Expedition Stories

Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…

World View

8/25/2020

3 Min Read

Traversing Scotland's Caledonian Canal

Sail through Scotland's Caledonian Canal and the Inner Hebrides aboard Lord of the Glens, the only ship capable of transiting both with ease and grace. The 62-mile Great Glen seems to have been created by uncorking bucolic landscapes and spilling them over the Atlantic and North Sea in a colossal rush of isles, lochs, and canals.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

2/4/2025

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Margarita Island, Magdalena Bay

We began the day anchored in front of Puerto Magdalena. During the stretch class led by Julie, a gray whale was spotted, bringing joy to our guests. After breakfast we headed to the island to enjoy different hikes. Some guests walked along the beach while others hiked up the hill to enjoy a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. Along the hike we found different plants, like the galloping cactus, some false elephant trees, and the endemic margarita agave. We finished the morning visiting the gray whale skeletons.   We had lunch on board and in the afternoon, we headed back to the island. Chejo led a visit to the desalination plant explaining the whole process, and we also visited the abalone shell handicrafts workshop. We ended the visit at Chejo’s restaurant to listen to his stories while our guests enjoyed margaritas, guacamole, and pico de gallo.    

Daily Expedition Reports

2/4/2025

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The Jahan

Phnom Phen

After a few days exploring traditional villages, today we visited the capital of Phnom Phen. Our day started out with a cyclo ride, human-powered bicycle transportation that provided us with a tour of the city. It’s a colorful place and our excursions emersed us in the everyday city life, as well as allowing us to visit some of the landmark destinations, such as the royal palace. It was a full day of excitement which also included some sobering moments when we made stop at the high school used by the Khmer Rouge to torture the citizens during the reign of Pol Pot.

Daily Expedition Reports

2/4/2025

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National Geographic Islander II

San Cristobal Island

Today is our last full day of our expedition, and we navigated all the way to San Cristobal Island to see the popular red-footed boobies. We started our morning with a pre-breakfast hike at Punta Pitt, a place with a stunning landscape full of eroded tuff cones and the only visiting site that has the three species of boobies in the Galapagos. This is the right place for bird watching! After the hike we went back on board to have breakfast, and we got ready to go back to the beach.   After enjoying a delicious traditional Ecuadorian lunch, we got ready to land at Cerro Brujo which is one of the ten most beautiful beaches of the world. Here we swam with sea lions and enjoyed the spectacular scenery.   We ended the day with a mesmerizing sunset circumnavigating Kicker Rock! What a fabulous last day we had in these enchanted islands.

Daily Expedition Reports

2/4/2025

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National Geographic Endeavour II

Santa Cruz Island

Visiting Santa Cruz is always a key part of this expedition. During the morning walk through Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation, we enjoyed and learned all about the work these two institutions have done to help preserve such an important site.   We spent the afternoon surrounded by farms and tortoises, which inspired us to be in contact with nature and to appreciate the benefits we get from it. Giant tortoises are the highlight of this island, and they never disappoint us!

Daily Expedition Reports

2/4/2025

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National Geographic Endurance

Red Rock Ridge and Horseshoe Island

We awoke to an astonishing view of Marguerite Bay as we slowly cruised between icebergs and humpback whales towards our first excursion. Our first day landing on the Antarctic Continent at Red Rock Ridge was nothing short of breathtaking. The day unfolded like a dream, starting with a beautiful visit to an Adélie penguin colony. These charming, resilient birds captivated us as they waddled across the rocky terrain along with their downy chicks.   From there, we went in our Zodiacs to explore the surrounding waters. Gliding between towering icebergs, we watched seals, their serene presence a striking contrast to the dramatic Antarctic backdrop. The glassy waters reflected the surreal landscape, making every moment on the Zodiac feel like stepping into a postcard.   Our adventure continued on Horseshoe Island where we embarked on a hike that revealed stunning views of the snow-clad peaks and historical remnants from past expeditions. The air was crisp and invigorating as we followed in the footsteps of explorers who had once relied on these very outposts. Each step brought us closer to the stories of human resilience and the untouched beauty of this icy frontier.   By the end of the day, as we stood together overlooking the glacial expanse, we felt an incredible connection to this otherworldly place. Antarctica has already imprinted itself and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead.