Atlantic Isles Expeditions

View itineraries

DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT

Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice award logo

We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards

The Expedition Experience

These expeditions enable you to take the God-view of a sweeping and fascinating geography or zoom down into a close-up. Explore rarely visited islands, isolated by expanses of ocean. In the Azores, linger amid towering basalt peaks, bubbling hot springs, nutrient-rich waters, emerald-green farmlands, and within a rich history. Experience the warmth and hospitality of the locals as they share a glimpse into their island life with traditional dishes, world-class wine and cheese tastings, fado music and the beauty of each destination.

(3) Atlantic Isles Itineraries

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Special Offers

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Top Highlights

  • Visit the vast king penguin colonies on South Georgia—hundreds of thousands on a single beach
  • See rockhopper penguins and albatrosses on remote Tristan da Cunha Island, and meet some of its 260 human residents
  • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of Naturalists, Historians, and Certified Photography Instructors; and take advantage of the ship’s many amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining and wine tastings
  • Spend a day in one of the world’s most beautifully situated cities, Cape Town, traveling to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views and admiring the unusual flora at the renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
  • Spot rare birds and other wildlife on the uninhabited and seldom-visited Nightingale and Inaccessible islands
View ItineraryBook Now

Special Offers

  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT
  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
View ItineraryBook Now

Atlantic Isles

New Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores

Special Offers

Duration

24 days
Apr

From

$29,390

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Atlantic Isles

New Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores

Duration

24 days
Apr

From

$29,390

Top Highlights

  • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of naturalists, historians, and photographers; and take advantage of the ship’s state-of-the-art amenities from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options and wine tastings
  • Explore rarely seen, remote islands with deep-seated cultures, unique cuisines, and seafaring traditions
  • Enjoy special access to the unspoiled islands of Fernando De Noronha, a World Heritage Site. Snorkel amid the rich marine life and see a rich population of spinner dolphins
  • Learn about the 18th century Atlantic Slave Trade at the Cape Verde Islands and walk through a UNESCO World Heritage-designated old town
  • Search for marine life, including dolphins and sperm whales, plus the possibility of Blue whales, orcas, and pilot whales
View ItineraryBook Now

Special Offers

  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT
  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
View ItineraryBook Now

Atlantic Isles

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Islands of the Azores: Fado Music to Fin Whales

Duration

10 days
Apr

From

$10,000

Prices are per person

Highlights

Atlantic Isles

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Islands of the Azores: Fado Music to Fin Whales

Duration

10 days
Apr

From

$10,000

Top Highlights

  • Aboard National Geographic Endurance, take advantage of the ship’s state-of the-art amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options as we travel to the more secluded and seldom-visited islands of the Azores Archipelago
  • April is one of the best months to see the many whales that pass through these waters on their annual migrations. With the help of some of the best whale spotters in the world, search for fin, blue, sei, and pilot whales, just to name a few
  • Discover the varied past and the stories of explorers, whalers, and conquerors who all had a part in weaving the tapestry of island history
  • Experience the commitment the locals have to sustainable growth and protecting the natural beauty and ecosystems of the archipelago
View ItineraryBook Now

Special Offers

View ItineraryBook Now

Expedition Highlights

Immerse yourself in the theme of island exploration and make plenty of discoveries of your own: virgin wildness, world-class whale watching, gardens in bloom, birds, and ancient lore. Discover them through curated daily activities—in our decades of exploring we’ve found the best hikes to see wildlife, where whales come to feed, and the top cuisine and cultural sites. See terraced hillsides, verdant forests and craggy canyons, and receive a world-class welcome from the friendly locals everywhere you travel.

See more Highlights

Our Ships in the Atlantic

National Geographic Endurance

National Geographic Explorer

Life Aboard

There’s no need to dress up, ever; life aboard is casual all the way. There’s no assigned seating in the dining room—whether you choose the dining room or one of your ship's more casual dining spaces. In fact, many tables accommodate uneven numbers, making for easy mingling and the fun of sharing breakfast, lunch, or dinner with different new friends, staff, or guest speakers.

