From Antarctica to New Zealand, our expeditions take you to far-flung destinations where you can see a plethora of penguins up close and alongside expert naturalists eager to illuminate every behavior.
Our Epic Voyages are extended expeditions in our portfolio that afford travelers the rare opportunity to sail places far off the beaten path, where endemic creatures and ancient cultures thrive beyond the reaches of the outside world. Here are five exciting experiences you can have while on one of our Epic Voyages.
Not all paddleboards are created equal! When it came to choosing a paddleboard supplier for Lindblad Expeditions' fleet, Glide SUP definitely stood out above the rest. Find out why this is the most sustainable and innovative board in the industry.
Author, travel writer for National Geographic and other publications, TV host and frequent Global Perspectives Guest Speaker aboard the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet, Andrew Evans is an authority on “epic.” He is the perfect person to ponder the outsize merits of longer journeys—and the breathtaking surprises that can only be found in the deep unknown.
Did you know that the majority of life on Earth is aquatic? It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that our oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet’s surface. But, for many of us, life underwater is mysterious and unchartered territory. From long-living species to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, ocean inhabitants are often responsible for maintaining keeping our planet running. Below are some fun facts to celebrate life under the sea.
Due to the pandemic, there were a quarter of a million cruise line crew stranded—at or on ships that had suspended operations. Travel restriction and new regulation has made repatriation challenging. Find out how we moved mountains (and ships, and buses, and planes!) to safely repatriate 103 crew members who were still aboard two of our ships in Norwegian & Danish waters.
For more than 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been committed to sustainability. Find out about Lindblad’s commitment to protecting the planet – being 100% carbon neutral, eliminating single-use plastic, serving sustainable seafood – and more.
Our first full day together exploring the waters of the beautiful Sea of Cortez could not have been better. Shortly after sunrise we spotted several tall whale blows in the distance just south of Danzante Island, one of the five islands of the Loreto Bay National Park. Upon closer examination, we realized that the blows belonged to no regular whales, but to the largest animal on our planet, blue whales! We watched them against the magnificent background of the La Giganta mountain range, whose rich colors really made for a spectacular scene. National Geographic Venture continued sailing south and entered the San Jose Channel. Soon we found not one or two but literally dozens of sperm whales in all directions. Their distinctive blows could be seen all around us and several groups made some close passes, the same as some bottlenose dolphins swimming with the much larger whales. What a way to start our time exploring the waters around the peninsula of Baja California!
Today, National Geographic Quest entered Costa Rica. Our Morning was spent enjoying Zodiac cruises or kayaking mangroves as the ship’s officers were checking into this beautiful country. After lunch, we visited Dolphin Quest Gardens in Golfo Dulce and explored the gardens and tropical rainforest. Teeming with life, we were delighted to find the variety of wildlife that exists within this magical area of Costa Rica. From spider monkeys and scarlet macaws to various lizards and abundant flora, there was something to entice all to fall in love with this destination. As our hikes drew to a close, Mother Nature helped cool us down with a short but substantial rainfall, known locally as a chubasco.
Today was our second full day exploring the islands and we started with a fantastic prebreakfast hike. Punta Cormorant is famous for the presence of a brackish water lagoon where greater flamingos can often be observed. As we hiked a mile inland, we arrived at a beautiful coralline beach, a nesting site for green sea turtles. Some individuals were basking at the shoreline and a couple of turtles were mating not far from the breakers. What a show! We saw boobies diving, sea lions playing, lots of fish, rays, and reef sharks while snorkeling. In the afternoon, we went kayaking among sea turtles and rays. Post Office Bay, well known for a traditional posting system used by early sailors, was the late afternoon activity, finishing off an amazing day on our expedition.
After yesterday’s windy start to our South Georgia visit, it was delightful to awaken this morning to calm conditions in Hercules Bay. Exploring by Zodiac, we found riches of avian and pinniped wildlife, lush vegetation, and swirling kelp forests. Macaroni penguins clambered down steep hillsides from their tussock burrows to the sea. Light-mantled albatross soared overhead, and playful young fur seals filled the intertidal zone. Strikingly folded sedimentary rocks created a dramatic landscape. The blustery and snowy afternoon was spent at Grytviken, one of six former shore-based whaling stations on the island. In the small cemetery, we honored the legacy and leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton with a toast. Hikers climbed above the site for a view over the bay, while others enjoyed walking tours with a historian from the South Georgia Heritage Trust to learn about station infrastructure and daily life. The whaling and sealing past of this region provide a tangible reminder that modern conservation efforts are critical to the Southern Ocean’s ecological future.
Malo and greetings! Welcome to beautiful Futuna and Alofi Islands in the Wallis and Futuna Islands group. Today, National Geographic Orion anchored in the lagoon between Futuna and Alofi Islands. The excursions to begin our day were to visit the cathedral of St. Peter, a patron saint of these islands, then proceed to a scenic outlook to admire the view the island. This was followed by a pristine lagoon snorkel off the shore of Alofi Island where guests were given the opportunity to frolic in the lagoon and snorkel the reef’s edge. It was another fantastic day exploring this special region. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is about creating opportunities for these unique moments and today was one of them.