Intrepid Travel vs G Adventures Review: Taking the Best Tour (2024)

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You’re ready to go on your next adventure. You have read about the convenience of small group tours… they appeal to you. Why not have someone else do all the planning for you while you sit back and have a trip of a lifetime with like-minded travelers?

I’ve got a lot of travel experience, having been to 139 countries on my round-the-world trip. And most of my trips are independent travel. But, now and then, I do enjoy doing small group tours due to the convenience they offer and the benefits they give me to achieve certain travel goals.

So, it is no surprise that people often come up to me and ask me which tour companies I’d recommend for multi-day international tours.

It always comes down to G Adventures or Intrepid Travel.

Both of these companies offer “off-the-beaten-path” adventure trips, but the travel styles differ vastly (depending on the tour you book).

There are plenty of reviews out there of both Intrepid Travel and G Adventures, but this review is based on my own experience after having traveled extensively with both companies. I’ve also had personal chats with tour leaders and representatives of each company to bring you information on their mission, products, and target audience.

Read on for my in-depth Intrepid Travel vs G Adventures review to help you decide which one fits best into your travel plans.

Similarities Between G Adventures and Intrepid Travel

G Adventures (previously called “Gap Adventures”) and Intrepid Travel are both internationally renowned travel companies that specialize in adventure travel around the world, without breaking the bank!

Here are some similarities that make both companies great:

• Both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel take care of all the trip logistics while still allowing you to have free time to explore by yourself.
• The companies promote responsible travel, conservation, and sustainability.
• Their safety standards are high – something I consider a top priority.
• There are great discounts and savings:
  • G Adventures offers a 20-25% discount on travel deals.
  • Intrepid Travel offers a 15-25% discount on “Early Bird” or last-minute deals.
• The companies both have a similar tour classification, ranging from budget to comfort travel. Tours can be selected based on cultural shock value or level of activity. They also offer both family tours and backpacker tours.
• You’ll be taken “off the beaten path”. Imagine staying with locals or camping to get to know the people who live in the area. You’ll get to embrace local living and culture, often taking public transport to go beyond the typical tourist sites.
• The flexibility offered by both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel is unreal. You can select to do a recommended activity with the tour leader, explore on your own, or simply stay at the accommodation and relax.
• Intrepid Travel and G Adventures both have over 30 years of experience in adventure trips.
• Both adventure travel companies started out as budget adventure tour companies for people aged 18 to 39. But today, both offer a wide variety of adventures. Trips can be selected based on budget and activity levels and are available to all ages.
• They have both improved their tour guide quality in recent years, therefore offering even more value at each destination. For example, G Adventures Tour Leaders are called CEOs, or Chief Experience Officers, which, in a way, they are as they are the face and leaders of your adventures with them.

Reviewing G Adventures And Intrepid Travel

So, we’ve discussed the similarities between both companies (and also how great they are). But, there are a couple of differences that make each company unique. So, here’s a breakdown of some of the pros and cons based on my experience traveling with Intrepid and G Adventures.

G Adventures

Quick facts:

G Adventures was originally named Gap Adventures. This tour company was founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip. He had just returned from backpacking in Asia and was incredibly inspired by his experience.

Gap Adventures was a double entendre, with “gap” standing for “Great Adventure People,” as well as “bridging the gap” between backpacking and other forms of travel.

G Adventures has gone from strength to strength, and today, they offer over 700 itineraries and tours in over 100 countries. They’re based in Canada but have 28 offices across the world.

Pros:

