National Geographic Expeditions Announces New Family Trips for 05

WASHINGTON (May 2, 2014)-From snorkeling in Australia's Great Barrier Reef to searching for truffles in Tuscany to using a traditional bow and arrow with San hunter-gatherers in South Africa, National Geographic offers a host of exciting travel adventures with the nine new family expeditions it will introduce in 2015.

National Geographic Expeditions provides unique itineraries and special access to people and places, making for meaningful and transformative travel experiences. Drawing on the Society's global resources to create trips that are authentic, immersive and fun, National Geographic family expeditions are carefully crafted to delight and enrich the lives of travelers of any age.

We are thrilled to be offering such a fantastic variety of family trips, each unique and designed for travelers of all ages, said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic's executive vice president, Travel. These trips are packed with exploration; adventure; and fun, hands-on learning activities for the whole family. Discovering a place like Costa Rica or Australia in such an engaging way, you can't help but come back inspired.

On the new Spain Family Adventure, families will learn to make paella and to dance flamenco, take in the view from the towers of Barcelona's Sagrada Fam lia cathedral, explore a massive fort dating back 2,000 years and interact with seals and dolphins in Europe's biggest aquarium.

Travelers on the new South Africa Family Adventure will ride a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, observe penguins close up on the Cape Peninsula and enjoy four days on safari looking out for the big five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo - during game drives.

The new Australia Family Adventure offers travelers the opportunity to snorkel and dive at the Great Barrier Reef; go spearfishing with members of the Kuku Yalanji people; visit Uluru, the largest monolith on Earth; and see emus, koalas and kangaroos at a wildlife park near Sydney.

On the new Vietnam Family Adventure, travelers will meet a craftsman who makes water puppets, bike around the capital of Hanoi and go on a scavenger hunt in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An.

The new Swiss Family Adventure includes chocolate- and cheese-making demonstrations, a thrilling toboggan run, exploring a subterranean glacier palace and a train ride past charming chalets and glacier-fed waterfalls.

Travelers on the new Tuscany Family Adventure will venture into the crypt of a medieval castle, go horseback riding in the Chianti hills and learn how to make gelato.

The other new family trips include an adventure in Ireland, where travelers will delve into the country's legends and landscapes, watch sheepdogs at work and enjoy a beach walk with a marine archaeologist; a Hawaii Adventure that will have families spotting humpback whales and hiking over the lava floor of a steaming crater; and a trip to Yosemite that features hikes with a naturalist and panning for gold.

In addition, National Geographic will be offering a number of its existing family trips again in 2015 - from adventures in Tanzania or Costa Rica to expeditions to our national parks and thrilling family voyages to the Gal pagos or Alaska.

Many of the family trips in 2015 feature a Kid-to-Kid Connection. Young travelers will be linked with pen pals of about the same age before the trip. After corresponding from afar, pen pals will meet in person on the trip and share cultures through games, crafts or even a cooking lesson.

For a complete listing of expeditions, updates on new trips and reports from the field, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

About National Geographic Travel

National Geographic Travel is the travel arm of the National Geographic Society, one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, founded in 1888. National Geographic Travel creates meaningful and engaging travel content and experiences through National Geographic Traveler magazine; National Geographic Expeditions; travel books; maps; apps; digital media; and travel photography programs. National Geographic Traveler (eight issues per year) is the world's most widely read travel magazine and has 14 international editions. It is available by subscription, on newsstands in the United States and Canada, and digitally for tablets. National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the Society, offers a variety of unique travel experiences led by top experts to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. Travel opportunities include family and student expeditions, active adventures, private jet trips and voyages on the six expedition ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet, as well as photography workshops, expeditions and seminars. The National Geographic Travel digital group offers inspiring and authoritative digital travel and adventure content such as trip ideas, photo galleries, blogs and apps. National Geographic Travel Books bring readers curated travel advice and inspiration. Follow National Geographic Travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

LINK:	http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/02/expeditions-new-family-...
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