Global Active Adventures Coming In 2026 With New REI And Intrepid Partnership

Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co op and Intrepid Travel have joined forces to launch a new range of small group active adventures for travellers from January 2026.

The partnership brings together two purpose driven brands with a shared commitment to community, sustainability and responsible tourism, opening the door to a wide variety of experiences for both REI members and the broader travelling public.

Susan Viscon, REI’s chief new ventures and impact officer, said the collaboration aims to help travellers build meaningful connections with both landscapes and cultures. She said the trips were created to draw on members’ love of the outdoors while offering the excitement of exploring somewhere new, all grounded in REI’s long standing values of time outside, inclusion and sustainability.

Intrepid Travel’s president of the Americas, Leigh Barnes, said REI members were looking for travel that felt unique and authentic. By combining REI’s outdoor expertise with Intrepid’s locally led approach, he said the partnership would help travellers venture further with confidence while supporting responsible tourism.

The launch will include two collections of locally guided adventures.

REI Exclusive will feature more than 25 itineraries running from three to 14 days and covering destinations such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Portugal, Spain and Tanzania, along with celebrated natural landscapes in the United States.

These trips will span alpine hikes, multi sport journeys, wildlife encounters and women led expeditions, all guided by Intrepid’s local teams.

The larger REI Recommended collection will offer more than 50 itineraries across 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Trips range from four to 15 days, with some including premium accommodation and signature experiences.

Travellers will be able to book both collections through REI.com/travel, while Recommended trips will also be available at IntrepidTravel.com.

Anyone can join an itinerary, although REI members will receive a 15 per cent discount on Exclusive trips.

Members who book from the Recommended collection will receive a 20 per cent coupon to use on future REI gear and apparel purchases. Membership costs US$30 as a once only fee and includes a range of benefits including an annual reward, extended satisfaction guarantees, free US shipping, exclusive coupons, service discounts and a used gear trade in program.

The itineraries have been designed to meet travellers at different stages of skill and adventure, drawing on Intrepid’s familiar styles including Basix, Original, Comfort and Premium. Each trip includes a curated packing list informed by REI experts, and travellers can tap into the knowledge of REI’s Green Vest staff and extensive range of outdoor gear and apparel. REI will also stock Intrepid travel books to help guests prepare for their chosen destinations.

Both companies have embedded sustainability into the partnership. One per cent of trip sale proceeds will go to the REI Cooperative Action Fund, which since 2021 has invested nearly US$36 million in more than 500 organisations dedicated to making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible. This sits alongside Intrepid’s not for profit foundation, which has supported more than 160 partners in 73 countries since 2002.

The REI Exclusive and REI Recommended collections are expected to grow in coming years as traveller interests shift and demand continues to rise.