National Geographic Expeditions adds Bhutan for 2024: Travel Weekly

Oct 23, 2023

National Geographic Expeditions is adding three new itineraries to its 2024 lineup of Signature Land trips.

Bhutan, Colombia and the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are the new destinations.

Each of the new itineraries will be hosted and guided by National Geographic experts, who have professional backgrounds in filmmaking, conservation, photography, archaeology, geography and other disciplines.

The 11-day Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology tour will take guests on an exploration of the remote Himalayan kingdom, where they'll learn about the country's commitment to tradition, its environment and its people.

The tour will be hosted by Carroll Dunham, a medical anthropologist who has lived in Nepal studying Buddhism for the past 30 years.

Guests will visit major locales like Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha Valley, as well as sites like the Tiger's Nest Monastery, the Divine Mad Monk Monastery, the golden Buddha Dordenma Statue and much more. There will be five departure dates in 2024 beginning in March. Prices start at $10,995 per person.

Colombia: Connections to the Land and the Past is a nine-day tour through the scenic landscapes and beaches of Colombia. It will be hosted by chemical biologist and conservationist Rosa Vasquez Espinoza. The tour will take guests across Bogota, the Cocora Valley, Pereira, Santa Marta and through Tayrona National Park and Barranquilla before ending in Cartagena.

Guests can expect to visit San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town for enslaved people in the Americas, take hikes through the wax palms of Cocora Valley, explore the archaeological ruins of Taironaka and more. There will be six departures available throughout 2024 beginning in January. Prices start at $5,995 per person.

Enchanted Forests and Medieval Castles is an 11-day tour that will take guests to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, visiting Vilnius, the Curonian Spit, Klaipeda, Riga, Sigulda, Gauja National Park and Tallinn. The tour will be hosted by National Geographic photographer and naturalist Jeff Mauritzen.

Guests can expect to learn about World War II history and the region's Soviet era during guided visits to Ninth Fort, Hill of Crosses and Maajamae Palace, as well as sailing on a cruise along the Unesco-recognized Curonian Spit and touring local markets in Riga to explore Latvian cuisine. There will be four departures throughout the year beginning in May and running through October. Prices start at $7,795 per person.

Bookings open on June 13.