• Tours tend to be more affordable – This is one of the main reasons why I like G Adventures (often referred to as Gap Tours too). The ratio of quality to price is superb! Plus, they have a good selection of promotions and tours for under $1000. From my experience, they are often slightly cheaper than Intrepid Travel.
• Excellent quality and exceptionally curated routes – G Adventures tours have high quality across all their adventure trips. Their itineraries are curated with minute detail to explore the best the destination has to offer and to gain as much exposure to the local culture.
• Plenty of destinations – With over 700 itineraries, I’m pretty sure that you will find a trip that suits your specific needs and wants.
• More departure dates – Tours depart every day, a couple of times a week, or a couple of times a month, depending on its popularity. You’re almost certain to find a tour date for your desired trip.
• Most tours are guaranteed – You have a wide selection of guaranteed tours. You don’t have to worry if the tour is going to run or not depending on the number of travelers.
• Expanded tour style selection for every traveler – G Adventures is now focusing on more targeted experiences with their:
  • YOLO tours (for young, active travelers)
  • Local Living Tours (for a more local experience)
  • Active Tours (for the adrenaline)
  • Classic Tours
  • Family Tours
  • Rail
  • Marine
  • Private Tours
  • National Geographic Journeys (excellent for photographers and adventurers who like to travel in style).
• Lifetime deposit – If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, your deposit is safe – for life! What’s even better is that it is transferable to another person, or you can donate it to their eco-friendly foundation – Planeterra Foundation.
• Support local communities with their G for Good Program – Thanks to the Planterra Foundation, many trips include activities with local communities so you can support and interact with them. This could be in the form of a home-cooked meal at a local home, a local skill-learning class, or simply learning more about their way of life.
• They try to focus on sustainable travel – In addition to the Planeterra Foundation, G Adventures makes an effort to invest in local businesses, sustain indigenous people, and protect wildlife. They also help with disaster relief around the globe.
• Promotes awareness – G Adventures partnered with the Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) to help more teachers explore the world and then bring their experiences back into their classrooms. In addition, they partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to create itineraries aimed at raising awareness of animal welfare and wildlife-friendly tourism.
• No single supplement – Traveling solo? No problem. There is no additional charge unless you want a room on your own. For me, as a solo traveler, this is a big plus.

Cons:

• Variable local operator or local guide quality control – This is my biggest criticism towards G Adventures trips (and Intrepid Travel tours too). Many of their itineraries and guides are subcontracted and operated by local companies and their tour guides – even when their staff and vehicles are branded with the G Adventures logo.
  Sometimes the quality of some of these companies is not at the level G Adventures is known for, therefore affecting your trip’s quality. In recent years, though, they have managed to improve the overall quality and raise the bar even more.
  As mentioned, Intrepid Travel does the same subcontracting, thus suffering the same quality control issues on a country-by-country basis.
• Keep an eye on the “optional” – When selecting a tour, check the itinerary and look for optional activities. When you have an optional activity, the choice is yours to decide whether you want to do it or not, but doing it comes out of your pocket. If there are many optional activities, try budgeting for them and keep track of how they add to your total tour cost.
• Their groups tend to be bigger than Intrepid’s – This can be a pro or a con depending on the tour and your travel style, but with an average of 15 people per group, G Adventures guides have a slightly bigger workload to make sure everyone is okay and having a good time.
  Having said that, each tour leader I’ve interacted with on my G Adventures trips has been able to manage the group exceptionally well.

Intrepid Travel

Quick facts:

Intrepid Travel was founded back in 1989 by two Australian guys who met at university, Darrell Wade and Geoff ‘Manch’ Manchester. Their inspiration? They decided to quit their jobs and organize a 6-month trip through Africa.

Today, Intrepid Travel is the largest small-group adventure travel company in the world. They offer more than 1,000 tours across 100 countries. The headquarters are based in Australia, but they’ve got several offices worldwide.

Pros:

• Very reliable and excellent reputation – In general, they tend to have a sterling reputation regarding customer satisfaction. They get incredible feedback from those who join their tours. Complaints about Intrepid’s tours are minimal.
• Highly qualified local tour operators – Even though they subcontract many of their routes, the chances of selecting a trip that is run by a high-quality tour operator are high.
• Smaller average group – The average group on Intrepid’s tours has 10 travelers (compared to an average of 15 on G Adventures). It’s neither good nor bad to have more or fewer travelers. It just depends on your preferences. But most people like smaller groups for a “better experience.”
• A varied selection of tours based on activities – Intrepid Travel has expanded their tour selection, but in their case, it’s more based on activities like sailing, cycling, eating (foodie tours), family (more relaxed), overland, trekking, wildlife, polar adventures, and more.
• More and slightly better itineraries – This one is slightly subjective as the best itinerary is the one that fits best your travel goals and needs, but, from my experience, it seems like Intrepid trips offer a more comprehensive list of destinations. Intrepid has over 1,000 itineraries for you to choose from.
• They carbon-offset their tours – Intrepid Travel is the largest carbon-neutral travel company in the world. They offset this by investing in renewable energy projects.
• Focus on responsible and sustainable travel – It is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and was the first tour operator to ban elephant rides on its tours. They also launched vegan tours in 2018.
• Most tours are guaranteed – You have a wider selection of guaranteed tours. You don’t have to worry if the tour is going to run or not, depending on the number of travelers.
• Great deals on their best tours – They always have a good selection of the Latest Deals on several of their top Intrepid tours.
• No single supplement – Traveling solo? No problem. Usually, there is no additional charge unless you want a room on your own. For me, as a solo traveler, this is a big plus. (Note: some select trips do charge a single supplement, but they’re very upfront about it)

