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Intrepid Travel acquires Wildland Trekking to grow sustainable travel in the U.S.

Intrepid Travel has announced its acquisition of Wildland Trekking, an environmentally-conscious U.S.-based tour operator focused on active and outdoor adventures.  

Intrepid Travel has announced its acquisition of Wildland Trekking, an environmentally-conscious U.S.-based tour operator focused on active and outdoor adventures.  

Intrepid Travel says the acquisition of Wildland Trekking is the next step in its investment and growth within the United States, which was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic as interest for unique domestic travel options in the country spiked following international border closures.

In 2019, U.S. domestic travel spending reached nearly $1 trillion USD, a number Intrepid is confident will grow in the coming years and presents a significant market opportunity. 

In 2021, Intrepid Travel built and launched its own dedicated North American operations hub under the leadership of Matt Berna, Intrepid’s North American Managing Director.

The company also recently launched 38 new tours in the United States that begin departing in 2022, which it says will reimagine what travel within the U.S. can and should look like by incorporating more diverse perspectives and experiences alongside the iconic sites.  

Intrepid
Tents at Sunrise. Image: Wildland Trekking

With a total of 57 U.S.-based trips currently on offer by Intrepid Travel, the Wildland Trekking acquisition will bolster Intrepid’s operational capacity, increasing their U.S. tour range by over 400%. 

“Wildland Trekking has such an incredible history of operating exceptional and innovative trips, and we’ve been really impressed with their commitment to running tours that are also good for the planet,” said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel. 

Intrepid U.S.
Hikers explore the U.S. Image: Intrepid Travel

Wildland Trekking, founded in 2005 by Steve Cundy, Scott Cundy and Brad Ball, offers hundreds of innovative U.S. itineraries ranging from hut to hut trekking through the Presidential Range in New Hampshire to backpacking trips throughout the Rocky Mountains and Desert Southwest.

Wildland Trekking had one of its strongest years in 2021 with its bookings up 20%.

Since its inception, the tour operator has accommodated more than 75,000 travellers, built a team of nearly 200 staff, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for conservation initiatives through partnerships with various National Park associations and environmental groups.  

The company also operates with a “leave no trace” mentality and has been in the process of becoming carbon neutral, aligning well with Intrepid’s own priorities as a certified B Corp and a leader in the responsible travel space.

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