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For every journey.

The Envoy for Every Voyage

We want everyone to live life by the compass, not by the clock. Envoyage is a global network of experienced, entrepreneurial travel advisors and agencies across the world. ‍ As part of Flight Centre Travel Group , we’ve got the breadth, reach and expertise to equip travel businesses with everything needed to succeed.  We know that just as every trip is unique, so is every travel business. This is why we’ve created Envoyage with travel advisors in mind. ‍ Our goal is to be the home and the heart of the travel industry for the independent world and to build an unparalleled offering you can tap into as much or as little as you need to succeed, grow and thrive.

Bring on the Benefits

Skilfully steered by an experienced international team and backed by one of the globe’s biggest names in travel, Envoyage empowers travel entrepreneurs with everything required to fuel agency growth and achievement. Essentially, we’re just here to make you look good. And to set you up for the ultimate success.

All Your Business Needs in One Place

With brands and businesses spanning all segments of travel across the globe, as part of Flight Centre Travel Group, we offer access to an integrated suite of services, tools, technologies and products. By leveraging these capabilities and communities, you can succeed at whatever type of travel specialisation you prefer.

Shop in Our Product Marketplace

The products you need to sell the travel they want. As a global business, we’re able to secure an amazing range of product to suit all types of travel styles and requirements. Plus, our central platforms for air and land distribution, including our NDC solution, simplify the process for you.

Take Advantage of Our Expert Support

With Envoyage, being independent doesn’t mean being alone. We’re here to back you up with localised support to help you with everything from product advice to beautifully designed marketing assets, technology and general business support.

Connect with Our Worldwide Community

Travel is all about shared experiences—even on a professional level. Build your professional network through Envoyage. Connect with colleagues locally and from around the world through regional and global travel industry events, famils, virtual communities and more.

Reach Your Earning Potential

With superb negotiating power and worldwide influence, Envoyage leverages strong partnerships across the industry to secure phenomenal deals and increased benefits.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

Technology is continually evolving, and so are we. We are driven by innovation and strategically invest in acquiring and developing technology that strengthens our business and those of the members in our global network.

Welcome Home

Home is our purpose-built digital ecosystem, designed to support travel entrepreneurs. An intuitive, customisable one-stop shop filled with all the features you need to succeed, Home is your whole travel world in one spot. Access ticketing, supplier portals, marketing tools, knowledge articles, product updates and more in one place. It’s all here. And it’s all yours.

Products Galore

From overwater bungalows to train travel between European cities, Home is your gateway to our incredible range of product. We’re talking more than 500 airlines and over one million hotels and vacation homes. Not to mention thousands of activities, cruise options and more.

Time Savers

Let’s face it, no one enters the travel industry because they love administrative work. Home simplifies those less enjoyable tasks by letting you easily manage them all in one place. Connect directly to popular supplier portals, ticketing and product programs, marketing tools and more with just one click.

That’s The Ticket

Access 24/7 self-ticketing and a ticketing team solely dedicated to our global independent network. Choose between chat or phone support when you need it for service that suits you.

Smart Business Reporting

Get ready to meet the future of data reporting. Take your business to the next level with smart reporting that enables you to analyse your business performance, identify opportunities and increase your profit.

Specialisations

Exclusive communities for luxury and corporate specialists

Access exclusive benefits, including memberships, events, our luxury product collection and much more.

Receive access to corporate travel technology, trend insights, industry-focused training and development, access to thousands of discounted corporate hotel rates, unique value adds and more.

What Our Members Are Saying

Words from our network of travel advisors around the world.

Ashlea Blake

Jill Synder

United States

Gaynor Bennett

New Zealand

Alana Halford Bowles

Melissa Sanchez

Mark Hodgson

Nicole Archibald

Katherine Lewis

Our Heart: Community

Your travel industry network just got a lot bigger. Our community keeps you in the loop with a global collection of highly experienced travel industry professionals. Connect with colleagues across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States virtually and in person at our global and regional travel industry events. Plus, take advantage of educational opportunities, reward trips, famils and so much more.

