National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has hosted five staff from Designer Travel on an exclusive fam trip to the Galapagos

The educational, which took place at the start of July, began with an overnight stay in Quito, Ecuador, after which the group embarked on a five-night Galapagos Escape sailing on board the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II.

During the voyage, the agents walked with giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island, visited Floreana Island, snorkelled with sea lions, reef sharks and rays, and particpated in a photography workshop led by a National Geographic expert where they learned how best to capture the island’s wildlife and landscapes.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ Danielle Bates, head of UK sales, and Karen Holland, expedition sales and concierge specialist, hosted the trip which was joined by Designer Travel’s Angela Briggs, Roberta Comedly, Ally Toner, Heidi Phillips and Jess Tricket.

“Experiencing the Galapagos first hand is the best way for agents to truly understand what makes these expeditions so special,” said Bates.

“Seeing the wildlife up close, learning from our expedition team and National Geographic experts and experiencing the incredible level of service on board enables agents to speak with confidence and passion when recommending these life-changing voyages to their clients.”