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Expedition Stories

In Good Company: Tua Pittman on the Many Islands of Polynesia

In this episode of In Good Company, Cultural Specialist and Master Navigator Tua Pittman shines light on the breathtaking wildlife, natural beauty, and vibrant cultures of the South Pacific islands.

Explore with National Geographic Experts: Photographing New Zealand with Ricky Qi

National Geographic Photography Expert Ricky Qi goes in-depth on the natural and cultural richness of New Zealand and the rewarding experience of teaching guests how to capture the region’s beauty.

7 Stunning Sites That Define Japan

Our new expeditions bring you to a variety of beloved landmarks, from the magnificent Himeji Castle to the famed “floating” torii gate at Miyajima. See the full list of highlights, old and new.

Daily expedition reports

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2023

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Palouse River

Meandering up the Snake River opened a new chapter to our voyage. Golden grasslands interrupted by towering basalt columns filled the horizon. As daybreak crested, the peaks before us were illuminated in a soft golden hue. The landscape drew us in and beckoned us to explore. After a short and scenic bus ride, we arrived at Palouse Falls State Park. While the impressive 198 ft waterfall was clearly the main attraction, walks in the area provided stunning views of the channeled scablands that we’re traveling through. It was incredible to imagine the events that sculpted the land before us. The raw power of the Earth was on full display. For the afternoon, we set out in expedition landing craft and shot up the Palouse River. The rich riparian banks held an abundance of wildlife. Songbirds flitted about while waterfowl gave way. Raptors circled overhead, looking for their next meal. Above a set of steep cliffs, two golden eagles circled, icons of this open land. Perhaps the most exciting moment was when a coyote ran up the slopes right in front of us, posing to take in the odd creatures visiting its home. The river and its tributaries continue to offer a vast variety of experiences to us. As the final day of our voyage approaches, we settle into the night in awe of what we have seen thus far.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2023

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Crow Butte

National Geographic Sea Bird awoke to exceptional views of Crow Butte and the Columbia River. Guests began their day with walks ashore among the big sagebrush and Russian thistle while wandering along the rolling hills of the island. While cruising along the river inland, it has been incredible to witness the drastic changes in scenery: from the bustling city of Portland, Oregon to the secluded areas of eastern Washington. Ashore, on-board historian and geologists discussed the highlights of the area, and visitors enjoyed refreshments prior to lunch. After lunch, National Geographic Sea Bird cruised through the McNary Lock and Dam toward the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Without a doubt, everyone on board is looking forward to what tomorrow’s expedition brings.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2023

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National Geographic Resolution

Yonaguni Jima

A bright dawn welcomed National Geographic Resolution to Yonaguni Jima, the last Japanese Island we will visit on this trip along the Ryukyu Islands chain. As the sun warmed the sky during breakfast, the sea transformed into a beautiful blue that perfectly matched the colour of the ship’s hull. There are no large ports on the island, so the Zodiacs came out one last time to shuttle guests onto Nama Beach inside the breakwater at the western end of the island. After we transferred onto some of the island's small buses, we set off to explore, visiting the Tindabana cliffs below the huge rock plateau that overlooks the beach and Agarizaki Cape at the eastern end of the island. A stop at Sakimoto Awamori Distillery revealed how the island's famous awamori alcohol is produced. In a performance at the local community centre, we were introduced to local dance and song and enjoyed snacks. After a hearty lunch on board, many ventured back to the beach to enjoy snorkeling over a sheltered coral reef. Fish darted between corals and seabed wrecks from the small port, and a lucky few spotted an octopus as it held court over its watery domain. Back on board, the final reminder that our time in Japan was at an end came with a customs check, and we diligently filled in our arrival cards for our next stop tomorrow: Taiwan.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2023

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National Geographic Orion

Cirebon, Java

This morning, National Geographic Orion sailed along the coast of Java to our afternoon destination. Wonderful presentations by Ron and Bergit provided education on the natural history of the Sunda Shelf and Buddhism. After lunch, we set out for the city of Cirebon. On an island of 140 million, Cirebon is a small city with only 330,000 inhabitants. The word "Cirebon" derives from the Javanese word caruban, meaning "mixed," a reference to the city's mix of Sundanese, Javanese, Chinese, and Arabic cultural elements. Above the city center and not far from sea level rose Mount Ciremai, which last erupted in 1951. In the spirit of expedition travel, our dry landing turned wet. A wonderful performance welcomed us to this community before we headed to the mayor’s residence. Taking open air buses, we had a police escort to the residence, and we were greeted by a gamelan ensemble. Two of our guests became the guests of honor and were gifted beautiful leis before being escorted to seats beside our hosts. An array of performances welcomed us before we sat down for traditional dances, such as the mask dance. After the performances, we headed for a little shop that sold the traditional batik cloth this city is known for.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2023

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National Geographic Explorer

Essequibo River, Guyana

This morning, National Geographic Explorer reached the northern coast of Guyana and made its way to the local pilot station, just to the north of the capital city, Georgetown. At 33 degrees Celsius (nearly 94 Fahrenheit), it was a fairly hot start to the day. Early risers who ventured onto the outer decks enjoyed the sight of dolphins as we sailed towards the South American continent. Midmorning, we were treated to a presentation by National Geographic photo expert Kike Calvo entitled, “Easy Ways to Improve Your Photography.” Guests learned some fantastic tips to practice on our adventures over the next couple of weeks. In the afternoon, we had our first expedition off the ship to Fort Island in Guyana, which is an island found within the Essequibo River system. Here we discovered some of the oldest buildings in Guyana dating back to 1744 and constructed by the Dutch Governor of the Essequibo colony. These buildings are now national monuments.

Joining us on any expedition means signing up for adventure; and the reward for your curiosity is inevitable—the most exhilarating experience of pure discovery possible.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348