9 Places to Go When You’re Dreaming of Warmer Weather
Some destinations are best experienced in their sunlit season—when vineyards are heavy with fruit, island ferries crisscross bright harbors and garden paths are at their most lush. It’s when culture and community move outside and the pace of the day stretches comfortably into evening.
Across the globe, warmer months reveal a place at full expression: wildlife more active, coastlines more inviting, produce at its peak and traditions unfolding in open air. It’s not simply about temperature, but about timing—exploring when landscapes and local life feel especially vibrant.
With National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, that sense of seasonality is woven into each journey. Whether sailing storied European rivers, island-hopping through the Mediterranean, navigating equatorial archipelagos or exploring rainforest waterways, these voyages pair sunlit settings with the depth and expertise of an expedition.
Sicily
Guests explore the Ear of Dionysius in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. Photo: Gemina Garland-Lewis
Sicily in summer is all sea light and citrus groves—Greek temples rising above the coast, markets spilling into sun-washed piazzas, the Mediterranean never far from view.
Aboard the tall ship Sea Cloud II, experience the island under sail. Watch crew members climb into the rigging as canvas unfurls overhead, swim straight from the ship into clear blue coves and return to teak decks for unhurried dinners in the open air. Ashore, walk among the Doric columns of Agrigento, explore hilltop Erice and gather for a private lunch at an 18th-century Sicilian castle near Taormina.
On the National Geographic Orion, Sicily becomes part of a wider Mediterranean expedition shaped by a wine collaboration with Food & Wine. In Sicily, enjoy a private castle lunch and regional wine tasting, then continue across Sardinia and Greece with nightly sips selected by Food & Wine’s Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle. Between ancient ruins and lively seaside towns, swim and kayak in warm Ionian waters and transit the narrow Corinth Canal—an experience few ships can claim.
Explore Sicily on:
Ancient Shores of Sicily and Malta Aboard Sea Cloud II >
Mediterranean Wonders: Sicily, Greece, Sardinia and Beyond >
Easter Island and the South Pacific
A guest swims through a vibrant coral reef in the crystalline waters of French Polynesia.
For those dreaming of a true tropical escape—the kind measured in turquoise lagoons and far-flung horizons—the route from Easter Island to Tahiti is the stuff of bucket lists. This is Polynesia at its most remote and mythic: volcanic silhouettes rising from open ocean, coral atolls encircling impossibly clear water, and palm-lined beaches that feel worlds away from the everyday.
Stand among the towering moai of Easter Island, walking volcanic slopes with archaeologists who unravel the mysteries of this lost civilization, and sail west into the vast Pacific, where the Pitcairn Islands offer a living link to the saga of the HMS Bounty and Henderson Island shelters rare birdlife on untamed shores. In the Tuamotus, snorkel through reef passes in UNESCO World Heritage-designated waters, drift above kaleidoscopic coral gardens and step ashore on low-slung atolls shaped by sea and sky.
An expedition across this immense blue expanse reveals just how varied the tropical Pacific can be—part legend, part living culture and entirely unforgettable.
Explore Easter Island and the South Pacific on:
Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific >
The Baltic Sea
Red cottages in the Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden.
For travelers chasing light and latitude, the Baltic is summer’s sweet spot. At peak season, Scandinavia’s coastlines feel quietly electric—open-air cafés spilling onto cobblestone streets in Stockholm and Copenhagen, harbor markets bright with berries and flowers, sailboats stitching across glassy water beneath a sky that refuses to rush into night.
Aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet, weave through a maritime world shaped by Vikings and Hanseatic merchants. Cruise past the red cottages of the Stockholm Archipelago, kayak among the granite islets of Finland’s Åland Islands and step ashore on Stora Karlsö, where seabirds wheel over fossil-rich cliffs. In UNESCO-listed Visby, medieval stone walls glow in the lingering light, while Denmark’s Bornholm hums with artists’ studios and seaside smokehouses at their most vibrant.
It’s a season made for island-hopping by Zodiac and lingering on deck long into the Nordic evening.
Explore the Baltic Sea on:
Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea: Coasts, Islands and Archipelagos >
Norway, Sweden and Denmark: Nordic Flavors and Scenic Landscapes >
The Galápagos Islands
Two blue-footed boobies rest on the shore with the National Geographic Endeavour II anchored in the distance. Photo: Alex Joseph
When much of the Northern Hemisphere is settling into sweaters and shorter days, the Galápagos Islands keep their steady equatorial tempo. With roughly 12 hours of daylight year-round and wildlife active in every season, this is a warm-weather escape shaped less by the calendar, and more by what you’re most curious to see.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions makes the most of every day, with hikes across black lava flows and cactus forests, Zodiac cruises beneath cliffs dotted with blue-footed boobies and snorkeling sessions alongside sea lions, sea turtles and penguins. From June through November, nutrient-rich waters fuel dramatic marine life and seabird activity—ideal for those drawn to bustling colonies and dynamic underwater encounters. December through May brings warmer, clearer seas and lush green landscapes, perfect for long, leisurely swims and vibrant reef fish sightings.
For those with more time, pair the islands with Peru’s Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, linking two of South America’s most iconic landscapes in one seamless journey—from misty Andean peaks to sunlit Pacific shores.
In the Galápagos, there’s no single “best” moment to go—only shifting highlights in a place where incredible wildlife sightings are a constant and warmth is a given.
Explore the Galápagos Islands on:
Galápagos Escape >
Peru and Galápagos Escape >
Rhine River Valley
The enchanting town of Riquewihr in France's Alsace wine region.
The Rhine River Valley answers warm-weather dreams with vineyard breezes, emerald hills and castles rising above the river in the glow of summer. In this storied corner of Germany and France, the landscape turns impossibly green—hills quilted with vines, medieval fortresses crowning rocky crags, church bells drifting across the water in the long, honeyed light of evening.
Aboard the new 120-guest Connect, the river becomes your front-row seat. Sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge as terraced slopes and turreted fortresses slide past your window. Between stretches on deck, step ashore for experiences that feel rooted in place: Riesling poured by the nuns of St. Hildegard Abbey, rare vintages drawn from Strasbourg’s centuries-old cellars in France’s Alsace region and cobblestoned rambles through German ports like Rüdesheim and Heidelberg at the height of market season.
Back on board, alfresco dinners, open-air cocktails and wraparound views keep you connected to the landscape long after sunset—proof that a European summer can feel as refreshing as it is radiant.
Explore the Rhine River Valley on:
Rhine River: Castles, Culture and Culinary Delights >
Holland and Belgium: Medieval History and Scenic Waterways >
Japan
Guests stroll the serene bamboo groves outside Kyoto, Japan.
In Japan, the warm months bring a particular kind of vividness: gardens at their most lush, temple paths shaded by deep green canopies and coastal towns humming with summer energy. It’s an ideal season to linger in some of the country’s most celebrated landscapes—strolling masterful gardens like Koraku-en, Ritsurin and Sengan-en, where ponds mirror clouds and carefully trained pines frame castle silhouettes.
Trace Japan’s layers of history from elegant shrines and merchant districts to storied castle towns and poignant World War II sites, with time to absorb the quieter details—bamboo groves outside Kyoto, canal-lined streets in Kurashiki and island art enclaves like Naoshima. Select National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions voyages also extend along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic silhouettes and seabird-rich islands set the stage for encounters with marine mammals—and a deep dive into Hokkaido’s Indigenous Ainu culture.
Expect bright days and a soft, lingering humidity—best met the Japanese way: with early starts, shaded walks, unhurried garden visits and cool treats from market stalls as you move between culture, coast and countryside.
Explore Japan on:
Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture >
Alaska to Japan: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture >
Japan’s Western Shores: Ancient Traditions and Natural Beauty >
Panama
Transiting the Panama Canal over two days is a highlight of select Central American expeditions. Photo: David Vargas
When winter settles in across the Northern Hemisphere, it’s your signal to trade frost for rainforest. Panama offers a warm-weather escape with a decidedly expedition edge—less beach resort, more biodiverse jungle.
Here, the National Geographic Quest is given special permission to transit the Panama Canal over two days, threading its locks by day and in the cool glow of night to reveal the scale of one of history’s greatest feats of engineering. Beyond the canal, the country opens into lush rainforests alive with monkeys and toucans, Afro-Panamanian traditions in UNESCO-listed Portobelo and the white-sand isles of the Pearl Islands, where snorkeling and kayaking unfold in clear Pacific waters.
Whether paired with Costa Rica’s volcanic highlands and wildlife-rich forests or focused solely on Panama’s canal, culture and coast, these voyages offer a less-traveled way to experience the tropics—immersive, active and far from the predictable.
Explore Panama on:
Exploring Arenal Volcano, Pearl Islands and the Panama Canal >
The Panama Canal, Pearl Islands and Darién Jungle >
Costa Rica and the Panama Canal >
The Dalmatian Coast
Guests on Ancient Mediterranean: Exploring Greece, Croatia and Albania enjoy a tasting at a local winery. Photo: Andrew Peacock
In the warm months, when Adriatic vineyards are at their peak and island harbors hum with life, the Dalmatian Coast comes into its own. On the eastern edge of the Mediterranean, wine has been cultivated since the days of the ancient Greeks—and here, history isn’t only etched into stone walls and marble ruins, it’s poured into the glass.
On this exploration of Greece, Albania and Croatia in collaboration with Food & Wine magazine, a dedicated onboard wine expert accompanies the journey, guiding guests through tastings that trace the region’s diverse terroirs. From crisp Assyrtiko in Greece to robust Croatian Plavac Mali and lesser-known Albanian varietals, each pour deepens the connection between landscape and table. Ashore, walk the storied ruins of Delphi and Butrint, slip through the Corinth Canal, explore Dubrovnik’s medieval ramparts and discover outlying Croatian isles where age-old traditions endure.
Between swims in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas and evenings sampling seasonal Mediterranean menus, the voyage reveals the Dalmatian Coast not just as a backdrop of beauty—but as a living crossroads best understood one glass at a time.
Explore the Dalmatian Coast on:
Ancient Mediterranean: Exploring Greece, Croatia and Albania >
Croatia's Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro >
The Amazon
Guests search for wildlife on a skiff ride through the Upper Amazon. Photo: David Vargas
In Peru’s Upper Amazon, the river sets the rhythm. Each year, rising and falling waters reshape the vast Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve—flooding forests or revealing sandy banks—as they sustain one of the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth. In this equatorial climate, warmth is a constant and exploration unfolds beneath a lush canopy that feels vibrantly alive in every season.
When the river rises between December and May, seasonal rains and Andean snowmelt transform the reserve into a navigable “mirrored forest,” where skiffs slip between ceiba trees and giant lily pads, and wildlife moves at eye level in the canopy. As waters fall again from late June through November, sandy banks and forest trails reappear, drawing pink river dolphins, caimans and giant otters into narrowing channels.
A river expedition here offers an intimate way to experience the cycle—navigating winding tributaries by small boat, walking forest paths with expert naturalists and meeting ribereños communities whose lives are entwined with the water’s rise and fall.
Explore the Amazon on:
Upper Amazon: A River Expedition >
