A Tour That Even Loners Can Love

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, November, 2006

Everything I had heard about Laos-that it's beautiful, friendly, and not yet overrun with Westerners-stirred my sense of wanderlust. But the prospect of planning a trip there was intimidating. I was nervous about being overwhelmed, making the wrong decisions, and feeling like a slave to my guidebooks.

On the other hand, I dreaded joining a group comprised of folks who grouse if a restaurant doesn't have ketchup. Intrepid Travel, a tour company that emphasizes blending into, rather than gawking at, a foreign culture, seemed like the perfect middle ground. Even though Intrepid handles the hassles of finding lodging and booking train tickets, you feel as if you're traveling somewhat independently: Intrepid employs local guides, groups are small (generally 12 people at the...