Adventure Holiday Specials

War has been the backdrop for many famous movies filmed in Vietnam, but when you explore this extraordinary country you quickly discover its peaceful beauty and traditional charm. Intrepid Express reader Debbie Richardson experienced her own crowning movie moment…

“The highlight of my amazing adventure in Vietnam was definitely our two-night boat trip on Halong Bay. Surprisingly for February, the sun even came out and the mist cleared, what a beautiful place. It’s not hard to imagine why the Oscar-winning movie Indochine was shot here (also in Thailand). We kayaked around the lagoon where the movie was filmed! It was fantastic and my camera never stopped clicking as the sun set over Halong Bay that afternoon!”

If you need travel insurance over 80 to Vietnam then check out travel insurance finders.

Put yourself in the picture for 10 action-packed days on Spirit of Vietnam and if you act fact, you could SAVE 20% on trips departing 22 January or 23 February 2010!

Head to Ghana with Intrepid!

Greater love hath no man than for his football in Ghana. World Cup Fever is sweeping the country and this week’s top trip scores a goal every time!

Ghana has become the first African country to qualify for the 2010 Football World Cup, joining England and Australia in qualification. Ghanaian Captain Michael Essien summed up the country’s passion for the beautiful game, “The people of Ghana wanted us to win and we did not let them down. What a fantastic feeling to be the first African country to qualify for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa.”

Intrepid’s Best of Ghana and Mali is a unique overland trip and the highlight for many is a game of football. It was a close match this month against the locals of Mole Nation Park. It was 5-5 at the end of normal time, but Mole Park FC won the penalty in the shoot-out with Dragoman trip leader Michael missing the decisive penalty – allowing Ghana the bragging rights to have won two important football matches in the last week!

Now is a fantastic time to take in some of what Southern Africa has to offer, as you can take advantage of Intrepid’s great travel offers on trips through South Africa -

Kruger Short Stays – 30% off!

Book one of three 4 day trips around world-renowned Kruger National Park before Oct 31 for 2009 departures and receive 30 per cent off brochured prices.
Quote promo code: 3224

Southern Explorer/Southern Magic -20% off!

Explore the magic of Southern Africa by taking in Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta and Khama Rhino Sanctuary! Book your place on one of these 13/14 day trips before Oct 31 for 2009 departures and get 20 per cent off the standard trip price.
and quote promo code: 3223

In Sri Lanka you can see the old Bo Tree, which is believed to be a cutting from the tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment. But this is not the country’s most important Buddhist site. Our top trip this week follows the drumming and chanting rituals of pilgrims to reach Dalada Maligawa.

In the cultural town of Kandy you will find Dalada Maligawa, or Temple of the Sacred Tooth, which famously houses one of Buddha’s teeth. Every morning an elaborate ritual is performed to awaken the tooth and streams of pilgrims dressed in white enter the temple to pay their respects to Buddha. On festival days the streets are a fervent display of local culture and colours, as the tooth is placed in a gold box and paraded through town on the back of Sri Lanka’s most majestic elephant.

Sri Lankan culture spans over 2,000 years and remains vibrant and alive, so book your Circle Sri Lanka trip this month and you can take a friend with you for 30% off

It’s easy to put a foot wrong when we travel, but thanks to our intrepid team, here are some responsible travel tips to help you get it right…

In Moscow it won’t cost you a ruble to visit the Sakharov Museum, which tells the history of repression and human rights in Russia from the revolution onwards. Another great option is the newly-designed ‘Eco Walk’ to Vorobyovy Gory. The walk to the city’s highest point marks Moscow’s first attempt at recycling bins, bird feeders for the local wildlife and information about the nature of the area.

In St Petersburg, Intrepid supports Nochlezhka, a wonderful organisation that gives food, clothing and shelter to homeless people and helps them integrate back into society. So any clothes, shampoo and food you have to donate will be gratefully received. A great sightseeing option is visiting one of the Siege of Leningrad museums so you can learn more about this city’s fascinating history. A portion of museum profits goes towards funds for Siege survivors. These museums are not expensive and very interesting, especially if you hire a guide.”

If you are eager to explore right now, check out this week’s specials for 20% off Russia and Beyond and A Taste of Russia – but you will have to act fast, as availability can change at any time!

The people of Uzbekistan are so welcoming, that even when something goes wrong you might not know it. Thanks to this top travel blooper tale, Trans-Asia Express is this week’s top trip…

Two Trans-Asia Express travellers were keen art lovers, so they asked the owner of our Samarkand hotel if there was an art gallery nearby, or maybe an artist who works from home?

The owner happily called a friend and let her know that the guests would be there in twenty minutes. With instructions on how to walk there, our Intrepid travellers set off.

They thought they found the house and were greeted by the family. They looked around the house, admired the artwork and were offered a cup of tea. They couldn’t find anything they wanted to buy, so thanked the ‘owner’ of the gallery and walked back to the hotel.

Upon their return the surprised hotelier asked where they had been? Her gallery friend had phoned, because she’d been waiting for them for two hours! Ah, the hospitality of the Uzbek people!

Over the last twenty years Intrepid has tried just about everything. And we’re talking real life experiences you can really sink your teeth into! From cockroaches in Cambodia to Peru’s not-so-cute Cuy and the giant mud crabs of northern Australia. A personal favourite food memory was being offered yak butter tea and momos in a remote Tibetan village – I’ve never acquired a taste for the tea, but steamed momos are the best and I’d go back to Tibet in a heartbeat.

This week Express chows down on some sweet, and some hard to swallow, travel adventures in Italy, China and Mexico. To feast on our 20th anniversary specials before 20 April you will have to act fast, and if you want a tasty adventure that’s spiced with ancient temples and age-old traditions, enter our win-a-trip competition today!