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How to find a travel companion

Whilst solo travel can be a liberating and fulfilling experience, sometimes it’s nice to have someone with whom to share that experience. But how do you go about finding that elusive travel buddy?

The good news is, that even if you don’t personally know someone who is keen on heading off for a holiday with you, there are a range of websites and social network services that can connect you with other people looking for a travel companion. But before you go hunting online for a travel buddy, it may pay to take note of these safety tips:

• be careful not to provide personal contact details or any other personal information until you have communicateda few times via the website that you are using
• phone the person before you arrange a meeting
• it is best to meet in a public place and, if you are going alone,you should also let someone else know where you are going and when you expect to be back. It may even pay to bring a friend along
• if you do not feel comfortable about meeting in person, then follow your instincts and call off your meeting. If you feel awkward or unnecessary pressure to meet up with someone, then, chances are, they may not be the right person for you

Travelfriend.com.au

Travelfriend.com.au is a free service for anyonewho is looking for a travel partner to travel within Australia or overseas. Simply register and enter some personal details and you will have access to a database of singles, couples or solo travellers looking for a travel buddy to share a journey anywhere in the world.

TourBar is a site that carefully verifies its members to ensure confidence when you connect with international travel partners. Wherever you’re heading for your holiday, you can be assured of meeting locals who can show you the best restaurant, pubs, beaches and sites, all safe in the knowledge that the person you are meeting is who they say they are.

Thelma & Louise

Thelma & Louise is a website that connects women with friendship and travel. The website provides all the tools necessary for like-minded women worldwide to safely chat, plan and meet up for an enriching travel experience.

Australian Explorer Lonely Explorer

If you’d like to connect with other Australians for your next jaunt around the countryside, then Australian Explorer’s Lonely Explorer forum is the perfect place to begin. Simply post a message to find a travel buddy, then chat and plan your journey together. Lonely Explorer also connects international visitors with Australian locals, so if you’d like to play host to a solo traveller, then this is the place to let them know you’re interested.

Travel Buddies app

Travel Buddies is a handy app that is used in over 170 countries. This free social network is the perfect place to find an international travel companion or even to meet locals for a trip closer to home. Travel Buddies connects all travellers – from overnight stays and short trips to backpackers looking to hang around for a bit longer. It’s also a great way to meet people from overseas or Australia.

Have you used any of these services? Do you have any suggestions for people looking for a travel companion? Why not share them with our members?

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12 Sites That Will Help You Find A Travel Buddy

Meeting new people is one of the best parts of traveling.

Hopefully, you found some cool solo travel groups in our blog post, 10 Different Types of Solo Travel Groups . But there are also times when you might want to find a travel buddy, one other person to travel with, on your own trip.

Here are 11 sites that will help you find a travel buddy:

Search a destination, find travel partners, get connected, and trip together! It’s as easy as that. You can rest easy knowing that GAFFL uses a strict verification process so you can feel safe about your travel partner. Start your search here !

2. Utilize Social Media Groups

There are many Facebook groups and pages that you can follow and join to meet people with similar interests as you. Search for things like “travel” or “travel buddy” and you will find groups like Female Travel Buddies, Travel Buddies, and Travel Friends Finder that you can join.

I have been a part of a Facebook group called Women Who Travel , and it has been very helpful to me. Not only do these women post when they need travel companions, but they post tips for each other too. Other sites like Reddit utilize forums and feeds to connect people. All worth a look!

Check out Women Who Travel’s podcast  too!

3. Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a service that allows you to connect to a worldwide community of travelers. It is a great place to somewhere to stay or to share your home with travelers.

As with any online interaction, you need to make sure you do your due diligence. Using trusted sources for finding couches to key to couch surfing safely .

This website is super cool because it’s simpler than the rest. On Meetup , you can search for events in the area or wherever you will be, and see who is attending. You can even contact those people through Meetup too!

Working with Meetup will be a little different than other sites when looking for a travel companion. You might not meet your travel companion until you go to an event or two. It is more of a free-flowing way to meet people in the area you are in.

