Intrepid Travel France travel agency distribution, Digi Mart USA News: On Wednesday, November 4, the websites of Atalante and Altaï Travel disappeared. The two brands merged under the Intrepid banner, which becomes a new distribution brand on the French market.
This marks the first time Intrepid has entered a non-English-speaking market, with production designed for French travelers.
Yann Wulser said the company is keeping all the production that existed at Atalante and Altaï Travel, along with their teams and expertise. The trips become Intrepid trips, but the core focus on trekking, mountains, adventure and small groups remains.
Intrepid is also adding about thirty trips from its international range, grouped under the Essentielle name. These are small-group journeys focused more on encounters, local experience and discovering a country than on sports activity.
Wulser described the offer as accessible exploration, in the spirit of what Nouvelles Frontières once offered. The historic Atalante and Altaï Travel trips remain adventure journeys that are often more technical and sporty.
Wulser said there is a gap between traditional adventure operators and more accessible brands offering small-group exploration without an overly sporty approach. He compared the positioning to an equivalent of WeRoad for an older clientele that wants to travel in a group, meet people and have a local experience.
Intrepid remains a tour operator in France, unlike in other markets. Wulser said the company designs its trips for French travelers with its production managers.
For the Essentielle range, trips are sold without flights, allowing clients to choose flights based on timing, stopovers or length of stay, and enabling an attractive entry price.
The company has also split its FIT (independent travel) offer into fixed-price, non-modifiable freedom trips and tailor-made trips. Wulser said the offer rests on three pillars: group trips, including the Essentielle range; FIT; and the receptive business through the Intrepid DMC network.
Intrepid now has a network of 42 DMCs across as many countries. In the 14 countries where both an Altaï and an Intrepid agency existed, teams and offices have merged.
Wulser said no departures linked to the merger are to be reported and no restructuring is planned.
Wulser said the group had long considered opening an office in France, and the acquisition of Altaï gave it that capability immediately. The Altaï DMC has been converted into an Intrepid DMC, which from next year will be able to host more international clients, including British, American, New Zealand and Australian travelers who want to visit France.
Previously Intrepid operated France from its DMC in Spain; travelers will now be handled from France.
Wulser said Intrepid will expand its France offer to Paris, the Loire Valley castles and other regions, while keeping its small-group, responsible and active approach. The company recently hired Arnaud Devanay, formerly of Evaneos, as director of B2B development and partnerships, with activity expected to pick up mainly from 2027 through referencing agreements and connection to the Orchestra platform.
Wulser said figures are hard to compare because the scope changed with the merger. In 2026, Atalante and Altaï Travel represent about 25 million euros in revenue.
The company aims to return in 2027 to the 2025 level of around 30 million euros, a growth of roughly 20%. Intrepid does not disclose its net result.
Wulser said Intrepid aims to become a powerful brand in France, as it already is in other countries. He noted that long-established adventure brands have aged with their customers, while younger generations sometimes struggle to identify with them.
Intrepid chose to bring this evolution through its brand and the Essentielle range, which also lets travelers go alone, as a couple or with friends, with a clear and accessible itinerary and accommodation already arranged.
Wulser said the goal is to open the offer to travel agencies and tour operators, works councils (CSE) and platforms.
