10 Reasons to Book a Trip with Intrepid Travel (A Foodie Convert’s Perspective)

I started traveling in small groups – specifically to Egypt – without knowing anyone. It was a great way for me to start traveling when I didn’t have anyone to go with. It was budget-friendly, with travelers around my age, and I didn’t have to plan the itinerary. Over time, as my travel skills developed, I started planning my own trips and group trips, moving away from organized group tours.

That all changed this summer. I was invited on a familiarization (FAM) trip with Intrepid Travel as a travel advisor & content creator. We combined their Premium South Korea and South Korea Foodie tours over 8 days in June. I learned a lot about the country and Intrepid, and it reminded me why I love small-group travel.

Here’s why Intrepid Travel’s South Korea tour converted me into a lifelong fan — one bite at a time. If you’re not sure if you should book a trip with Intrepid, let’s chat! I have free travel consultations and can walk you through the pros and cons for your trip.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you purchase something from a link, I may make a small commission, at no cost to you. This helps me keep the site running and free.

If you like this post, be sure to sign up for my e-mail list for travel inspiration & tips, or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, Threads, or Pinterest. I also have a Facebook group where you can ask me anything travel related – and I share travel deals!

10 Reasons to Book with Intrepid Travel

1. They’re Leaders in Responsible Tourism

Before the trip, I did my homework. Intrepid Travel isn’t just another tour operator slapping the word “sustainable” on their website for good PR. They’re a certified B Corp, meaning they’ve been independently verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance. On the ground in South Korea, that translated into staying at locally owned guesthouses in Jeonju’s historic hanok village instead of a cookie-cutter international hotel chain. Every won spent felt like it mattered to the neighborhood we were sleeping in. Honestly, waking up in a traditional Korean courtyard home was infinitely more memorable.

2. Small Group Sizes Mean Big Experiences

There were ten of us on the tour. Ten. After a previous group trip where I was herded through attractions with 40 strangers, this felt revolutionary. Our small group meant that when we pulled up to a tiny, unassuming restaurant in Busan, we could actually all squeeze in, elbow-to-elbow with locals, without the owner looking mildly terrified by our arrival. That moment would have been completely impossible with a larger group. Small numbers created space for real, spontaneous, human experiences.

3. Expert Local Leaders — Not Just Tour Guides

Our trip leader, Sam, was from Seoul. He didn’t just know the country — he loved it in the specific, personal way that only comes from growing up somewhere. He knew which grandma-run kimbap stall in the Gwangjang Market had the best flavor. He knew which neighborhoods in Seoul were shifting culturally and why that mattered. And for a food-focused trip, he knew that the best Korean BBQ in any city is never the one with the English menu out front.

He taught us how to properly wrap galbi in perilla leaves, scolded us (lovingly) for talking too loud on the train to Busan, and spent an entire evening walking us through the regional differences in kimchi styles across the country. Sam didn’t recite facts; he shared stories. He welcomed us to his country in every way he knew how, and it made us all fall in love with South Korea.

4. Access to Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations

Most people flying into South Korea anchor their entire trip to Seoul. Understandably, since it is extraordinary. But Intrepid pushed us further, and the further we went, the better the food got. In Gyeongju, the so-called “museum without walls,” we made kimchi with a kimchi master (I didn’t even know those existed!).

Being in such a small group also let us have lunch with a family in their home in Seoul. We got to see how people live in the city, ask questions, and share a home-cooked meal. Is there a better way to spend a day?

5. Industry-Leading Carbon-Neutral Trips

As a travel content creator, the carbon footprint conversation is one that keeps coming up, and rightfully so. Intrepid has committed to being carbon neutral across all its trips, using a combination of emissions-reduction strategies and verified carbon offset programs. On our South Korea tour specifically, we traveled by train—the KTX high-speed rail between cities was not only dramatically more sustainable than flying domestically, but also wildly enjoyable. Watching the countryside blur past from a clean, punctual train while snacking on triangle kimbap from a convenience store is, objectively, peak travel.

If you want to talk about your options with Intrepid, set up a FREE consultation call with me!

6. Perfect for Solo Travelers

Everyone in our group was a solo traveler. No one felt out of place for a single second. Intrepid doesn’t charge solo travelers a single supplement fee on many of their departures, which is a genuinely radical policy in an industry that routinely penalizes people for traveling alone. By day two, the solo travelers and the pairs had completely blended together anyway. We shared snacks, laughed during tae kwon do, argued passionately about whether Busan or Seoul had superior street food (Seoul, final answer), and by the end of the trip, exchanged numbers like old friends.

7. Real Investment in Local Communities

Intrepid’s philosophy of keeping money within local economies showed up in every food experience. We weren’t eating at chains or tourist-trap restaurants near major landmarks. We sat at six-seat counters, ordered from handwritten menus, and watched food being made in real time by people who had been perfecting their craft for years. In Jeonju, the UNESCO-designated food city and the undisputed bibimbap capital of the world, we ate at a restaurant run by the same family for three generations. In most of the restaurants, I didn’t hear anyone speaking English except us.

8. An Incredible Range of Trip Styles and Destinations

The South Korea food tour is just one thread in an enormous tapestry of Intrepid offerings. While researching before my trip, I genuinely fell down a rabbit hole of their itineraries — food-focused tours through Vietnam, Morocco, Mexico, Japan, and Peru all caught my eye. During the trip, I learned about a cycling trip through South Korea (which may be on my list for a potential future trip!) They offer adventure trips, wellness retreats, family tours, and cultural deep-dives in more than 100 countries. Whatever kind of traveler you are, Intrepid has a trip shaped for you. Food lovers should bookmark the dedicated “food and cooking” tour category immediately.

9. Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing

Pricing transparency is very important for me. I hate the “base price” that you add taxes, fees, meals, single supplement, etc. to. The itinerary clearly outlined what was included: accommodations, most meals, all transport between cities, entrance fees to included sites, and the local leader’s expertise throughout. No hidden costs materialized at inconvenient moments. The “extras” were clearly labeled too: personal shopping, optional experiences, some meals where they wanted to give the group freedom to explore independently. That balance felt respectful and grown-up. Flexibility is important

10. The Intrepid Foundation — Travel That Gives Back

This one hit differently after actually completing the trip. The Intrepid Foundation is the company’s non-profit arm, funding community development, conservation, and education projects in the destinations where Intrepid operates. A portion of every booking contributes to this work. In South Korea’s context, that connects to broader regional programs supporting sustainable tourism infrastructure and cultural preservation. Knowing that a trip that was already personally enriching was also contributing something meaningful to the communities visited made the whole experience feel more complete. Travel at its best should leave a place better than you found it.

Have you traveled with Intrepid? If not, would you consider them now? Let me know in the comments!

Save “Reasons to Book a Trip with Intrepid” for Later