Costa Cruises will offer 10 National Geographic day tours this summer across cruises in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Madeira. The shore-based tours will be hosted by local guides trained by National Geographic and available from June 2023. Having just seen the National Geographic product on a recent cruisetour with Lindblad Expeditions, this caught my attention.

The National Geographic tours have been designed as a responsible and immersive way for a small group of guests to experience the local cultures of the destinations they visit.

The tours include:

• Volcanic wine tasting in La Geria, Lanzarote, and hearing about how the region’s local farmers discovered a new method of cultivation following a series of volcanic eruptions.
• Hiking in Gran Canaria and tasting local cuisine and learning about cultural traditions in Teno Alto, Tenerife, by interacting with locals, visiting a dairy farm, and eating in a local restaurant.
• Visiting Mount Raschio in Rome, a beech forest protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or learning about the preservation of sea turtles at Turtle Point in Portici, Naples.

• Sampling traditional food and experiencing island life with a local family in Mykonos, Greece.
• Learning about Blutopis, family-run businesses in Rhodes that encourage young scientists to stay on the island and protect its natural marine environment.
• A trip with a herbalist guide in Ibiza covering the use of wild herbs and the importance of bees for the ecosystem.
• Learning about oyster aquaculture in Mali Ston Bay, near Dubrovnik, Croatia.
• Learning about the environmental impact of certain agricultural practices at Quinta Pedagogica da Camacha farm in Funchal, Madeira.

A portion of the proceeds from each experience will go towards the National Geographic Society to fund further research and sustainable programs around the world.

The tours are a great way for guests to learn about the local cultures and environment of the destinations that they visit, while also supporting sustainable tourism initiatives.