 2010
April 2010 — Working as a naturalist, expedition leader, and dive master for Zegrahm Expeditions over the past 20 years, I am often asked by travelers about my favorite destination. That is a very hard questionand one that leads me to several follow-up questions. Favorite beach? La Digue Island, Seychelles. Favorite culture? Bali, Indonesia. Favorite archipelago? Galapagos. Favorite manta ray dive? Yap Island, Micronesia. Favorite wall dive? Blue Corner, Palau.
April 2010 — In the Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions office, we are frequently asked about the best and most useful gear to bring on our expeditions—from the choice of boots to wear in Antarctica and South Georgia or on the Northern Ring of Fire expeditions to the best snorkeling gear for Faces of Melanesia.
These items are, of course, essential to the enjoyment of each expedition, but when departing for a wildlife trip, the one item that cannot be left behind, the one “don’t leave home without it” piece of equipment is a good pair of binoculars.
April 2010 — Our final 2011 travel calendar is at the printer and will be landing in your mailbox in the coming weeks! Within its pages, we are excited to share a great mix of natural history and cultural destinations for 2011and, what a great year it will be. Not only will the beloved Clipper Odyssey be moving from the Pacific to explore new ports in the Arabian, Mediterranean, and North Seas; we are also introducing several NEW Zegrahm expeditions:
March 2010 — Under socialist rule, the Burmese were held prisoner within their own land for nearly 30 years. The Burmese people suffered great deprivation and poverty in these dark years, and human rights abuses were commonplace. Even today, by Western standards, the Burmese people are still ruled by an authoritarian military regime that is guilty of human rights abuses.
January 2010 — If the success of an expedition cruise depends on the ship that takes you there, then surely traveling aboard the Clipper Odyssey is the way to go. Thousands of our travelers have sailed in the indulgent comfort of this much-loved, 110-passenger vessel, visiting some of the most exotic and unspoiled places in the Pacific, from Easter Island to Borneo, and from Kodiak Island to Kamchatka.
January 2010 — Adventure travel has always been an integral part of Susan and Werner Zehnders lives, so much so that 20 years ago, they and five colleagues decided to stake their future on it, forming Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions. We caught up with Werner and Susan via phone to talk about Zegrahms beginningand what might lie ahead in years to come.
January 2010 — On this increasingly crowded planet of ours, one of the rarest treats is visiting a place where nobody lives and few people have ever set foot. And when a particular journey includes three uninhabited islands, it’s even more unique. It was that prospect more than anything else that attracted me to Zegrahm Expeditions’ Beyond Rapa Nui voyage this past October.
January 2010 — Asia is an amazingly vibrant part of the world in which to live: rich in cultures, ancient histories, fabulously varied cuisines, and wildlife. Not allof us are fortunate enough to call Asia home, but our Empires of the East voyage offers a fantastic introduction to, and cross section of, this huge region, while enjoying the comforts of our intimate floating hotel, the Clipper Odyssey.
back to the top
2009
October 2009 — I always think that the hardest thing about Alaska for visitors to grasp is the sheer size of the place. Alaska is immense. It is more than twice the size of Texas; the equivalent of California, Oregon, Washington, and Montana put together; or, to give it a global perspective, you could put England, France, and Germany inside Alaska, and still have room for Japan.
July 2009 — The Kermadec and Chatham Islands are some of the wildest, most geographically isolated, and least visited places on Earth—which is why they’ve been calling to me ever since I first spotted them on the map.
July 2009 — Between 1854 and 1862 a meticulous young naturalist named Alfred Russel Wallace made an epic journey through the islands of the Malay Archipelago gathering specimens and recording observations. Upon his return to England he published his findings in a book entitled The Malay Archipelago. The geographical line that runs between Borneo/Sulawesi, Bali/Lombok, and the Sunda and the Sahul oceanic shelves marks a remarkable division of biodiversity that bears his name, the “Wallace Line.”
April 2009 — A Zegrahm Director and frequent lecturer aboard many of our worldwide expeditions, Kevin is also a resident of Alaska and very proud to call it home.
April 2009 — Like any superhero worth their cape, UNESCO is on the side of the underdog. Armed with a global spotlight and a list of internationally-approved criteria, it answers the call of the helpless endangered species, the threatened pristine wilderness, and fragile underwater wonderlandsall silently imploring universal shelter from that ubiquitous arch villaingreed.
