Attention all young travellers! Intrepid has just released their newest offering of small group trips – itineraries for the next generation of responsible travellers aged 18-29. And we’re super excited about it.

If you’re sick of backpacking solo, boozy party buses and volunteering trips that won’t make a long term difference, this is just the thing. You’re welcome.

Intrepid believes that the next generation of travellers have the power to make the biggest difference in the world – think breaking down cross-cultural barriers, making a positive impact to local communities, and ending elephant rides for good.

Which is exactly why the small group adventure travel company have created a new range of trips for 18-29s, specifically designed to give the next generation of travellers the chance to experience the world the Intrepid way, together.

Think home-stays, travelling on local transport and visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations – which allows you to have authentic insights into local life, away from those pesky mainstream tourists.

Join a street-long conga in Cuba on Intrepid’s Santiago de Cuba Carnival tour, before heading to Trinidad for some caribbean-style R&R, then on to Havana for alllllll the Mojitos you can drink semi-responsibly. There’s also a ton of free time on this trip, so whether you decide to take a Spanish class or opt to continue your education in the local rums on the beach, the choice is all yours.

For more Caribbean, check out the Real Mexico tour, which (squeal) finishes up some snorkelling, swimming, tanning and eating by the ocean in Playa del Carmen. Already picturing yourself wondering through colourful Mexican markets and gaping at Chichen Itza, one the New Seven Wonders of the World? Us too.

For something completely different, one of Intrepid’s newest 18-29 trips is Essential Russia, and includes learning about St Petersburg’s history and a guided tour of Moscow’s hectic Red Square. You also get to visit the amazing Nikola-Lenivets, Europe’s largest art-park, where there are gigantic art installations, largely made of wood, some that you can climb into and explore.

These new Intrepid tours are part of a new wave of small group tours for younger travellers, who are finding new and different ways to travel. The Real Turkey tour takes you hiking up rocky sites and travelling on public buses before staying with a local family and taking in the view from a hot air balloon, while the Split to Dubrovnik trip is a week of pure bliss aboard a private yacht.

It’s no surprise that younger travellers are choosing immersive local experiences over larger bus-style tours – the World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) recent annual report showed that to achieve inclusive growth through tourism, key priorities must be considered, including pursuing greater social inclusiveness through tourism. Think women’s empowerment, youth engagement, tourism opportunities for all and support for local communities.

Basically, ‘voluntourism’ programs (like visiting orphanages) are out, and sustainable travel is in.

Oh, and because they’re super excited about their new 18-29s itineraries, Intrepid will make a donation to Friends-International for every booking. Friends-International is a leading social enterprise saving lives and building futures for marginalised young people around the world.

And if that’s not a cause worth booking a life-changing trip for, we don’t know what is.

Check out more on the new 18-29s Intrepid trips below: