According to one aspect, a hybrid high temperature thermal insulation includes a mix of inorganic granules. The granular mix includes at least 70 weight percent porous inorganic granules in the form of expanded perlite, and at most 30 weight percent second porous inorganic granules other than expanded perlite. The hybrid insulation also includes a binder. In example formulations, the second porous inorganic particles may be made from crushed aerogel, from fumed silica, from precipitated silica, or from other substances. The hybrid insulation may be formed into preferred shapes, for example a board shape or a semi-cylindrical shape configured to fit over a round tube of a predetermined diameter.