5/16/2019
4 Min Read
Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…
5/16/2019
4 Min Read
Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery expedition changed the course of American history. Follow in their footsteps, exploring the route they took along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
1/29/2020
6 Min Read
The menu on the Corps of Discovery varied quite a bit from ours (thankfully!). But both benefitted from the region's bounty. Get a taste of it all.
2/9/2021
4 Min Read
From killer whales in the waters around the San Juan Islands to bighorn sheep on the sheer rock faces of Hells Canyon, the wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest are vastly varied.
6/28/2021
3 Min Read
The cooler West Coast cousin of the blue jay, this bold crested bird robs nests and can mimic a range of sounds. Get to know more about the Steller's jay.
9/16/2021
4 Min Read
On our brand-new itinerary in the Pacific Northwest, you'll enter a verdant realm filled with fascinating fungi on a visit to Harstine Island.
9/20/2021
2 Min Read
The name “Salish Sea” is a relatively new term coined to describe the Pacific Northwest's most unique ecosystem. Read on to learn more, and then join us this fall to experience it for yourself.
11/16/2022
4 Min Read
The Pacific Northwest harbors a diversity of habitats ideal for birdlife like the rhinoceros auklet, Steller’s jay, and red-breasted sapsucker. These are just a few of the species to spot on expeditions in the region.
4/14/2023
4 Min Read
Through a special partnership with the Center for Whale Research, guests on Exploring British Columbia and the San Juan Islands have the rare chance to spot Southern Resident killer whales while in the company of top researchers.
11/3/2023
Watch
In this episode of In Good Company, Food & Wine Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle shares more about how great wine is a “way to travel the world in a glass.”
12/11/2023
Watch
In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, wine expert Eric Degerman gives travelers a taste of what’s in store on our immersive culinary journey along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
11/26/2024
4 Min Read
Learn more about the wines of Washington and Oregon with help from sommelier and wine influencer Amanda McCrossin.
Showing 11 of 11
1/3/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
The last day of activities on our expedition was at the picturesque Santa Ana Island in the Solomon Islands. The shoreline of this small tropical island was lined with dense rainforest and coconut trees right up to the beach. Surrounding the Island was a vibrant fringing reef with a spectacular variety of healthy corals. We were greeted at the beach landing by the traditional Melanesian warrior welcome, and once ashore we had time to peruse the various local crafts and wooden carvings for sale. Once we were all gathered, we watched the special performance from the local community that represents the historical migration of the different groups of people who visited these islands. After the performances and music, we all had time to explore and head out for different activities, including bird watching, hiking, and snorkeling.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
We had a beautiful day in the turquoise waters off Espiritu Santos. Some people kayaked and explored a mangrove forest while others did a challenging boulder hike to a gorgeous view. We saw a rare oarfish and mobula rays before deciding to don our snorkels and fins to go for a swim. Those not keen on getting in the water went for a Zodiac cruise. It was a wonderful day of exploration!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
The day began at Buccaneer Cove, a place steeped in history, where choppy waters did not prevent us from enjoying a magical sunrise by kayak. As we paddled, we were surrounded by impressive volcanic formations emerging from the sea, vestiges of a past marked by pirates and explorers. In the afternoon at Puerto Egas, we walked along the coast where we observed sea lions resting, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and land iguanas. The highlight of the outing was when a female sea lion gave birth to a pup, which quickly attracted three Galapagos hawks, who fed on the placenta. In a protective act, the mother sea lion moved the baby to an improvised shelter to protect it from predators. This sighting was a vivid reminder of the delicate ecological balance of the Galapagos, where hawks, as top predators, and sea lions, with their protective instinct, play crucial roles in the survival and adaptation of species.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Explorer
It was a whale of a day! The total lack of wind created a flat sea surface illuminated by partly sunny skies with a touch of fog, perfect conditions for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. Kayakers paddled among icebergs and/or just sat and enjoyed the vistas. The occasional humpback surfaced, sometimes unexpectedly near a kayak, providing an exciting exclamation point. Zodiac cruisers ventured farther from National Geographic Explorer and encountered 20-25 humpbacks scattered over a wide area. Many were lunge feeding - rising slowly from the depths with hundreds of gallons of water and krill in their large mouths which then was filtered through their baleen to retain the krill. As the whole process can be a bit messy, dozens of fulmars darted about the feeding whales to snatch leftovers. After getting out of the kayaks and Zodiacs, we prepared for the Polar Plunge. Nearly everyone chose to fully immerse themselves (albeit for a few seconds) into the truly frigid Antarctic waters for the thrill, the shock, and the coveted patch verifying the plunge. After lunch, we cruised via ship the scenic Gerlache Strait, and during recap, orcas were spotted! Watching the pod of 8-10 individuals provided a fitting cap to this whale of a day!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
