Intrepid buys into Chimu

A STRATEGIC partnership signed between Intrepid Group & Chimu Adventures will plug one of the last missing holes in Intrepid’s global portfolio, Polar regions.

Intrepid Group this morning announced it had purchased a 50% stake in fellow Australian travel firm Chimu Adventures to further tap into the burgeoning sustainable/adventure travel market ( TD breaking news).

Chimu specialises in Latin America and Antarctica and has three destination management companies in South America.

The deal with Intrepid Group also spans Chimu Adventure’s Asian tour operation, Get About Asia, and its sales offices in the UK, Sydney and Sunshine Coast.

Intrepid’s multi-brand adventure small group tour operation has offered Polar products under the Peregrine brand for years, but never before under its namesake. Speaking exclusively with Travel

Daily, Intrepid Group ceo James Thornton said the multi-million dollar investment would enable the group’s core business to offer an extensive range of Antarctic & Arctic products for the first time.

“As the world’s largest provider of adventure travel experiences, it is really a missing part of our overall product offering.

“It’s great to now partner with experts like Chimu who have great ability to deliver fantastic product in those regions,” he said.

Chimu Adventures co-founders Greg Carter and Chad Carey told

Travel Daily they were excited by the partnership and the broader global reach it would provide.

“We have many common ideas on sustainable travel and we believe it’s a perfect fit for both businesses,” Carter commented.

One priority between the firms is an expansion of Chimu’s cruise charter business to the polar regions, including sailings from Hobart to Antarctica, and could also extend to the development of their own cruise ships.

Specialising in the FIT market, Chimu will also provide a platform for Intrepid Group to explore the tailored holiday space.

More on page 5 and in today’s issue of Cruise Weekly.