean to island-hop your way between the beautiful Greek islands. Weave your way around the cute whitewashed houses of Santorini or explore the clifftop ruins of Delphi. Greece is also renowned for its nightlife , whether you’re looking for a quiet bar to watch the sunset or a club to dance into the early hours.

From bubbling hot springs to mountain glaciers, and lush green landscapes to frozen waterfalls, Iceland’s diverse landscape is one of the main attractions that draw visitors to the land of fire and ice. That and the prospect of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon or simply chat with locals in Reykjavik or any of the friendly coastal towns.

India captivates many visitors with its thriving culture, historical sights, wild beaches, and wildlife. The busy cities and sometimes intense atmosphere prevent many from venturing to India independently, and taking a tour can alleviate the pressure . If you love exploring temples, then you’re in for a treat as India has millions.

Soak up the history of the Silk Road, explore the mysterious deserts of Wadi Rum, and visit the magnificent ruins of Petra. Jordan is a haven for history buffs and adventurers alike . For a more relaxed pace, travelers can watch an Arabian sunrise from their Bedouin camp or float in the mineral-rich Red Sea, enjoying every minute of the famous Jordanian hospitality.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, and some meals and excursions

Wander around chaotic and colorful Marrakesh before changing up the scenery with a trip into the Atlas Mountains where you can hike and visit a Berber village. Amble across the Sahara Desert by camel to reach your Bedouin camp or enjoy yoga or surfing in the coastal towns of Essaouira and Taghazout.

Hike within the Andes to reach Machu Picchu — the most well-preserved archeological site for ancient Incan civilizations. Although these mountain ruins are the most visited attraction in Peru , there is so much more to this incredible country. Tours will take you to the unique islands of Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, and deep into the Amazon Jungle in search of black alligators.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, meals, and porters (guided hike)

Hot Tip:  Mosquitoes and other biting bugs can be found all over the world. If you prefer to steer clear of DEET-based repellents, take a look at the best natural insect repellents to help protect you.

Due to its modest size, you can see a lot of Sri Lanka in a small space of time . Not that a trip to this enchanting country should be rushed. Savor your journey around the ever-changing landscapes, from the vast plains of the north, the rocky mountains and rain forests of the center, and beautiful beaches framing most of the rugged coastline. See the largest gathering of Asian elephants or go in search of the elusive leopard. The food is delicious, the culture is captivating, and the people are friendly.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, and some excursions and meals

All who visit Vietnam are blown away by its natural beauty . Watch farmers harvest rice from the colorful fields or sail around the towering limestone rocks of Halong Bay. The powdery white beaches of Phu Quoc Island are glorious, and wondrous waterfalls and caves make for fantastic photo opportunities. If variety is what you’re after, that is exactly what you’ll get visiting Vietnam. One minute you’re negotiating swarms of motorcycles crossing the road in Hanoi and the next your rafting peacefully down the rivers of Ninh Binh.

Hot Tip:  Find out the best ways to fly to Vietnam with points and miles . Currently, there are no direct routes from the U.S. to Vietnam, but with Vietnam Airlines recently receiving the required Air Carrier Permit, this could be on the horizon.

Intrepid Travel is well-reviewed across many of the major review sites. Many customers have recently taken to these sites to negatively review Intrepid’s cancellation and refund policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Trustpilot : 2.8 out of 5
• TourRadar : 4.6 out of 5
• Facebook : 4.9 out of 5

These are some reviews from Intrepid’s most popular tours, and more can be found on the individual destination pages :

Great Ocean Road Adventure ex Adelaide “Great little trip from Adelaide to Melbourne if you’re short on time and want to see the Great Ocean Road. The guide was excellent and the itinerary packed a lot in!” — Kaitlyn

Cambodian Traveller “A good introduction to the country stopping at the main points of interest. Would highly recommend Intrepid as its a well organized operation which takes the difficulties out of traveling in a less developed country where you don’t speak the language. The tour guide was a great help, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and kind. A great trip.” — Imogen

Classic Costa Rica “This has been my third trip with Intrepid. As usual I enjoyed it immensely. This trip deserves additional high praise. Their guides as usual are top class, very knowledgeable and approachable. They show not only in words but actions, how looking after the environment is a major part of Intrepids policy.” — John

Hola Cuba – for US citizens “The Hola Cuba Trip For US Citizens is an excellent introduction to Cuba, it’s people and their culture. The trip provides glimpses into the urban cultures of Habana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos while also allowing travelers to see the quieter lives of those in Viñales and Las Terrazas. Our guide Andy was very knowledgeable of the history a culture of his homeland and did an amazing job of sharing the beauty of Cuba through experience and storytelling. I absolutely recommend this trip for travelers thirsty to learn about Cuba and its people.” — Jason