We commenced our day with an early morning snorkel on a beautiful island reef. Small groups of guests moved with the gentle current on the edge of the drop-off. The marine life was abundant and diverse. After breakfast, and when the tropical storm passed, we all crossed on a Zodiac from National Geographic Orion to the small village of Utupua where we were greeted by enthusiastic locals. A group of ‘warriors’, young and old, ran at each Zodiac in an exhilarating and light-hearted display. Everyone was thrilled with the show. We were treated to a welcome song and cultural dance, then we presented educational material to the chief and village teacher. An exploration of the village followed where we got to know the people, their lifestyle, and made new friends.
1/3/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
The last day of activities on our expedition was at the picturesque Santa Ana Island in the Solomon Islands. The shoreline of this small tropical island was lined with dense rainforest and coconut trees right up to the beach. Surrounding the Island was a vibrant fringing reef with a spectacular variety of healthy corals. We were greeted at the beach landing by the traditional Melanesian warrior welcome, and once ashore we had time to peruse the various local crafts and wooden carvings for sale. Once we were all gathered, we watched the special performance from the local community that represents the historical migration of the different groups of people who visited these islands. After the performances and music, we all had time to explore and head out for different activities, including bird watching, hiking, and snorkeling.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
We had a beautiful day in the turquoise waters off Espiritu Santos. Some people kayaked and explored a mangrove forest while others did a challenging boulder hike to a gorgeous view. We saw a rare oarfish and mobula rays before deciding to don our snorkels and fins to go for a swim. Those not keen on getting in the water went for a Zodiac cruise. It was a wonderful day of exploration!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
The day began at Buccaneer Cove, a place steeped in history, where choppy waters did not prevent us from enjoying a magical sunrise by kayak. As we paddled, we were surrounded by impressive volcanic formations emerging from the sea, vestiges of a past marked by pirates and explorers. In the afternoon at Puerto Egas, we walked along the coast where we observed sea lions resting, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and land iguanas. The highlight of the outing was when a female sea lion gave birth to a pup, which quickly attracted three Galapagos hawks, who fed on the placenta. In a protective act, the mother sea lion moved the baby to an improvised shelter to protect it from predators. This sighting was a vivid reminder of the delicate ecological balance of the Galapagos, where hawks, as top predators, and sea lions, with their protective instinct, play crucial roles in the survival and adaptation of species.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Explorer
It was a whale of a day! The total lack of wind created a flat sea surface illuminated by partly sunny skies with a touch of fog, perfect conditions for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. Kayakers paddled among icebergs and/or just sat and enjoyed the vistas. The occasional humpback surfaced, sometimes unexpectedly near a kayak, providing an exciting exclamation point. Zodiac cruisers ventured farther from National Geographic Explorer and encountered 20-25 humpbacks scattered over a wide area. Many were lunge feeding - rising slowly from the depths with hundreds of gallons of water and krill in their large mouths which then was filtered through their baleen to retain the krill. As the whole process can be a bit messy, dozens of fulmars darted about the feeding whales to snatch leftovers. After getting out of the kayaks and Zodiacs, we prepared for the Polar Plunge. Nearly everyone chose to fully immerse themselves (albeit for a few seconds) into the truly frigid Antarctic waters for the thrill, the shock, and the coveted patch verifying the plunge. After lunch, we cruised via ship the scenic Gerlache Strait, and during recap, orcas were spotted! Watching the pod of 8-10 individuals provided a fitting cap to this whale of a day!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
We commenced our day with an early morning snorkel on a beautiful island reef. Small groups of guests moved with the gentle current on the edge of the drop-off. The marine life was abundant and diverse. After breakfast, and when the tropical storm passed, we all crossed on a Zodiac from National Geographic Orion to the small village of Utupua where we were greeted by enthusiastic locals. A group of ‘warriors’, young and old, ran at each Zodiac in an exhilarating and light-hearted display. Everyone was thrilled with the show. We were treated to a welcome song and cultural dance, then we presented educational material to the chief and village teacher. An exploration of the village followed where we got to know the people, their lifestyle, and made new friends.
