We compare Intrepid Basix and Intrepid Original and lay out the differences between both travel styles.
Intrepid Basix, Intrepid Original and Intrepid Comfort are the three package options that Intrepid has up for grabs.
Basix offers budget-friendly tours, Comfort has luxurious tours and Original is a mix of both.
As a traveller, it’s important to know what you get for the extra price you pay and whether it’s worth it.
Certain elements of the tours remain the same, for example: no booking fees or charges, a mandatory $400 deposit and a $2,200 travel credit when booking nine or more trips. However, other trip specifics will change particularly relating to comfort.
Here we compare Intrepid Basix and Intrepid Original tours to inform you about the differences between both travel styles based on prices, inclusions, transport and accommodation options.
Intrepid Basix vs Intrepid Original
| Feature | TourRadar | Intrepid Original | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| What tours are available? |
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Both travel styles are available worldwide but they have different itineraries. |
| Do tours include flights? | Internal flights only. | Internal flights only. | Both exclude flights, unless specified. |
| Are meals included? | Usually not included | Some meals are included. | Some meals are included with Intrepid Original but not with Intrepid Basix. |
| What are the transport options? | Mostly local transport. | A mix of private and local transport. | Intrepid Original offers more private transfers. |
| What accommodations would I get? | Simple, budget hotels, homestays and guesthouses. | Tourist-class hotels, homestays and guesthouses. | Intrepid Original offers better accommodation. |
| What is the target age group? | 15+ Minors need to be accompanied by adults. |
15+ Minors need to be accompanied by adults. |
Travellers need to be over 15 years old for either of the travel styles. |
| Is there a single supplement? | Yes, at an additional cost. | Yes, at an additional cost. | Both offer an optional single supplement. |
| What are my payment options? |
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Same payment options for both. |
Who offers the best price?
It’s apparent that Intrepid Basix tours are cheaper than Intrepid Original as the latter offers more comfort and inclusions. To give you an idea of the price difference, we measured the prices of comparable itineraries with both travel styles.
At the time of writing, a nine-day Galapagos Islands tour with Intrepid Basix is around 22% cheaper than a seven-day Galapagos Islands tour with Intrepid Original. When compared on a cost-per-day basis, the tour is nearly 40% cheaper with Intrepid Basix.
An eight-day Cuba tour costs $1,195 on Intrepid Basix while a similar seven-day tour is priced at $1,630 on Intrepid Original.
The verdict: Intrepid Original has costlier tours because the tours have better facilities and more inclusions.
Which offers a greater number of tours?
Intrepid Basix has 293 tours while Intrepid Original has 491 tours at the time of writing.
The verdict: Intrepid Original has a wider range of tour options.
Any other differences worth noting?
Activities: Intrepid Original tours includes several local activities that you might not have discovered yourself. On the other hand, the activities are optional with Intrepid Basix at an additional cost. This gives you the flexibility to use your free time in your own way.
What are the deals like?
Intrepid’s site-wide price cuts include the following discounts:
- Minus 5% for early booking
- Minus 5% for past passenger
- Other discounts for booking with friends, and multiple trips
These are all applicable on both Basix and Original tours.
Last-minute deals on Intrepid Basix and Original are also the same.
The verdict: Both travel styles have the same deals.
