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National Geographic Orion

National Geographic Orion departure schedule

(12) National Geographic Orion Itineraries

NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins.  Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details. 

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Ancient Polynesia: Tuamotu and Marquesas Islands

Duration

12 days
  1. Feb
  2. May

From

$12,363

Prices are per person

Highlights

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Ancient Polynesia: Tuamotu and Marquesas Islands

Duration

12 days
  1. Feb
  2. May

From

$12,363

Top Highlights

  • Explore one of the world's largest groups of coral atolls and their incredible blue lagoons via kayak, Zodiac, or stand-up paddleboard. Be on the lookout for marine mammals, including resident spinner dolphins and migrating humpback whales
  • Dive and snorkel in an extraordinary undersea world of massive manta rays, green sea turtles, and vast schools of pelagic fish
  • Learn about Polynesian history on visits to ancient maraes (sacred sites), petroglyphs, and an 8-foot tiki, and connect with Nuku Hiva residents during a cultural dance performance
  • Admire the volcanic spires of Hanavave Bay as we approach one of the most storied shorelines in the Pacific
  • Appreciate the skilled artistry behind tapa cloths, bone and rosewood carvings, and oils and perfumes crafted from natural materials, like the tiare flower
  • On jungle hikes, seek out unique birds, including the endangered ultramarine lorikeet, the Fatu Hiva monarch, and the endemic Upe, one of the largest pigeon species in the world
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Australia and New Zealand

Coastal New Zealand: Scenic Fjords, Māori History, and Abundant Wildlife

Duration

16 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Oct
  4. Nov

From

$13,123

Prices are per person

Highlights

Australia and New Zealand

Coastal New Zealand: Scenic Fjords, Māori History, and Abundant Wildlife

Duration

16 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Oct
  4. Nov

From

$13,123

Top Highlights

  • On guided walks through a rare podocarp forest, a rainforest, botanical gardens, and arboretums, learn about the country’s fascinating plant life
  • Visit sites important to Maori history and culture, Napier’s well-preserved art deco city center, and cosmopolitan Auckland, “the City of Sails”
  • New Zealand’s celebrated wines and culinary specialties add to the many pleasures of this inspiring expedition
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Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Exploring Indonesia: Bali, Raja Ampat and Papua New Guinea

Duration

20 days
  1. May
  2. Sep

From

$24,000

Prices are per person

Highlights

Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Exploring Indonesia: Bali, Raja Ampat and Papua New Guinea

Duration

20 days
  1. May
  2. Sep

From

$24,000

Top Highlights

  • Encounter Indonesia’s vibrant cultures during traditional welcome ceremonies and visits to remote island villages and markets
  • Swim, snorkel, and dive at spectacular reefs, isolated atolls, and the ivory beaches of Kri Island and Misool in Raja Ampat and West Papua
  • Search for Komodo dragons in Komodo National Park, prehistoric creatures that can reach 9 feet
  • Discover the timeless traditions and exquisite art of the Asmat region while exploring its stilt villages by Zodiac
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Special Offers

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French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Fiji and Beyond: Exploring the Rites and Relics of the Pacific

Duration

15 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr

From

$13,790

Prices are per person

Highlights

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Fiji and Beyond: Exploring the Rites and Relics of the Pacific

Duration

15 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr

From

$13,790

Top Highlights

  • Arrive to Owaraha in the Solomon Islands for a series of traditional dances and music, then walk to see the island’s traditional spirit houses
  • Ride up the crystal-clear Riri River to the spectacular Riri Blue Hole grotto on Vanuatu’s Espiritu Santo Island
  • Visit mysterious Ambrym Island in Vanuatu—known as a place of magic and spirits—and witness the traditional Rom dance
  • Visit the traditional island of the Fijian firewalkers—Beqa
  • Spot rare and colorful birds and flowers on Fiji’s spectacular “Garden Island,” Taveuni, and the lovely and less-visited Kadavu
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French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Fiji and Tahiti Adventure: Vibrant Reefs and Cultural History

Duration

17 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. Jun

From

$16,404

Prices are per person

Highlights

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Fiji and Tahiti Adventure: Vibrant Reefs and Cultural History

Duration

17 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. Jun

From

$16,404

Top Highlights

  • Visit the marae complex of Marae Taputapuātea, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important cultural sites in Polynesia
  • Snorkel, swim, or stand-up paddleboard in the clear, aqua lagoons and reefs of French Polynesia
  • Spot rare and colorful birds and flowers on Fiji’s spectacular “Garden Island,” Taveuni, and in the rainforests of Samoa
  • Visit remote island villages and discover rich cultural histories, including the tradition of fire-walking in Fiji
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Special Offers

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Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Jewels of the Java Sea: An Exploration Between Bali and Singapore

Duration

13 days
  1. Aug
  2. Sep

From

$14,360

Prices are per person

Highlights

Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Jewels of the Java Sea: An Exploration Between Bali and Singapore

Duration

13 days
  1. Aug
  2. Sep

From

$14,360

Top Highlights

  • Experience the innovative melting pot that is Singapore–a spectacular blend of cultures, innovation, and beauty
  • Swim and snorkel the coral reefs off the pristine, uninhabited isles of the Natuna and Anambas archipelagos
  • Be awestruck at the grandeur and sheer size of Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Explore the jungles of West Bali Barat National Park and Menjangan Island–be on the lookout for the colorful Javan banded pitta, the Bali myna, and the native barking deer
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Special Offers

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Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

New and Noteworthy

New Journey through Southeast Asia: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia

Duration

11 days
Aug

From

$13,940

Prices are per person

Highlights

Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

New and Noteworthy

New Journey through Southeast Asia: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia

