Introducing Your Naturalist: A World of Wildlife, Waiting to Be Discovered
Last updated October 2026: the counts below are from the catalog that month.
Some of the most extraordinary moments in travel happen when you least expect them.
The sudden flash of a brilliantly colored bird deep in the rainforest. The distant sound of whales breaking the surface on an otherwise still ocean. The quiet anticipation of watching the sun rise over a wilderness that seems to stretch forever.
These are the experiences that stay with us. And so often, the difference between simply visiting a place and truly discovering it comes down to the person showing you around.
Someone who knows the trails that don't appear on maps. Who can recognize an animal by its call, understand the subtle changes in a habitat, and share the stories that bring a landscape to life.
It's this belief that inspired us to create Your Naturalist, a new home for extraordinary wildlife travel and the people who make it possible.
Our ambition is simple: to make it easier to discover the natural world through the expertise of local guides, thoughtfully chosen experiences, and journeys that bring you closer to the places you've always dreamed of exploring.
A pair of Military Macaws, among the extraordinary wildlife encounters that inspire us to travel. A World of Experiences, One Place to Explore
Wildlife travel comes in many forms.
For some, it's a morning spent searching for rare birds in a misty mountain forest. For others, it's watching elephants gather at a waterhole, snorkeling among sea turtles, or journeying by expedition ship to the farthest reaches of the planet.
There's no single right way to experience nature. But finding the right guide, lodge, or journey hasn't always been easy.
Your Naturalist brings these experiences together, making it simpler to explore the possibilities and find adventures that match your interests, curiosity, and sense of discovery. Discover Wildlife with Local Experts
The best naturalist guides do far more than lead the way. They help you notice what others might miss, understand the behavior of the animals you encounter, and appreciate the delicate relationships that make each ecosystem unique.
We're building a community of knowledgeable local guides, with individual profiles designed to showcase their expertise, experience, and the places they know intimately.
As the community grows, travelers will be able to connect more directly with the people who make wildlife experiences so memorable.
/day-trips/naturalist-and-bird-guide-with-richard-hernandez-167824p4
A day in Ecuador's Mindo cloud forest with a named naturalist and bird guide. Extraordinary Encounters, Even When Time Is Short
Sometimes all you need is a morning.
An early birdwatching walk, a guided rainforest excursion, a whale-watching adventure, or a quiet afternoon exploring a nature reserve can become the highlight of an entire journey.
With more than 25,000 wildlife and nature day trips from partner operators, Your Naturalist offers an extraordinary variety of ways to discover the world, whether you're planning a dedicated wildlife holiday or adding something special to a broader itinerary.
Explore by destination or wildlife interest and find experiences that bring you closer to the natural world.
/day-trips/whale-watching-monterey-bay-122932p3 Whales from a boat on Monterey Bay. /day-trips/turtle-watching-night-tours-with-expert-naturalist-344882p2 Sea turtles after dark on a Guanacaste beach, with a naturalist. /day-trips/birding-tour-162237p1 A morning's birding in Mindo, Ecuador, with a local guide. Stay Somewhere Wild
Imagine falling asleep to the sounds of the rainforest, waking to hummingbirds outside your window, or watching wildlife gather at a waterhole from the comfort of a beautiful lodge.
The places we stay can become some of the most memorable parts of a journey.
Our growing collection of more than 400 nature lodges includes properties chosen for their connection to the surrounding environment, from intimate rainforest retreats and cloud forest hideaways to remote wilderness lodges.
Some offer exceptional comfort and attentive service, while others embrace a simpler, more immersive style of travel. What connects them is the opportunity to experience nature beyond the ordinary.
/lodges/pacuare-lodge On the Pacuare River in Costa Rica, reached by raft. /lodges/cristalino-lodge On the Cristalino River in the southern Amazon, Brazil. /lodges/mashpi-lodge In its own reserve in Ecuador's Chocó cloud forest. Go Further, Stay Longer
Some landscapes deserve more than a single day.