March 2009 — As lifelong adventurers we are constantly seeking our own secret paths. When we were children these paths might have begun with the simple shortcuts home from school, through a neighbor’s yard, or across a wild meadow. Later, these paths took the form of roads and hidden delights we discovered while extending the borders of our surroundings, venturing farther afield and around the globe.
January 2009 — Zegrahm Cofounders Peter and Shirley have traveled on many of our expeditions to the far northern lands that make up the Pacific Ring of Fire. Each time, they have returned with stories of such superlative experiences that we asked them to share some of them with you.
January 2009 — From soaring volcanic peaks to low-lying wreaths of coral, Polynesia creates a Pacific triangle stretching from Hawaii to Easter Island to New Zealand. Derived from the Greek polymanyand nesosislandsPolynesia's thousand islands comprise one of the three parts of Oceania (the other two are Micronesia and Melanesia). The idyllic beauty of the region, its wealth of birds and botanicals, along with the huge diversity of marine life, make travel to any of the island groups a multi-dimensional experience. And, despite the vast geographical sprawl, Polynesia's lovely people are bound by a fundamental culture resulting from centuries of maritime migrations. Our three-part feature, written by Zegrahm field experts, reveals the wonders of this enchanted world.
back to the top
2008
October 2008 — A longtime archaeologist, both above and below the water, Hector's particular passion is the merging of cultures, past and present. Mali and its fabled crossroads city, Timbuktu, have provided lifelong fascination.
October 2008 — Larry's enchantment with the Seychelles Islands began with maps and books and he took his first trip there in the early 1990s. Since then he has built a unique collection of historic prints and joins expeditions to the region as a guest lecturer.
July 2008 — Le Diamant is a stately and beautifully-appointed expedition vessel. In the early part of this year we chartered her for the first time for our West Coast of South America voyage. Many of our clients had traveled on her as the Song of Flower; they were delighted to be sailing on her once again and glad that we have added her to our quiver of ships. Built in 1974 and refitted in 2003, her sturdy stabilizers, 1D ice-classification, and her beamy 52.5-foot width and 15-knot speed, make sea passages both swift and comfortable. And while the ship has a maximum capacity of 220 passengers, for our explorations we plan to sail with no more than 165 travelers. The fleet of Zodiacs, operated by a trained professional crew, gives us the latitude and spontaneity to explore remote shorelines and witness close-up the wildlife and cultures we have come to see.
July 2008 — On a beautiful sunny May afternoon in Fiji, excitement was in the air as we boarded the Clipper Odyssey for our Faces of Melanesia voyage. For me this was the culmination of a major effort by the Zegrahm team to secure a five-year lease on what is considered one of the finest expedition vessels afloat. That accomplished, we are now assured of having the right vessel in the right place at the best time in the Pacific. More importantly, it means we can guarantee a consistency in our product which allows us to continue our tradition of offering truly unique itineraries in some of the most fascinating regions on earth. In this era of constant change it is important for our travelers to know they can expect the same high quality product each time they sail with us.
July 2008 — Given the choice, it is unlikely that I will travel aboard a large cruise ship again. I'm certain that many of our travelers would admit the same. This feeling doesn't come from any bad experience, rather from so many good ones on a more intimate scale. You see, my entire professional life has been spent on and around cruise ships of differing shapes and sizes, which has led me to conclude: when it comes to ships, smaller is definitely better.
April 2008 — I confess; I am biased. I adore islands, and have called three island groups home: Britain, Japan, and the isolated antipodean archipelago of New Zealand. Remote, far-flung, modern, and bustling are all adjectives that describe the Maori's Aotearoa--land of the long white cloud, a.k.a. New Zealand
April 2008 — Those of you who have traveled with Zegrahm directors know that theyre all the best of friends. However, like friends everywhere, their perspectives can be very different, especially when their area of expertise is challenged. Such a circumstance arose recently when Jack and Kevin were asked about the highlights of visiting the remote and fascinating Line Islands. The discourse between them turned into a bit of an academic/philosophical contesta congenial game of one-upmanship as only highly knowledgeable experts and colleagues can play it. Those of us present would be hard-pressed to pick a winner. What realm, indeed, does prove to be the more fascinatingthe land forms? Or the surrounding waters?
