Costa Rica and the Panama Canal

A Lindblad-National Geographic expedition is arguably the most exhilarating overseas adventure travel  experience a person can have. Nothing else comes close to approximating its authenticity and all-five-senses engagement. We offer you the world’s ultimate, authentic expedition experience: Discover the planet’s most remarkable places, accompanied by experts able to illuminate all you see, and with cool tools  to use to explore up close and personally.

Embark on an in-depth exploration of some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on Earth. They’re places we’ve been going to for decades, and our experience and renowned staff ensure the adventure of a lifetime. These are active adventures, engaging the mind and body. Explore by Zodiac, kayak, or on foot, venture to remote beaches and hidden coves, go farther and get closer to nature, wildlife, and intriguing cultures.

In 1979, Sven Lindblad founded Special Expeditions as a division of Lindblad Travel, enabling the company to further its mission of offering innovative and educational travel expeditions that were primarily marine focused. Offerings expanded to Costa Rica, Baja California, and Alaska providing travelers with opportunities to explore, on small ship cruises, the islands, coves, and open spaces of the sea that reminded Lindblad of the remote and vast expanse of the Serengeti plains. The company’s name was later changed to Lindblad Expeditions.

The National Geographic alliance

In 2004, Lindblad Expeditions embarked on one of the travel industry’s most important partnerships when it joined forces with National Geographic to further inspire the world through expedition travel.

Today with offices in New York City and Seattle, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic operates its own fleet of 10 ship, six owned and four leased, offering life-changing adventures on all seven continents. Sven Lindblad and his team continue to pioneer innovative ways to connect with the places already “discovered”— the first to introduce kayaking to the Arctic, Antarctica, and Galápagos; the only one to offer kayaking on the Upper Amazon; the first to reveal the wonders below the ocean with an unmatched undersea program; the first to offer an unparalleled photography initiative with a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor on each expedition and a National Geographic photographer aboard every departure of National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion.

Twentieth and twenty-first century explorers respectively, Lars-Eric and Sven Lindblad have exposed countless people to the wonders of the world, fostering generations of committed citizens who care about the future of our planet. It’s in the genes.

Our Fleet

Our fleet consists of nimble, intimately-scaled expedition ships, able to safely venture where larger cruise ships cannot, allowing us to offer authentic, up-close experiences in the planet’s wild, remote places and capitals of culture. More than comfortable as your base for exploring, they are outfitted with cool tools that enable a genuine connection with the places we visit, and offer inviting private accommodations, and gracious public spaces for our expedition community to gather.

Family and Multi-Generational Travel

An expedition is the perfect means to travel and experience the wild world with your family—whether it's nuclear or multi-generational—to share an adventure and create lasting, magical memories. On every expedition we see grandparents, parents, and children connecting—sharing shipboard life, sharing activities, sharing the discoveries, and creating a bright, collective family memory. There is something about being in the wild, miles from the rituals of day-to-day life that brings out the vibrant, youthful side of family members of all ages.

Expedition Photography

There is simply nothing like Expedition Photography anywhere else in travel. Born of our expedition heritage, our exclusive program provides three key benefits:

--National Geographic photographers aboard every departure of National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion, and select departures fleet-wide.

--A Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor aboard every ship in our fleet.

--Plus highly immersive Photo Expeditions, designed by photographers for photographers.