The new Intrepid Travel range taps into the rising trend of rail travel as a sustainable and slow travel option with new data showing three in four travellers (75%) want to embark on a train journey on their next trip, mostly motivated by scenery, relaxation and the iconic nature of this mode of transport.
Intrepid’s new dedicated rail travel range will feature 40 train trips, including three brand-new, epic itineraries: the 11-day Trans-Mongolian Rail Adventure, the 15-day Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul and the 10-day Paris to Rome by Rail.
Intrepid will offer iconic routes, such as Bangkok to Southern Thailand, as part of this new trip category, as well as lesser-known routes like Varanasi to Agra, India and family rail adventures from Tokyo to Kyoto and Rome to Pompeii.
Each rail trip will be capped at 10 to 12 travellers and accompanied by one of Intrepid’s local leaders to help the small group navigate routes and stations and maximise the experiences during rest stops and overnight stays.
The sustainable nature of rail travel
Intrepid rail trips aim to offer community, conversation and a sense of connection while tying in with the company’s long-term plans to replace internal flights with less carbon-intensive options, such as buses and trains where viable, as part of its global decarbonisation strategy.
For example, by replacing an internal flight with an overnight train from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City on its 15-day Scenic Vietnam itinerary, Intrepid reduced carbon emissions by 12 per cent per person per day, eliminating thousands of kilograms of CO2-e each year without changing the trip length.
In addition, travellers also have two extra opportunities to experience local culture: meeting a martial arts master in Quy Nhon and visiting a unique ancient citadel – only made possible by the train route.
Intrepid’s survey of 2,800 UK, US, Canadian and Australian travellers showed the environmental impact of trips is top of mind with 87 per cent of respondents saying they would consider alternative transportation when travelling to reduce their carbon footprint.
Find out how Intrepid Travel is tracking ahead on sustainability transformation here.
For more info, head to intrepidtravel.com/au/rail
