Five Countries and Three New Itineraries Added to National Geographic Expeditions Portfolio for 2024

National Geographic Expeditions is adding three new itineraries spanning five countries for its 2024 line-up.

The new Signature Land trips, which will be group-guided itineraries, will bring travelers to Bhutan, Colombia, and the Baltics. The tours will provide an in-depth look at the history, culture and natural heritage in each destination and will be hosted by a National Geographic expert.

Bookings for the new itineraries will open on June 13. Here’s a closer look at the highlights of the new offerings.

Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology 

Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology – Monks (Photo Credit: Courtesy National Geographic Expeditions)

The remote kingdom of Bhutan is known for its dramatic landscapes and storied cities. The exploration of this Buddhist kingdom located on the Himalayas’ eastern edge will delve into its culture, as well as its commitment to tradition, the environment, and the happiness of its people.

The 11-day, 10-night trip includes visits to such major destinations such as Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Phobjikha Valley. 
 
Highlights of the expedition include:

• Dining with Bhutanese dignitaries including business professionals and government officials, who will engage with guests and provide insights about everyday life in Bhutan and a meet and greet with a Buddhist scholar. There will also be a privately guided hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery.  
• Architectural wonders such as touring Punakha Dzong to learn about Bhutanese architecture, visiting the golden Buddha Dordenma Statue and the Divine Mad Monk Monastery. 
• Cultural immersion including enjoying hands-on experiences, such as participating in the butter lamp lighting tradition and lessons in the national sport of archery. 

Renowned medical anthropologist Carroll Dunham will be among the National Geographic experts slated to join the Bhutan departures. Dunham has lived in Nepal studying Buddhism for the past 30 years. She is an avid storyteller with a focus on environmental conservation related to sacred spaces of Southeast Asia.

Dunham has authored four books exploring the feminine divine in South Asian history and culture, and she has also produced more than a dozen films for National Geographic and others on topics ranging from Living Goddesses to polyandry, nomadism and geology. 
 
There are five Bhutan departure dates in 2024 beginning in March and extending through December. Specific expert dates will be released later this year.

Colombia: Connections to the Land and the Past

Landscape in Colombia. (photo via DC_Columbia/ iStock / Getty Images Plus)

The new nine-day, eight-night Colombia tour will take participants through beautiful landscapes of Colombia from the mountains to the beaches. Highlights include a journey across Bogota, the Cocora Valley, Pereira, Santa Marta, and through Tayrona National Park and Barranquilla en route to Cartagena.
 
Highlights of the expedition include:

• Insider experiences such as visiting San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town for enslaved people in the Americas, which was proclaimed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005.
• Inspiration from the past and the present including exploring the archaeological ruins of Taironaka, learning about the modern-day Kogi people or being immersed in the music and traditions of the celebrated Barranquilla Carnaval. 
• Delicious journeys including sampling local delicacies and savoring the flavors of the coffee region while learning how Colombia became one of the most popular coffee exporters in the world. 
• Spectacular wildlife via hiking through the towering wax palms of Cocora Valley or gazing in wonder at the endemic species of birds and mammals found in Tayrona National Park. 

National Geographic Explorer Rosa Vásquez Espinoza will be among the experts set to join select Colombia departures. Chemical biologist, educator, conservationist and TV personality, Espinoza travels to the most extreme ecosystems of the planet searching for the tiniest creatures, from heat-loving microbes to Amazonian stingless bees. She is passionate about driving awareness for conservation.
 
There are six Colombia departure dates in 2024 beginning in January and extending through December. Specific Expert dates will be released later this year.

The Baltics: Enchanted Forests and Medieval Castles

The Baltics — Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia: Enchanted Forests and Medieval Castles – Trakai Castle (Photo Credit: Courtesy National Geographic Expeditions)

The Baltics are classified as one geographic region, but there's actually three distinct countries, all sitting on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Travelers on this itinerary will explore all three countries—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The trip has been developed to provide a deeper understanding of what makes each region unique, from language, traditions and beyond.

During the 11-day, 10-night itinerary travelers will explore destinations such as Vilnius, the Curonian Spit, Klaipeda, Riga, Sigulda, Gauja National Park and Tallinn. 
 
Expedition highlights include:

• History brought to life by delving into medieval times during privately guided excursions to Cesis Castle and Gusmanas Caves and more recent history of World War II and the Soviet Era during guided visits to the Ninth Fort, Hill of Crosses and Maajamae Palace. Each experience showcases how these countries changed over time and were influenced by foreign occupations.
• Cultural preservation experiences cruising along the UNESCO recognized Curonian Spit and venturing through the UNESCO celebrated Old Town Centers of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.
• A taste of the destination by touring a local market in Riga and seeing — and trying — the local ingredients that make up Latvian cuisine.

Photographer and naturalist Jeff Mauritzen has been confirmed as one of the Experts slated to join select Baltics departures. With adventures taking him to more than 60 countries around the world, Mauritzen’s photography has appeared in dozens of National Geographic books, several National Geographic Traveler magazine articles and on the @natgeotravel Instagram account.
 
There are four Baltics departure dates in 2024 beginning in May and extending through October. Specific Expert dates will be released later this year.

Bookings for any of the new trips can be made through NationalGeographicExpeditions.com or contact a travel agent to learn more or to book an expedition. 

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