5. TripGiraffe

TripGiraffe is really easy to use. It offers the options of finding a travel buddy, exploring all travelers on the site, and looking for meetups. You can search for trips coming up soon as well as create your own.

Each mini-profile is straightforward listing the exact places you will be going, the dates you will be traveling, your gender and age, as well as the type of trip and budget.

Check out some of the profiles before you build your own – you might just want to hop on someone else’s trip!

6.  Trip in Touch

How about a new site called Trip in Touch . “Same place. Same time. Same interests. Trip in Touch – find your next Travel Buddy!”

The app is on its way, for now, you can subscribe and join their Facebook groups to connect with other travelers.

7. Intrepid Travel

If you’ve got the urge to travel but no one to do it with you can stop worrying because Intrepid has got you covered. Join one of their small group tours and find ready-made friends who are itching to explore just like you are.

8. Flexible Guided Travel

If you book daily tours in each place you stay, you are sure to make friends that might be on the same schedule as you! Give it a chance.

In New Zealand, you can pay for guided but flexible travel with the Kiwi Experience . The Kiwi Experience is a bus that travels around New Zealand making stops and bringing you from Point A to Point B. But it’s your choice how often you want to stay on the bus or on the journey! Completely flexible!

This would be a great way to meet people while you’re in the country and possibly grab a travel companion while you’re there.

9.  Travello

Travello is an app designed to make travel social. Known for where travelers connect, Travello asks you what you are interested in and then helps you to connect with other travelers nearby.

This is an excellent way to meet a travel buddy, whether you’re at home before the trip takes place or on the actual trip!

If you meet someone at home with similar interests and who loves to travel, chances are it could be a good match! This also eliminates traveling far to meet up before the trip.

10. Tourlina

Tourlina is specifically for females looking for female travel buddies. Another option to browse other trips, create your own, and speak with other females about their trips too!

The app promises a trusted and secure network of individuals.

11. Join My Trip

Choose the destination, the group size, and the experience that is right for you and Join My Trip will find the trip mates.

Whether you are looking for a simple weekend getaway or the trip of a lifetime, this is a great way to find new friends, share costs, and make memories that will last forever.

12. DePassport

DePassport can be the premier destination for you to find adventure buddies and a perfect travel companion. And for a surprise, this app lets you find not just a partner, but someone whom you will truly vibe with. The platform uses an AI-powered matching algorithm to connect you with people who match your values, and interests. 

You can connect with people from around the world, and plan your travels easily.

44 Responses

You need to add http://www.gogaffl.com to this list!

Thanks for the tip!

Very good information regarding travel

Thanks so much, Prakash!

Hi Erica, Absolutely awesome article. Btw, you are missing two big ones. CouchSurfing and GAFFL. I have always used CS before and recently used GAFFL in Australia. It was awesome. It connects people based on trips. You can start a trip or join trips. I think you can mention them in your list too.

Will do, thanks Ed!

I love Wandure app! They have amazing experiences created by awesome locals.

We love it too Lina!

Finding a perfect travel buddy is always difficult. But, having a travel buddy can make the trip more enjoyable and less lonely. It helps to have someone to split the expenses with, so you can save up for your next trip. A travel partner also minimizes risks associated with traveling alone. GAFFL (www.gogaffl.com) can be a great addition to this list. It matches up travelers with similar travel plans and ensures the safety of travelers through their well-built verification process.

Thanks for the tip, Abrar!

Are you a solo traveller? I am an Indian n Canadian citizen retired 60+ age group in n good shape to travel. Can you suggest some dependable solo travel groups. Pls email your response to [email protected] thanks

Hi Peter, check out Eldertreks, Adventures Abroad, Road Scholar, Walking the World!

Yes! I love it

Thanks Sarah!

Ms.Erika Szumel, Really Thank you for the information. Can you please rank them according to your knowledge and experience? is it possible to know which are all providing paid and which are all free in 2020?

Hi Siva, thanks for reading! Most of these are free or offer free basic memberships. Click on the links to get an idea of which fits best!

