A Wilderness of Epic Proportions: Q&A with our Expedition Developer

A Wilderness of Epic Proportions

The natural wonders of Alaska and the western United States rival those found anywhere on the planet. Karen Kuest is an Expedition Development Manager for Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Here, she discusses what you can expect from our expeditions in this wild part of the world.

What are the benefits of exploring Alaska and the American West by small ship? There are so many rugged places tucked into their coastal regions—places that are simply too remote and secluded for larger ships to reach, like fishing holes frequented by brown bears and wild islands outfitted only with small docks. Small ships also have shallow drafts that let us get closer to shore for wildlife observations. On one occasion in Glacier Bay, we spotted wolves playing and were able to nose up close to watch them. That experience wouldn’t have been possible on a bigger ship. The idea of ‘active exploration’ is key to Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Can you explain the concept? Active exploration is about experiencing your surroundings in an immersive way, no matter your interests. That might mean hiking across sea cliffs in the Channel Islands or riding a Zodiac into the wild crevices of British Columbia. Or, it could mean reading about Lewis and Clark in the ship library as we sail the same route they took along the Columbia River. Whichever way you choose to explore, our expeditions and ships are designed to help enhance your discovery of your destination.

What unique perspectives can a Lindblad ExpeditionsNational Geographic voyage offer to families? Our voyages go beyond the well-traveled routes to show young explorers what true wilderness looks like. And on our Alaska expeditions, we have an exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program, led by certified field educators who are experts at using the outdoors as a classroom. They guide kids in educational and fun activities, like identifying whale flukes and getting their Zodiac licenses.

Humpback Whales breaching, Alaska.

Lindblad Expeditions has been exploring Alaska for over 40 years. What other special experiences do we offer there? Our exclusive undersea program employs a diver and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to share footage of marine life and habitats—a part of Alaska most travelers never see. We’ve also made many wonderful connections during our time in the region, like our conservation partnership with the Alaska Whale Foundation, whose representatives join us onboard each voyage to tell guests about the local whale populations.

Top: Humpback Whales breaching, Alaska; Left to right: Sea Lion guests return to ship from Glacier Bay; young global explorer getting a zodiac license.