Our collection of more than 1,000 multi-day adventures opens the door to longer journeys through some of the world's most remarkable natural environments.
Follow mountain trails through the Andes, explore the biodiversity of tropical rainforests, or spend days discovering remote wilderness alongside experienced local guides.
These are journeys that reward slowing down, allowing the landscape and its wildlife to reveal themselves over time.
/tours/among-great-whales Eight days among the grey whales of Baja California. /tours/himalayan-snow-leopard-photo-tour Eleven days in the Himalaya for the snow leopard. /tours/borneo-wildlife-photo-expedition Thirteen days in Borneo for orangutans and the rainforest. Explore the World's Wildest Frontiers
For places that can only be reached by sea, expedition cruising offers an extraordinary way to travel.
Picture sailing among the icebergs of Antarctica, exploring the volcanic islands of the Galápagos, or venturing into Arctic waters in search of seabirds and marine mammals.
With more than 1,000 expedition cruise sailings, Your Naturalist brings together a remarkable range of small-ship voyages centered on wildlife, natural history, and meaningful exploration.
From intimate yachts to beautifully appointed expedition ships, each offers its own way to discover some of the planet's most remote destinations.
/cruises/journey-to-antarctica-the-white-continent Eleven nights to the Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia. /cruises/svalbard-in-search-of-iconic-arctic-wildlife Nine nights along the Svalbard ice edge. /cruises/aqua-mare-east-galapagos-7n Seven nights in the Galápagos aboard a sixteen-guest superyacht.
The distant blow of a whale, one of those unforgettable moments that can make an entire journey.
The difference between simply visiting a place and truly discovering it comes down to the person showing you around. More Than a Destination
What makes wildlife travel so special isn't simply the animals we see. It's the people we meet, the knowledge we gain, and the connection we develop with the places we visit.
A great guide can transform a familiar landscape into something extraordinary. A conversation with a local naturalist can reveal connections between wildlife, conservation, and communities that we'd never have discovered alone.
We want Your Naturalist to celebrate that expertise.
As our community grows, we'll introduce individual naturalist profiles and share field notes from guides working in some of the world's most remarkable habitats.
These firsthand stories will offer a window into the changing seasons, wildlife encounters, conservation efforts, and everyday discoveries that make each destination unique.
Our goal is to build more than a collection of trips. We want to create a place where curiosity is encouraged, local knowledge is valued, and every journey offers an opportunity to understand the natural world a little better. Travel with Confidence
Finding the right experience should be exciting, not complicated.
Your Naturalist brings together independent guides, travel operators, lodges, and established booking partners, with clear information about how each experience can be arranged.
Some day trips and tours are booked directly through our partners, while lodge stays and expedition cruises can be coordinated through an affiliated travel advisor who helps with availability, pricing, and reservations.
As direct guide bookings become available, travelers will also be able to book participating naturalists through the platform.
We're committed to making these relationships transparent, including how bookings work, who provides each experience, and how the travel advisor is compensated.
You can learn more in our advisor disclosure.
A manta ray from below at night, mouth open and cephalic lobes spread. The Adventure Is Just Beginning
Your Naturalist began with a simple idea: the best way to discover the natural world is alongside someone who truly knows it.
We're only at the beginning of bringing that vision to life.
If you're a naturalist guide, lodge owner, or wildlife tour operator, we'd love to welcome you to our growing community.
And if you're a traveler with a curious spirit, we invite you to explore. Discover a new destination, find an experience that inspires you, or tell us about the wildlife you've always dreamed of seeing.
Whether it's your first guided nature walk or the expedition of a lifetime, we hope Your Naturalist helps you find something extraordinary.
Because the world is full of remarkable places, and even more remarkable people who can help you discover them.
Start Exploring Your Naturalist Or tell us about your dream wildlife journey and let us help you find the right experience. Browse wildlife day trips