Thanks for sharing this info..

Really nice post. Thanks for sharing with us..

Thanks for reading, Suvajit!

Great Blog.It is very useful.Thanks….

Thanks for this lovely info.

Thanks for reading, Pradyut!

Great post!! Thank you very much for sharing.

Glad you enjoyed it, Ujjal!

Hi, maybe you should add https://backpackingtribe.com/ to this list. It’s a platform where you can find not just a buddy, but an entire group to backpack together with! It’s amazing!

Thanks for the tip, Wijnand!

Hey Erika, You should think about adding Share Bus to this list – if you’re travelling in Aus! Its a shared rental of a minibus, trailer and camping equipment. They find the travel mates (other backpackers) for you. It’s totally flexible and self guided – you just join on the trip/date you want to do (i.e. Perth to Broome) and you can make your own adventure.

Hey Jade, thanks for the tip!

This is such a great list! It’s got everything except https://www.fairytrail.app , a dating app for people with a passion for adventure and can work anywhere (one can look for friendships too). You should check it out and review it 😉

The most interesting list is here to find a travel buddy. Travelling with someone is fun. And these days finding a perfect travel partner is tough task, but your list has made it bit easy.

Great post! thank you so much for sharing

Thanks, Shawn!

Great content. You can also add https://cogofly.com to this list. It is a travel social networking site that helps travellers connect with other travellers around the world. As well as with its advanced search filter, anyone can find the perfect travel buddy match.

Thanks for the tip, Sameena!

You need to add http://www.joinmytrip.com to this list for sure!

Thanks for the tip, Prasanna!

great post … full of knowledge ,i am inviting you to India if you think so it will be a great pleasure for me to hosting you

Are there any sites for older people? Most of these sound like they are for younger folks. Thanks for any referrals.

Check out Walking The World, Eldertreks, Adventures Abroad, Intrepid!

Hello, I am 61 yr old female looking to travel solo but would like to join a group to travel to St Martin in the spring 2023. Do you have any recommendations.

Hi Valerie, check out some of the sites listed above! We know there are specific age groups that you can book with.

I think you have missed http://www.connectingtraveller.com as well.

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Connections

For every journey.

The Envoy for Every Voyage

We want everyone to live life by the compass, not by the clock. Envoyage is a global network of experienced, entrepreneurial travel advisors and agencies across the world. ‍ As part of Flight Centre Travel Group , we’ve got the breadth, reach and expertise to equip travel businesses with everything needed to succeed.  We know that just as every trip is unique, so is every travel business. This is why we’ve created Envoyage with travel advisors in mind. ‍ Our goal is to be the home and the heart of the travel industry for the independent world and to build an unparalleled offering you can tap into as much or as little as you need to succeed, grow and thrive.

Bring on the Benefits

Skilfully steered by an experienced international team and backed by one of the globe’s biggest names in travel, Envoyage empowers travel entrepreneurs with everything required to fuel agency growth and achievement. Essentially, we’re just here to make you look good. And to set you up for the ultimate success.

All Your Business Needs in One Place

With brands and businesses spanning all segments of travel across the globe, as part of Flight Centre Travel Group, we offer access to an integrated suite of services, tools, technologies and products. By leveraging these capabilities and communities, you can succeed at whatever type of travel specialisation you prefer.

Shop in Our Product Marketplace

The products you need to sell the travel they want. As a global business, we’re able to secure an amazing range of product to suit all types of travel styles and requirements. Plus, our central platforms for air and land distribution, including our NDC solution, simplify the process for you.

Take Advantage of Our Expert Support

With Envoyage, being independent doesn’t mean being alone. We’re here to back you up with localised support to help you with everything from product advice to beautifully designed marketing assets, technology and general business support.

Connect with Our Worldwide Community

Travel is all about shared experiences—even on a professional level. Build your professional network through Envoyage. Connect with colleagues locally and from around the world through regional and global travel industry events, famils, virtual communities and more.

