The Aussie company has made no secret of its bullish acquisition strategy at home and abroad, with Altai Group – now its biggest ever purchase – joining its Dutch asset Sawadee Reizen, which was bought in 2025.
Lyon-based Altai Group specialises in nature-based, active, small group and tailor-made tours through its Atalante, Altai Travel, Copines de Voyage, and Les Aventureurs brands.
Like Intrepid, Altai Group is a vertically integrated business operating most overseas trips via its own network of DMCs.
Intrepid estimated the deal would add more than $100m in revenue and an additional 35,000 customers a year to its books.
The purchase was made via the investment company created by Julien Leclercq, the chair of major French sports chain Decathlon and Intrepid board member since 2021.
Altai Group will continue to be led by MD Yann Wulser, who will report to Intrepid’s managing director EMEA, Zina Bencheikh.
Intrepid CEO James Thornton said the deal presented the business with a “massive opportunity” to expand in French-speaking markets.
