G Adventures And National Geographic Partner To Offer New Line Of Travel Experiences

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2015 /CNW/ -- National Geographic and award-winning Canadian tour operator G Adventures have joined forces to launch National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures, a new line of experiential trips to destinations all over the globe. With similar core values, an aligned sense of social responsibility, and a shared belief in the positive impact that travel can have on the world, these two renowned brands will together offer travellers a meaningful and accessible way to experience the world.

This travel partnership—which coincides with G Adventures' 25^th anniversary—combines National Geographic's more than 125 years of global exploration, science and storytelling with the fun, authentic experiences for which G Adventures is internationally recognized. The initial collection of 70 trips is designed for travellers who appreciate the freedom to roam, but seek the structure and security that comes with travelling in a group. Each group will be led by a knowledgeable local guide, and most will be limited to 16 guests. Travellers will have the opportunity to connect with local people and cultures while discovering places where National Geographic's scientists and storytellers have shaped history. 

"We are thrilled to be working with National Geographic—an organization that shares our values and a similar approach to travel—to offer our guests unique experiences that will forever change their expectations of travel," said Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures.

These two travel pioneers have worked closely together to create special experiences that bring travellers behind the scenes in incredible destinations—be it practicing a centuries-old tradition of throwing pots on a visit to a women's cooperative in Belize or joining a researcher on safari in South Africa to learn firsthand about a National Geographic-sponsored initiative to protect cheetahs and other big cats.

Forging true human connections will be an integral component of National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures. Travellers will have the opportunity to spend time in a family home in Jaipur, India; share a meal with a local author and her storytelling troupe in Botswana; meet a traditional weaver in Ecuador; and sip homemade limoncello with a farmer at his lemon orchard in Italy.

A 14-day trip to Costa Rica, priced from $2,099, includes meeting with a researcher from the Sea Turtle Conservancy, co-founded by a National Geographic grantee. Many trips will feature visits to projects sponsored by G Adventures' nonprofit organization Planeterra, which develops sustainable projects to support local communities. As with all National Geographic travel programs, a portion of the proceeds will support the National Geographic Society's nonprofit work in conservation, exploration, education, and cultural preservation.

"Our partnership with G Adventures adds an exciting and accessible range of travel opportunities to our portfolio of extraordinary ways to explore the planet. We're excited to invite travelers around the world to experience the destinations they've dreamed about, get to know people in other cultures and make a positive impact while doing it," added Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society. 

The new line will join National Geographic's suite of travel programs, which includes National Geographic Expeditions, National Geographic Adventures, National Geographic Student Expeditions, National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, and more.

Next year's lineup of National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures will be published on Dec. 15, 2015, with departures beginning Jan. 5, 2016.

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 authentic, meaningful and engaging travel experiences through National Geographic Traveler magazine; National Geographic Expeditions; National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World; digital travel content; travel books; maps; and travel photography programs. National Geographic Traveler (eight issues per year) is the world's most widely read travel magazine and has 17 international editions. National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the Society, offers a variety of unique travel experiences led by top experts to more than 80 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 shares its inspiring and authoritative digital content such as trip ideas, photo galleries, blogs, and apps with its @NatGeoTravel community of 7 million. National Geographic Travel books bring readers curated travel advice, photography, and insider tips. Follow National Geographic Travel @NatGeoTravel on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google+.

About G Adventures
Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2015, G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the widest selection of affordable small group tours, safaris and expeditions to more than 100 countries on all continents. It was the first adventure travel company to offer 100% guaranteed departures in 2013. Powered by an international team of passionate travellers, the award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet's people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. The intimate, authentic and sustainable approach to small-group travel introduces travellers to the highlights of a destination while offering the freedom to explore it on their own. Whatever age, interest, ability or budget, G Adventures has a genuine life-changing experience.

For more information, please visit gadventures.com/journeys or nationalgeographicjourneys.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150924/270584LOGO 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150924/270582 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150924/270583

SOURCE National Geographic Society; G Adventures

G Adventures Contact: Timothy Chan, [email protected], 416-260-0999 x 1353; National Geographic Contact: Meg Calnan, [email protected], 202-857-7545, http://www.nationalgeographic.com