Our 2019 class of Grosvenor Teacher Fellows recently returned from expeditions around the globe aboard Lindblad-National Geographic ships. Four of this year’s 45 fellows took time to share some of their favorite, funny, and unexpected moments in the wild.
Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil This UNESCO World Heritage site is the definition of remote wilderness. Located 220 miles off the northeast coast of Brazil, this series of 22 islands
Born of influential Edo-period Japan, landscape gardens are tranquil works of art, meant to inspire contemplation. Discover some of the premier strolling gardens you’ll encounter on your journey.
As COVID-19 stilled human sound and motion, the whole world heard it: a silence in which something was calling out to be heard. The wildness at the heart of the world. Now, it’s time to listen. To find out what the world has to say. To give the places where wildness is still sovereign, or still in harmony, or, still unbroken, a genuine listen.
An ancient sanctuary of tower temples and a striking seascape of limestone pillars—these are just a few of the wonders hidden along Vietnam's storied coastline.
Explorer, anthropologist, filmmaker, author, and public speaker Dr. Lawrence Blair will join guests on Lindblad's new expedition to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The largest Buddhist monument in the world, Borobudur Temple rises towards the heavens from a Javanese hilltop. This complex feat of architecture is an absolute must-see for any traveler to Indonesia.
Today we visited Floreana Island. An early hike brought us to Punta Cormorant where we witnessed the start of the breeding season of the blue-footed boobies by observing the famous blue-footed booby courting dance! Then a few yards away, we observed flamingos in the brackish water lagoon. What a great start to a great day! After breakfast we went to Champion Islet and off we went for Zodiac rides and later for deep water snorkeling and glass bottom boat rides. It was like swimming in an aquarium! The afternoon was filled with activities: two rounds of kayaking, visiting the famous Post Office Barrel, swimming, and snorkeling off the beach. To cap it all off, sunset was gorgeous. It was an amazing day in paradise.
Bula and greetings as we pull into the lagoon of Kadavu, Fiji. Today’s expedition was all about lagoon and reef snorkelling and great cuisine. Our day started off with our introduction of expedition staff members to guests, followed by our mandatory snorkel briefing. Guests were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cool lagoon of Verolevu Islet, snorkelling over a shoreside shallow reef. On returning to National Geographic Orion , we were greeted by a lavish lunch provided by Executive Chef Lorenzo and his team. Guests had an opportunity to rest before heading out on another snorkel adventure, this time hovering over a deep reef with myriads of fish dancing below. For those who chose not to snorkel, Undersea Specialist Mike Desiderio kept his party entertained in the iconic Tom Ritchie glass bottom Zodiac.
Today our expedition started with a kayaking exploration of Post Office Bay, a unique location known for its historic post barrel, where mariners left letters for others to carry to their destination. Here, our guests took part in the remarkable exchange of correspondence, a testament to the enduring spirit of human connection across the vast expanse of the ocean. For the second part of the morning, we embarked on a snorkeling excursion at Champion Islet, a site teeming with marine life unparalleled in its diversity and splendor. As our guest submerged into the turquoise waters, they were captivated by a colorful array of fish, corals, and rocky reefs. Among them, the brilliant parrotfish and graceful sea turtles captivated everybody’s attention. Our day culminated with a trek through the rugged terrain of Punta Cormorant, where among the volcanic landscape and lush vegetation we photographed a Galapagos sea lion posing for us.
Española Island is considered the oldest of the Galapagos Islands. This island is home to diverse and abundant species, even if from afar it looks like a deserted island. Mockingbirds, endemic to this islands, lava lizards, and large colonies of sea lions are a few of the species that we observed today. Our morning took us to one of the most wonderful and pristine white sandy beaches in the world, Gardner Bay. Here we could try out our snorkeling gear and practice some snorkeling among curious baby sea lions that swam by. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to take our guests on a boat ride to observe the breathtaking coastline of Española. Its dramatic cliffs make the perfect runway for waved albatrosses to take off, as they are a very heavy bird. This species of albatross only nest on this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and our guests were lucky to observe the first albatrosses of the season, as April is the month in which they return to breed.
Today was our first full day aboard National Geographic Quest , and it has truly been a spectacular start to our voyage. As guests awoke, we arrived into the Little Harbor cove alongside common dolphins bow-riding below and brown pelicans soaring above. Morning activities were a variety of hikes on the backside of Catalina Island, while in the afternoon we were able to explore the Mediterranean-feeling town of Avalon. Paired with scoops of delectable ice cream, botanical garden sights, and many more exciting stops in town, we were able to see the true local lifestyle of island living.