Intrepid Runs First Tour in Four Months
by Jessica Montevago
Intrepid's first tour in the COVID-19 era took guest to the Syros islands in Greece. Photo: Shutterstock.com.
In a hopeful sign of what’s to come, Intrepid Travel has officially departed on its first tour since March.
Six travelers, all from the United Kingdom, departed from Athens on Aug. 6 for Intrepid Travel’s five-day Greece Retreat: Syros Island tour – a newly launched product range where groups immerse themselves in one location.
The Greece Retreat will operate under Intrepid’s new Safe Travels health protocols, developed in partnership with the WTTC. All travelers completed a health screening at the start of the trip and will be required to wear masks in certain settings, in line with local laws and regulations.
The group will be accompanied by a local leader who has received specific COVID-19 training, which covers hygiene, sanitation, physical distancing, PPE as well as supplier monitoring.
“The global pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on our industry, but we can’t help but find some hope and inspiration in seeing our first group depart on an international adventure,” said CEO James Thornton.
The Greece Retreat is primarily aimed at travelers from the UK, where the government has removed restrictions on a specified list of countries. This means that UK travelers can visit Greece without having to quarantine when they return home.
Intrepid will be running its second tour on Aug. 7, the four-day Cycle the Peak District in the UK Highlands, another new product developed in response to the global pandemic.
In preparation for travel to resume, Intrepid has recently introduced a new Flexible Bookings policy to make travelers feel at ease when booking, which allows changes to travel plans 21 days before a scheduled departure, allowing for new travel dates or an entirely different trip with no change fees.
