National Geographic Expeditions and Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services present National Geographic Day Tours, shorter discovery experiences based on National Geographic’s unparalleled storytelling and spirit of exploration.

Limited to small groups and led by National Geographic-trained guides who are subject matter experts in their fields, these guided tours are designed to offer premium, enriching and immersive experiences that will satisfy the curiosity of your cruise guests.

With a focus on culture, history, nature, adventure, gastronomy, photography and conservation, these tours blend exclusive access and hands-on experiences with opportunities to forge human connections with the people we meet all around the world.

Our difference

Access. Immerse yourself in real destinations.
National Geographic opens doors around the globe, and our relationships with scientists, storytellers, museums, and active research sites allow us special access to places and people. Built around visiting historically and culturally significant attractions and exploring the nature and wildlife of a destination, these tours offer exclusive access or hands-on experiences where possible.​

Knowledge. Be enriched by our guides.
These tours are led by guides who are trained by National Geographic and your travelers are enriched by the knowledge of the local experts we meet along the way. These knowledgeable local guides will help them to explore the destination through the lens of National Geographic and deepen their understanding of the world.

Give Back. Make a difference.
Based on our commitment to sustainable tourism, all National Geographic Day Tours meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria, and a portion of the proceeds from these tours goes back to the National Geographic Society to fund research and sustainable programs around the world.

Local Immersion. Meet local people.
These tours offer true local immersion, spending quality time with local communities, because National Geographic believes that when travelers truly understand a place and its people, they feel more inspired to protect it.

Storytelling. Be part of National Geographic.
All tours deliver incredible stories about the places we visit, often based on National Geographic’s unparalleled content and research. Our objective is to go deeper into the destination and its people, making travelers reflect on the different current realities all over the globe.

Portfolio scope

National Geographic Day Tours launch in 2023, with 66 unique and authentic tours available in 7 Mediterranean countries, with more itineraries and destinations to be added in 2024 and beyond.

The lineup of the initial 66 National Geographic Day Tours will include experiences in the following destinations: Marseille, Rome, Naples, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, Arrecife, Gran Canaria, Funchal, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi, Athens, Corfu, Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini.

For each destination, we offer different levels of itineraries with varying price points, durations, and inclusions, to cater for different audiences. Our smaller groups from 8 to 25 travelers create a more personal and intimate experience and allow access to smaller, local venues. The global geographical scope of the portfolio ensures a broad offering, while prioritizing operational quality and customer service excellence.

The National Geographic Day Tours are among the most immersive, educational and sustainable tours on the market, and have been designed to enhance the shorex portfolio of any cruise line.

Tour examples

Some highlights of the initial National Geographic Day Tours portfolio include:

Vulci: A Walk Between Etruscan and Roman Civilization
Explore the Archaeological Park of Vulci and enjoy an up-close perspective of Vulci 3000, a cutting-edge archaeological project launched by the National Geographic Society and led by National Geographic Explorer Maurizio Forte, focused on Vulci’s transformation from an Etruscan powerhouse to a Roman city.

MNAC: “The Secrets of Restoration”
This tour highlights the importance of art conservation, as travelers meet an expert restorer at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) who will lead them on a private tour of the museum’s restoration rooms — an experience exclusive to National Geographic. This is followed by a visit to the biggest and oldest Romanesque collection in Europe.

Hiking Monte Raschio: the ecology of a centennial beech forest
Hike across one of the most important old beech forests in the world: Oriolo Romano on Monte Raschio —recognized as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site– and learn about the project funded by the National Geographic Society and led by National Geographic Explorer Alfredo di Filippo, aimed at exploring the growth patterns and responsiveness to climate change, of these trees, as well as their importance to the ecosystem.

Meet the Locals in Santorini
Meet two local families who open their homes exclusively for National Geographic travelers and share their stories about living and working on the island of Santorini.  Spend time with the Arvanitis and Darzendas families, taste some homemade delicacies and listen to their stories about faith and family history. Sample the unique Santorini wine and learn about the winemaking process on a visit to the Santo Wines Cooperative, of which both families are members.

Tour updates

Herbs & Honeybees in Ibiza
Suited and booted, from head to toe, the Intercruises team set out to experience one of our National Geographic Day Tours – this time to learn about how herbs and honey have been used for hundreds of years, on the beautiful island of Ibiza.

Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappeared from the surface of the Earth man would have no more than four years to live.” During a visit to an organic farm, usually not open to the public, our team were welcomed by a local beekeeper and taught all about the life of the honeybees and their importance to our ecosystem, before sampling various honeys and cheeses, amongst other local products from the island.

Very few people coming to the island have the chance to discover the real countryside of the island. In this exclusive tour, cruise guests will have the chance to learn and understand everything about the wild growing herbs and their use, from an expert herbologist, and learn about beekeeping directly from the owner of an organic farm.

Marine Treasures of Mallorca: Posidonia – Winner of the Seatrade Award: Shorex of the Year 2023
Preparing the way for cruise guests, we ventured to Mallorca earlier this month, to complete a site inspection for what promises to be one of our most insightful and sustainable National Geographic Day Tours yet.

Picture pristine waters, kayaks, and your very own marine biologist, who is there to guide your cruise guests through the marine protected area surrounding the Malgrats Islands, learning about the eco-system below, and Posidonia Oceanica, a seagrass known as the “lungs of the Mediterranean” that provides habitat and oxygen for hundreds of species.

Playing an active role in promoting the conservation of our ocean’s ecosystems, this tour gives cruise guests the unique opportunity to explore a marine protected area, with expert guides, in a fun, educational and responsible way.
We look forward to seeing future cruise guests enjoying this immersive experience, leaving the island of Mallorca with a deeper understanding of the impact we have as individuals, on the environment, and feeling more inspired to protect it.

Catalan Traditions: Cava & Castells
Recently, our team headed to Penedès, a land of wine, sparkling wines and local tradition, just 30 minutes from Barcelona, to sample a National Geographic Day Tour inspired by two Catalan traditions, Cava and Castells (human towers).

Participating in a special workshop, the team learned about the history, values and technicalities of Castells – Catalonia’s famous human towers, before getting the chance to take part and collaborate in building their own.

The Penedès region is known for its organic production. On a visit to Artcava, a small winery, we met one of the owners whose family has been making wine here since 1730. On a tour of the vineyard, we had the opportunity to learn how the cava making process has changed over the past 2.5 millennia and why this drink is so important to the Catalan identity.

Exploring two of Catalonia’s most important traditions, this tour boasts special access and expert knowledge, making it arguably one of the most immersive and educational tours on the market.

To find out more about the National Geographic Day Tours portfolio, get in touch with your usual Intercruises key account manager today or write us on info@intercruises.com