This summer, Intrepid Travel is adding 15 new backcountry and trekking tours in the United States, specifically in its glorious national parks, as part of its Best Walking & Hiking Holidays collection.
According to Intrepid, this summer demand is high for its trekking tours and vacations — after two years of being locked down and cooped-up, people are yearning to get outside, back to nature, and even “”away from city crowds.”
Bookings for its walking and trekking tours are “up 211%,” the company reports. These tend to be backcountry trekking adventures, “often times with no vehicles or fixed facilities in sight, while relying on responsible camping and a ‘pack in, pack out’ philosophy,” is how the company describes the new itineraries.
So, if you too, are hampering get really outside, to go trekking, to see some of North America’s spectacular spaces, just to get under a starry starry night, you’re in pretty good company. Here are tour descriptions and details from Intrepid Travel of 5 of these 15 new US itineraries.
On this 4-day, small-group backpacking tour, you will trek across and explore the North Rim of Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite National Park. Highlights includes Yosemite Falls, the North Dome and Indian Rock, views of the Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra mountains.
Yosemite National Park’s North Rim. (Photo: Intrepid Travel)
On this 3-day, “backcountry camping and hiking adventure” to Zion National Park in Utah, highlights include walking along the (paved) River Trail, the Virgin River Narrows hike, where you trek through running water on route to Orderville Canyon, and exploring Snow Canyon.
Hiking in Zion National Park, Utah. (Photo: Intrepid Travel)
On this 6-day hiking tour, with a highlight being overnighting in historic lodges, you will explore “the best of the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Rainier” by trek, says Intrepid, including along high alpine ridges, Shi Shi beach, in Hoh Rainforest, where “some of the largest and oldest trees in Washington” exist, then end with a visit to Makah Museum to learn about the local Indigenous Makah people.
Hiking in Olympic National Park near Mount Rainier, Washington. (Photo: Intrepid Travel)
On this 4-day trek, you will hike across a portion of the United States’ renowned Appalachian Trail — here, along the highest mountains in New Hampshire (the Presidential Range), including to the summit of Mount Washington, all while overnighting in the trail’s iconic backcountry huts. Highlights include the Ammonoosuc River, a picnic lunch at Lake of the Clouds hut, Mounts Monroe, Eisenhower, Franklin and Pierce.
Hiking on the famed Appalachian Trail, near the Presidential Peaks, Great Smoky Mountains. (Photo: Intrepid Travel)
On this 3-day backpacking adventure through North Carolina’s Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Mountains and Shining Rock Wilderness, you explore “the Cradle of Forestry area where American forest conservation began,” says Intrepid, stop at Looking Glass Falls and spend 2 amazing nights camping under incredible starry skies.
Walking & Trekking Holidays | by INTREPID TRAVEL
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Group size: ask operator about maximum number of people per tour.
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Price: must contact operator directly for specific tour.
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Difficulty: we advise you ask Intrepid about fitness and health conditions/expectations for each specific tour, as well as about length of hiking (hours) per day, high-altitude issues (if any) on the tour, and about any supplies or equipment you’re expected to have to ensure you stay safe and well.
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Special Note: Intrepid Travel is a certified B Corp, and defines itself as a global company dedicated to “trips focused on ethical and responsible experiences,” with a mission that is “focused on empowering communities, protecting the planet and creating a more equitable experience for all travelers.” For more info on Intrepid Travel’s sustainability policies and practices, you can check out its Ethical Marketing Guidelines here.
Trip description/details from operator. For more info about these trekking tours by Intrepid click here.
A few guidelines on trip descriptions: All descriptions/itineraries are sourced from trip/tour operator, and Outpost assumes no liability. Prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated, are often “starting from” the one listed, and don’t necessarily reflect final/total cost (that is, taxes, in-country or extra fees might be added). And, prices indicated here do NOT include airfare, unless it says so. Date changes are always possible and sometimes even inescapable. So, always get in touch with an operator directly; sometimes they’ll let you know about a sale or special so a price may actually be less than listed here.
