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 adventure began with high hopes for Royal Bay and Drygalski Fjord in South Georgia. After a peaceful breakfast aboard National Geographic Endurance , we arrived at Royal Bay where we marveled at the towering ice walls from the ship, setting an awe-inspiring tone for the day. Leaving the massive walls of ice surrounding the bay, we navigated through spectacular fjords where pristine glaciers were accompanied by graceful snow petrels gliding against the icy-blue backdrop. Our day culminated in Cooper Bay with exhilarating Zodiac cruises, where we encountered a bustling world of wildlife. Macaroni penguins perched along rocky ledges, fur seals lounged by the water, and we were even graced by a close encounter with a massive leopard seal. The evening wrapped up with insightful recaps and a delicious dinner, a perfect close to an unforgettable day in South Georgia.
The final day of our extraordinary expedition in Aotearoa, New Zealand had us exploring our southernmost points of Ulva and Stewart Islands. We began the day looking for native and endemic birds at Ulva Island and had a final stroll in the small town of Oban on Stewart Island. The sun was out, the seas were calm, and it was a perfect finish to our voyage.
Today we were privileged to have been granted permission to visit La Tapera Park, a private, protected area. Owned by a Chilean family, this park is open to people with an interest in nature, and being so remote, access is complicated to say the least. We were the first expedition ship to ever visit the area, and thanks to the incredible skills of Captain Heidi Norling and the bridge team, we crossed into the previously uncharted waters, only recently covered by a glacier. We sailed close to land where no ship had ever been before!
Another phenomenal day was had in Fiordland National Park as National Geographic Orion departed our anchorage in Doubtful Sound in the morning and headed on to Dusky Sound. Mother Nature showed us all of her glory with a full range of weather as we plied the waters via ship and Zodiac. Birds galore and a visit by Hector’s dolphins whet the appetite for our intrepid explorers as we witnessed the spectacular geology and flora of this area.
The wind was gusting 60 knots between us and New Island when we woke up this morning, even the birds were struggling to find their way. Plans onboard National Geographic Explorer pivoted to presentations from our talented naturalists while we waited for the weather to calm down as forecasted. We were provided with gems of information, including “Introduction to Expedition Photography” and “Baleen Whales of the Southern Ocean”. The weather played to our favor in the afternoon, allowing us to land on the beach to a welcoming cacophony of kelp geese. A short hike took us to sheer cliffs on the other side of the island where thousands of albatross and rockhopper penguins were busy mating. With albatross soaring overhead and rockhoppers hopping up from the shore, it was a wonder how close we could be to this hive of activity, with the birds paying no attention to our presence. Wildlife up close and personal is a memorable experience.