Sail Among Oceania's Idyllic Islands & Explore a Mysterious Lost Civilization
This may well be the ultimate cruise across the South Pacific. This storied seascape dotted with Polynesian islands seduced French painter Paul Gauguin, and the same allure draws adventurers today. On a voyage from Easter Island to Tahiti, visit the remote Tuamotu, Gambier and Pitcairn archipelagos along the way. Palm-studded atolls and volcanic outposts draped in tropical vegetation evoke the mystique of Eden. And that's just above water—below the surface, dazzling reefs delight snorkelers and divers inside natural aquariums. Islanders welcome us with the call of conch shells, drumbeats and traditional dances. Silken sand invites barefoot walks on deserted beaches. Let your imagination wander as you consider what brought early navigators to isolated Easter Island, and what compelled them to build the giant statues that remain one of the world’s great archaeological mysteries.
Trip Highlights
- Easter Island In DepthAccompanied by an expert archaeologist, explore the intriguing lost culture of Easter Island, visiting ancient ceremonial sites and the towering statues known as moai
- Pristine Reef ExplorationDiscover one of the world's most unspoiled reef systems as you snorkel, dive and cruise by Zodiac among the rich marine life of Fakarava, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Encounters on Remote PitcairnMeet the residents of Pitcairn Island, most of whom are direct descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers, and see rare and endemic birds on Henderson and Ducie
Sail with the World Leader in Conservation-Focused Small Ship Cruising
We’re proud to offer a worldwide slate of Adventure Cruises through our partner, Lindblad Expeditions. Nat Hab joined forces with Lindblad in 2016 to expand our mutual collection of nature adventures. Founded in 1958 by Lars-Eric Lindblad, the company pioneered eco-conscious expeditions for “citizen explorers" and today is the world leader in conservation-focused small-ship cruises. Our Adventure Specialists are intimately familiar with the ships and itineraries and are on call to answer any questions you might have.
- Explore the South Pacific's Profusion of Wildlife
You'll be awed by the abundance of Polynesian wildlife. This intimate journey gives you a chance to take in its breadth with our naturalists. Ninety different birds inhabit the islands, plus seabirds including fairy terns, Tahitian petrels, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and red-footed boobies. Lush vegetation is studded with showy flowers, including Tiare Tahiti (gardenia), orchids, frangipani, bougainvillea and porcelain roses. And in the coral reefs, watch for bright blue needlefish, lemonpeel angelfish, schools of vibrant parrotfish, striped surgeonfish, Moorish idols, Titan triggerfish, giant clams and colossal humphead wrasse, along with sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins and several shark species. - Sink Your Imagination into Oceania's Colorful History
Missionaries, mutineers and intrepid explorers have passed through the South Pacific, in addition to the resident Polynesians who navigated this vast ocean by starlight. Our journey traces the legend of the ill-fated H.M.S. Bounty to Pitcairn Island, then meets descendants of some of the mutineers. And we'll spend two days delving into Easter Island travel, exploring its enigmatic archaeological sites and monolithic carved stones, called moai—fathoming an ancient culture rooted in mystery. - Experience Makes a Difference
Lindblad has been exploring the South Pacific since the 1980s. This deep experience is the key to helping you truly "get lost" in this tropical paradise—including all those dreamy islands and atolls that are only accessible by sea. The world's leader in small-ship expedition cruising, Lindblad owns and operates the National Geographic Orion, a state-of-the-art vessel used on all departures of this voyage. The result is attention to detail, along with a suite of amenities, which most other tour operators in the region simply cannot offer. - Gain In-Depth Insight with Local Naturalists and an Archaeologist
Every trip sails with a veteran Lindblad Expedition Leader and a hand-picked team of veteran naturalists well-versed in the flora, fauna and human history of the South Pacific. They accompany us on a wealth of daily activities. The small, intimate scale of the ship, plus our Zodiacs, means we can easily reach places inaccessible to larger vessels, offering more in-depth access with varied points of view. The ship's naturalists know shores, reefs, birds and uninhabited atolls well, and our exploration of Easter Island includes a professional archaeologist. Each of these experts is adept at spotting wildlife, and their expertise offers the richest, most in-depth experience of this fascinating region possible for our guests. - Gear Up to Explore the South Pacific's Biodiversity Above and Below the Sea
The ship is a base camp for exploring this remarkable world of idyllic islands and underwater wonders, and we’ve got the tools to help you be an engaged, active explorer. In addition to our fleets of Zodiacs and kayaks, the Orion provides complete snorkel gear—and you keep your personal setup for the entire voyage. Plus, the Orion has scuba gear for 24 divers, with divemasters to oversee every excursion. If you'd rather stay dry, a glass-bottom Zodiac lets you look underwater without ever getting your face wet. Plus, we travel with an undersea specialist and a ROV which takes video images up to 1,000 feet below the surface, far beyond the range of divers. So you’ll get incomparable, up-close access to the dazzling marine environment and its inhabitants. Video microscopes, high-definition screens, hydrophones, a crow's nest camera and other tools provide added opportunities for in-depth understanding. - Snap Your Finest Photos
Uninhabited islands, a rainbow of fish and some of the worlds' most awe-inspiring ancient monoliths create irresistible opportunities for photographers in French Polynesia and the Easter Islands. A Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor is on board to provide assistance with your camera and instruction in elements of composition to help you take your best photos ever. - We’re Committed to the Planet
Natural Habitat Adventure is a standard-setter in eco-conscious travel. We were the world’s first 100-percent carbon-neutral travel company. And we continue to break innovative ground in adopting practices that help to protect our global environment. Because of our concern for the environment, we are pleased to partner with Lindblad Expeditions for our Adventure Cruises, a company that shares our values and commitment to the planet. - Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our environmental commitment and the outstanding quality of our adventures, World Wildlife Fund has chosen Natural Habitat Adventures as its worldwide travel partner, a designation we’re very proud of! When you book your Lindblad Expeditions cruise with us, a portion of your trip fee supports WWF.