Cons:

• Might be slightly more expensive – Compared to G Adventures, most Intrepid Travel tours might look slightly more expensive. Still, you need to evaluate and compare similar trips between both companies to see what is included and what is not. Intrepid tends to include more activities and excursions in their prices, while you have to pay out of pocket at G Adventures.
• Fewer departure dates – Departure dates are more spread apart than G Adventures. This might reduce the flexibility of choosing a trip. But, in recent years, they’ve added more Intrepid tours and dates to some of their most popular trips to match the number of departures G Adventures offers.
• Single supplement is compulsory on some trip styles – Although most trips don’t require a single supplement, some of them do ask for a mandatory single supplement. In most cases, it is over $100. If traveling solo, verify if the Intrepid trip style you are choosing requires a single supplement.
• Variable local operator or local guide quality control – This is a criticism shared among both companies. Many of their itineraries and guides are subcontracted and operated by local companies and their tour guides – even when their staff and vehicles are branded with the Intrepid Travel logo.
  Sometimes, the quality of some of these companies is not at the level Intrepid is known for, therefore affecting your trip’s quality. In recent years, though, they have managed to improve the overall quality and raise the bar even more.

My Final Recommendation: G Adventures Or Intrepid Travel?

Okay, so you’re not going to get a straightforward answer here. I’ve used both companies, and I would recommend both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel.

But, as discussed above, both companies have pros and cons, and a lot will depend on your travel style and where you want to go.

Whether you’re going to Costa Rica, visiting small towns in New Zealand, or hopping across several national parks in the US, picking between Intrepid Travel and G Adventures depends on a combination of factors, including price, schedule, quality, travel styles, and destination.

Whichever one you choose, you really won’t go wrong since both companies offer high-quality experiences that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

But here are some quick-fire recommendations from my side and experience:

• Based on price: G Adventures tours tend to be a bit more budget-friendly (but just remember you might have to pay out-of-pocket for optional extras).
• Based on schedule: G Adventures has more departure dates – but the best company to go with will depend on when you want to go on your trip.
• Based on quality: Both companies offer tours of equal (exceptional) quality.
• Based on destinations (These are just my recommendations from experience):
  • North America: Either travel independently or use G Adventures. This is especially true for Canada, as it is where their headquarters are.
  • South America: G Adventures has better itineraries, but both companies have really good tours here.
  • Central/Latin America: G Adventures offers better tours.
  • Eastern Europe: Both are good options here. For something a bit different, G Adventures has the “Rail Style” option, which is a nice way to experience Europe.
  • Western Europe: Do this independently. Or, book the Rail option mentioned above to see a lot of the region.
  • Middle East: Intrepid Travel has incredible tours.
  • Central Asia: Intrepid Travel has better itineraries.
  • Southeast Asia: Both are equally good.
  • Australasia: Intrepid Travel is the better option since its headquarters are in Australia.
  • Africa: Both have good tours, but Intrepid Travel has more options and better itineraries.
  • Antarctica: Both are equally good.
  • Arctic: Intrepid Travel’s polar adventure is exceptional.

These recommendations are based on my own experiences as well as discussions I had with other travelers.

Answering Your Questions About Intrepid Travel vs G Adventures

Before reviewing each of these companies in greater detail, I’ll first answer some questions I get asked a lot – perhaps these answers are all you need to book your next trip!

Is G Adventures or Intrepid Travel better for solo travelers?

I honestly think that both are equally great for single and solo travelers. You will have the opportunity to meet like-minded travelers while touring with both companies.

Now, if you’re a single traveler looking for romantic opportunities, the situation is a bit different. It will really depend on your age range and where you want to go.

From my experience, younger travelers (aged 18 to mid-30s) tend to travel to the “trending” destinations filled with adventures and parties. These locations are usually in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America.

But you’re not limited by destination. Both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel have curated tours specifically for younger travelers:

• Intrepid Travel has an 18-29 tour category
• G Adventures has an 18 to 30-something tour category

Travelers aged 30 and beyond tend to skip the party destinations (although there are exceptions!) and focus more on cultural and unique destinations.

Neither of the companies will charge you extra for traveling solo. Instead, you’d be paired with someone of the same sex to share a room with. You can also pay an extra fee to get a room to yourself. If you appreciate your own space, then I would recommend paying a bit extra so you can unwind in peace after a busy day.

Are G Adventures and/or Intrepid Travel recommended for senior travelers?