The Whales of Cape Verde

About 250 humpback whales travel to the Cape Verde islands every year to breed and calve, filling the ocean with song.

read more
How Much Do You Know About the Azores?

Literally in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the nine volcanic Azore Islands stretch over 350 miles.

Read more

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

sign up

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

sign up

Coming into the harbor or seeing the outline of an island on the horizon—the feeling of the sea and exploration is there, and it's amazing.

Alyssa S.

Explore with top expedition teams

See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, historians, and more.

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Read More

Naturalist

Sail with a team of naturalists, each passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly) and who illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Choose to spend time with whoever shares your interests in birding, human history, flora and fauna, and so much more.

Read More

Video Chronicler

Video chroniclers accompany every expedition, shooting vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day, and editing into the night, they have your DVD ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.

Read More

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

3/26/2023

Read

National Geographic Explorer

At Sea, Underway from Tristan da Cunha

We continued our course from Tristan da Cunha to St. Helena. Today is our last sea day before we reach the island. This morning, we awoke to the southeast trade winds, which appeared right on schedule at about 20˚S latitude. Blowing from the southeast at about 20 knots, these steady winds were the reliable force that allowed sailing ships to make the passage from Africa to South America. The northeast trade winds, which we will encounter after we visit Ascension Island, provided the force that carried sailing ships from Europe to the New World. We are continuing to use our time at sea very well with presentations on Napoleon, who spent his final years in exile on St. Helena. We are carrying Governor Nigel Phillips and his wife Emma home to the island, so our National Geographic guest lecturer Andrew Evans organized a discussion about St. Helena along with two guests who have lived on both St. Helena and the Falklands. The Governor has responsibility for three Central Atlantic islands, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, and Ascension, as they are all British Overseas Territories. Later in the day, Andrew continued his writing workshop, and we had a talk on island biogeography. After dinner, the staff organized a game of Pictionary to cap off the day. We are all eagerly anticipating our arrival at St. Helena tomorrow morning, our fourth island on this Atlantic transit.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/25/2023

Read

National Geographic Explorer

South Atlantic Ocean

It has been three days since we have seen land. The wind gods have granted us calm seas, temperatures in the mid-70s, and a deep blue ocean. There is something special about calm days at sea; a certain peace of mind tends to roll across the ship. Between lectures and meals, each of us stakes claim to a place on the ship to take in the vast ocean view–some writing, some reading, others enjoying a siesta or a long chat on the bow with another passenger. We are so far from land, but all of us settle into ordinary moments in the most extraordinary setting. As I sat on the sun deck, I began to poll my fellow passengers as they trickled by: “How would you describe the blue of the ocean right now?” Most paused, struggling to find the right descriptor. No one felt great about their answer as they listed, “So blue,” “deep blue,” “indigo blue,” “Atlantic blue?”… On days like today, the ocean is impossible to describe by characterizing the hue of blue; it is a feeling, a state of mind. As we watched the day go by, the blues changed until evening when we watched sunset. We gathered for the “green flash” as the sun dipped behind the Atlantic Ocean.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/23/2023

