Intrepid Travel has launched six new Europe experiences to spread travellers further afield and avoid the clusters of overtourism that besets the continent.
The world’s largest adventure travel company is encouraging travellers to add some new and less crowded European destinations to the itinerary in 2020.
“For something a bit different, Ukraine is full of fascinating recent history and haunting landscapes and the Dakhla Peninsula in Morocco offers a remote experience for travellers, where the sea meets the Sahara and few international travellers have explored in recent times.” Intrepid Travel’s Europe Product Manager Steph Millington said.
“We’ve seen a growing trend for adventurers who want a softer landing, so have designed trips in Spain, Poland, the Baltics with that in mind and the trips have more creature comforts for travellers.”
Intrepid has seen growth of 14% this year of Aussies travelling to Europe, with bookings to Portugal up 72%, showing Australia’s love affair with Europe remains hot.
Here are six new European experiences to try in 2020:
Vodka and so much more in Poland
With its medieval towns, rich cuisine, colourful culture and of course, world-class vodka, Poland is set to be the next big thing in Europe. To cater to growing interest in the country, Intrepid has launched two new tours including an eight-day Highlights of Poland trip taking in the country’s most iconic cities: Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk, from $2,325 per person twin share. While a new 18-day Poland and the Baltics trip combines major Polish cities with some new gems in the north and the Baltic states, from $5,550 per person twin share.
Natural beauty and history in Ukraine
Intrepid’s Highlights of Ukraine trip takes travellers off the typical trail to discover this Eastern European gem. HBO’s Chernobyl put the spotlight on this destination, but there is so much more to the country aside from its confronting nuclear history. With multiple departures from May 2020 to September 2020, this eight-day trip lets travellers experience the best of this far-flung destination including natural scenery, charming small towns and friendly locals. Starting from $1,886 per person, highlights include hiking in the Carpathian Mountains, a stay at a friendly family-run guesthouse, exploring Lviv, Ukraine’s coffee capital, and visiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to learn the tragic modern history of the country.
A low-impact approach to Camino
For a less-crowded, low-impact approach to the Camino, Intrepid is offering a Portuguese version. The 11-day coastal alternative starts in Porto before crossing the border into Spain to commence the trek. Travellers will pass through the seaside towns of Baiona, Vigo and Redondela before continuing the pilgrim trail onwards to Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padron, and finishing in Santiago de Compostela. In between walking days the Portuguese Camino offers the chance to taste oysters in Arcade and visit a local Bodega on the way to Santa Marina to taste the wines of Galicia. The trip departs in May, August and September 2020 and is priced from $2,220 per person twin share.
A new side to Morocco in Dakhla
Intrepid has become one of the first tour operators to send travellers to the disputed Moroccan territory, Dakhla, after it recently opened its gates to international tourism. Largely inaccessible until only a couple of years ago, the Dakhla peninsula is an untouched paradise on the edge of the Sahara that’s seriously off the tourist radar. During Intrepid’s five-day Marrakech and Dakhla Adventure guests fly to the south of the country for an unforgettable beach and desert immersion including a 4WD adventure through the dunes, crystal clear beaches, the Bahia de Dakhla lagoon, fresh seafood and traditional Bedouin hospitality during a night under the stars. The trip departs between April and October 2020 and starts from $1,395 per person twin share.
Southern Spain beyond Seville
While it’s hard to skip Seville on any visit to Spain, Intrepid has launched a new trip which combines the southern city’s cobblestoned streets and sun-speckled squares with the chance to delve deeper into the heart of Andalucia to find the real gems of the region. Priced from $2,485 per person twin share, the eight-day Highlights of Andalucia trip includes a visit to tourist hot spots including the Alhambra Palace, the mountaintop city of Ronda and less-visited locations such as Grazalema National Park and the whitewashed village of Zahara de la Sierra. Highlights include an exclusive tour of a family-run Olive Oil Mill and the chance to see one of the most beautiful Moorish palaces in the world, Alhambra.
Portugal’s favourite places and best kept secret
Intrepid has released a new eight-day trip offering travellers the chance to soak up some Portuguese highlights and some of the destinations most hidden villages. With selected departures from May to October 2020, travellers will explore well known hot-spots Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra as well as exploring one of Portugal’s best kept secrets, the Schist Villages. Starting from $2,102 per person twin share, the new Highlights of Portugal offers the option to take a traditional cooking class with local residents in Schist Villages, includes an emotional Fado performance in Coimbra and wine tasting in the birthplace of fortified wine, Porto.
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