Reach Your Earning Potential

With superb negotiating power and worldwide influence, Envoyage leverages strong partnerships across the industry to secure phenomenal deals and increased benefits.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

Technology is continually evolving, and so are we. We are driven by innovation and strategically invest in acquiring and developing technology that strengthens our business and those of the members in our global network.

Welcome Home

Home is our purpose-built digital ecosystem, designed to support travel entrepreneurs. An intuitive, customisable one-stop shop filled with all the features you need to succeed, Home is your whole travel world in one spot. Access ticketing, supplier portals, marketing tools, knowledge articles, product updates and more in one place. It’s all here. And it’s all yours.

Products Galore

From overwater bungalows to train travel between European cities, Home is your gateway to our incredible range of product. We’re talking more than 500 airlines and over one million hotels and vacation homes. Not to mention thousands of activities, cruise options and more.

Time Savers

Let’s face it, no one enters the travel industry because they love administrative work. Home simplifies those less enjoyable tasks by letting you easily manage them all in one place. Connect directly to popular supplier portals, ticketing and product programs, marketing tools and more with just one click.

That’s The Ticket

Access 24/7 self-ticketing and a ticketing team solely dedicated to our global independent network. Choose between chat or phone support when you need it for service that suits you.

Smart Business Reporting

Get ready to meet the future of data reporting. Take your business to the next level with smart reporting that enables you to analyse your business performance, identify opportunities and increase your profit.

Specialisations

Exclusive communities for luxury and corporate specialists

Access exclusive benefits, including memberships, events, our luxury product collection and much more.

Receive access to corporate travel technology, trend insights, industry-focused training and development, access to thousands of discounted corporate hotel rates, unique value adds and more.

What Our Members Are Saying

Words from our network of travel advisors around the world.

Ashlea Blake

Jill Synder

United States

Gaynor Bennett

New Zealand

Alana Halford Bowles

Melissa Sanchez

Mark Hodgson

Nicole Archibald

Katherine Lewis

Our Heart: Community

Your travel industry network just got a lot bigger. Our community keeps you in the loop with a global collection of highly experienced travel industry professionals. Connect with colleagues across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States virtually and in person at our global and regional travel industry events. Plus, take advantage of educational opportunities, reward trips, famils and so much more.

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Hawai’i is a much loved destination for Australians. There’s just something about that first step onto the plane, the gentle strum of a ukulele providing the soundtrack. Our guides to Hawai’i are a great place to start if you are thinking about visiting America’s 50th state.

Indulge your spirit of adventure on the biggest Hawaiian island. It’s still a vast frontier, full of unexpected wonders

Emerald mountains, weeping waterfalls, red-rock canyons and jaw-dropping beaches. Kaua‘i’s natural gifts are unparalleled

Maui lures travellers with an invigorating mix of natural beauty and outdoor fun, all shared with warm alohas.

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We’re always looking for new people with plenty of talent – and a real love of travel. People who can help their clients have travel experiences that are as individual as they are. If you’re an experienced travel professional and looking to grow with a company as individual as you,  find out more about becoming a personal travel manager .

