• A week in Zanzibar or Bahamas for just over £1,000 per person
• New tours range from the Zanzibar archipelago to Dry Tortugas National Park

December 2016 – Intrepid Travel, the specialist tour operator, has enhanced its range of authentic, immersive travel experiences by greatly expanding its choice of sailing holidays.  These exciting adventures afloat are the perfect complement to the overland tours for which the company is justly celebrated.  The company now offers trips to South-east Asia, the Galapagos Islands and the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, with all itineraries being carefully curated to uncover the very best of each destination. 

The sailing holidays are perfectly suited to both experienced sailors and absolute beginners.  Skippers will happily share their knowledge and literally show guests the ropes, while those who prefer to sit back and relax will be equally well accommodated.   The itineraries also allow plenty of time for exploring ashore and discovering local cultures, all in the company of fellow like-minded travellers.  And with accommodation on-board working out to be much cheaper than staying in hotels, the value for money offered by these sailing holidays is outstanding.

Particular highlights among the new sailing trips include….

Bahamas Sailing Adventure

Seven days from £1,145 per person, with departures from May-July 2017

In true Intrepid style, this itinerary takes in the lesser-known, castaway Abaco islands, far from the mass-market, cruise-ship crowds found elsewhere in the archipelago. The region is defined by white sand beaches, palms seas and impossibly blue seas, whose sheltered, shallow waters make this an ideal trip for sailing novices.  The curving chain of islands includes hundreds of undeveloped cays and islets, some of which (such as No Name Cay, famed for its swimming pigs) are featured in the itinerary.  Other highlights en route include laid-back villages, candy-striped lighthouses and the chance to spot sea turtles swimming wild in the Caribbean Sea.

The holiday includes six nights' accommodation (with breakfast) aboard a catamaran, plus six dinners and five lunches.

For more details: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/bahamas/bahamas-sailing-adventure-102023 

Key West & Dry Tortugas Sailing Adventure

Seven days from £854 per person, with departures from March – July 2017

This brand new itinerary combines the sleepy, uninhabited Marquesas Islands with the Dry Tortugas National Park and the bright lights of Key West – the continental USA's most southerly city.  Closer to Cuba than Miami, Key West has an away-from-it-all ambiance that's truly all its own, making it an interesting start- and end-point for the trip.  The tour then proceeds to the Dry Tortugas, America's least visited National Park, and on to the Marquesas for snorkelling and looking out for boobies, manatees and other wildlife.  Finally, a night enjoying Key West's restaurants, bars and saucy cabaret clubs ensures a memorable end to this exceptional odyssey.

The holiday includes six nights' accommodation (with breakfast) afloat, plus five dinners and five lunches.

 For more details: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/united-states/key-west-dry-tortugas-sailing-expedition-103259

Myanmar (Burma) Sailing Expedition

Fifteen days from £2,110 per person, departing 29 March or 4 November 2017

Myanmar remains an adventurous, out-of-the-ordinary country to visit, and doing so by sea is more unusual still.  Starting from the lively Thai resort island of Phuket, the voyage into the Andaman Sea begins on the Burmese border at Kawthoung and continues through the epic limestone scenery of the isolated Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago.  On-board kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment provide ample opportunities for exploring above and below the surface.  Encounters along the way can be expected with whale sharks, dugongs, sailfish and the enigmatic Moken people – nomadic “Sea Gypsies” who have lived here for millennia.  Jungle hikes, beach days, hidden coves and lazy siestas on deck complete this incredible experience.

The holiday includes two nights' hotel accommodation, twelve nights aboard a catamaran, overland transfers and 13 breakfasts, twelve lunches and twelve dinners.

For more details: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/myanmar-burma/myanmar-burma-sailing-expedition-101047

Gili Islands Sailing Adventures ex Bali 

Seven days from £1,100 per person, with departures from July – September

Bali, Indonesia's most vibrant outpost is the starting point for this floating adventure.  Crossing the Strait of Lombok, the journey continues via coral reefs and white sandy beaches to the legendary Gili Islands. These laid-back jewels scattered across the Bali Sea are the epitome of tropical island life.  With local means of transport limited to bicycles or horse-drawn carriage, there are no motorised vehicles to interrupt the peace.  The snorkelling here is excellent, with the three species of sea turtles that inhabit the islands being particularly sought-after encounters.  Other highlights include visits to Nusa Ceningan's Blue Lagoon, Nusa Penida's natural infinity pool and the Angel's Billabong – a natural swimming pool with waters of a sparkling emerald green.

The holiday includes six nights' accommodation on a catamaran (with breakfast), five lunches and six dinners.

For more details: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/indonesia/gili-islands-sailing-adventure-ex-bali-104313

Zanzibar Spice Islands Sailing Adventure

Seven days from £1,155 per person, departing June - September 2017

Zanzibar – an archipelago of more than 40 beautiful islands – has been an important Indian Ocean trading post for centuries.  Chinese, Indonesian, Persian, Malay and Arab traders have all left their mark on the islands' culture and cuisine, which makes them fascinating to explore.  This itinerary does just that, via sleepy settlements, rainforest hikes and plenty of swimming and snorkelling.  Sightings of humpback whales and both bottlenose and spinner dolphins are possible in the Pemba Channel, while snorkelling on the coral reefs brings the chance of seeing turtles and tropical fish. On land, there are jungles to discover (monkeys may well be sighted here) and colourful villages for sampling island life.  The gentle pace of the itinerary coupled with all those at-sea sunsets makes this an ideal way to explore this achingly beautiful island group.

The holiday includes six nights' accommodation afloat (with breakfast), four lunches and five dinners.

For more details: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/tanzania/zanzibar-spice-islands-sailing-adventure-102395

For more information, please visit www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/theme/sailing

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Media Enquiries:

The Brighter Group intrepid@brightergroup.com

Intrepid Travel team: Amelia Williams and Fiona Watson 020 7326 9880

About Intrepid Travel:

Intrepid Travel has been taking people off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 27 years. The Melbourne-based adventure travel company is part of the Intrepid Group, the world's largest provider of adventure travel experiences. Intrepid offers more than 1,500 trips in more than 100 countries and on every continent. Trips are designed to truly explore local culture, meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and lots of included activities means travellers are able to have a sustainable local experience that is great value for money.