January 2008 — Many mariners had sailed the seas of the western Mediterranean before the Genoese adventurer; from at least the 6th century B.C. bold skippers ventured out into the pathless Atlantic in search of trade and adventure. Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Spaniards, and Portuguese carved out new sea routes that eventually led to the Americas.
January 2008 — More than 50,000 years ago Australias original inhabitants arrived from Sundaland (Southeast Asia). They arrived in the area we now call the Kimberley, the northwest corner of the land of Sahul, or greater Australia. How and why they came here is the subject of great conjecture and debate but it is certain that they had to make significant sea crossings to do so. These were, in all probability, the first open sea journeys undertaken by homo sapiensin an ancient time that surely rivalled modern day space exploration for sheer audacity and courage.
January 2008 — With our recent long-term charter of the Clipper Odyssey, and the creation of many unique Pacific itineraries—from the Arctic to the far western tropical reaches and southernmost islands—we’ve reserved this page for the next few issues to offer updates and news about the ship and our journeys.
January 2008 — We began our adventure at the top of the hill above the Casbah, an area of narrow winding streets packed with brightly whitewashed homes and businesses. As we walked through the maze of alleyways we happened upon small communal faucets decorated with beautiful tiles where children were drinking water and washing up. As we neared the market, I had a delightful conversation with a local woman who was very curious to learn where we were all from, as well as why we had come to Algiers.
back to the top
2007
October 2007 — The eastern Mediterranean is more or less familiar territory to the experienced traveller: the fabled Parthenon in Athens, the magical island of Rhodes, the Minoan civilization and the Palace of Knossos on Crete, and the wonders of ancient Rome in Turkey—Ephesus, Pergamum, and Perge. They are, literally and metaphorically, well trodden territory. Arguably, too well trodden for those who have visited this region and are ready to extend their explorations farther afield in the Mediterranean...
October 2007 — Growing up in southeastern Pennsylvania, there was neither an ocean nor was the term biodiversity ever used. But I was fascinated with fish. Like my Dad and Grandpa Grove, I loved to go fishing in the local streams and the Susquehanna River for rainbow trout, shad, and bass. During summer vacations on the Atlantic coast, croaker, blue fish, and flounder danced in my dreams, and sometimes on the end of my line. I was also enthralled watching fish in aquariums; I even had one of my own in those days. The fish in my tank were usually named after family members. Millie and Jim, for example, were the freshwater, "Kissing Gourami;" their lip-to-lip contact behavior reminded me of an affectionate aunt and uncle.
October 2007 — The walrus is a visually peculiar creature. To see one up close is to understand why scientists called it Odobenus rosmarus, “tooth-walker,“ and why, in Old Norse, they were known as hval-hross, “whale-horses.“ Indubitably, the walrus is a curious beast.
October 2007 — The coconut palm—that elegant lanky symbol for tropical island paradise—is also one of the most fascinating trees on the planet. Its statistics honor the Cocos nucifera—literally monkey-face nut fruit—with superlatives: It has the largest leaf in the plant kingdom, the largest seed, the largest inflorescence (flower cluster), and is one of the oldest known flowering plants—fossils date it back to some 120 million years ago, to the Cretaceous period, or Age of Dinosaurs.
July 2007 — Swiss-born Thomas and Australian native, Natalia, met, married, and lived in the Republic of Palau for more than three years. Their combined skills as divemasters and underwater videographers and photographers make them ideal leaders on many Zegrahm expeditions.
July 2007 — In the last issue of the Zegrahm News I wrote about the advent of the International Polar Year (IPY), a great collaborative, multinational research and education effort inaugurated in March. In April I attended a symposium at the Byrd Polar Research Center addressing the past, present, and future of the IPY.
July 2007 — As a child I dreamed of watching wild creatures, especially mammals, but with no one to learn from, I was left to my own devices to find ways to do so. Youthful interests tend toward the energetic, so it was by bicycle that I explored my home county of Worcestershire in central England. However, the scarcity of wild, diurnal mammals near my home led me to become a naturalist with a strong leaning toward birds, and my abundant energy led me to be constantly on the move--eager to know what was around the next corner.
July 2007 — It all boils down to this: for Zegrahm Expeditions to realize its future goals in expedition cruisinga[euro]"including offering travelers captivating destination choices in all corners of the globea[euro]"access to quality ships of optimal size becomes essential.
