Do you know the difference between planning a great event and creating a life-enriching experience? Maybe it’s time you unleash your inner explorer! To put it in perspective, just imagine these two scenarios – which would motivate you?

Scenario 1: Your participants are on a tour bus in Alaska, watching beautiful scenery pass by. Those lucky enough to have a window seat press against the pane to get a better look at wildlife in the distance, while the rest of the group catches a fleeting glimpse.

Scenario 2: Your participants paddle silently in their own kayaks in a still cove along a remote coastline. An eagle soars overhead and the air is clean and crisp. Suddenly, they spot a brown bear fishing for salmon below a cascading waterfall.

Get the picture? Whether you’re planning a group travel program, executive retreat or recognition program, your event participants are not mere tourists, passively watching the world pass by; they are passionate explorers, actively seeking new adventures.

So why plan a travel program that only allows them to view nature from a distance? Take them on an expedition voyage that will give them an in-depth, up-close experience in Alaska.

For 30 years, Lindblad’s intimate ships, unparalleled expedition team and vast connections to the region have revealed the magic of Alaska. Every voyage also has tools specially designed for exploration, allowing you and your guests to go further and get closer to the ineffable wonders of nature than you ever imagined possible.

Here’s a look at Lindblad-National Geographic’s top 10 tools that unlock the secrets of nature and make your group event in Alaska the ultimate adventure of a lifetime:

1. Expedition Staff – the Hallmark of Lindblad Expeditions

Your group will travel and explore with the benefit of the best staff-to-guest ratio of any expedition team in Alaska – six onboard Naturalists, including a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Certified Photo Instructor and an Undersea Specialist. One Naturalist for every 10 guests ensures that everyone has the opportunity to interact with the Lindlbad-National Geographic Expedition Team and receive personal attention. And as the most knowledgeable staff in the region, they will illuminate the entire experience – whales breaching, bears foraging and glaciers calving, among many others.

2. Tlingit Interpreter and National Park Ranger Aboard

As you explore Glacier Bay National Park and experience its magnificent scenery, you and your program participants will learn about the lore and legend of its indigenous people with the expertise of a local guide. A National Park Ranger will join you on board, as well as a Huna Tlingit Cultural Interpreter – a descendant of the early inhabitants of Glacier Bay. This adds layers of history and insider knowledge to your Glacier Bay experience.

3. Expedition Photography Program on Every Alaska Voyage

Lindlbad’s Expedition Photography Program is an unprecedented opportunity for your group to learn skills that will last a lifetime. They’ll find remarkable photo ops around every bend in Alaska’s Inside Passage, and a Lindblad-National Geographic Certified Photographer is always close at hand to help them snap their best shots. Exclusive to Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, this Naturalist Photo Instructor is specially trained to help you capture the moments at the heart of your voyage. It’s the expedition of a lifetime, and your group will go home with the photos to prove it!

4. Kayaks and Zodiacs – the Essential Tools for Explorers

One of the best ways to get out and explore the wild is via kayak or Zodiac, and Lindlbad-National Geographic’s ships are outfitted with a fleet of them. Paddle a kayak into a quiet cove for a more personal water-level encounter with nature, or board a Zodiac with a Naturalist to draw closer to glaciers.

5. Exclusive, New Alaska Undersea Program

During their Alaska expedition, your guests will witness the mesmerizing world beneath their vessel – thanks to an Undersea Specialist. Featured on every voyage in Alaska, the Undersea Specialist will dive to depths of 40-80 feet and use an HD camera to capture and reveal the mysteries of the deep. These discoveries are shared in special presentations that showcase the amazing breadth of the sea – from the tiniest organisms on the ocean’s floor to hulking sea lions and giant whales.

6. The Richest Whale Experience in Alaska

Lindblad-National Geographic has 30 years of experience in locating whales and positioning guests for the best viewing experiences; they will change the course of the ship to capitalize on a sighting, and if conditions are right, observe them from Zodiacs. Research scientists from the Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF) come onboard during every voyage to improve humpback sightings and understanding of these magnificent creatures.

In addition, Lindlbad-National Geographic has a new addition to their program in Alaska this season – the National Geographic Crittercam! Every week guests will have a unique opportunity to watch proprietary footage of humpbacks in southeast Alaska, providing a whale’s eye view, thanks to Lindblad’s partnership with National Geographic and alliance with the AWF.

7. Video Chronicle to Capture Your Experience

A Video Chronicler will accompany your group in Alaska to memorialize your expedition. Using a state-of-the-art workstation and digital video camera, the Lindblad Chronicler professionally edits and produces a video of the most exhilarating moments of your program. The piece is set to music with skillful narration, and is available for purchase before your group disembarks.

8. Lindblad Hydrophone – Hear Marine Vocals

Ever hear the song of a whale? The ship’s hydrophone allows guests to hear intriguing vocalizations by whales and other marine mammals. When conditions are right, the Lindlbad Expedition Team will deploy the hydrophone to either capture the animals’ communication in a recording to be heard later, or broadcast the diverse repertoire of song and sounds live on the ship’s P.A. system.

9. Special Access in Pristine Alaska Wilderness

Lindblad-National Geographic’s permits from the U.S. Forest Service enables us to take guests hiking in wild and remote areas of the Tongas National Forest. They bring guests to where paw prints outnumber footprints – no nearby towns or roads, just pure Alaskan wilderness.

10. Genuine Expedition Ships

Lindblad’s intimate expedition vessels are perfect for exploring areas where larger ships can’t go. United States-registered Sea Bird and Sea Lion sail along Alaska’s coastal wilderness, carrying up to 62 guests in 31 comfortably appointed cabins – all with sea views. (For a truly amazing experience all your own, consider a full-ship charter of either vessel.)

Each ship features a library; lounge with full-service bar and facilities for films, slide shows and presentations; observation deck; partially covered sun deck; and a wellness center and spa. Lindlbad’s “open bridge” policy gives your group the opportunity to meet and chat with the officers and captain.

The bow of the ship accommodates all guests at once, so everyone in your group will share the thrills of nature sightings – like glaciers crashing, bears foraging along the shore, and whales breaching – plus hear the insights and commentary from the expedition team. Both Sea Lion and Sea Bird are equipped with the cool exploration tools referenced above to help guests connect with nature on a deeper level.

Inclusive Pricing – Onboard and Ashore

In addition to meals and non-alcoholic beverages, all activities are included in your expedition price: kayaking, hiking, Zodiac cruising, lectures and presentations, guide visits by Glacier Bay Park Rangers; plus park access, sightseeing, entrance fees and more.

Learn More

To request a group or charter quote for Lindblad Expeditions in Alaska or any of the other amazing places they visit, go to Seasite.com or give us a call at 888 713 1371.

 

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