Duration

11 days
Aug

From

$13,940

Top Highlights

  • Experience the innovative melting pot that is Singapore—a spectacular blend of cultures, innovation, and beauty
  • Explore Malaysia's fascinating and colorful UNESCO Historical Cities: Malacca and Penang’s Georgetown
  • Be on the lookout for the gentle giants of Sumatra—orangutans—as we traverse the lush rainforest of Gunung Leuser National Park, part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Immerse yourself in the earthy aromas and fresh ingredients used in some of the best local food in Asia, and cast your own vote on who has the tastiest chicken rice in Penang
  • Snorkel, dive, and kayak along reefs teeming with brightly colored fish, reef sharks, and spectacular corals; explore pristine white sand beaches and mangroves—all found on the picturesque islands of the Andaman Sea
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Special Offers

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Australia and New Zealand

Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Kimberley Expedition: Northwest Australia & Indonesia

Duration

18 days
  1. May
  2. Jun
  3. Jul

From

$16,577

Prices are per person

Highlights

Australia and New Zealand

Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Kimberley Expedition: Northwest Australia & Indonesia

Duration

18 days
  1. May
  2. Jun
  3. Jul

From

$16,577

Top Highlights

  • Zodiac up the King George River to explore it at water level and experience its towering red rock canyon walls.
  • Zodiacs land virtually anywhere and take you up close to the unique wildlife in this Region -- see crocodiles, migrating humpback whales, and endearing wallabies.
  • Visit the world-renowned Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to go in search of the legendary Komodo dragon.
  • Snorkel and dive remote reefs with galaxies of colorful fish in Indonesia and pristine Rowley Shoals in Australia.
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Special Offers

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French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society and Tuamotu Islands

Duration

12 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Jun

From

$12,727

Prices are per person

Highlights

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society and Tuamotu Islands

Duration

12 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Jun

From

$12,727

Top Highlights

  • In clear, warm waters, experience an extraordinary undersea world of whales and dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles, sharks and vast schools of colorful fish
  • Swim into an otherworldly grotto on Makatea and float in a hidden cave surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites
  • Visit one of the most important cultural sites in the Polynesian world, UNESCO World Heritage site Marae Taputapuātea on Ra’iātea Island
  • Spend a day on the small island of Anaa and in its biodiverse lagoon, meeting fishermen and skilled local artisans who craft jewelry from stones mined on the island, string elaborate shell necklaces, and weave cloth with island motifs
  • Be on the lookout for endemic birds like the blue lorikeet, chattering kingfisher, and Makatea fruit dove
  • Enjoy special dining experiences including a barbecue with live music on a private motu in Bora Bora and a lunch of Polynesian specialties at a beachside restaurant in Ra'iatea
  • Enjoy a visit to a vanilla farm on Taha'a, “the vanilla island.” Polynesian vanilla is known throughout the world for its unique flavor, and Taha'a produces more than 70% of all vanilla in French Polynesia
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Special Offers

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French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Polynesian Discovery: Exploring Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the Tuamotus

Duration

7 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May

From

$6,373

Prices are per person

Highlights

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Polynesian Discovery: Exploring Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the Tuamotus

Duration

7 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May

From

$6,373

Top Highlights

  • See iconic and awe-inspiring landscapes like Bora Bora’s verdant Mount Otemanu, jutting 2,400 feet above turquoise waters, and Makatea’s steep cliffs, which drop straight to deserted beaches
  • Dive and snorkel in crystalline waters, experiencing an awe-inspiring undersea world of 16-foot manta rays, green sea turtles, black-tipped reef sharks, and enormous schools of fish
  • Swim into an otherworldly grotto on Makatea and float in a hidden cave surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites
  • Learn about Polynesian history and culture at sites including Marae Taputapuatea, a UNESCO World Heritage site
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Special Offers

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Australia and New Zealand

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Roots of the Pacific: Exploring New Zealand and Melanesia

Duration

18 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Oct
  4. Dec

From

$11,708

Prices are per person

Highlights

Australia and New Zealand

French Polynesia & Pacific Islands

Roots of the Pacific: Exploring New Zealand and Melanesia

Duration

18 days
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Oct
  4. Dec

From

$11,708

Top Highlights

  • Encounter an impressive diversity of cultures from the Māori of the Bay of Islands to the spear dancers of the Solomons, and delve into their artistic and spiritual traditions
  • Venture to the former penal colony of Norfolk Island, now a UNESCO World Heritage site boasting the unusual trees called Norfolk Island pines
  • See the stunning limestone geology of New Caledonia at Isle of Pines and visit a cave filled with primitive tree ferns
  • Visit important World War II sites, including the wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge and the Battle of Guadalcanal
  • See the fantastic fishing canoes of the people of Utupua and take a Zodiac ride along their mangrove-studded lagoon
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Antarctica

Australia and New Zealand

Southern Odyssey: New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands

Duration

22 days
  1. Jan
  2. Nov
  3. Dec

From

$19,569

Prices are per person

Highlights

Antarctica

Australia and New Zealand

Southern Odyssey: New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands

Duration

22 days
  1. Jan
  2. Nov
  3. Dec

From

$19,569

Top Highlights

  • Immerse yourself in unparalleled beauty: scenic beaches and lush native forests in the North Island and deep fjords and dramatic landscapes in the South Island.
  • Discover the history and dynamic culture of New Zealand and the Māori people.
  • Explore the sub-Antarctic islands which remain almost completely protected from human activity and are home to a diverse collection of endemic plant and animal species
  • Delve into New Zealand’s cultural riches – from Napier’s Art Deco architecture, to historical Maori sites.
  • Visit Abel Tasman National Park where we’ll discover its golden sand beaches, abundant bird life, and native forests.
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