7 Uncommon Adventures for Spring and Summer
Winter has a way of sharpening wanderlust. As spring and summer draw closer, thoughts drift to far-flung coastlines, ancient ruins and wildlife-rich frontiers. From the temple-studded hills of Sicily and the Stone Age sites of the British Isles to Arctic ice floes and the storied shores of Atlantic Canada, the world feels wide with possibility.
On voyages with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, exploration unfolds with depth and perspective—by Zodiac and kayak, on foot and from the ship’s Bridge. Whether you’re drawn to layered history, dramatic landscapes or iconic wildlife, these seven experiences offer inspiring ways to shape your next season of discovery.
Walk on the sacred ground of ancient civilizations in Sicily
Founded by the Greeks in the 6th century B.C., the ancient town of Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily is an encyclopedia of early civilizations. Carthaginians, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans once flourished here, but it’s the plethora of Greco-Roman shrines that earns the Valley of the Temples its coveted UNESCO World Heritage site designation. Walk amidst the Doric architecture on the same sacred ground where Zeus and Heracles were worshipped thousands of years ago.
Explore Agrigento on: The Ancient Shores of Sicily and Malta Aboard Sea Cloud II
Trace centuries of seafaring history in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
In the storied waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, natural wonders and layered histories converge. Walk the ramparts of Old Québec and the Viking remains at L’Anse aux Meadows, explore the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg and visit St-Pierre, France’s last foothold in North America. Between landings, scan for belugas, right whales and seabirds in nutrient-rich seas—an ever-present reminder that culture and wildlife are deeply intertwined along these rugged Atlantic shores.
Explore the Gulf of St. Lawrence on:
The Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland
Sailing the St. Lawrence Seaway and Canadian Maritimes
Kayak among icebergs in East Greenland
Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins
In East Greenland’s wild fjordlands, kayaking offers a front-row seat to the Arctic’s raw beauty. Paddle through glassy waters strewn with sculpted icebergs calved from tidewater glaciers flowing off the vast Greenland Ice Cap. Beneath soaring peaks and along remote, ice-carved shores, keep watch for seals, whales and seabirds as you glide in near silence—an intimate, unforgettable way to experience one of the planet’s most pristine frontiers.
Explore East Greenland on:
Southeast Greenland: Exploring at the Edge of the Ice Cap
Arctic Edges: Iceland Westfjords to East Greenland
Exploring Greenland’s Northeast National Park
Step back in time at a treasure trove of Stone Age sites in the British Isles
The stone-slab village of Skara Brae, uncovered by a storm in 1850, allows remarkable insight into Neolithic life. It’s just one of the fascinating, truly ancient sites in the British Isles, like the Ring of Brodgar, whose 36 surviving stones assemble like “ancient druids, mysteriously stern and invincibly silent,” according to 19th century Scottish geologist, Hugh Miller.
Explore the British Isles on: Ancient Isles: England, Ireland and Scotland
Go where Alaska's wildlife gathers
Photo: Michael S. Nolan
The narrow strait where the Inside Passage meets the Gulf of Alaska at Cross Sound is one of the most biologically rich places on Earth. Humpback whales, harbor porpoises, swooping seabirds and chatty Steller sea lions accompany Zodiacs through the Inian Islands, an experience made even more memorable by its setting among the world’s tallest coastal elevations: the inspiring Saint Elias Mountains.
Explore the Inside Passage on:
Voyage to Alaska, British Columbia and Haida Gwaii
Treasures of the Inside Passage
Exploring Southeast Alaska’s ABC Islands
Seek out wild Arctic icons in Svalbard
Photo: Michael S. Nolan. This image was taken using a long-focus camera lens.
During spring and summer in Svalbard, a stark and spellbinding Arctic archipelago, polar bears roam the sea ice and walrus sprawl along remote shores. From the ship’s Bridge, scan floes and tundra for Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, bearded seals and passing whales. Go ashore to hike spongy tundra and kayak quiet fjords, and cruise beneath towering bird cliffs alive with guillemots and kittiwakes—all under the lingering glow of the midnight sun.
Explore Svalbard on:
Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords
Svalbard: In Search of Iconic Arctic Wildlife
Grab a front row seat for the Shetland Islands’ spectacular “bird show”
The rugged Shetland Islands come alive late April through mid-August, the seabird breeding season. Colonies of thousands of guillemots, shags, fulmars and gannets animate the cliffs around Sumburgh Head as they build nests, hunt for food and care for their hatchlings. This incredible “bird show” also includes puffins that return to breed after eight months at sea.
Explore the Shetland Islands on:
Scotland’s Wild Isles: Shetlands, Orkneys and Inner Hebrides
North Atlantic Wonders: Iceland, Scotland and the Faroes
Coastal Norwegian Voyage: Between Tromsø and Edinburgh
Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland
