Arrive in the remote, mountainous volcanic islands of Cabo Verde and the capital city of Praia on Santiago Island. Transfer to the hotel and join us this evening for a welcome reception and briefing before dinner.

Start your day in this island paradise with a walking tour of the old town center, or “Plateau.” Experience the colonial influence on the architecture of the Presidential Palace and Main Square. Explore the open-air market, where displays of local fruits and vegetables resemble works of natural art. Then, take a bus to Cidade Velha, the historic center of Ribeira Grande and the first city built by the Portuguese in Africa. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the ruins narrate the story of architecture designed to protect against pirates, provide sanctuary within the cathedral and convent, and support everyday life with the thatched roofs of Banana Street. After lunch, head to the port and embark on the National Geographic Orion.

This morning, you find yourself in Sao Filipe on the island of Fogo, ready to add volcano-gazing to your life list. The striking landscape of Fogo has been shaped and transformed by lava flows, most recently in 2015. You visit Portela, one of the villages swallowed up by lava in that eruption. The locals have since reclaimed the land, rebuilding restaurants and shops and restoring their homes.

Visit the ship’s bridge as you sail northward across the Tropic of Cancer. Soak up the views from one of the observation decks and attend engaging presentations on a range of subjects, from 15th-century Portuguese and Spanish navigators to the amazing navigation skills of the cetaceans traveling these waters, explained by our marine biologists.

Drop anchor in the azure waters of the Canary Islands, central to the history of Atlantic exploration. The larger island, La Palma, known as La Isla Bonita, boasts lushly forested mountain slopes set against azure waters. Enjoy a scenic drive up to Mirador de la Concepción, perched on the edge of a crater, and take in fantastic views of the town and harbor below. Visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snows, with its fusion of baroque and Spanish-Moorish architecture. On the island of La Gomera, visit the house where Christopher Columbus stayed while his ships were provisioned with supplies, and consider a hike in the verdant Garajonay National Park.

After a day at sea, you start the day south of Madeira in the Desertas Archipelago. This small group of volcanic islands is a nature reserve, protecting both sea and land. The area serves as a refuge for the Mediterranean monk seal and an array of seabirds. You then sail on to enchanting Madeira, a subtropical island abloom with flora. First settled by the Portuguese in 1419, the island’s capital city of Funchal evokes a colonial time capsule, with architecture from the 15th through the 19th centuries. Explore its winding streets and culinary delights.

Enjoy all that the National Geographic Orion has to offer on this final day at sea as you make your way to the Azores. Spend time on deck with the expedition team as they keep watch over the horizon, searching for the marine creatures and seabirds that feed in this fertile stretch of ocean.

Head ashore at Siracusa, one of the most powerful cities in the classical world. Explore the archaeological park, where a well-preserved Greek amphitheater with carved limestone seats is still used today. Paradise Quarry, now an attractive garden and orange grove, was the primary source of that limestone, and is the site of the curious Ear of Dionysius—a huge cave with incredible acoustics. Make the most of your time in port: explore the city's excellent market or explore the adjacent island of Ortigia, where a stunning cathedral was built on the columns of the 6th-century Temple of Athena. Alternatively, take an evening stroll through the city's piazzas. Spend the following day at sea, relaxing aboard the National Geographic Orion, as she makes her way toward Greece.  

As you sail into Faial, be on deck to enjoy the stunning island views and watch for whales known to move through these waters. Once ashore on Faial, head to Capelinhos to see how the landscape dramatically changed when the volcano at the western end of the island erupted in 1957. Farms and villages were covered in ash, adding an extra two square kilometers of land to the island. Later, stroll along the marina, visit the excellent scrimshaw museum, and raise a glass at Peter Café Sport, a legendary pub where sea adventurers historically dropped their mail.
 

Spend the morning touring the Old Town—stopping at the impressive Museum of Carlos Machado to discover the varied history of the archipelago

Disembark in Ponta Delgada, the charming capital of the Azores. Enjoy lunch before transferring to the airport and homeward flights.