Darwin detective | Flash sales | Beyond Galápagos

Tour guide and Darwin detective Michael Roberts.

Hello,

Have you ever travelled with a particular theme in mind? I have, and it completely changed the way I experienced my destination. I felt more connected, more involved, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Whether your theme of choice is geology, gardens, wine or literature, when you follow a thread of interest, the world opens up in unexpected and unforgettable ways.

For our tour guide Michael Roberts, pictured above, that thread is Charles Darwin. As a Darwin expert and seasoned guide, he’s spent decades walking and cycling in Darwin’s footsteps – from Darwin’s schooldays in Shrewsbury to his early field trips in Snowdonia. Michael’s detective work has even revealed that Darwin spent weeks studying the geology of the Welsh island of Anglesey. 

This September, you can join Michael, our very own Darwin detective, on our 6-day Darwin’s Travel in North Wales tour. Book by 27 July and get £500pp off - just use code SUMMER500DARWIN.

Curious about Michael and his unique connection to Darwin’s world? Read our interview with him here.

Yours,

Rob

Rob Knipe
Chairman, Emeritus Professor and Tour Guide

PS - We're also offering huge savings on the last room on each of the following tours: Shetland in August and September 2025, and our September tour of Iconic Scotland & Isle of Skye. But hurry, the discount codes expire soon. 

Featured tours

Stories to inspire your next journey

Beyond Galápagos: 7 places that shaped Charles Darwin

Think of Charles Darwin, and it’s likely your mind travels to the Galápagos Islands – that volcanic archipelago whose finches helped reshape our understanding of natural history.  

But Darwin spent only five weeks of his long and full life there. And while there’s no doubt those weeks had a lasting impact on Darwin, his real formation – as a thinker, geologist, biologist and naturalist – took place elsewhere. 

Before and after his voyage on HMS Beagle, Darwin, walked and studied his way across Britain. Here, we follow in Darwin’s footsteps to the 7 places that helped forge his truly original mind.  

3 curious things for inquisitive travellers

🧂 The surprising influence of salt on the Spanish Pyrenees

Take a walk through the deep time, human history and future of a peculiarly pickled region of the Pyrenees. Over millions of years, salt has influenced the prosperity, gastronomy and technology as well as the geological landscape of this beautiful region. See it for yourself on our Geology of Aragon tour this September.

🛳️ "Crying myself to sleep on the biggest cruise ship ever"

This article about a voyage on the world's biggest cruise ship had us laughing out loud. If this sounds like a nightmare to you too, our small-group tours could be just right for you!

🌎 Watch the Earth's surface lurch sideways

A CCTV camera captured the moment the plate boundary moved during the Myanmar earthquake in March this year. Watch the first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake - it's the first direct visual evidence of plate tectonics in action.

What our guests say

"Michael’s encyclopaedic knowledge of Darwin’s North Walian itinerary and the insights he gave us into how he had pieced the evidence together, combined with Rob’s ability to explain all the related geology, even to the geologically illiterate like me, was an ideal double act.

The pre-tour information was better than that I have received for any other holiday, and I had a great deal of help pre-holiday from Julie. It was always a joy to speak with her!"

Darwin in Wales  –  Rowena S, May 2024

Why travel with GeoCultura?

We take you beyond the landscape. Uncover the stories behind the view on our expert-led, small-group tours. We do private and bespoke tours, too.

💬 Ready to chat? Get in touch.