Ready to make 2025 your year of adventure? Here\u2019s everything you need to know to make it happen.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Planning a trip can be equally exciting and overwhelming, especially when travelling solo. With so many details to organise \u2013 from booking flights and hotels to ensuring you squeeze every activity into your schedule \u2013 it\u2019s easy to feel lost.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t worry. Much like climbing a mountain, it\u2019s easier when you break it into manageable chunks.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide to help you dream, plan and lock in an adventure.<\/p>\n Start by giving yourself permission to daydream. Have you always imagined getting lost in Morocco\u2019s saffron-scented souks or sailing Greece\u2019s glistening seas? Are there any movies (cue Mamma Mia!<\/em>) or documentaries you\u2019ve watched that made you think, \u2018I must visit that place\u2019 or \u2018I need to experience that\u2019? Perhaps you\u2019ve always wanted to go on safari, travel through Europe by train or trek Nepal\u2019s pointy peaks?<\/p>\n You don\u2019t even need to go far. Sometimes the best adventures are closer to home \u2013 like exploring the national parks, coastlines or cities on your doorstep.<\/p>\n Close your eyes and let your mind wander.<\/p>\n With so many incredible destinations out there, some insider know-how can go a long way in making your trip special. Intrepid has crafted 1000s of experiences<\/a> in over 100 countries led by expert local leaders. There are cycling trips<\/a> that take you deep into the lush Vietnamese countryside, Women\u2019s Expeditions<\/a> that break down barriers with all-female adventures, and even food trips<\/a> that get you cooking, crunching and slurping just like the locals.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a traveller who likes to sample a little bit of everything, you might be interested in Explorer trips<\/a> \u2013 the Intrepid classics \u2013 which combine culture, history, adventure and good food.<\/p>\n Read traveller stories<\/a> and browse a bunch of itineraries to get the travel juices flowing. Let excitement be your compass.<\/p>\n Keep a handy list of places that pique your interest even though you know you probably can\u2019t hit them all in one trip. It\u2019ll be a good source of inspiration for the future.<\/p>\n Intrepid\u2019s wishlist tool<\/a> is a great way to round up a bunch of must-visits from around the world in one spot. Click \u2018Add to my wishlist\u2019 in the search results or on each trip page and create an account to save them for later.<\/p>\n Next, it\u2019s time to decide whether you\u2019re going solo or bringing others along for the ride.<\/p>\n Travelling solo means you\u2019re in control of choosing where to go, deciding your pace and crafting a trip exactly how you want. Whether you want to do cooking classes, get your blood pumping on river rapids\u00a0or learn about Indigenous cultures, you\u2019re free to travel on your terms. Plus, it\u2019s a great way to build confidence and connect with people in ways you might not when travelling with a familiar face.<\/p>\n Joining a small group trip is a great option if you\u2019re toying with the idea of going solo but would like the structure and security of being in a group. I did the Sabah Adventure<\/a> last year and loved the mix of travelling with like-minded people and free time to do my own thing. It was also reassuring to have everything from transport to hotels and activities organised for me.<\/p>\n Travelling solo? Check out these guides:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re joining up with friends or a partner, there\u2019s obviously more to consider. To start, everyone must agree on what type of trip to take \u2013 some people travel to relax and do nothing but read on the beach, while others cram in as much adventure as possible. The biggest factor, however, is usually money. It\u2019s important to be transparent with your travel partner(s) and set an agreed budget to ensure you\u2019re on the same page from the get-go.<\/p>\n Most Intrepid trips have a maximum group size of 16 people, though they usually average 10. This is big enough to have a good social mix but small enough to reach out-of-the-way places and benefit from the expertise of your local leader.<\/p>\n If you like the sound of adventure travel but want to travel exclusively with your crew, you may be interested in Tailor-Made<\/a>. This is also a great option if you have a dream trip you want to bring to life or if you want to tweak an existing itinerary.<\/p>\n Budgeting is a crucial part of trip planning, but it doesn\u2019t have to be restrictive. The key is to determine what\u2019s important to you.<\/p>\n Do you want to treat yourself to fancy hotels or would you rather homestays for a more immersive experience? Do you want to tick off all the activities on your bucket list or travel for as long as possible? Everyone\u2019s different.<\/p>\n Setting a budget early can help you prioritise must-do activities without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n Start by reflecting on whether you\u2019re a thrifty traveller or a creature comfort lover. Do you want lots of free time or tonnes of activities? <\/p>\n Intrepid\u2019s trip styles<\/a> reflect different levels of inclusions and are a great way to browse the different kinds of experiences you can have with different budgets.<\/p>\n Basix<\/a> trips are for budget travellers. They feature simple, clean accommodation, local transport and plenty of free time. This means you can do the things that suit your budget and interests rather than paying for inclusions you don\u2019t want.<\/p>\n Original <\/a>trips are the perfect choice if you\u2019re after a mix of included activities and free time to explore a destination on your own. They include centrally located accommodation and some meals.<\/p>\n Comfort<\/a> <\/strong>trips buff some of adventure travel\u2019s rougher edges by including a few more pleasantries. You\u2019ll enjoy a more relaxed pace, inviting accommodation, more activities and many meals.