The answer is yes! I actually get asked this question surprisingly often (probably because I am also creeping on in years).

Both tour companies appear to have a younger target audience. But, appearances can be deceiving. They don’t base their adventure tours on age range, instead, they base it on activity level and travel spirit.

In each tour I’ve done (with both companies) there have been travelers over the age of 60. These people are young at heart, active, entertaining, and socialized with everyone else.

Older adventurous travelers concerned about accommodation or activities – don’t be! You can book a “comfort” or “premium” trip with both companies.

Here’s an example:

G Adventures has a partnership with National Geographic to create the “National Geographic Journeys.” These tours offer higher comfort levels and premium accommodations, making them great for families and older travelers.

Intrepid Travel tours include a “Families” theme, where parents can enjoy a curated experience with their kids. They also offer “Comfort Style” tours for more comfortable accommodations – perfect for senior travelers.

Do I need to be physically fit to join either Intrepid Travel or G Adventures?

As I’ve mentioned, both Intrepid Travel and G Adventures are mainly geared toward younger adults who have at least basic physical fitness.

Having said that, both tour companies offer a variety of trips across different categories, going beyond the typical “adventure” theme.

So, you can check the trip styles of both companies to filter according to your level of fitness.

G Adventures classify their trips by “Travel Styles” and styles include:

• Wellness
• Marine tours
• Active tours
• Family tours
• Private tours

Intrepid Travel trips are categorized into “Themes.” Some of these themes include:

• Family travel
• Festivals
• Sailing
• Cycling
• Trekking
• Food travel
• Polar adventures

So, you can select a trip to match your fitness levels – you don’t have to be a marathon athlete to join!

What is the accommodation like on these trips?

Again, it depends on the trip you book.

Both companies offer very similar, basic accommodations. Homestays and camping are popular, while some trips book you into 2-star and 3-star hotels.

The “comfort” trips will have you sleeping in 3-star and 4-star hotels.

I’ve never had an issue with any of the places I’ve stayed on my trips with both companies. The hotels and stays have always been clean and provided me with the basics I needed.

Don’t expect to stay in the Four Seasons – this is not the right trip for you then.

Of course, each trip is completely unique. So, carefully read the trip details before booking. For example, if you book an Urban Adventures trip, you’ll most likely stay in a hotel. For overland trips, odds are you’ll be camping or staying with locals.

How do G Adventures and Intrepid Travel compare cost-wise?

The short answer: They’ve got very similar costs.

Both companies offer several multi-day trips well under $1,000. But they also both charge over $5,000 for their polar cruises and 40+ day overland tours.

The average tour price is around $2,400 for a 12 to 14-day trip.

G Adventures trips tend to have a slight edge over Intrepid Travel, price-wise.

But, here’s an important detail: Intrepid Travel’s price usually tends to be more inclusive than G Adventures.’ Keep an eye on the add-ons like excursions and day tours. Both tour companies can have add-ons during their multi-day tours.

What is the average tour group size?

You don’t have to worry about getting lost in the crowd with the tours offered by either company. These tour organizers specialize in “small group tours” with a maximum group size of 16 people.

I’ve actually never been on a trip where there were 16 people. The most people I’ve toured with was 14, with the average group size being about 10 people.

G Adventures trips tend to have slightly more people in the group.

The smallest group I’ve ever traveled with was when I went to Iran with Intrepid Travel. There were only six of us, and I had the most incredible time exploring the country with such an intimate group.

The first time I traveled with G Adventures I went on an Island Hopping Experience to Thailand. There were 12 of us in the group, ranging from teenagers to seniors. And despite the larger group size, we all bonded and I am still friends with my fellow travelers to this day.

I’ve also traveled to Kilimanjaro with G Adventures. On that trip, there were 10 travelers. It was a guided tour, but we were still allowed to hike at our own pace and enjoy the experience as if we were traveling independently.

Final Musings on Intrepid Travel vs G Adventures

I hope this G Adventures vs Intrepid Travel review has helped you decide which tour operator will give you the best travel experience.

But, as I mentioned previously, both are excellent and have great customer service. In my opinion, your pick should be primarily based on a combination of schedule convenience, price, and destinations offered on a particular tour.

As a final recommendation, both G Adventures and Intrepid Travel require you to have travel insurance when you travel with them. You can take a look at this article, where I detail everything you need to know to select the right travel insurance for your trip.

Do you have additional recommendations, or would you like to share your experience with them? Share them below and see what others have said so far… There are several G Adventures reviews and Intrepid Travel reviews left by other travelers that could help you too.

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