EXPEDITION BLOG
GREEK ISLES ODYSSEY: MYTHOLOGY, HISTORY & CERULEAN SEAS Karen Hollands – Expedition Sales & Concierge Specialist - Lindblad Expeditions 28th July 2026 | National Geographic Orion I swapped icebergs for Greek Islands and it changed my idea of what expedition travel could be. Having spent the last few years talking about—and being lucky enough to experience—some incredible polar and Galápagos expeditions, I’d come to associate expedition travel with remote places, dramatic landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. Then I joined Greek Isles Odyssey: Mythology, History & Cerulean Seas aboard National Geographic Orion. I’ll admit, before I travelled, I wasn’t convinced that a Mediterranean voyage would really feel like an expedition. With ancient sites, pretty villages and warm sunshine, wouldn’t it be closer to a traditional cruise? It wasn’t. What I realised is that expedition travel isn’t only about going somewhere remote. It’s about how you explore: getting closer, looking beyond the obvious and coming away with a much richer understanding of a place. Greece may look very different from the polar regions or Galápagos, but the expedition approach works just as well there.
From the moment I stepped on board in Lavrio, National Geographic Orion felt like home. She’s elegant, purpose-built, with beautiful wood interiors and just 100 guests on board. Small but perfectly formed, she has spacious cabins, a lovely outdoor dining area for breakfast and lunch, and an elegant dining room for the evenings.
During our evening cocktail recap, Expedition Leader Shawn Lucas showed us the latest weather forecast. There was a lot of purple on the chart—and if you’ve travelled on a polar expedition, you’ll know that’s never a good sign! A powerful Meltemi wind, bringing gale-force conditions, was heading straight for the islands we’d planned to visit.
We were also joined by three fantastic local historians, whose enthusiasm and knowledge brought every destination to life.
Instead of disappointment, I watched the expedition team do what they do best.
Our first stop was the beautiful island of Sifnos. After exploring Kastro, I tried my hand at pottery, learning about the island’s traditions that stretch back more than 3,500 years. I don’t think I’ll be winning any pottery awards anytime soon, but I was pretty pleased with my slightly wonky bowl! Then came the moment that reminded me exactly why I love expedition travel.
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For me, that’s what expedition travel is all about. The rest of the week was everything I’d hoped for: walking through the extraordinary ruins of Delos, wandering the whitewashed streets of Lefkes on Paros, swimming from a secluded beach on Poros, enjoying fantastic Greek food and local wines, and learning from some of the best historians I’ve ever travelled with. What also stood out was the crew. Everyone genuinely cared about making our trip special. Mervin, my cabin attendant, delighted me every day by leaving my suite gift of a soft toy turtle in a different funny pose, while the restaurant team somehow knew my name—and my favourite drink—from day one. It’s those little touches that make such a difference. I came away realising there’s a completely different way to experience Greece. Rather than simply ticking off famous sites, expedition travel allows you to immerse yourself in the history, mythology and culture, with the flexibility to adapt when nature has other ideas.
By the time we’d finished dinner, a completely new itinerary had been created. We sailed away from the approaching weather and spent an unexpected day exploring Nafplio, the Corinth Canal and ancient Corinth and Mycenae before returning to the islands once the winds had eased.
If you’re speaking to clients who love history, archaeology, mythology, beautiful villages and boutique ships, this itinerary is well worth considering. It’s worth mentioning that some of the archaeological sites are inland, so a few excursions involve coach journeys of around an hour after landing ashore. Personally, I found the drives flew by thanks to our brilliant local guides, and every destination was more than worth the journey.
No stress. No chaos. Just an experienced expedition team quietly adapting and making sure we still had an incredible journey.
This may not have involved icebergs or penguins, but it reminded me exactly why I love expedition travel.
Karen’s Image
Karen’s Image
For more information or to enquire about your own Mediterranean expedition, please call 0800 098 1496 or email sales@expeditions.co.uk WWW.EXPEDITIONS.CO.UK