CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE BALTIC SEA SET SAIL ABOARD THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ORION AND DISCOVER EIGHT COUNTRIES united by the Baltic
Sea. Walk the medieval streets of Visby and Tallinn, and trace World War II history in Gdańsk. Immerse yourself in the splendor of St. Petersburg, and discover the rugged islands of Sweden and Finland. As we journey between Copenhagen and Stockholm, experience the region’s charming towns and their rich, intertwined histories. EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
• Encounter an array of UNESCO World Heritage sites, from medieval Riga and Visby to the windswept Curonian Spit. • Explore coastal Finland and the Stockholm archipelago by Zodiac and kayak. • Delve into St. Petersburg’s imperial treasures, including the splendid art collections of the State Hermitage Museum. • Uncover the history of Poland’s Solidarity movement in Gdańsk and the roots of the Singing Revolution in Tallinn, Estonia.
EXPEDITION TEAM Along with a diverse team of experts, National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson will join the May departure. Jim has produced more than 40 stories for National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler, where he is a contributing editor. Jim’s recent work on environmental issues resulted in two cover stories for National Geographic in 2008—one on light pollution and another on the state of the world’s soil. His work has also been published in Time, Newsweek, LIFE, and Sports Illustrated, and featured on CBS News Sunday Morning and ABC’s Nightline. The Society’s assignment photographers voted Jim the National Geographic “Photographer’s Photographer” in 2015. THIS TRIP IS OFFERED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS.
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| 14 DAYS
DAY 1 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Arrive in Denmark’s capital this morning and board the National Geographic Orion. Visit the Town Hall and cruise the city’s charming canals. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ORION (L, D) DAY 2 BORNHOLM
Our first stop is the fishing port of Gudhjem on Bornholm Island. Hike up to the cliff-top ruins of Hammershus Castle, or explore the island’s round churches and white-sand beaches. (B, L, D) DAY 3 GDAŃSK, POLAND
Delve into Gdańsk’s art and architecture at the Gothic-Renaissance Town Hall and the Historical Museum. Or visit the Westerplatte peninsula, where World War II began with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. Tour the European Solidarity Centre, commemorating the independent trade union founded by former President of Poland Lech Walesa. Enjoy a Polish dinner onshore. (B, L, D)
Quaint sea cottages dot the coastal village of Split, Lithuania.
DAY 4 KLAIPĖDA, LITHUANIA
Stretching along the Baltic Sea, the wild barrier peninsula of the Curonian Spit is a World Heritage site shared by Lithuania and Russia. Delve into local folklore at the Hill of Witches and see dramatic sand dunes, or visit the Ventė Cape Ornithological Station. (B, L, D) DAYS 5, 6, AND 7 VISBY AND GOTLAND, SWEDEN/RIGA, LATVIA
Walk along Visby’s 13th-century wall and explore this former Viking settlement. Opt to bike across
Above: Stately medieval buildings cluster on the islands of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, or Old Town.