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• let lastPlace = { country: '', countryName: '', isCountry: false }; let addressLevels = { 'locality': 50, 'neighborhood': 50, 'administrative_area_level_5': 80, 'administrative_area_level_4': 100, 'administrative_area_level_3': 150, 'administrative_area_level_2': 200, 'administrative_area_level_1': 250, 'country': '' }; $(function () { if ('undefined' === typeof $window) { window.$window = $(window); } if (window.getRealWidth() Loading results '); $.ajax(aurl, {data: data, method: 'get'}).done(function (responseText) { let response = ajaxWasSuccessful(responseText); if (response) { let objData = { locals: { ajaxfile: '/report_request.php', results: response.results.data, data: { 'currentPage': response.params.Page, 'pagination': response.results.pagination }, totalNum: response.results.totalNum, params: response.params, loggedIn: false, lang: 'en', langtext: { 'delete': 'delete', 'dateformat': 'd/m/Y', 'meetup_linktext_visit_profile': 'Profile', 'meetup_linktext_contact': 'Contact', 'meetup_linktext_add': 'add', 'travelbuddy_no_results': 'We couldn’t find anyone to match that search.', 'travelbuddy_try_searching_country': 'Try searching all travelling to', 'lastLogin': 'Last login', 'travelbuddy_label_destination': 'Destination:', 'travelbuddy_label_dates': 'Dates', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_green': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 7 days', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_yellow': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 30 days', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_red': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 60 days', 'ww_label_last_activity': 'Last activity', 'found': 'found', 'label_showing': 'Showing', 'splr_of': 'of', 'splr_to': 'to', 'travelbuddy_label_show_more': 'show more...', 'popover_signuptocontact_workawayer_guest': '<p><b> <a href="/en/login">Login here</a></b> to start a conversation</p>', 'signup_workawayer_url': '/en/signup/workawayer', 'join_as_workawayer': 'Join as a Workawayer', 'signup_host_url': '/en/signup/host', 'join_as_host': 'Join as a Host', 'profile_verified_popover_title': 'Verified with ID', 'profile_verified_popover_content': 'Member has provided their ID to increase trust in their profile.', }, testversion: false } }; let template = swig.render('{% if data.pagination.pages.length > 1 %}\ {% set addPlusToTotal = \'\' %}\ {% if \'10000+\' == totalNum %}\ {% set totalNum = 10000 %}\ {% set addPlusToTotal = \'+\' %}\ {% endif %}\ \ \ \ \ {% if data.pagination.arrows.previous %}\ \ \ \ \

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Business opportunities

Mekong australia partnership – call for proposals.

This request for proposals is now open

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) requests Activity Proposals for funding with eligible partners under the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP).

MAP is a $222.5 million investment over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29) managed between DFAT in Canberra, the Mekong Hub in Bangkok, Thailand and Mekong Posts in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Further details on MAP are available in the portfolio design framework .

This call requests multi-year proposals from eligible non-government partners to address shared and transboundary development challenges in the Mekong subregion.  Proposals should focus on one or more of MAP’s thematic areas of: climate resilience; water security; economic resilience and subregional integration; and gender equality, disability and social inclusion.

Proposals should total between $2 million and $10 million, be implemented through subregional (Mekong) and/or multi-country approaches (two or more Mekong countries) and demonstrate strong alignment to one or more MAP End of Portfolio Outcomes.

Please review the Call for Proposals – Guidelines, Eligibility and Selection Criteria before preparing submissions.  Complete proposals should be submitted to: [email protected] .

The closing date for submissions is 5pm AEST time Friday, 11 October 2024. Please note submissions that are incomplete, do not meet eligibility and selection criteria or are received after the closing date will not be considered.

MAP – call for proposals documents

• Call for Proposals – Guidelines, Eligibility and Selection Criteria [DOCX 350 KB]
• Call for Proposals – Guidelines, Eligibility and Selection Criteria [PDF 252 KB]  
• Call for Proposals – Invitation to submit an activity proposal [DOCX 78 KB]
• Call for Proposals – Invitation to submit an activity proposal [PDF 391 KB]  
• Call for Proposals – Sample DFAT Complex Grant Agreement [DOCX 138 KB]
• Call for Proposals – Sample DFAT Complex Grant Agreement [PDF 829 KB]  
• Call for Proposals – Sample DFAT Simple Grant Agreement [DOCX 108 KB]
• Call for Proposals – Sample DFAT Simple Grant Agreement [DOCX 381 KB]

Information session, questions and answers

DFAT will hold a virtual information/ briefing session at 1300 (AEST) on Friday, 20 September 2024.  Expressions of interest in joining the virtual information/ briefing session and questions relating to the MAP - Call for Proposals should be directed to [email protected] .

DFAT will accept questions until Thursday, 26 September 2024 and provide responses by Thursday, 03 October 2024.

