From walking among incredible UNESCO-recognized landmarks and locations to encountering local traditions, cuisine, and architecture, we've rounded up 11 unique experiences for history and culture lovers.
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.
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.
Lindblad Expeditions has made an enduring commitment to sustainibility for over 50 years, and we've extended this initiative by recently becoming carbon neutral.
We spent the day in San Sebastian, considered by many to be the most beautiful city in Spain. Situated in the mountainous north, this is Basque Country, a region with its own unique language (Euskara), food, and culture. We took a walking tour of this resort city next to France to observe the beautiful architecture, bridges, and churches. Then, we all walked through the old section of the city to visit the Txoko Gastronomic Society, where we sampled several different Basque dishes. Some guests walked up the hill for panoramic views. In the afternoon, National Geographic Explorer cruised out of the very narrow Pasaia Harbor under blues skies. What an amazing sight, as we went by old buildings, fishing boats, waving people, tilted rock layers, and several lighthouses…all very close to us due to the narrow harbor mouth. During the afternoon, we had delicious Swedish pancakes in the bistro for teatime. Later, the captain gave his farewell toast, thanking the entire staff during cocktail hour. Finally, we had a fantastic dinner on our final evening to celebrate an amazing eleven-day voyage around the Iberian Peninsula.
We spent today in the northernmost entrance to the Inside Passage of Alaska. This is an amazing place for wildlife and wild weather, and we had a fantastic day experiencing all that Cross Sound has to offer.
Days at sea are a wonderful opportunity to rest a little bit and observe seabirds and cetaceans. The Gulf of Biscay can be temperamental, but we were lucky to have the westerlies and a swell pushing us, making our transit to the Basque Country very pleasant. During the day, we enjoyed different lectures given by staff, and the galley team surprised us with a very special tapas teatime! We had a visit from some common dolphins late in the afternoon. To finish a fantastic day, the Basque music group Amak played the trikitixa, a famous Basque instrument, late into the night. Good navigation, wonderful food, and an amazing music performance…life is wonderful aboard National Geographic Explorer !
Our first full day in Alaska presented us with the bounty of spring! Guests hiked along the Lake Eva Trail, which follows a salmon stream through hemlock and spruce forests on Baranoff Island. Along the trail, new vegetation, flowers, and berries were thriving in the temperate rainforest environment. Guests spotted fresh signs of active bears, bald eagles, banana slugs, waterfowl, salmon fry, and even a swan and beaver swimming in Lake Eva!
Our destinations today were the towns of Vilagarcia and Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, was bustling with pilgrims celebrating their journey. Many of us joined the Camino for the final three miles, wandering through an aromatic eucalyptus forest, enhanced by the morning rain. The cathedral is an architectural masterpiece that blends medieval Romanesque interiors, Gothic cloisters, and an eighteenth-century Baroque façade. The main entrance, adorned with scallop shell carvings symbolizing the Camino’s many paths, left us in awe. Guests could attend morning Mass or explore the town before lunch. Lunch was at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela, a former hospital founded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1486, now a luxury hotel promoting local cuisine. Before our meal, we enjoyed cocktails, tapas, and a surprise concert from a local traditional music troupe. Some guests visited Pazo de Rubianes, an eighteenth-century mansion known for gardens that feature 800 flower species, a vineyard, and a 4,000-tree camellia orchard. Guests took a catamaran to see how mussels are farmed at the bateas, the floating wooden platforms specific to Galicia…and they enjoyed a tasting of mussels and wine, of course!