Europe 2014: National Geographic Tours of a Lifetime

Great for: Cultural enthusiasts and Foodies.This journey promises to take you beyond borscht into the depths of Russian cuisine, Vodka included.

Great for: Kayaking enthusiasts. For the ultimate perspective on a city built on water, kayak along Venice’s canals and lagoon, and get paddling tips from ex-gondoliers.

Great for: Avid bikers. Even if you don’t encounter Dracula, Transylvania’s most prominent resident, you’ll bike, walk and ride horses through this bastion of Old Europe, meeting the locals.

Great for: Travelers seeking adventure off the beaten path. No wilderness in Scotland? Wander the peaks and glens of these remote islands and you’ll change your mind.

Great for: Cultural enthusiasts. Immersion in the Slovenian countryside is the focal point of this hands-on tour, where you’ll experience beekeeping, making pottery, and cooking local dishes.

Great for: Wildlife enthusiasts and those who want to see a reindeer in their natural habitat (not hauling a fat man in a red suit on a sleigh). The Samis are one of Europe’s few remaining indigenous cultures, and reindeer are their mainstay; this is your chance to live and work with them as they travel with the herds.

Great for: Cultural enthusiasts. Whole Foods Market has entered the tour business, and organizes this culinary taste-fest – kebabs and beyond -- through Istanbul, Izmir and Cappadocia.

Great for: Wildlife enthusiasts and those who have always wanted to go dogsledding. Driving a dogsled is a memorable experience in itself, and driving one above the Arctic Circle to a hotel made of ice is one of a kind.

Great for: History buffs and Cultural enthusiasts. You’ll get a first-hand look at prehistoric cave paintings in southern France and Spain’s Basque country, in the company of a paleoanthropologist.

Great for: Wildlife enthusiasts and Nature lovers. As on any Earthwatch fieldwork expedition, you’ll get down and dirty with researchers as you delve into the effects of climate change on alpine species.