by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Thu October 2, 2025
Intrepid Travel has launched a “Short Breaks” program in recognition that many travellers have a desire for meaningful experiences abroad, but not the vacation days necessary to join traditional tours. The company points out that compared with regions in Europe, the UK and Australia, many Canadians don’t get much vacation time. So the days we do get really need to count.
“Intrepid Short Breaks aren’t just about taking time off — they’re about making the most of it, with meaningful experiences that allow travellers to see and do more in fewer days,” says Erica Kritikides, General Manager of Experiences at Intrepid Travel. “Imagine a weekend trip to Guatemala - you climb an active volcano, hike along forest trails to visit a women-led regenerative farming project, learn to make tortillas in a Guatemalan culinary workshop, and then you're back in the office on Tuesday, a completely changed person. That's what these trips are about.”
The company announced that with a local leader and small group size, a Short Break “delivers all the defining features of a classic Intrepid adventure, while offering more inclusions and shorter travel times.”
In addition to the shorter duration, many departures are scheduled around weekends and public holidays in order to help travellers make the most of their time.
The new initiative features four to six day itineraries: 10 brand new trips, 45 existing trips that have been refreshed for the Short Breaks range and 27 Independent Short Breaks which are designed for travellers who prefer a self-guided experience; organised by Intrepid but without a local leader.
Some of the highlighted itineraries are the 5-day "Hiking in Mexico: Zapotec Villages of Oaxaca" trip, which leads travellers through the rural highlands of the Pueblos Mancomunados, a Zapotec community tourism initiative in the Sierra Norte Mountains. Further South, the "Acatenango Volcano Hike and Antigua Short Break" offers a four-day adventure trekking Guatemala’s dramatic volcanic landscapes at 3,766 metres above sea level.
The Short Breaks collection includes Intrepid’s Explorer, Walking & Trekking and Cycling trip themes. All trips (excluding the Walking & Trekking options) are offered in Intrepid’s “Comfort” style, which provides a higher level of comfort than its “Original” and "Basix" trips, plus more inclusions.
Intrepid’s Short Breaks are available to book now, for travel starting July, 2026.For more information on Intrepid Short Breaks, please visit: www.intrepidtravel.com/short-breaks
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