Just 21 travelers will be selected for a one-of-a-kind trip: a 15-day mystery expedition through southern Africa, with no itinerary and no advance details.
Organized by Intrepid Travel, a company known for small-group trips focused on sustainability, cultural immersion and local connection, the Uncharted Expedition begins in Harare, Zimbabwe, and ends in Ile de Mozambique.
And yes—everything in between remains unknown until the day it happens.
The expedition costs $4,640 USD, and participants must enter a random draw to secure one of 21 spots.
Ahead, here’s what you need to know about jumping aboard this exclusive and unconventional experience.
Participants relax at a remote campsite during an Intrepid Travel expedition in Southern Africa. Travelers stay in tents and locally owned guesthouses throughout the 15-day journey. (Courtesy of Intrepid Travel)
No maps, no schedule—just 1,500 miles of adventure
The 2026 Uncharted Expedition begins in Harare, Zimbabwe, and ends in Ile de Mozambique. Travelers will cover roughly 1,500 miles across southern Africa over 15 days. No itinerary will be released in advance. Participants will be guided by one of Intrepid’s most experienced leaders, traveling primarily by overland truck and staying in accommodations ranging from tents to locally owned hotels.
The journey includes swimming in waterfalls, hiking up mountains and connecting with local people, with a focus on culture, history and regional cuisine.
Two departures are scheduled: July 29 and Aug. 12, 2026. The first trip will be reserved for returning Intrepid travelers.
“This itinerary is intrepid in every sense of the word, and I am confident that this will be our best mystery trip yet,” said Erica Kritikides, general manager of experiences at Intrepid Travel.
A format built on curiosity
Intrepid’s “Unchartered” trip concept was introduced in 2018, when the company ran two mystery trips through Kazakhstan, Russia’s Altai region and Mongolia. Thirty-four travelers joined the departures, which received over 1,000 applications in 10 days. The first trip filled in 16 hours. According to the company, interest in mystery travel has continued to grow.
“This mystery trip taps into the nostalgia of our earliest Intrepid trips, where every journey held an element of surprise and the unknown,” Kritikides said. “It appeals to the most intrepid travellers, [especially] those with a sense of adventure who are prepared to take a leap of faith and go well beyond the beaten path.”
A crescent moon rises over treetops during an overnight stop on Intrepid Travel’s southern Africa route. The Uncharted trip includes wild camping in remote areas. (Courtesy of Intrepid Travel)
What past travelers say
Past participants describe the original journey as transformational.
“The Unchartered trip sparked my sense of adventure,” said Meredith Quick, 68, of Melbourne. “The premise was to sign up for a trip to the unknown. My friends questioned my travel decision but they were soon envious when I returned to tell them of the adventure I had experienced with nine other wonderful travellers willing to take the risk.”
Quick, a longtime Intrepid traveler, joined the original Uncharted trip in 2018. Over the course of the journey, the group crossed three countries, stayed in local homes, met Indigenous communities and hiked through remote landscapes. For her, the unpredictable nature of the trip brought a renewed sense of adventure and curiosity.
The moon hangs above the water during a quiet evening. Intrepid Travel’s 2026 Uncharted expedition covers 1,500 miles with no published itinerary. (Courtesy of Intrepid Travel)
Kimberly Murray, also from Australia, joined the same trip.
“This was a journey that truly redefined what adventure travel means to me,” she said. “No guidebook could’ve prepared us for it.”
However, there is a hint: Founded over 35 years ago, Intrepid built its earliest trips by placing classified ads inviting travelers to join them on unscripted research expeditions. The 2026 journey draws from that original spirit.
If that piques your interest, details and registration are available at intrepidtravel.com/uncharted.
Source link
