Elite Traveler HRS 2024

DISCOVER

The blue Bethel church in Sisimiut, Greenland dates back to 1775

by TobyLouch Cruises

Fjords, waterfalls and fi shing villages

Once upon a time, most of the thrill and drama of travel was a result of visiting destinations that few ever had and, upon returning home, recounting audacious stories of far- fl ung lands. Today the world seems smaller. Travel is simpler, so the whole process can be seen as far less romantic. However, there remain a few companies that still specialize in scratching that itch

Greenland and Iceland. With a population of over 56,000, and a landmass that would stretch from Miami to Montreal, New York and Chicago, Greenland is a vast, empty expanse. Its coastline is scarred by retreating glaciers that have carved hundreds of fjords, many of which Endurance can navigate. Small boats transport passengers to the shore (sometimes having to jump into calf-deep Arctic waters) where they can make their way to land. Lindblad itineraries are a rough guide. In the polar regions, plans change, perhaps due to adverse weather — or maybe there’s something the expedition leader wants to check out. It’s in these moments, when a Lindblad expedition transforms into true exploration, that the drama of travel reveals itself once again.

service dinners, a fully equipped spa, yoga studio and wine tasting. Endurance ’s patented X-Bow is designed to keep sailing relatively smooth. That being said, making regular crossings of the Drake’s Passage — the world’s roughest stretch of sea — there’s bound to be a bit of chop along the way, but it’s all part of the adventure. Andwhile Endurance is certainly lavish, it’s still a serious expedition vessel. On each Lindblad National Geographic expedition, guests are joined by a host of scientists and naturalists who are conducting their own research and are on hand to provide insight to any question. In summer 2023, Lindblad Expeditions conducted several Arctic voyages with Endurance that explored

Lindblad Expeditions knows a thing or two about voyaging on the path least taken. It was Lars-Eric Lindblad who led the fi rst tourist voyage to Antarctica in1966, e ff ectively inventing the concept of expedition travel. Since then, the company has conquered every corner of the globe. While it o ff ers trips to all seven continents, it’s the polar regions where Lindblad truly thrives. Launched in 2021, National Geographic Endurance — named after famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship — was purpose-built for Arctic and Antarctic exploration. Accommodating 138 guests in 71 cabins, Endurance is capable of transporting travelers to some of the most hard-to-reach spots on Earth, in absolute luxury. Think three-course silver

Photos Toby Louch, Alexandra Daley-Clark, Michael S. Nolan, Ralph Lee Hopkins