<\/p>\n Premium<\/a> trips feature unique, higher-end accommodation, many experiences led by the most knowledgeable leaders and more included activities. Breakfast is included daily, along with many lunches and dinners.<\/p>\n Still figuring out a budget? You may find these guides helpful:<\/strong><\/p>\n How flexible you can be with dates plays a big part. If you\u2019re at the mercy of annual leave that needs to be requested months in advance, try to lock in your trip as early as possible.<\/p>\n You can also stretch your annual leave a little further by booking it strategically around public holidays. For example, if you\u2019re in the USA, you could enjoy a nine-day vacation by taking four PTO days from 18 to 21 February 2025 for Presidents\u2019 Day. Pretty neat, right?<\/p>\n If you have more time to play with or fancy being spontaneous, keep your eyes peeled for last-minute deals<\/a>. Intrepid\u2019s annual\u00a0Cyber Sale<\/a> at the end of the year is a great opportunity to snag a bargain.<\/p>\n Learn about the weather, seasons and the best times to visit for the activities you want to do. If you want to dive into the local culture, you could align your dates with cultural events like Holi in India<\/a> or Carnaval in Brazil<\/a>. By the same token, some religious festivals and public holidays can disrupt local transport or impact opening hours for restaurants and tourist attractions, so it pays to do your research before deciding on dates.\u00a0<\/p>\n In many destinations, school vacations and major holidays like Christmas and New Year are prime travel times, so if you\u2019re not keen on crowds, the shoulder or off-season may be better, especially in major European cities and coastal resorts.<\/p>\n Need help deciding on dates? Check out these hacks:<\/strong><\/p>\n Ready to book? Great! Before you secure your spot, it\u2019s good to know that Intrepid offers flexible booking options<\/a> to accommodate life\u2019s unpredictable nature. \u00a0<\/p>\n When you book with Intrepid, you can:<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a guaranteed departures policy<\/a>. All trips are guaranteed to run once they have one fully paid customer (unless the minimum group size listed in the Essential Trip Information and\/or Special Conditions state otherwise).<\/p>\n The beauty of small group travel is that almost <\/em>everything is taken care of for you. However, if you want to add on a few days, it\u2019s best to book accommodation and activities ahead of time \u2013 especially if you\u2019re travelling during the peak season \u2013 to avoid missing out or paying sky-high prices.<\/p>\n Got a few spare days? <\/strong>Explore Intrepid\u2019s Urban Adventure Day Tours<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Finding flights can be stressful with all those airport codes, stopovers and layovers. If you\u2019re traveling with Intrepid, reach out to an adventure consultant when booking to request a flight quote. They have access to very affordable prices and can find connections that best suit your journey. (Intrepid can\u2019t book international flights if you\u2019re in North America, but they can recommend companies.)<\/p>\n Many airlines send offers when they have seats to fill, so it might be worth signing up for their emails in case you ever have a gap in your calendar and fancy an impromptu trip.<\/p>\n Feeling spontaneous? You might be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re all booked! Now it\u2019s time to channel that excitement into getting your ducks in a row before you set off. These essentials may not be as fun, but they\u2019re the key to smooth sailing.<\/p>\n Now that everything\u2019s set, it\u2019s time to get excited. What local dishes are you looking forward to trying? Are there any phrases you could learn ahead of time? While there\u2019s no better way to learn the cultural dos and don\u2019ts than on the ground, there\u2019s no harm in some pre-trip research to make your experience even richer.<\/p>\n Adventure travel doesn\u2019t always go exactly <\/em>as planned, so keep an open mind to experiencing a hiccup or two along the way. And remember to leave some room in your days to roam without a plan, as that\u2019s often where the magic happens.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no denying that booking a trip requires you to flex your organisational muscles, but we hope you feel more confident about getting started now you know what\u2019s involved.<\/p>\n Search for your dream adventure<\/a> or learn more about how small group travel with Intrepid works<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ready to make 2025 your year of adventure? Here\u2019s everything you need to know to make it happen.\u00a0 Planning a trip can be equally exciting and overwhelming, especially when travelling solo. With so many details to organise \u2013 from booking flights and hotels to ensuring you squeeze every activity into your schedule \u2013 it\u2019s easy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":135297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[3037,2059,10922,8087],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-135296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-complete","tag-guide","tag-planning","tag-trip"],"yoast_head":"\nJump to\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Start dreaming<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-Ecquador-Galapagos-Sombrero-Island-beach-landing-man-takes-picture-of-sea-lion.jpg\")
Create a wishlist<\/h3>\n
Decide who you\u2019re travelling with<\/h2>\n
Want to travel solo?<\/h3>\n
Want to travel with your friends or partner?<\/h3>\n
What if I want to do an Intrepid trip only with my friends\/partner?<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Pisa-group-photo-leaning-tower-of-pisa.jpg\")
Set a budget<\/h2>\n
Which travel style do you align with?<\/h3>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-Japan-Tsumago-059.jpg\")
Choose your dates<\/h2>\n
Book your trip<\/h2>\n
\n
Find flights<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-Sri-Lanka-train-group-065.jpg\")
Get prepared<\/h2>\n
\n
Get excited<\/h2>\n
Ready to make it happen?<\/h2>\n