The National Geographic Difference

Carroll Dunham and Thomas Kelly are the very definition of modern-day adventurers. They came to the Himalaya decades ago; he as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, she as a medical anthropologist working with women to promote indigenous healing therapies. Thomas is now a renowned photographer whose work has appeared in National Geographic’s magazines, books, and films; Carroll meanwhile has authored books and produced films for National Geographic. They still call the Himalaya home, but they’ve discovered a new love: Mongolia. For the past ten summers, Carroll, Thomas, and their kids have lived among nomads on the Mongolian steppe. Next summer, they invite you to join them—and in fact, we've worked with them to design a unique adventure by horseback that will allow you to immerse yourself in nomadic life in Mongolia.

From our base at Carroll and Thomas’s private ger camp, you’ll trek across the vast plains on horseback, explore sacred sites, and get to know the nomads. Take time to soak up their peaceful way of life, participate in their festivals, and maybe even learn to wield a traditional bow and arrow.

But it’s not just in Mongolia that you’ll have exceptional experiences like these. In Peru, National Geographic grantee Peter Frost, an archaeologist who has been studying and excavating Inca sites in the Andes for more than twenty years will join us for a lecture and a dinner. National Geographic author Kim Heacox will join us for an evening in Alaska to share his stories and photographs. Then enjoy rare access to the remote reaches of Alaska’s gorgeous Glacier Bay National Park. Spend full days with the Maasai in Tanzania, learning their daily rituals, bushwalking with them, and attending their ceremonies. Our climb up Kilimanjaro follows a lesser known route and includes a night in the crater, where you’ll sleep among glaciers high above Africa.

Each National Geographic Adventure has something special to offer, whether it’s a fantastic itinerary crafted with help from our experts, a dinner with one of our our explorers in the field, or an in-depth cultural experience far from the crowds. It’s what makes your trip not just a hike through stunning scenery, but an eye-opening, authentic, unforgettable adventure.