Intrepid Travel’s New ‘Short Breaks’

North Americans who are hungry to travel but short on time now have a new option when booking with Intrepid Travel – Short Breaks. The operator’s first tours designed specifically for this market, Short Breaks are four to six days in length and will be available with departures starting next July. Here, Leigh Barnes, president for the Americas at Intrepid, discusses the new product line.

What was the inspiration for the new short breaks itineraries at Intrepid?

In 2025, the average Intrepid trip length will be 10.2 days long, while the average worker in the U.S. receives 10 paid vacation days each year. In 2024, we surveyed nearly 7,000 Intrepid customers and found that more than half (52%) wanted to travel on shorter trips — an average of two to five days.

Short Breaks moved from an idea to a product in just six months. It’s a great example of how quickly we can innovate when we listen to our travelers and move with purpose.

What makes these trips so alluring?

People need an escape and something to look forward to — an immersive experience to disconnect from their phones and reconnect with the world. But time is a luxury that some just don’t have due to busy schedules.

Short Breaks feature expert local leaders who know the trails and bring every place to life through history and hidden stories. The small groups of 10 or fewer guests make it feel like traveling with friends rather than being part of a crowd. Plus, these unforgettable experiences — hiking through Oaxaca’s Zapotec villages or trekking across Guatemala’s volcanic landscapes — can happen over a long weekend.

Who’s the ideal client for a short breaks itinerary?

We designed Short Breaks for working millennials who are driven by limited time, rising stress and the search for meaningful moments. But they’re also great for independent travelers who want a short, pre-packaged experience as part of their itinerary. Even business travelers who want to explore a destination beyond the meeting room could easily add a Short Break to their itinerary.

We designed Short Breaks to appeal to new customers, especially in North America. This is the first product designed specifically for North Americans, and we hope it piques their curiosity about small group travel and Intrepid.

What is the pacing like?

Short Breaks are all killer, no filler. To make the most of customers’ time, we added more meals and more activities. With busy itineraries, customers will achieve a lot in a short amount of time. Imagine leaving work on Thursday to fly to Guatemala, climbing an active volcano, exploring Antigua and being back in the office on Tuesday, a completely changed person.

What are you, personally, most excited for?

The Costa Rica Short Break from San Jose to La Fortuna really caught my eye. Joining a local naturalist to observe sloths, dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, toucans and many other creatures in their natural habitat, then ending the day with a well deserved local coffee and empanadas sounds like an escape I’d love!

This article originally appeared in AGENT AT HOME magazine and was syndicated online at TravelPulse.

Contact My Journey Begins Travel to book one or more Intrepid Travel Short Breaks.