Egypt Experience “Our group traveling in Egypt was a group of 10- a perfect number. Our leader was mature, very knowledgeable, organized, and treated us all with respect. He did not hover over us and gave us information to make decisions. To visit the antiquities of Egypt was amazing and we had plenty of time to absorb these awesome sites. Our visit to a Nubian village and share a family meal was special. This trip is highly recommended.” — Margaret & Tom

Sail Greece: Santorini to Mykonos “Our sailing adventure true Greek islands was an unforgettable experience! If You love sailing and want to see a real beauty of Greece this trip is for you. Swimming and snorkeling in turquoise water, cave exploration, hiking, beautiful sunsets, sunrises and delicious food are all guaranteed. Great mixture of adventure, relaxation and fun. We also had the best skipper ever, Rita. She was so friendly and knowledgeable. Took the best care of us.! Unbelievable woman with a great personality. She shows us so many beautiful places that we couldn’t even imagine. The boat was way over 10 years old, not 5 as in booklet. All through we had a great trip with great people :)” — Marcin

Northern Lights Escape “I had huge expectations of Iceland. My 6 day Intrepid small group tour (9 of us), met them all. Stefano, our guide, was fantastic – funny, knowledgeable and took great care of us. The itinerary allowed us to see and experience all the amazing highlights of Iceland, and more, even though we didn’t luck out with the aurora. Our tour was early March, so everything was white. I’d do it all again in a flash, and will return and do it in summer, too! I highly recommend Intrepid. Just do it!” — Margi

India’s Golden Triangle – For Solo Travellers “This trip was fantastic! I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t done anything like this before but I’m so glad I booked it. All the hotels were of a good standard as were the tours and transport. Shakti was a fantastic tour leader as was the group I travelled with. I will cherish the memories of this trip forever. I can’t wait to book another trip!” — Chantal

Trek Jordan “Great trip. Ticked all the boxes I was looking for. Loved floating in the Dead Sea and the accommodation there was outstanding. Petra was awesome, especially the trek to the Monastery. That was a great day. Loved trekking Wadi Rum too. What a landscape – no wonder they used it for “The Martian” and other movies. And our guide Muhammad was brilliant – couldn’t have asked for better!” — Robert

Best of Morocco “Intrepid provided an authentic and special experience. I knew my money was going to the people who needed it most. Due to Intrepid’s dedication to providing socially and environmentally conscious tours, the tour drew a unique, like-minded group of people who shared similar values and an appreciation of diverse cultures and the environment. This, along with the exceptional tour guide, are why I will continue to travel with Intrepid in the future. Thank you for a trip of a lifetime!” — Penelope

Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu Extension “This may not be the Inca Trail, but it is still beautiful and cultural. To stand in the Andes and listen to the silence, there are no words. It is still pristine as you wander up through farming communities and then on to the highlands. The waterfall is rather spectacular also and of course Machu Picchu itself. If you are lucky enough to have Kleberth Ovalle as your guide, you will leave much enriched.” — Deb

Cycle Sri Lanka “A wonderful experience to cycle through the country, meeting the local communities and sampling the local food. Some days the terrain was challenging and I was pleased I had an e-bike! Our guide Dodan was enthusiastic, well informed and always went above and beyond the call of duty. A great holiday and one I would thoroughly recommend.” — Heather

Vietnam Express Northbound “This trip gave an excellent overview of Vietnam. The presence of a guide made navigating a country with such a different language and culture to ours much easier. The transport was safe and well organised. Hotels were well situated and clean. We had plenty opportunities to explore on our own but there was always plenty of advice offered about places to avoid.” — Carol

Intrepid Travel and G Adventures are very similar in their product offerings, both offering a wide range of destinations and tour types. Intrepid has over 1,000 tours to over 100 counties , so it does exceed G Adventures’ 700 tours if the range is a factor for you.

Price-wise, both operators are pretty much on par with each other , but if you are comparing a similar itinerary, do check what inclusions are featured as some Intrepid packages include more bang for your buck than G Adventures.

Travel insurance is mandatory when traveling on an Intrepid tour, and your tour leader will need to see documentation before you set off. Although Intrepid doesn’t offer travel insurance, it recommends booking through World Nomads .

Intrepid recommends that your travel insurance covers you for:

• Medical expenses and emergency repatriation
• Personal liability
• Cancellation
• Curtailment
• Loss of luggage and personal effects

Hot Tip:  Don’t get overwhelmed with the variety of travel insurance options available! We’ve created an ultimate guide to buying the best travel insurance to help simplify the process. You may also have travel coverages and benefits offered by your credit card .

While it’s unlikely that you’ll find Intrepid Travel promo codes on third party websites, Intrepid does frequently feature offers for specific destinations or tours that need a push. You’ll also find that booking well in advance can provide savings of 10% to 15% . No promo codes are required to obtain these deals; just visit the Travel Deals page on the Intrepid website.