1/3/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
The last day of activities on our expedition was at the picturesque Santa Ana Island in the Solomon Islands. The shoreline of this small tropical island was lined with dense rainforest and coconut trees right up to the beach. Surrounding the Island was a vibrant fringing reef with a spectacular variety of healthy corals. We were greeted at the beach landing by the traditional Melanesian warrior welcome, and once ashore we had time to peruse the various local crafts and wooden carvings for sale. Once we were all gathered, we watched the special performance from the local community that represents the historical migration of the different groups of people who visited these islands. After the performances and music, we all had time to explore and head out for different activities, including bird watching, hiking, and snorkeling.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
We had a beautiful day in the turquoise waters off Espiritu Santos. Some people kayaked and explored a mangrove forest while others did a challenging boulder hike to a gorgeous view. We saw a rare oarfish and mobula rays before deciding to don our snorkels and fins to go for a swim. Those not keen on getting in the water went for a Zodiac cruise. It was a wonderful day of exploration!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
The day began at Buccaneer Cove, a place steeped in history, where choppy waters did not prevent us from enjoying a magical sunrise by kayak. As we paddled, we were surrounded by impressive volcanic formations emerging from the sea, vestiges of a past marked by pirates and explorers. In the afternoon at Puerto Egas, we walked along the coast where we observed sea lions resting, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and land iguanas. The highlight of the outing was when a female sea lion gave birth to a pup, which quickly attracted three Galapagos hawks, who fed on the placenta. In a protective act, the mother sea lion moved the baby to an improvised shelter to protect it from predators. This sighting was a vivid reminder of the delicate ecological balance of the Galapagos, where hawks, as top predators, and sea lions, with their protective instinct, play crucial roles in the survival and adaptation of species.
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Explorer
It was a whale of a day! The total lack of wind created a flat sea surface illuminated by partly sunny skies with a touch of fog, perfect conditions for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. Kayakers paddled among icebergs and/or just sat and enjoyed the vistas. The occasional humpback surfaced, sometimes unexpectedly near a kayak, providing an exciting exclamation point. Zodiac cruisers ventured farther from National Geographic Explorer and encountered 20-25 humpbacks scattered over a wide area. Many were lunge feeding - rising slowly from the depths with hundreds of gallons of water and krill in their large mouths which then was filtered through their baleen to retain the krill. As the whole process can be a bit messy, dozens of fulmars darted about the feeding whales to snatch leftovers. After getting out of the kayaks and Zodiacs, we prepared for the Polar Plunge. Nearly everyone chose to fully immerse themselves (albeit for a few seconds) into the truly frigid Antarctic waters for the thrill, the shock, and the coveted patch verifying the plunge. After lunch, we cruised via ship the scenic Gerlache Strait, and during recap, orcas were spotted! Watching the pod of 8-10 individuals provided a fitting cap to this whale of a day!
1/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Orion
We commenced our day with an early morning snorkel on a beautiful island reef. Small groups of guests moved with the gentle current on the edge of the drop-off. The marine life was abundant and diverse. After breakfast, and when the tropical storm passed, we all crossed on a Zodiac from National Geographic Orion to the small village of Utupua where we were greeted by enthusiastic locals. A group of ‘warriors’, young and old, ran at each Zodiac in an exhilarating and light-hearted display. Everyone was thrilled with the show. We were treated to a welcome song and cultural dance, then we presented educational material to the chief and village teacher. An exploration of the village followed where we got to know the people, their lifestyle, and made new friends.