The Mekong-Australia Partnership aims to progress the goal of a more resilient and inclusive Mekong subregion that pursues joint solutions to shared and transboundary challenges.  The second phase of MAP was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024.  The MAP portfolio design document for the second phase sets out the context and rationale for the $222.5 million (2024-25 to 2028-29) investment.  It outlines a partnerships approach to achieve five End-of-Portfolio-Outcomes aligned to the thematic areas of climate resilience, water security, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, economic resilience and subregional integration, transnational crime and leadership and skills.

Olympic legend Ian Thorpe finally gets his gap-year travel adventure, courtesy of The Amazing Race Australia

Main Image: Ian Thorpe is taking part in the latest season of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition. Credit: Remco Jansen

At a time when a lot of us were backpacking around the world, pulling beers at dingy London pubs, or furiously thumbing our way through Lonely Planet travel guides, five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe was slogging it out — hard.

The Thorpedo was breaking records in the pool, representing his country in international sporting competitions — just casually being, you know, an Aussie Sporting Icon.

So when Network Ten came calling to chat about the possibility of participating in its long-running reality series The Amazing Race, Thorpe jumped at the chance — quietly excited that he’d finally get the backpacking travel experience he’d always longed for.

“I was a big fan of the race growing up,” the 41 year-old swim star tells STM from Sydney.

“For myself (travelling like this) is one of those experiences that I probably would have had in my late teenage years or early twenties, you know, where you go on a gap year (but) . . . At that point in my life, though, I was kinda busy swimming.”

Kinda busy?

“Yeah, well . . . so that was never going to happen,” he laughs.

“For me, being able to spend this time away with one of my mates was just fantastic.”

The mate in question is Thorpe’s childhood friend and one-time swimming buddy, Christian Miranda.

“He was my first choice — don’t tell my family,” Thorpe says with a chuckle. “My sister was like, ’Why didn’t you pick me?’ But I was like ‘ummm’ . . . I know my sister!

“(Christian and I) are both competitive — Christian is a PT (personal trainer), so he is still super fit, and we are both really determined.”

They hit the ground running.

Details of the new celebrity season of The Amazing Race are being kept under wraps, but what we do know is that the competitors include Natalie Bassingthwaighte and her sister Melinda Sheldrick, Matildas teammates Chloe Logarzo and Emily Gielnik, Pete Helliar and his wife Bridget, and comedian Luke McGregor and his mum Julie. They’ll begin their travels in Buenos Aires, before crisscrossing the globe through South Africa, Namibia and Thailand.

The race will be overseen once more by its globe-trotting host, Top Gear Australia’s Beau Ryan, who will be on hand to offer moral support as the competitors face — and we’re quoting here — “some of the toughest challenges of their lives, while deciphering clues and tackling every Roadblock, Detour and U-turn thrown their way”.

Thorpe admits there were moments during the competition, which sees participants race to complete challenges and be first to cross the finish line for a chance to win $100,000, when he wondered what on earth he was doing — especially as the race wore on and conditions got more challenging.

But during the filming of that first episode in Argentina, at least, he jumped in feet first.

“I absolutely loved it,” he says. “I had been given a mission and it was like, ‘This is what we are doing. We have to work this out. How are we going to go about this?’ and it really worked well.”

Thorpe, who is racing to raise money for the mental health support service charity Reach Out (the Olympian is a patron and a board member), says he feels blessed to have been given the opportunity to take part in the show, which filmed before he went full-tilt at his pre-Olympics commentary preparation.

“I’m so lucky I got to squeeze it in,” he says.

“It’s an experience that you wish other people could actually share.

“I was happy we had those other teams there, because we all got along, so it was a matter of wanting to do better than them, rather than wanting to beat them.”

Thorpe’s gap-year adventure couldn’t have come along at a better time, and the star says he realises how fortunate he is to have been given the chance to take part.

And even after a long career filled with high-profile races, gold medals, huge highs and accolades, Thorpe keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

“I love that I have the opportunity to do the things that I do,” he says.

“Very few people have that, and I have pinch-myself moments where I go, ‘This is kind of crazy, what is going on in your life?’

“The little kid that I used to be, he would never have thought that this is the kind of life he’d be living.”

The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition begins Monday September 9 at 7.30pm on Ten.

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