23 May 2017
Working in partnership with the Yolngu people, Intrepid Travel is to launch a new community-based trip in the remote East Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory. With the Yolngu culture, customs and way of life being the focus of the trip, the experience will give travellers from near and far a chance to be immersed in this picturesque corner of Australia that is home to incredible cultural, linguistic and environmental riches.
Visiting the remote coastal communities of Nyinyikay, Bremer Island and Nhulunbuy (also known as Gove), the ancient culture of the Saltwater people is the cornerstone of this 7-day trip. Staying as guests of the Yolngu, travellers will get the chance to camp with Traditional Owners, hear Dreamtime stories, learn how to hunt, fish and forage, and see first-hand why the unique art from this region is highly sought-after by collectors around the world.
“Nyinyikay is a very unique area, there's not many places around in Arnhem Land that is like this, with big cliffs, with a view of water right at your doorstep. Yolngu have been living here for thousands of generations. The lifestyle's changed a bit, but the knowledge is ancient.” says Marcus Lacey, a young leader of Yolngu Customary and Ngärra Law who lives with his family on the homeland community of Nyinyikay.
“This is a new day for us. We want to be able to use tourism as a vehicle for connecting with other people. Come here, sit with us, walk with us, eat with us. This is the real Aboriginal Australia.”
As leaders in community-based tourism Intrepid Travel have collaborated with remote Indigenous communities to set up small-scale tourism enterprises around the world, including a partnership with Aboriginal Olkola Corporation, which allows travellers to Journey into Olkola Country, in the heart of the Cape York Peninsula as guests of the Traditional Owners who regained control of their country in 2014.
“This is real Australia. There are no luxury tented camps with Wi-Fi coverage in this part of the country, but it is an enriching cultural experience even for Australian travellers.” says Brett Mitchell, Intrepid's Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand.
“Connecting people is what Intrepid is all about and we're incredibly proud to be able to work with the Yolngu people to bring travellers to this truly remote part of Australia. It is an absolute privilege to camp under the star-filled skies in the same untouched wilderness that the Yolngu people's ancestors walked.”
The inaugural 7-day trip will take place on August 31, 2017 and the second trip departs on September 10, 2017.
7 days from $5,995 AUD per person
Learn about the Yolngu way of life on this immersive trip that journeys deep into the heart of East Arnhem Land. Camp under the stars with Traditional Owners in Nyinyikay, sit around the campfire and listen to Dreamtime stories, tuck into fresh fish caught and cooked in the wild paradise of Bremer Island, learn how to hunt, fish and forage with locals, and admire world-class art made with natural pigments at Yirrkala Art Centre. A unique chance to discover an underappreciated corner of Australia as guests of the Yolngu people, this trip represents a rare opportunity for hardy travellers keen to uncover parts of Australia not visited by many. Arnhem Land remains the same untouched, so accommodation is camping with basic facilities. This is an ultimate bush experience.
Find out more about Intrepid's trips within Australia here: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/australia
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Images are available to download here: https://intrepidgroup.filecamp.com/public/collection/80mw-g6f1ae47
For more information please contact:
Kate Parker
PR Manager Australia and New Zealand
Kate.Parker@intrepidtravel.com
+61 481 009 149
Gillian Monahan
Global Communications Manager
Gillian.monahan@intrepidtravel.com
+61 410 277 127.
About Intrepid Travel Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company that has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 28 years. The company offers more than 1,000 trips in more than 100 countries and on every continent. Every trip is designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. A world leader in responsible travel, Intrepid's award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and included activities mean they offer travellers great value for money. www.intrepidtravel.com
About Adventure Tours Australia (ATA)
With humble origins dating back 25 years, Adventure Tours Australia run informative and immersive tours for travellers looking to develop a true-blue understanding of Australia's inner-workings – and have a great time while at it. We take one comfy, air-con equipped 4WD or minibus, load it up with a knowledgeable guide, a bunch of fellow adventurers, tents, swags and some packed picnics featuring native foods, then head out into the wilds. From working cattle stations to well-appointed wilderness lodges, desert campsites, and underground bunkhouses, the accommodation used on ATA trips is all part of the experience. With a commitment to operating in a sustainable, ethical way and putting Australia's Indigenous heritage at the forefront of our trips, ATA has won numerous awards (and hearts).
About the Intrepid Group
Independently-owned by the original founders of Intrepid Travel, the Intrepid Group is now a collection of six tour operator brands and 19 destination management companies united by the vision of changing the way people see the world. For the past 28 years, we've been taking small groups to travel the local way, on real life experiences that give back to the places and people we visit. As this style of travel has caught on, the Intrepid Group family has grown to now offer around 2000 trips to more than 100 countries and on all seven continents. We cater for all ages, budgets, and appetites for adventure through Adventure Tours Australia, The Family Adventure Company, Geckos Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures and Urban Adventures. Globally-renowned as a leader in responsible travel, Intrepid has been a carbon-neutral business since 2010. Our not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation has raised $5m AUD for over 75 local and international charities by matching traveller donations dollar-for-dollar. For more information, visit: www.intrepidgroup.travel
