REI Teams With Intrepid For Member Adventure Trips

One of the most recognizable outdoor retailers in the United States is stepping back into organized adventure travel, this time with a specialist partner that already runs trips on nearly every continent. REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel have announced a new collaboration that will introduce two collections of small group, locally guided trips, with departures beginning in January 2026 and member specific perks layered on top.

The move brings REI back into the business of selling multi day experiences less than a year after the co op shut down its in house travel arm, REI Experiences, in a cost cutting move that ended hundreds of jobs and paused four decades of guided trips. Instead of rebuilding its own operator network, REI will lean on Intrepid's global infrastructure and local leadership teams, positioning the partnership as a way to connect its 25 million members with more sustainable, community focused itineraries.

REI, Intrepid, And The New Trip Collections

The collaboration centers on two branded product lines, REI Exclusive and REI Recommended. Both will be operated by Intrepid and sold through REI.com/travel, with Recommended itineraries also bookable directly through Intrepid.

The REI Exclusive collection will launch with more than 25 trips running three to 14 days, combining classic co op themes like alpine hiking, multi sport adventures, women led departures, and wildlife viewing. Destinations include Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania, and several marquee U.S. national park regions, giving members a mix of international and domestic options under a single brand.

REI Recommended will feature more than 50 of Intrepid's existing small group itineraries, endorsed by REI, across 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. Trips in this range run four to 15 days, and some use upgraded lodging and more elaborate activities that fall into Intrepid's Comfort and Premium categories.

Operationally, both lines draw on Intrepid's established trip styles, Basix, Original, Comfort, and Premium, which determine group size, accommodation level, and inclusions. That gives travelers a familiar ladder of price and comfort, while allowing REI to position the offering as a continuum, from simpler treks and homestays to higher end lodge based journeys.

Latest Developments

The partnership was announced on November 19, 2025, with REI and Intrepid framing the launch as a way to "foster meaningful connections with new cultures and landscapes" through purpose led travel. Domestic and international trips are advertised as "beyond the crowds," with January 2026 set as the go live window for the first departures.

For travelers, the immediate change is at the booking stage. Instead of a separate REI Adventures brand, all co op promoted itineraries will sit under the REI Exclusive and REI Recommended labels on REI's travel portal, with clear notes that Intrepid is the operating tour company. Recommended trips will also appear on IntrepidTravel.com with REI branding, which should make it easier for existing Intrepid customers to spot co op endorsed options.

REI is tying the launch directly to its membership model. Anyone can book the trips, but only REI members will receive a 15 percent discount on REI Exclusive departures. Members who purchase a Recommended trip will receive a 20 percent off coupon for a future REI gear and apparel purchase, a benefit that effectively links trip planning with outfitting in stores and online.

A lifetime REI membership remains a one time $ 30 fee, which also unlocks the co op's usual slate of benefits, including annual member rewards, extended satisfaction guarantees, select shop discounts, and access to used gear and trade in programs.

Analysis

Background: REI spent roughly 40 years running its own adventure travel program before shutting it down in early 2025, citing weak profitability and operational complexity. The new model essentially outsources the tour operator side to Intrepid, which already runs more than 900 trips with its own country offices in 32 countries and has B Corp certification for its sustainability practices.

From an industry perspective, this looks like a classic asset light pivot. REI keeps the member relationship, the brand trust around gear and outdoor culture, and the marketing channel, while Intrepid provides the guides, local partnerships, safety systems, and on the ground logistics. That division of labor reduces risk for the retailer, yet still gives members a coherent travel product that feels like an extension of the co op's existing education and day tour offerings.

For travelers, the practical impact shows up in three places. First, itinerary design. Intrepid's trips are built around small groups, usually in the 10 to 16 passenger range, with a bias toward public transit, local restaurants, and family run lodging. That meshes with growing demand for "lighter footprint" travel, but it also means these trips will not feel like traditional big bus tours.

Second, price and value. The 15 percent discount on Exclusive departures, combined with the 20 percent off coupon on gear tied to Recommended trips, can add up if you are outfitting for a first big trek or a long haul adventure. A family or friend group that books through REI and then uses the coupon on packs, footwear, and layering could see a meaningful net savings compared with booking a similar itinerary a la carte and shopping at full price.

Third, support and preparation. REI plans to embed curated packing lists into trip itineraries and point travelers back to in store "Green Vest" staff for gear and route advice. That creates a feedback loop where travelers can sanity check their choices in person, then turn up for departure with gear that is appropriate for local conditions and activity level.

On the impact side, the partnership also deepens both brands' philanthropic and sustainability work. One percent of trip sale proceeds will flow into the REI Cooperative Action Fund, which has already invested tens of millions of dollars in more than 500 nonprofits focused on access, equity, and environmental protection in U.S. outdoor spaces. Those contributions sit alongside Intrepid Foundation grants, which have supported more than 160 partners across 73 countries since 2002.

For travelers who care about where their money goes, this structure means each booking contributes to both a domestic access fund and an international portfolio of community based projects, rather than just feeding margin to a single tour operator. The tradeoff is that trips are likely to stay in the small group, higher touch space, not in the rock bottom price tier.

Looking ahead, REI and Intrepid have already signaled that the Exclusive and Recommended collections will expand in coming years based on demand. If early departures sell out quickly, travelers can expect more dates on high performing routes, plus new itineraries that plug into emerging outdoor destinations or link with marquee REI events and classes.

Final thoughts

The REI and Intrepid Travel partnership effectively rebuilds the co op's adventure travel presence without recreating its former in house operator, and it gives members a clearer path from browsing gear to booking a guided trek or cultural journey with local leadership. For travelers who already trust REI for equipment and look to Intrepid for small group, responsible travel, the new REI Exclusive and REI Recommended collections offer a consolidated way to plan trips that align with both brands' values. For now, the smartest move is to treat early 2026 departures as limited inventory, secure space well ahead of time, and factor the member discounts and gear coupon into the overall value of any REI Intrepid adventure travel trip.

Sources

• REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel introduce active travel trips for members and customers
• REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel introduce active travel trips for members and customers (PRNewswire)
• REI to Resurrect Adventure Travel for 2026, With a New Look
• Intrepid Travel Partners with REI for New Tour Collections
• Intrepid Travel, REI Co-op Launch Global Adventure Travel Itineraries