National Geographic Day Tours, a collection of one-day and half-day itineraries inspired by National Geographic’s spirit of exploration and adventure, are now available to book online, in travel agencies and in destination, and for the first time can be purchased directly by travellers, independent of any holiday package. Operated by TUI, ensuring a seamless and responsible travel experience, Day Tours are designed in collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions and incorporate unique elements and the captivating storytelling of National Geographic, with a focus on nature, science, conservation, education, culture, gastronomy and history. Many of the tours offer special access to areas closed to the general public, and feature subject matter experts, such as archaeologists, marine biologists, chefs, farmers, photographers, historians and scholars.
Over 40 new land experiences are now available in beach and city destinations, with further tours in development. Destinations operating National Geographic Day Tours include Barcelona, Cancun, Crete, Paphos, New York, Naples, Tenerife and many more. All National Geographic Day Tours are conducted in small groups, follow the strict criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and are led by National Geographic-trained guides. The launch of National Geographic Day Tours reinforces TUI’s strategic focus on Tours & Activities as a key growth area for the business.
Strong booking trends for winter sun destinations and a growing portfolio of city break offerings will enable a significant number of TUI customers to immediately participate in one of the newly released National Geographic Day Tours, such as:
Discover the artworks of Miró and their interaction with the spaces created to house them by architect Josep Lluis Sert. Entering the Fundacio Miró before it opens to the general public, architectural and art restoration specialists present Miró’s work – paintings, sculptures, murals, paper and lithographs, which were inspired by artists and poets Miró met throughout Europe, including Pablo Picasso. This tour was inspired by an article in National Geographic Magazine titled, “Homage to Catalonia – and Miró.”
Delve into part of the National Geographic Pristine Seas project at the world’s second-largest coral reef system and explore Cancun’s coastal wonders during an exclusive and educational sailing and snorkelling tour with marine biologists and oceanographers, who identify bleached corals and explain reef restoration and sustainable marine practices.
Explore the La Fortaleza archaeological site and participate in private museum visits - with exclusive access to the archives room - led by an archaeologist, who will explain the traditions of the aboriginal Guanches, including a mummification technique so unique that a Guanche mummy was featured on a National Geographic Magazine front cover.
Join a local historian in the green hills of Gragnano, the global epicentre of dried pasta, and visit a reconstructed water mill - rarely open to the public - and a family-run pasta factory, learning their story and making fresh pasta, before enjoying a lunch made with ingredients sourced from the factory’s garden. This tour was inspired by the National Geographic Magazine article, “The Twisted History of Pasta,” which points to 13th century references to pasta dishes, including macaroni, ravioli and more.
Explore the engineering behind this New York neighbourhood built above the railway yards in New York City and meet and talk with the design team, including the chief engineer. Visit areas not open to the general public, including a section of the roof with a private observation deck for views of the New York City skyline unique to this location. Inspiration for this tour is from a National Geographic Magazine article, “The New New York City Skyline” in which Hudson Yards is referenced.
View the experiences online now:
The TUI Group is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the MDAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover. TUI Group offers its 20 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 17 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe's leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.
Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.