April 2007 — The IPY is a concerted worldwide effort aimed at advancing our understanding of the Earth's remote Polar Regions. Beginning just last month, the IPY takes place over the course of two winters in both hemispheres and brings together researchers from dozens of nations to investigate global climate systems. Zegrahm Expeditions operates in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, bringing our clients to experience those remote areas first-hand, and often transporting and helping support researchers.
April 2007 — Three-quarters of the earth is covered by water, and in the fabric of human history, one of our binding threads is our association with the planet's oceans, rivers, and lakes. Another is humanity's interest in its own past. The Romans collected antiquities, while Chinese scholars and court officials of the T'ang and Sung dynasties, a thousand years ago, collected relics of China's past. The modern science of archaeology, which examines such material in order to learn more about the past, dates back a mere 200 years. However, it has only been in the last 50 years that archaeologists ventured below the waters to work on submerged archaeological sites.
April 2007 — Our expeditions explore dozens of World Heritage Sites around the globe. Highlighted here are three superb sites we visit on voyages to Algeria, Vietnam, and Russia's White Sea.
April 2007 — Peter Harrison & Jack Grove Speak Out for Threatened Species Zegrahm and Eco Expeditions Cofounders Peter Harrison and Jack Grove are frequent leaders on trips to remote destinations near and dear to their hearts--Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos. These regions are among the planet's richest in terms of marine, bird, and wildlife species and numbers, and both are in serious need of ecological protection.
January 2007 — Those of us with a passion for ship travel truly believe the philosophy that the journey can be as much a highlight as the destination itself.
January 2007 — If it's a given that the best moments of a journey happen spontaneously, then the Expedition Stop day on a Zegrahm itinerary is surely serendipity in its finest hour. In our brochures, among the carefully crafted day by day descriptions, those words dangle a tantalizing lure to those of us easily reeled in by the promise of adventure.
January 2007 — Coral reefs are tropical underwater wonders that have been on earth for millions of years. Not only are they the most complex, productive, and genetically diverse ecosystems on the planet, they are also among the most fragile, and therefore among the most easily degraded or imperiled.
January 2007 — It seems that the longer I work in the world of travel the greater my pride in my homeland. Not only was I born in the same country as Homer, Herodotus, St. Paul, and Mevlana, but I am privileged to carry on the tradition of recalling their legacies by showing travelers the multitude of Turkey's splendors.
back to the top
2006
October 2006 — Polar bears and climate change are making headlines these days, with a retreating ice pack and thinner polar bears causing concern. For several years now Zegrahm has been a supporter of Polar Bears International, the world's leading polar bear conservation organization. We're pleased to share a recent article about their new film series, In Their Own Words, featuring key polar bear scientists discussing bears and the Arctic ecosystem. Following is an excerpt from conversations with Dr. Ian Stirling of the Canadian Wildlife Service and Dr. Andrew Derocher of the University of Edmonton.
October 2006 — Leks Santoso, a lifelong resident of Indonesia, and his wife, Linda Hahn Santoso, are Zegrahm's tour partners for expeditions to the western South Pacific. Their in-depth knowledge of the region shines through in this personal look at these islands of diversity and especially the fascinating Asmat culture of West Papua.
October 2006 — Even though I've traveled to India recently, I am not what you might call an insider" - I suppose you could call me more of an India admirer. Admittedly, it would take several years of exploring this vast subcontinent, and living among its interesting people, to only hope to qualify for insider status.
October 2006 — The succession of cultures that settled the golden shores of the Mediterranean wrote the pages of western civilization here. Conquerors, colonizers, and empire builders left legacies of opulent splendor in cities and ports that rimmed this legendary sea a crossroads highway for trade and commerce between the East and West. Today, on our combined 2007 Mediterranean Mosaic voyages, we can walk in the footsteps of celebrated empires in ten splendid World Heritage sites around the Mediterranean.
July 2006 — I cannot imagine a more wonderful introduction to the people and places of my homeland than a journey to India by ship.
July 2006 — The Solovetskiy archipelago was formed by glaciers. Even though they are located just 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle, they have a surprisingly moderate climate.
July 2006 — According to Surfbirds.com, one of the world's leading and best respected birding Web sites, Jonathan Rossouw - a Zegrahm and Eco Expeditions partner, and Eco-Expeditions field leader - has tallied a record-breaking yearly total of 3,024 bird sightings for 2005.
