National Geographic and G Adventures partner to keep experiences high, prices low

If you love nature, wildlife and indigenous cultures, you may have thought a National Geographic trip would bust your travel budget.

Not anymore.

National Geographic Journeys With G Adventures offers 70 affordable, small-group adventures with 16 guests at most.

The new partnership with the 25-year old, eco-oriented G Adventures stems from a shared belief that travel can educate, inspire and positively affect destinations.

Lynn Cutter, executive vice president for travel and licensing at National Geographic, said via email that the organization anticipates lower trip prices will help more people, including younger generations, travel with them.

“The experiences are designed to be immersive and provide special access to people and places connected with National Geographic and G Adventures,” Cutter wrote. “By traveling on a National Geographic Journey, travelers are supporting these projects and more.”

A knowledgeable local guide from G Adventures will lead each trip acting as CEO: Chief Experiential Officer. Here are two trips I like:

Explore Costa Rica ($2,099) is a 14-day journey in which travelers will visit two National Geographic-supported research projects, the Monteverde Institute and the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero.

Guests will have an opportunity to participate in reforestation efforts in the Monteverde cloud forest. In San Miguel de Sarapiquí, travelers will tour Mi Cafecito, a coffee co-op that G Adventures supports through its nonprofit Planeterra Foundation.

(By comparison, a National Geographic Expedition to Costa Rica for seven days starts at $3,790 per person.)

Explore Kruger National Park ($1,999) is a seven-day trip in South Africa’s famous national park. Travelers will learn about the behavior of cheetahs and other carnivores, and the trip helps benefit the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative.

Info: National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures, (800) 281-2354

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