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.
Lindblad Expeditions has made an enduring commitment to sustainibility for over 50 years, and we've extended this initiative by recently becoming carbon neutral.
The morning transit to Heimaey was spectacular. We passed several gannet colonies on the offshore stacks and watched hundreds gracefully soaring to and from their cliffside nests searching for fish. We soon encountered a feeding frenzy with nearly 100 gannets soaring above a school of fish and 7-9 orcas feeding within the school! The gannets dove into the water, reminiscent of a volley of arrows launched from the ramparts of a castle by medieval archers. The pod of orcas actively pursued fish in their own way. After lunch, we had a choice of a panoramic tour of Heimaey or hikes to the top of Eldfell, a potentially active volcano that last erupted in 1973. The tour viewed the puffin colony before visiting the famous Volcano Museum devoted to the 1973 eruption. The hikes attempted to climb to the peak of Eldfell, but unfortunately, the winds were so energetic that the guides wisely decided to turn back below the peak. Nevertheless, it was invigorating to be exposed to high winds on the side of a volcano that last erupted 52 years ago. The evening (and voyage) concluded with the traditional captain’s dinner and guest slideshow. Future National Geographic photographers perhaps?
We woke to a dramatic, windswept seascape this morning. White-beaked dolphins and abundant seabirds traveled with us as we traversed open ocean waters to the Svalbard Archipelago. Biosecurity and safety briefings were the order of the day heading into the arctic wilderness. The open sea crossing was also a perfect setting for Lars’ talk on Viking longboats. Bjørnøya is not a place one decides to visit, rather, it’s a place we hope will invite us in. Sun and calm wind welcomed our arrival, and our expedition team prepared for a Zodiac cruise under the island’s stunning bird cliffs. Bjørnøya had other plans! As conditions rapidly changed, the Zodiacs were secured and we enjoyed a still stunning and much drier ship cruise, with fulmars so numerous they could even be seen on the ships RADAR!
The east coast of Iceland is one of the least visited areas of the island, but today we were lucky enough to visit the small village of Djúpivogur. Here, the community is focused on sustainability and an improved, slower pace of life. We went on different excursions to explore this remote area. Some of us went on a hike to the black sand beaches of Úlfseyjarsandur. This area has been growing over the last couple of centuries, as the ocean is bringing sand from the south which is deposited in the bay. This means that the area we were walking on didn’t exist a hundred years ago, and the rocky outcrops on the beach used to be islets surrounded by the sea. This is a unique location and it’s an example of Iceland’s dynamic landscape. Many birds nest in this area and we were able to observe some very curious harbor seals too. After lunch we had time to explore town and enjoy the tranquility and slow pace of this small community. We sailed away after another incredible day exploring Iceland and our next destination calling us, the Westland Islands.
Today we had a wonderful time visiting Tromsø, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Arctic”, since several important polar expeditions departed from here. We visited interesting museums, tasted some local delicacies (including cod tongue and roe), and played with sled dog puppies. We couldn’t have asked for a better time!
This morning, we awoke to a misty morning in Borgarfjörður Eystri with the promise of puffins. And we were not disappointed! Immediately next to our Zodiac landing was a cliff of puffins only an arm’s length away. We returned to these cliffs throughout the day, between our other adventures. Many of us went on either a gentle or invigorating naturalist-led hike through lupine fields where we saw a variety of local birds and plants, and some of us even neared the foggy summit of Mt. Svartfell. Others explored the valley roads or backcountry trails of the area on e-bikes or enjoyed a tour of the remote hamlet of Bakkagerði. We refreshed ourselves at a local brewery and café, savoring our coffees, pints, and some exceptional cookies. Back on National Geographic Explorer for the evening, our bartender Klaus served his highly unusual but delicious creation: a cocktail (or mocktail) made from local rye bread. We rounded out the gorgeous day with a presentation from our historian Dorothee on the history and grammar of the Icelandic language.