July 2006 — Eight miles off the coast of County Kerry lie the Skellig Islands, a cluster of rugged stone pinnacles ruled by thousands of seabirds. The only evidence of human habitation is the Celtic monastery of Skellig Michael, built atop a 44-acre island that rises 600 feet above the water.
April 2006 — It seemed that everywhere we went, we were greeted with contrast--stark desert landscapes offset by brilliant blue water and sky... and superb futuristic architecture juxtaposed by the intact daily rituals carried out in ancient, village-like neighborhoods.
April 2006 — This windswept group of islands surrounded by a cold, often hostile ocean is not everybody's cup of tea, especially since only one or two flights per week connect us with the outside world. However, for Falkland Islanders, it is this splendid isolation with its peace and tranquility, along with a pollution-free, wildlife-rich environment, that makes it a wonderful, stress-free place to live.
April 2006 — Salt water adaptation and survival is perhaps the most amazing attribute of the mangrove. To cope, the trees either exclude or excrete salt. The exclusionary species produce a waterproof, wet-suit-like casing of thick, waxy cuticle over the leaves that sheds the salty water as it washes over them.
April 2006 — This cluster of islands floating in the Indian Ocean is a spectacular natural wonderland and home to two Natural World Heritage Sites: Aldabra Atoll and the Vallee de Mai, the national park reserve on Praslin Island.
January 2006 — I've been hooked on Indochina for a long time now, and our recent October journey to Cambodia and Vietnam served to emphasize the incredible ecological and ethnographic diversity of the region.
January 2006 — Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumba, Sumbawa, Bali...For me, few places conjure up the magical essence of the tropics like the islands in the western South Pacific. This is among the most foliage-rich and photogenic regions on earth and one I return to often with great anticipation of what I might next discover.
January 2006 — Dr. Ralph Eshelman is a specialist in maritime history, polar exploration, and paleontology. He has served as geologist and historian for Zegrahm Expeditions and has traveled extensively through Greenland and Labrador. In our Q & A below, he offers us insight into the wonders of seldom-visited Labrador.
January 2006 — UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the prized marbles in the traveler's rucksack of collected experiences. Maybe it's the exquisite fusion of the momentary and eternal as we add our footprints to the dust of the myriad before us... maybe it's an inherently personal need to pay tribute to the cultural and natural superlatives of our collective humanity.
back to the top
2005
September 2005 — Our own Black Sea odyssey began and ended in Istanbul. For two weeks, aboard the intimate expedition ship, Le Levant, favorable currents carried us along the coast to explore the countries bordering this vast sea. At the onset of our voyage, we discovered that not one of our intrepid travelers had ever set foot in Georgia. There was an air of curious anticipation onboard as we made our way along the northern coast of Turkey toward Georgia, the mysterious unknown land.
September 2005 — The hypnotic sounds of the New Britain Baining fire dancers were still playing in my mind as the dance troupe huddled around me, eager for me to purchase one of the elaborate tapa-cloth-bound vungvung masks, depicting the face of a rain forest spirit.
September 2005 — With his fledgling career as a mammalogist over before it had begun, Mark turned to ornithology and by 13 was keeping his first notebook on birds. "I could see birds everywhere I went. They were so varied, so colorful, and their behavior was so interesting that I became hooked."
June 2005 — Arctic waters replete with humpbacks, walrus hauled out on beaches, cliffs packed with seabirds, muskoxen and the possibility of polar bears on Baffin -- but what we found extraordinary, especially in these remote, sparsely populated lands, was the variety of cultural and historical encounters.
June 2005 — I have supported such efforts for years, and leaped at the chance when asked to join Prince Charles and other speakers and to provide one of my paintings for auction.
June 2005 — The expedition's first New Zealand landfall was also the occasion of their first encounter with the Maori, and as was often the case when the gunpowder societies of Europe first met a preindustrial indigenous people, this first contact proved fatal for one of the Maori.
June 2005 — Spin a globe, and the scarcity of rain-forest-covered islands becomes all too apparent. Now think about which ones have primates. Madagascar is one such place, Borneo another. Two islands at opposite sides of the Indian Ocean, similar in some respects, unique in others.
March 2005 — To me the perfect icon for Oceania's tropical island people would be the common canoe, crafted from a single log and fitted with an outrigger for balance. This ubiquitous little boat typifies not only the craftsmanship of island people, but is a world-class example of environmental sustainability at its very best.
