Led by Co-founder, Mike Messick, watch centuries of history and splendid architecture come to life as you discover the countries surrounding the Black Sea—Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. You'll explore busy bazaars, archeological treasures, and stunning landscapes.
Rich Pagen
Marine Biologist and Naturalist
Rich first became enthralled by the wonders of the natural world around the tide pools and forests of his native New York. Since then, he has embarked on a career in conservation biology that has ranged from teaching science and environmental awareness to teenagers from Los Angeles, to traveling the coast and river deltas of Alaska’s North Slope by Zodiac to reach remote wetlands where he monitored loon nests. After such field biology projects as surveys for mammalian carnivores in the mountains of California, bird migration monitoring in Canada, and a study of army-ant-following birds in the Peruvian Amazon, Rich was drawn back to the sea where he taught marine science and island ecology on Catalina Island in California for several years. He has also conducted shipboard surveys for marine mammals and seabirds, as well tagging studies of sea turtles and pelagic sharks.
Rich's Blog Posts
All in for Subtropical Asia
Cuba: "Now is the Perfect Time to Visit!"
Like a String of Pearls: Philippines, Taiwan & Japan
Won't You Join Me?
Mudskippers: Who Says Fish Need Water?
What Was Your Favorite Wildlife Experience of 2016?
Rich's Upcoming Expeditions
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Circumnavigation of the Black Sea
July 18 — July 31, 2021 -
Borneo: Land of the Orangutan
August 6 — August 21, 2021Search for a huge variety of charismatic species, including orangutans, Bornean pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, clouded leopards, great argus pheasants, eight species of hornbills, and the bizarre Bornean bristlehead on this classic expedition led by conservation biologist Rich Pagen.
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Crossroads of Empires: Cyprus, Israel, Egypt & Jordan
October 22 — November 4, 2021The art, architecture, and archaeological wonders of the eastern Mediterranean are legacies of the world’s most celebrated empires. Over the millennia, a succession of cultures traded, conquered, and settled in these fabled lands, and we follow in their wake, piecing together the pages of the defining chapters of ancient civilization.
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India Safari
November 7 — November 21, 2021Enjoy in-depth explorations of three celebrated national parks—traversing the forested ridges, thick bamboo, and shallow rivers; search for Bengal tiger, wild boar, chital deer, and sambar; and keep an eye out for the varied birdlife.