Intrepid Travel is celebrating 25 years as one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators by launching a host of new tours for 2014, taking travellers further off the beaten track in destinations such as Burma and Vietnam, and adding even more 'real life experiences' to its tours, such as staying with a Hakka ethnic group in China, learning to play percussion in Cuba, and exploring Southern Africa by public transport. 

Sail in seclusion in Burma's south

Since resuming tours to Burma two years ago, Intrepid has seen sales to the country boom and its 15-day Best of Burma tour has already become the operator's best-selling tour. Starting next month, Intrepid will take small groups further off the tourist trail with a new Burma Sailing Trip that explores the tricky-to-reach islands of the Myeik archipelago by yacht, affording travellers a glimpse of a culture that remains virtually untouched by tourism.

Vietnam frozen in time

Intrepid's best-selling destination is Vietnam, and with strong sales of the recently launched Real Food Adventure - Vietnam proving that travellers are hungry to discover the country at its most authentic, a new Northern Vietnam Encounter will go beyond the well-worn north to south route to explore the remote Ha Giang region, which borders southern China. Visually spectacular with dramatic mountainous terrain, 90 per cent of the population are ethnic minorities and travellers will stay in villages with barely another tourist in sight.

Rousing rhythms and rumba in Cuba
With passenger numbers to South and Central America already growing rapidly, particularly among 18 to 35 year-olds, and next year's World Cup expected to fuel further interest, Intrepid is introducing several new tours in the region, including its first trip designed around music and dance. On Intrepid's Cuba Music and Dance tour, travellers will explore the island's diverse musical scene from ballet to the Afro-Cuban beats of son music, join salsa and percussion workshops, and even record their own track with local musicians.

Home away from home
For a chance to experience day-to-day 'real life' in their destination, travellers can enjoy unique homestays on a number of Intrepid's new trips, with opportunities to dine on an Eastern European banquet with a Ukrainian family in a small village on the Classic Russia & Ukraine tour, to learn about the coffee production process while staying on a plantation on the Café Colombia tour, and to stay with the Hakka ethnic group on Intrepid's new South China Getaway.

Alight from local transport
Wherever possible, Intrepid uses public transport on its tours to give travellers a taste for living like a local, and to reduce carbon emissions. In 2014, it will become the first travel company to offer 100% public transport-based tours along East Coast USA and Canada, with trips in the Canadian Rockies, from Seattle to Alaska, and between major East Coast cities, for example New York to New Orleans, by train and bus.

A new Southern Africa Unplugged tour will explore South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe almost entirely on public transport, using minibuses, local buses, bicycles, taxis and traditional dhows. Unlike anything other tour companies are offering in the region, travellers will discover the region's highlights, including Kruger, Milwane and Matobos National Parks, Mozambique's stunning beaches and Victoria Falls.

Dishing up a new Food Adventures menu

Following the success of its food tours in Vietnam, India, Mexico and several other destinations around the world, Intrepid will add new 'Real Food Adventure' tours - which champion street fare, local specialities, home cooking and urban food culture - in eight destinations: Argentina, Cambodia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru and Sri Lanka. Three short 'Bite-size Breaks' will be added in Beijing, Shanghai and Delhi for 2014.

Trekking Morocco's Mount Toubkal
As well as the new Real Food Adventure - Morocco, which offers the chance to chow down on a camel burger, Intrepid is offering those who want a more active introduction to Moroccan culture the chance to head to the summit of Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak at 4,167m. Sales of Intrepid's tours in Morocco have experienced substantial growth over the last 12 months as travellers seek an alternative to other destinations in North Africa and the Middle East.

Hung up in Hawaii

A brand new destination for Intrepid, the Hawaiian Highlights trip will take travellers beyond the obvious beaches and shopping meccas of this sun-blessed beauty. Travellers will hike in pristine Kauai, the least developed island in the Hawaiian archipelago, get a glimpse into the largest and most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, on Big Island and spot a humpback whale in Maui. 

More of Intrepid's new trips for 2014 can be found at www.intrepidtravel.com/new-trips-2014

Notes to editors

For more information or images please contact Amanda Linardon, Australia & New Zealand PR Manager on amanda.linardon@intrepidtravel.com  or +61 (0)481 009 149.

About Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company that has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for almost 25 years. It offers more than 1,000 trips in more than 100 countries and on every continent. Every trip is designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and included activities mean they offer travellers great value for money.