March 2005 — So why is Panama such an attractive destination? First, Panama sells accessibility. Where else in the world can you dive two oceans in the same day or see five species of monkeys before lunch?
March 2005 — Two inseparable passions have shaped naturalist Kevin Clement's life since his childhood in the mountains of California. "I don't remember a time when I wasn't interested in the natural world or a time when I didn't love to draw," he says. "I don't really distinguish between sitting with my sketchbook and drawing, say, a tree, and studying its life history in a field guide. To me, they're both ways to learn about the tree and try to understand it."
back to the top
2004
December 2004 — The northern route of our Circumnavigation of North America air safari, which begins 26 June 2005, includes coastal Alaska and Arctic Canada. In the following, Kevin Clement describes what awaits travelers in Alaska's Katmai National Park.
December 2004 — This November our Tasmania, New Zealand, and Sub-Antarctic Islands program begins with four days in Tasmania. This mark's Zegrahm's first extended exploration of Australia's only island state. Claire Ellis, a member of the expedition staff, describes the natural and cultural wonders awaiting travelers.
December 2004 — 2005 marks 15 years since six adventure travel veterans with a shared philosophy of how to best present the world to travelers created Zegrahm Expeditions. Over the past decade and a half, we've expanded the scope of our operations while remaining true to the founding ideals underpinning our company. To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we take a brief look back at some of the important dates and notable achievements in our history.
October 2004 — Lynne Greig writes about the revelations she experienced on her first expedition to the Russian Far East.
October 2004 — Gary Wintz selects the little-traveled Southeast Asian countries of Burma and Laos as his Insider's Choice.
October 2004 — Werner Zehnder discusses the triple-safari aspect of next year's Indian Ocean departures.
October 2004 — Mark Brazil and Ted Kenefick relate some of the highlights of our inaugural Snow Monkeys and Cranes expedition.
July 2004 — Werner Zehnder relates the genesis of our unprecedented two-part Circumnavigation of North America by chartered aircraft.
July 2004 — Scott Fitzsimmons scouted Libya, preparing for our shipboard explorations of that country's coast in 2005.
July 2004 — Peter Harrison on Eco-Expeditions's inaugural air safari exploring South America.
July 2004 — Read about Nadia Eckhardt's newest custom-designed program, a land expedition to Namibia, southern Africa's best-kept secret.
April 2004 — Paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall, who conducted extensive fieldwork in Madagascar, explains why our upcoming Indian Ocean Safari expedition holds special meaning for him.
April 2004 — Zegrahm cofounder Mike Messick reveals the some of the South Pacific's lesser-known destinations.
April 2004 — Zegrahm cofounder Peter Harrison describes what travelers can expect on our Jungle Rivers of South America expedition.
April 2004 — Professor Ron Wixman discusses how various civilizations contributed to the culture of the Dalmatian Coast.
January 2004 — Jonathan Rossouw and Holly Faithfull scouted and led last June's Borneo: Land of the Orangutan explorations. The "almost embarrassingly rich" number of orangutan sightings "surely set a benchmark for all future Borneo trips." Borneo holds more wonders than just orangutans, and Jonathan and Holly compellingly describe the wildlife, scenery, and people they encountered.
January 2004 — Since 2001 Zegrahm passengers have enjoyed traveling under sail aboard Le Ponant in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Captain Jean-Philippe Lemaire, one of the ship's designers, writes about the driving idea behind Le Ponant's construction, her maiden voyage, and the qualities that make the expeditionary vessel one of the finest afloat.
January 2004 — Mason Florence has lived in Japan for the past 12 years. During that time he has explored the country from top to bottom. Here, he tells why he considers Japan "the ultimate travelers' paradise."
back to the top
2003
October 2003 — Zegrahm CEO Werner Zehnder reveals why the islands composing Melanesia and Micronesia are his favorite travel destination.
October 2003 — Zegrahm president Scott Fitzsimmons will be aboard Le Ponant for next April's Crossroads of Empires: From Cairo to Crete departure. In his article he looks forward to a voyage that will reveal the works of millennia: the Great Pyramid, the Monastery of St. Catherine, the ancient city of Ephesus, and the Palace of Knossos, among others.
October 2003 — While scouting next year's South Africa My Way departures, Nadia Eckhardt discovered regions of the country previously unknown to her. Read how she incorporated these into a brand-new expedition, The Hidden Secrets of South Africa.
