Dear Traveler,
Marine ecologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Enric
Sala spent much of this past summer underwater—under very cold
water—diving off the remote Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land to
document marine life for National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project.
The islands are one of eight Pristine Seas sites, regions that have been
identifi ed as the last wild places in the world’s oceans.Next year the National Geographic Orion will sail to two Pristine Seas
sites in the decidedly warmer waters of the South Pacifi c. Our route from
Fiji to Tahiti brings us to the unspoiled reefs of the Southern Line Islands;
and our voyage from Tahiti to Easter Island includes the Pitcairn Islands,
a Pristine Seas site described by Enric as “totally hypnotic...a place that
looks like the ocean 1,000 years ago.” Equipped with snorkeling and
diving gear and cutting-edge underwater cameras, we’ll immerse
ourselves in these spectacular marine environments and learn about
National Geographic’s eff orts to protect them—eff orts you support when
you travel aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad fl eet.Our Pristine Seas experiences are just two of the many exciting
opportunities aboard the National Geographic Orion in 2014. We’ll take
to the Coral Sea, encountering evocative World War II sites, sapphire
lagoons, and islands brimming with vibrant cultures as we travel from
Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji. On our
Indonesian Odyssey, track Komodo dragons, get acquainted with the
ancient culture of the Asmat region, and cap off the trip snorkeling or div-
ing the Great Barrier Reef at Lizard Island. Venture to the cliff s and cone
karst formations of Australia’s wild Kimberley region, discovering ancient
Aboriginal rock art and geological wonders.On the other side of the planet, the National Geographic Explorer heads
to the Netherlands and Belgium on a new expedition timed with tulip
season that combines the wilderness of the Waddenzee with the cultural
hubs of Amsterdam, Brugge, and Gent.The pages that follow are fi lled with fantastic places to discover aboard
the National Geographic-Lindblad fl eet—whether you wish to navigate
icebergs peppered with penguins in Antarctica, watch humpbacks in
Alaska, enter the magical world of the Galápagos, or dive into pristine
seas in the South Pacifi c.We hope to see you on board!Sincerely,John Fahey
Chairman of the Board
The National Geographic SocietyYour participation in a National Geographic Expedition provides support
to National Geographic’s mission of increasing global understanding
through exploration, geography education, and research.
Copyright © 2013 National Geographic Society C Recycled paper
National Geographic Expeditions and the Yellow Border Design are registered
trademarks of the National Geographic Society.OCEANIA
52 Reefs, Lagoons, and Volcanic Isles: Fiji to Tahiti NEW
53 Exploring the Coral Sea: Papua New Guinea to Fiji NEW
54 Legends of the South Pacifi c: Tahiti to Easter Island NEW
58 Cultures of the South Pacifi c: New Zealand to
the Solomons NEW
58 Historic Isles and Undersea Wonders: Solomons
to the Great Barrier Reef NEWAUSTRALIA
56 Australia’s Wild Northwest NEW
57 Australia’s Wild Northwest and the Spice Islands NEWRESOURCES
4 National Geographic Moments
6 The National Geographic-Lindblad Diff erence
7 Special Off ers
8 Travel with National Geographic Photographers
and Explorers
60–65 Deck Plans
66 Expedition Calendar
67 Terms and Conditions3