If your idea of luxury is more “curiosity and connection” than caviar-and-a-cabana, here’s your next passport stamp. After a decade of building trips together, G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions are stepping into the high-end lane with National Geographic signature with G Adventures—a new travel style that pairs world-class access with a social heartbeat. Bookings open January 2026 for first departures in January 2027, and the vibe is clear: fewer velvet ropes, more doors opened for you and the communities you visit.
What it is (and isn’t)
This isn’t “five hotels in five days” or “champagne for the sake of it.” Signature is designed for travellers who want the good sheets and the good stories. Each trip carries National Geographic’s DNA—education, science, exploration, storytelling—while leaning on G Adventures’ 35 years of community tourism. Translation: expert-led talks and behind-the-scenes access meet locally rooted experiences that leave places better than you found them.
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Where you’ll go
Signature launches with 29 itineraries—think South Africa’s big skies, Vietnam’s markets and motorbikes, Japan’s quiet temples, the Silk Road through Central Asia, Peru’s Andean highlands, and Jordan’s desert drama. Every trip includes “Signature Moments”: the kinds of once-only experiences you can’t Google—private museum walkthroughs after hours, historic sites opened early, or dinners staged in extraordinary settings that make your camera (and conscience) very happy.
Why this feels different
Yes, the stays are elevated and the service is polished. But the point is purpose. Wherever possible, you’ll sleep in high-end, locally owned properties and meet the artisans, naturalists, historians, and chefs who give a place its texture. You’re not just travelling through—you’re circulating your spend to the people who live there. As G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip puts it, Signature is “about so much more than just high-end accommodations”—it’s a way to see a destination “most travellers can’t,” while creating “lasting benefit” for guests and hosts alike.
Access all areas (without the crowds)
Groups cap at 22, so you’re never lost in a sea of name tags. A dedicated Expedition Leader runs the show, and each itinerary features first-in-class experts who make the landscape—and its stories—come alive. Expect “meet-and-greet” service, elevated private transportation, a 24/7 pre-trip concierge, and those small flourishes (a welcome tucked into your room, a surprise tasting with a winemaker) that feel thoughtful rather than performative.
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Luxury for the values-led traveller
Plenty of upscale trips promise exclusivity. Signature adds intent. It’s built for the traveller who wants the craft cocktail and the context; the plush bed and the bigger picture. National Geographic Expeditions’ Nancy Schumacher calls it a collaboration rooted in a shared vision for “transformative, educational travel,” one that “encourage[s] connection, curiosity, and positive impact.” In other words: first-class, with receipts.
A sample day, Signature-style
Start your morning off with coffee and a conservation biologist before a private, low-impact wildlife drive. In the afternoon, doors open early at a landmark gallery for a curator-led visit—no jostling, just stories. Round out your evening with dinner in a setting you’ll tell friends about (and they’ll assume is Photoshop), guided by the chef who sourced your plate from nearby farms. The pillow? Cloudy. The impact? Clear.
Who it’s for
The curious couple who collects experiences, not just hotels. The solo traveller who wants small-group ease without sacrificing depth. Friends who’d rather fund local expertise than another generic tasting menu. If “luxury” to you includes learning something new and leaving a lighter footprint, this is your lane.
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Nuts and bolts
- Bookings open: January 2026
- First departures: January 2027
- Group size: maximum 22 travellers
- Inclusions: handpicked accommodations, dedicated Expedition Leader, expert talks, Signature Moments, behind-the-scenes access, meet-and-greet service, elevated private transport, 24/7 pre-trip concierge.
The bottom line
National Geographic signature with G Adventures feels like the evolution of upscale travel: immersive, informed, and grounded in the people who make a place what it is. You still get the views and the vino; you also get the context that makes them matter. If your suitcase is as full of questions as cashmere, consider this your invitation to see the world—beautifully—and do some good while you’re at it.