The heart of Intrepid Travel is in its tour leaders — friendly locals, born and bred in the countries you’re discovering. Who better to show you around? Intrepid’s are some of the best in the industry and are consistently praised in customer reviews for the knowledge and personality they bring to the table.

If you’re thinking about your first tour, or have traveled with another tour operator before, don’t hesitate to give Intrepid a go. You’ll have the most extensive choice of tours and destinations of any operator and the comfort of knowing that you’re traveling with a company committed to having a positive impact on the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is intrepid travel a good company.

Intrepid Travel is well-reviewed across many of the major review sites. Most recently, many customers have taken to these sites to negatively review Intrepid’s cancellation and refund policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But overall, the actual tours are highly reviewed.

Where is Intrepid Travel based?

Intrepid was founded in Australia and has offices in Melbourne, Toronto, London, and New York.

Which is better, Intrepid or G Adventures?

Intrepid Travel and G Adventures are very similar in their product offerings, both offering a wide range of destinations and tour types. Intrepid has over 1,000 tours to over 100 counties, so it does exceed G Adventures’ 700 tours, if range is a factor.

Price-wise, both operators are pretty much on par with each other, but if you are comparing a similar itinerary, do check what inclusions are featured as some Intrepid packages include more bang for your buck than G Adventures.

Are flights included in Intrepid Tours?

Flights are not included in the tour prices you see on the Intrepid website, however, you can book your flights through Intrepid. If you book your flights independently, you need to make sure you arrive in time for your welcome meeting on the first day of your tour.

What age group travels with Intrepid?

All age groups are catered for with Intrepid. 18-29s Tours and Family Tours are the only types that come with age restrictions; anyone else is free to join the other tours. Children over the age of 15 are permitted on most tours, provided they are accompanied by an adult over 18.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Premium Egypt & Jordan in Depth

Health Safety +

• Discover the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings, the ancient city of Alexandria, battle site of El Alamein, the majesty of Petra, and embark on a 4WD drive adventure through wind-swept rock formations of Wadi Rum.
• Enjoy unforgettable Exclusive Experiences, including dinner in a family’s home in Cairo, a visit to the city’s oldest coffeeshop, sunset drinks on board a traditional felucca and a zarb dinner with your Bedouin hosts in Wadi Rum.
• Take your time exploring Abu Simbel with an overnight stay, discovering this magnificent monument carved out of the mountainside with less crowds, followed by a Premium Exclusive Experience; an incredible sound and light show.
• Relax with four nights on a premium Nile riverboat, allowing you to cruise up the river in comfort, and experience isolated elegance during your stay at a luxury camp in Wadi Rum, your Feature Stays for this adventure.
• Experience the best of Middle Eastern cuisine during welcome dinners in Cairo and Amman, high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, traditional meals in two family homes and a family-run cooking class in Amman.

What's this trip about?

Travel themes.

• High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions.

• Jordan Valley
• Luxor Temple
• Nubian Desert
• Pyramid of Giza
• Temple of Karnak
• Valley of the Kings
• Valley of the Queens
• Adventure & Adrenaline
• Historic sightseeing

Trip includes

• Complimentary Arrival Transfer
• Cairo - Welcome Dinner
• Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
• Cairo - Egyptian Museum
• Alexandria - Wadi El Natron monasteries
• Alexandria - Anba Bishoy Monastery
• Alexandria - Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
• Alexandria - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
• Alexandria - Fort Qaitbay
• El Alamein - War cemeteries and museum
• Luxor - Karnak Temple
• Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
• Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun
• Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple
• Luxor - Colossi of Memnon
• Izbat Al Bayyarah - Kom Ombo Temple
• Aswan - Philae Temple
• Aswan - Sharia el Souk
• Abu Simbel - Abu Simbel temples
• Abu Simbel - Abu Simbel Sound and Light Show (entrance fee)
• Aswan - Afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel
• Aswan - Sunset drinks on a felucca
• Aswan - Elephantine Island
• Aswan - Unfinished Obelisk and High Dam
• Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner
• Cairo - Home-Cooked Dinner
• Cairo - Coffee/tea in a local cafe
• Cairo - Khan al-Khalili Bazaar
• Cairo - Ibn Tulun Mosque
• Cairo - Gayer-Anderson Museum (entrance fee)
• Cairo - Fayoum Day Trip with Valley of the Whales and the Climate Change Museum
• Amman - Welcome Dinner
• Jerash - Roman ruins
• Amman - cooking class and dinner
• Madaba - St Georges Church
• Mt Nebo - Site visit
• Shobak - Shobak Castle
• Petra - Leader-led tour of Petra
• Petra - Petra second day visit (unguided)
• Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep tour
• Wadi Rum - Zarb Local Dinner
• Wadi Rum - Desert and dunes walk

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Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12pm and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer, you will be advised of the pick-up time. If you would like to spend more time in Amman, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

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Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

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