October 2003 — Peter Harrison was aboard our inaugural voyage to Russia's Sea of Okhotsk and neighboring Siberia. He found untouched forests and tundra and an ocean supporting wildlife in such numbers and variety that he dubbed the area, "the Antarctica of the north." Peter describes what he saw and why he's anticipating a return visit in 2004.
July 2003 — Zegrahm cofounder Shirley Metz tells why Africa by Air, a unique air safari aboard a vintage propliner, is her Insider's Choice.
July 2003 — Expedition Leader Tim Soper lists some of the qualities that make Aldabra Atoll a highlight of our Seychelles and Madagascar and Ultimate Seychelles expeditions.
July 2003 — Preparing for our 2004 Japan by Sea departure, Zegrahm CEO Werner Zehnder recently scouted Okinawa and other islands in Japan's Nansei-shoto, or Southwest, group and recounts his experiences in that remote archipelago.
July 2003 — In a special section, several of the leaders of our inaugural Stepping Stones of the Atlantic programs touch on the different aspects of the voyages that intrigue them.
April 2003 — Zegrahm News editor Bill Tuttle kept a journal during last year's Rain Forests & Reefs expedition, and these excerpts briefly describe the highlights of a voyage that includes landings at six countries and a transit of the Panama Canal.
April 2003 — Tim Soper, expedition leader on our August 2003 Circumnavigation of Newfoundland, sings the praises of this North American island as a premier adventure travel destination.
April 2003 — Lia Oprea attended our inaugural Onboard Digital Photography & Video Workshop during a recent Seychelles and Madagascar expedition. She relates how, through a series of workshops and excursions, passengers learned the ins and outs of digital technology.
April 2003 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently named Zegrahm's own Conrad Field its Volunteer of the Year for his ongoing efforts to educate people about coastal and marine environments. Read more about Conrad's work and award.
January 2003 — Learn about the Polynesian island of Rapa Iti, a stop on our 2003 Beyond Rapa Nui expedition.
January 2003 — Two islands played pivotal roles in the annals of Pacific Ocean exploration.
January 2003 — Three short pieces on the history and lure of Polynesia. (For more on the South Pacific, see Pitcairn and Bering: A Tale of Two Islands.)
January 2003 — Three short pieces on the history and lure of Polynesia. The fieldwork of Steller greatly expanded our knowledge of the flora and fauna of the North Pacific.
January 2003 — Zegrahm's own Nadia Eckhardt designed an itinerary showcasing the finest her native land offers. Here, she gives some highlights of the upcoming expedition.
January 2003 — Part-time Ecuador resident Lia Oprea recounts the history of Ecuador's grand estates and what passengers on our Haciendas of the Ecuadorian Highlands extension can expect to see.
back to the top
2002
October 2002 — Current fishing techniques threaten albatross populations. Peter Harrison writes about this situation and how Zegrahm passengers are helping with efforts to save the endangered birds.
October 2002 — An interview with Kim Saunders, expert on Southeast Asia and a leader on our last two Vietnam & the Ancient Kingdoms of Cambodia and Laos expeditions.
July 2002 — Expedition Leader Lia Oprea describes the cultural and scenic marvels she discovered during her recent scouting trip to Albania and the Dalmatian Coast.
July 2002 — Jack Grove spent seven years in the Galapagos conducting research and working as a naturalist guide. Here, he reminisces about his time in the archipelago and discusses the expedition he has crafted based on his experiences.
April 2002 — Marine biologist and Zegrahm cofounder Jack Grove details the fantastic natural setting and time-honored traditions of a rarely visited corner of Oceania.
April 2002 — Naturalist Rob McCall gives an account of his first visit to bird-rich Aride Island in the Seychelles.
back to the top
2001
October 2001 — Cruise Director Nadia Eckhardt recounts the sights and sounds of our Nordic Summer expedition's maiden voyage.
October 2001 — Roberta Foster, schoolteacher and Zegrahm passenger, relates her experiences retracing the route of the landmark Harriman Expedition to Alaska.
July 2001 — Our own Peter Harrison writes about one of the few places in the world where he hasn't been: Russia's long-off-limits Sea of Okhotsk.
July 2001 — Marine ecologist and lecturer Dick Dewey describes how Palau's famed Jellyfish Lake rebounded from the near-disaster wrought by El Nino climatic changes.
