Intrepid Travel launches new range of hike, bike and kayak trips in the UK

World’s largest travel B Corp introduces new active trips exploring the UK’s rivers from source to sea

Intrepid has expanded its UK product with a range of new action-packed trips exploring the UK’s iconic and lesser-known rivers.

After a year of lockdowns, these four new itineraries have been designed to help Brits get active and explore their own country by bike, on foot and on the water.

Travellers will discover the stunning scenery of Northumberland’s River Tyne, the River Wye, River Thames and Devon’s River Dart and River Teign. Highlights include wild swimming in the clear waters of Sharrah Pool in Dartmoor, stand-up paddle boarding down the Thames to Oxford and cycling around the secluded Elan Valley in Wales.  Accommodation ranges from glamping to characterful and historic inns and family-run guest houses.

These trips are best suited to travellers with a moderate level of fitness and confident in the water, but no previous experience of the activities is necessary, making them ideal for those keen to try something new.

These latest low carbon trips are part of Intrepid’s work to decarbonise its product as travel begins to open up post pandemic. Intrepid became the first and only tour operator to commit to verified science-based sustainability targets in October 2020.

Including the new tours, Intrepid now has a range of 20 UK trips, bringing its style of travel closer to home for UK customers. 

Trip details:

Northumberland: Hike, Bike and Kayak (4 days, from £945pp)

Escape the city to the wild landscapes and ancient ruins of the River Tyne on this exploration of rural Northumberland. Travel to the sources of the North and South Tyne, explore the point where they meet, and follow them all the way to Tynemouth. Travellers will explore Kielder Forest, England’s largest manmade woodland and home to the famous Dark Skies Observatory, by foot and by bike. Head into Northumberland National Park to visit a section of Hadrian’s Wall before paying a visit to Sycamore Gap, home to one of the country’s most famous trees. From Alston, cycle downhill through the Tyne Gap Valley stopping off for a wild swim and pub lunch.

River Wye: Hike, Bike and Kayak (6 days, from £1,279pp)

Crossing from Wales into England and carving out much of the border on its way, the River Wye is undoubtedly one of the UK’s best examples of unspoiled natural beauty and classic British scenery – from rolling green hills and spectacular valleys to delightful little villages dotted with cosy pubs. Explore the little known yet beautiful Elan Valley by bike, canoe down the river to Hay-on-Wye, and walk up to Symonds Yat Rock for amazing views over the local landscape. Travellers will spend two nights glamping in comfortable pods at the historic Whitney Bridge.

Devon: Hike, Bike and Kayak (4 days, from £965pp)

Devon is home to some of the country’s prettiest rivers. The only tricky part is picking the best way to take it all in – on foot, on a bicycle or on the river itself. But on this four-day adventure down the River Dart and River Teign, travellers won’t have to choose. Highlights include wild swimming in Sharrah Pools, cycling into the wild heart of Dartmoor National Park in search of tor rock formations, and kayaking down the River Dart towards the postcard-pretty town of Dartmouth.

River Thames: Hike, Bike and Kayak (4 days, from £1.020pp)

Travellers will need to pick up a paddle, lace up their boots and adjust their helmet for this action-packed adventure down the River Thames, from Kemble to Windsor.  Activities include swimming in the Cotswold Water Park, stand-up baddle boarding from Eynsham to Oxford and punting on the river in Oxford. After heading to Goring on Thames, guests will stretch their legs with a bike ride through the Chiltern Hills and Hambleden Valley before lunch in Henley on Thames.

Intrepid Travel’s domestic product operates under its Safe Travel protocols developed and endorsed by the World Travel & Tourism Council. The tours operate under a Flexible Bookings policy, which allows travellers to change, move or cancel their domestic tour 21 days before departure, with no change fees.

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