Read

National Geographic Explorer

Tristan da Cunha and Nightingale Island

Today was a long day. Today was a challenging day. Today was a beautiful day. Today was an exhilarating day. As early as 04.00 hours, sleep was disturbed by different sounds for some of us. Out in the dark, off our portside, we saw the ship that was to supply us with the fuel required to continue our epic voyage. Within a short time, we were loosely tethered via bow and stern lines to the Edinburgh and the essential umbilical cord connected to the fuel inlet on National Geographic Explorer , which was not anchored. And so began, for our Captain, the long vigil that he would hold controlling the ship from the port bridge wing for the duration of the refueling, which ended midday. As the new day broke, we were witnesses to a beautiful sunrise over the island of Tristan da Cunha. The island rose precipitously, showing verdant lower slopes that rapidly disappeared under swirling, low clouds that shrouded the rest of the island. After an earlier than usual breakfast, we boarded Zodiacs for different shore excursions. A special mention must be made in recognition of the wonderful ABs who assisted us in and out of the boats throughout the morning. Conditions at the side gate were decidedly bumpy and challenging, but the AB’s advice and their sturdy grips helped us safely enjoy the island. It didn’t matter if we chose the volcano hike, the potato patches, the tour of the town, or simply time to wander on our own. Each option offered opportunities to enjoy a stunning morning on this remote isle, to speak to the locals, and to savor this very special place. Off in the distance, Inaccessible Island remained shrouded in clouds and was therefore truly inaccessible to us. It remained as such for the whole day. During lunch, we headed for the Island of Nightingale for a planned Zodiac cruise. Midafternoon, we boarded trusty Zodiacs with local guides to enjoy this very different island. What a wonderful experience awaited us. In the lee of the wind and the chop, we had close views of many subtropical fur seals, including some ridiculously cute and teeny tiny pups on the rocks and in the waters. Occasionally, we caught glimpses of the Tristan thrush and nightingale bunting popping out of the grasses along the coastline. The highlights may have been the northern rockhopper penguins that we observed in good numbers along the upper rocky shores, their spectacular plumes blowing in the breeze. What a wonderful experience. Other seabirds flew about the Zodiacs as we cruised along this spectacular location. All too soon, we had to return to the mother ship and head back for Tristan da Cunha to leave our guides before sunset. As we sailed across the waters, we chatted on the decks under blue skies and in balmy temperatures. We enjoyed seeing the islands covered in beautiful lenticular clouds of different sizes, shapes, and colors. At one point, Nightingale Island seemed to have many flying saucers stacked up above the tallest peaks. We plopped into bed after dinner, deeply thankful for a great day. We knew that we had really lucked out with the weather.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/21/2023

Read

National Geographic Explorer

At Sea to Tristan da Cunha

Today, we continued our course from South Georgia to Tristan da Cunha on our last sea day before we reach the island. The wind had veered so that it was on the bow, but the barometer continued to rise. We are looking for good weather as we visit Tristan. We continue to use our time well through presentations on the volcanic islands that we will visit in the coming weeks and the “hot spots” in the Earth’s mantle that give rise to these volcanic islands. We also enjoyed a presentation on the 135-year history of the National Geographic Society and magazine. We had a second workshop on smartphones and an introduction to Tristan da Cunha by our National Geographic guest lecturer.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/20/2023

Read

National Geographic Explorer

At Sea to Tristan da Cunha

On our third day at sea, we continued our sail to Tristan da Cunha. The swells and winds of the past few days have calmed, and the sun is shining. As we sail into the South Atlantic subtropical high, today was significantly warmer on deck. The morning began with an interesting presentation on seafloor mapping by naturalist Kelly! Technology has come a long way since Marie Tharp’s cartography work of the Atlantic Ridge, and scientists can map the floor with incredible detail. Today was truly a peaceful, relaxing day. As we continue our northward journey, the winds are calming, and wandering albatrosses slipstream alongside the ship. New birds are appearing, including the speckled petrel. These birds soar just below the outside decks of National Geographic Explorer . Before lunch, National Geographic writer Andrew Evans presented the fabulous presentation, “Folklore of The Albatross.” His images were so beautiful. Someone was overheard saying they wanted to rush out to buy the book! The weather continued to improve throughout the day, and we spent a lazy afternoon reading, learning to use our smartphone cameras during David’s presentation, and lounging in the sun during teatime, which included grilled sausages on the back deck! The weather was so beautiful that expedition leader Andy announced over the PA that Eduardo’s presentation on Darwin would be delayed so we could continue to enjoy the sunshine. After all, one never knows when the Atlantic weather will change…again! The night wound down with National Geographic photographer Massimo Bossano presenting on, “Shackleton and The Yellow Magazine,” a National Geographic piece on the famed explorer.

Days at sea are all about looking for wildlife. And we're constantly on the watch for fish, birds, mammals, and you never know what you’re going to see.

Mike Greenfelder, Undersea Specialist

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

Sign up

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

Sign up

View our brochure for more details