July 2001 — Zegrahm Expeditions' CEO and co-founder Werner Zehnder discusses one of the most important aspects of adventure travel: safety.
April 2001 — South African native Nadia Eckhardt invites you to travel Africa's Great Rift Valley aboard a private, nostalgic Douglas propliner.
April 2001 — Werner Zehnder announces Zegrahm's return to Arabia and the Indian Ocean aboard the French sailing vessel, Le Ponant.
January 2001 — Zegrahm president Scott Fitzsimmons reveals the wonders he encountered during a scouting trip to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Honduras.
January 2001 — Zegrahm co-founder Werner Zehnder looks back on this historic Alaskan journey and the man behind its inception.
back to the top
2000
October 2000 — Naturalists Carmen and Conrad Field uncover the dramatic geology, abundant wildlife and fascinating history of the Aleutian Chain.
October 2000 — Biologist and lecturer Rob McCall tells of his historical awakening during one of our past Crossroads of Empires expeditions.
July 2000 — Zegrahm staff member Lisa King Wurzrainer describes an enchanting world where the summer sun never sets.
July 2000 — Zegrahm co-founder Mike Messick shares insights from his 16-day scouting adventure in Vietnam.
April 2000 — Karen Gruber, Zegrahm newsletter editor, describes the cultural and natural wonders of New Zealand.
back to the top
1999
October 1999 — What was life like during the age of the Vikings? Karen Gruber takes a look at these master navigators as we celebrate the passage of one thousands years since the Vikings' great discoveries.
October 1999 — Zegrahm leaders Jeff and Cynthia Gneiser spent two weeks scouting the area in preparation for the Islands of Diversity voyage.
July 1999 — Kathy Reitinger interviews the author of the The Population Bomb.
July 1999 — Sir Ernest Shackleton was one of the greatest Antarctic explorers of our time and the story of his fateful voyage on the Endurance and how he and his crew of 27 survived nearly two years on the Antarctic ice is an inspiration to any visitor to this isolated region.
July 1999 — Zegrahm office staff member Ted Kenefick shares impressions of his first visit to the mysterious Kuril Islands.
July 1999 — Karen Gruber takes a look at the mythic appeal of the late, great Sir Ernest Shackleton.
July 1999 — Jim Fowler shares a personal tale of mystery and adventure in southern Africa.
July 1999 — "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. Ernest Shackleton"
July 1999 — Zegrahm Expedition passengers have had and will continue to have unique opportunities to visit historic sites from Shackleton's ill-fated Antarctic expedition of 1914 - 1916. Not only do we experience the island's incredible scenery and spectacular wildlife, but we make pilgrimages to the following sites connected with the Shackleton saga:
July 1999 — The idea of mounting an expedition to cross the Antarctic continent was given to Shackleton by William Spiers Bruce, who had surveyed and named Coats Land in 1902 but couldn't raise sufficient funds for such an expedition.
April 1999 — Jim Fowler provides further insight into his 42-year relationship with the African wilderness.
back to the top
1998
October 1998 — Marine biologist and Zegrahm co-founder Jack Grove had opportunity to interview distinguished oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle, often referred to as "Her Deepness," during a recent Florida Keys' Reef Awareness Week, an event which coincided with 1999's International Year of the Ocean.
back to the top
1997
April 1997 — Fascinating facts about Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world.
April 1997 — Learn which lemur was used as the basis for E.T. and much more!
April 1997 — A Zegrahm client shares her view of the beautiful oasis that is the Okavango Delta.
January 1997 — An in-depth look at the life cycle of this majestic creature.
back to the top
1996
July 1996 — Long-time Zegrahm staff member Lisa King retells the story of her first journey to this exciting region.
back to the top
1995
July 1995 — A lyrical look at the Great White Continent and its inhabitants.
April 1995 — Professional birder (and Zegrahm co-founder) Peter Harrison writes on our favorite Antarctic ambassador.
back to the top
1994
April 1994 — Botswana is home to a third of the world's remaining two thousand wild dogs.
back to the top
1992
April 1992 — The coldest temperature ever recorded here (or anywhere), the strongest wind that ever blew. Fascinating facts about this vast and vital continent.
February 1992 — Zegrahm co-founder Shirley Metz takes us scouting through this captivating country and its game reserves.
back to the top
|
