Intrepid adds “Uncommon” day tours in Europe

Intrepid Travel has launched a new range of day tours in Barcelona, Paris and Venice, offering travellers alternative ways to experience three of Europe’s busiest cities.

The new “Uncommon Day Tours” were developed by Intrepid’s local teams and are designed to take travellers beyond major tourist hotspots while supporting responsible visitation in destinations facing overtourism pressures.

The launch comes as European destinations continue to see high visitor numbers, rising pressure on infrastructure and growing concern from local communities about the impact of tourism in major urban centres.

Europe remains one of the most in-demand regions for Canadian travellers, according to Intrepid. 

Italy is the company’s top European destination for Canadians year-to-date, representing 15 per cent of European bookings.

France and Spain have also seen year-over-year booking growth of 112 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

“The conversation is shifting from simply where people go to how they show up when they get there,” said Christian Wolters, president for Canada at Intrepid Travel. 

“That includes travelling in smaller groups and opting for experiences that support local communities. We wanted to offer Canadians travelling to Europe this summer a fresh and more intentional way to experience some of the continent’s most visited cities.”

The new tours run for two to three hours and operate in small groups of no more than 12 travellers.

The experiences take visitors into lesser-known neighbourhoods, with a focus on local businesses and cultural exchange.

"These tours are proof that you can still have incredible local experiences in some of the world’s most popular destinations, going beyond the hotspots to explore a genuinely local side of the city," said Erica Kritikides, general manager, experiences at Intrepid Travel.

Uncommon Barcelona

In Barcelona, travellers visit a community garden in El Born, a protected green space that supports local life amid gentrification pressures in the Old Town.

The tour also explores El Clot, including its local market and La Rambla, offering a look at everyday city life away from the main tourist crowds.

“The issue of overtourism in Barcelona is not that people are travelling here—it’s how they are travelling,” said Juan Sanchez, Barcelona-based Intrepid leader who helped develop the tour. 

“There is so much more to Barcelona than nightclubs, beaches and cruise ship stopovers.”

Uncommon Barcelona starts at $95 CAD.

Uncommon Venice

In Venice, the tour takes travellers beyond the city’s busy canals to explore another side of the destination.

Experiences include a visit to the Pescheria di Rialto market, which dates back to the Middle Ages, and a chocolate tasting workshop at a women-owned artisanal shop, where travellers learn about Venice’s role as one of Europe’s early gateways for cacao.

“Venice is a unique and fragile city, and the challenge is finding a balance between welcoming visitors and preserving everyday life for its residents,” said Intrepid tour leader Camilla Feiffer, who was born and raised in Venice and contributed to the development of the tour. 

“Authentic Venice still exists, but you need to go deeper and be willing to look beyond the most crowded spots.”

Uncommon Venice starts at $129 CAD.

Uncommon Paris

In Paris, travellers sample fresh pastries at a neighbourhood market and visit quiet parks away from the city’s busier areas.

The tour also includes views of the Eiffel Tower from less familiar vantage points, highlighting a side of Paris shaped by everyday local life rather than crowds.

"While iconic sites are often overcrowded, many equally charming areas remain overlooked. This new tour highlights one such neighbourhood which has a real local feel, is charming and historic and offers travellers amazing views of the Eiffel Tower, far from the usual crowds below” said Benoit Collas, an Intrepid tour leader in Paris, where he was born and raised.

Uncommon Paris starts at $89 CAD.

With the addition of the three new tours, Intrepid now offers 25 day tours in Europe across 11 cities. 

The company also runs 236 multi-day tours in the region, spanning 42 countries.

New trip departures begin in June 2026.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.