Welcome to the Zegrahm Expeditions resources page! Here you will find inspiration for your next adventure and information from your last adventure, produced by our field leaders, Seattle office staff, and contributing writers. From blog posts and field reports (daily recaps of a past expeditions with images) to photo galleries and videos, explore your world from our perspective.
Explorers today pride themselves on making their own trails, discovering hidden gems, and venturing off the beaten path. We are inspired by the explorers of old, those who sought to chart and map the mysteries of the world. Explorers like Irish ship’s master Edward Bransfield, whose legendary expedition discovered and first charted the mainland of Antarctica in 1820.
With...
Dear Traveler,
When you think of the Philippines, what usually comes to mind are tropical beaches and offshore reefs, dense jungle, clear blue seas, and an abundance of unique fauna. If you’re historically minded, you may also think of the recent history of the Philippines, which until the middle of the 20th century, was a territory of the United States. Many aspects of the islands’ story in World War II are well known—the evacuation of General Douglas MacArthur by...
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Kyoto, Japan
After a long day of travel and a quick night’s sleep, we began our first full day in Japan with the delicious breakfast of Kyoto’s Hotel Okura, which suitably blended East and West. From hash browns and French toast to smoked mackerel and creamed burdock root, there was something for every taste and degree of immersion into Japan. Thus fortified, we boarded our buses and set out to explore the cultural...
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Chennai, India / Embark the Silver Discoverer
We gathered at the Taj Coromandel Hotel in Chennai on India’s southeast coast, arriving throughout the day and night on flights from all over the world. On Tuesday afternoon, after a filling lunch that felt like a late-night snack to those who were still in a different time zone, we began our expedition by exploring...
It’s the largest bay in the world, and at its widest stretches some 1,000 miles, from Myanmar in the east to India in the west. Maritime traders and migrants created a colorful tapestry of cultures. Rivers, including the sacred Ganges and legendary Irrawaddy, empty into the bay and create dramatic landscapes and wildlife habitats for migratory birds and even swimming tigers. With ports of call ranging from remote villages and nature reserves to bustling cities and vast Buddhist ruins,...
Along with the Spartans of ancient Greece, the Samurai warrior caste of Japan, and the Zulus of southern Africa, the Vikings of Scandinavia are widely regarded as one of history’s greatest warrior cultures.
The Viking era has been a staple fodder of popular culture for decades, from films (How to Train Your Dragon, Outlander...
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Narita, Japan
We gathered from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK, and the USA at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Narita for our welcome reception and dinner in the company of our Zegrahm Expedition Leader, Michael (MiMo) Moore, and his enthusiastic team of expedition staff. The reception room was soon buzzing with conversation and anticipation of our...
China is home to some of the oldest cultures in the world, and its rich history is a deep well from which to draw.
Chinese farmers have been growing grains and domesticating animals for over 7,000 years now. Artisans have been making distinctive pottery, baskets, and woven hemp cloth for nearly as long. The wheel was actually invented in China, as were paper, gunpowder, compasses, and alcohol. The umbrella. Silk. Cultivated tea. Porcelain. Bronze. The kite. The list goes on…
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Before it was known as Sri Lanka, the country was called Ceylon. Before Ceylon, Arab traders called it Serendip. It’s a lovely name for a beautiful country that is also referred to as, “The pearl of the Indian Ocean.”
Located just south of India, on the path of maritime trading routes that traversed the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has long been exposed to diverse cultural and religious influences. Today,...
Whether it’s art, dance, food and wine, music, or religion you’re most interested in, festivals offer a great chance to mingle with the locals and get a taste of the region’s culture in the process. Check out our guide to 10 of the world’s best cultural festivals, from South America and the South Pacific to Africa, Asia, and Europe:
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