For anyone who loves seeing legendary sites up close and walking around gorgeous landscapes, there’s a destination in the North Atlantic that has it all — actually, make that 6,000 destinations. The British and Irish Isles — which also include Scotland, Wales and the 6,000-plus islands around them — pack in endless fascination for travelers. For nature buffs, a trip to this Atlantic archipelago is an especially magical experience. It’s a chance to see spectacular animals and rare plants in the wild, all while hiking in beautiful surroundings dotted with archaeological ruins and local charm. A voyage around this part of the Atlantic brings unexpected daily discoveries along the cliffs, shores and hiking trails of the islands.
Off the western coast of Sweden lies a small group of ice-scoured granitic islands. Väderöarna (or the Weather Islands, in English) is one of those places that seeps into your soul. A remote oasis in the middle of the ocean, it’s way off the beaten path, far from the noise and stressors of everyday life.
Where Spain and Portugal meet southern France, the bounty of the ocean and farmlands, paired with traditional wines and spirits, create a culinary adventure like no other.
National Geographic photographer Alison Wright shares some of her favorite highlights along the European coastline--from enjoying a glass of local ruby port in Portugal to biking England's picturesque Tresco Island.
The medieval walled city of Saint-Malo has birthed explorers and privateers, and risen like a phoenix from the rubble of World War II to become a stunningly picturesque small city known for its authentic character.
Discover some of the awe-inspiring vestiges of history we explore on our diverse European expeditions: from the Suez Canal to the fortress on Belle-Ile-en-Mer.
These fascinating European cities each hold a secret identity, the result of ancient cultural influences. Here's your chance to discover two cultures in one stop.
Petersburg was shrouded in dense fog when National Geographic Venture docked in the wee hours of the morning. By the time our expedition leader had given the morning announcements, however, the fog was lifting to reveal the fishing boats and Norwegian-influenced architecture of this quintessential Alaskan fishing town. Petersburg (population 3,100) is located on Fredrick Sound near the LeConte Glacier. The bright blue icebergs calved from this glacier provided the ice needed to preserve fish back before the days of large-scale refrigeration. Since then, Petersburg has been known as “the town that fish built.” After breakfast guests set off on a variety of activities that included a Haa Aani cultural walk, muskeg walks, longer hikes, dock tours, and a guided bicycle ride of the town. A new experience for many was the muskeg; a soggy, eerie landscape of stunted shore pines, carnivorous plants, and a variety of berry bushes held in a mat of sphagnum moss. The only way to explore a muskeg without getting wet was via a system of boardwalks that allowed us to get up close and personal with the rugged inhabitants of this wetland system. Our day of exploration ended with a delicious, but incredibly messy, king crab feast.
Today was an absolutely beautiful day here in Southeast Alaska onboard National Geographic Quest . We had the privilege of sailing in the pristine waters of Glacier Bay National Park. We picked up the park ranger early and then began with our first wildlife hotspot at South Marble Island. Here we were treated to views of humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and tufted puffins. We then continued into the bay and the natural history staff was able to find nine brown bears. The skies cleared as we reached the northern part of the park just in time to see Johns Hopkins Glacier. It was truly an incredible day here in one of Alaska’s most incredible parks.
We spent our morning traveling from Corpach to Oban, watching the rain hit the windows while we were cozy inside the beautiful lounge of Lord of the Glens . Naturalist and Historian John gave a presentation on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution before lunch. Just as we were finishing our meal, the rain stopped, so we were able to enjoy Oban and stay dry. This charming town has many interesting shops and delicious dining establishments, so we passed the afternoon exploring those. Some of us walked up to McCaig’s Tower atop the hill, and others took a stroll through the woodland. After dinner we had a whiskey tasting from Oban Distillery, and tomorrow we go to Iona!
Our day started with a very relaxing hike in the morning at South Plaza. It was a pronounced climb all the way from the shore to the summit of a cliff where we were able to spot, not only a nice bunch of iguanas, but also a large number of sea birds eating. Later, we travelled to Santa Fe where we had the chance to snorkel to refresh ourselves. In the afternoon, we wrapped up our beautiful day on board with a visit to a sea lion colony where we were able to watch these entertaining creatures as well as relax for a while on the beach.
We are about to finish our expedition on National Geographic Endeavour II and today took us to the two iconic islands called Bartholomew and Chinese Hat, offering a blend of unique geological formations, diverse wildlife, and a glimpse into the Galapagos' geological history. In the morning, we started with a walk up to the summit of Bartolomé and later in the morning we enjoyed an amazing snorkeling excursion with penguins. Later in the day we moved locations to Chinese Hat, named for its distinct shape resembling a traditional Chinese hat. The unique lava formations captivated us. The small, cone-shaped island showcased a variety of volcanic features, including lava tubes and fissures. Brown pelicans, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs welcomed us as we explored the coastline.