Alaska's Northern Passages & Glacier Bay

Arrive independently to Juneau, make your way to the designated meeting point and join your transfer to the port to board your vessel. Settle into your comfortable cabin as we set sail from this picturesque port town past the mountain views of Southeast Alaska.

The plan for today will be a flexible one, with your captain choosing the perfect spots for on-shore excursions and explorations around the Lynn Canal or Chatham Strait. We may kayak or paddleboard in the bays looking for harbour seals and pods of orcas, or take guided walks along the rocky shores.

Today may well be one of the highlights of your trip as we make our way to the 3.3 million-acre Glacier Bay National Park for some thoroughly enjoyable exploration. The park was completely covered by ice just over 200 years ago but receding glacier activity has made it now easier to access the inner reaches and enjoy a deeper discovery of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your onboard naturalists are experts on the glacial activity here, as well as the wildlife habitats that are also a treat to discover. As you get up as close as possible to the stunning Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers, you will also be on the lookout for Steller sea lions and the abundant seabirds that flock here including puffins, common murres, pigeon guillemots, cormorants and much more. On South Marble Island the birdlife is particularly abundant, whereas along the shoreline of Tidal Inlet we might be lucky enough to spot bears foraging along with mountain goats. At the far end of John Hopkins Inlet or Tarr Inlet you can enjoy the fascinating sight of the glaciers calving icebergs into the water, and in Bartlett Cove you may be able to take an enjoyable hike around the park’s headquarters. A busy and certainly memorable day!

Our next day onboard will take us through the channels of deep, twisted mangroves of the Icy Strait where we will be on the lookout for whales and sea lions, as well as smaller marine wildlife like starfish and jellyfish. You can enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding excursions, or join a thrilling hike with your naturalist guides through the coastal paths of some of the area’s beautiful remote bays. Alternatively you could choose to simply chill out in the hot tub onboard or watch for whales and seals from the deck.

In the morning we will wake to the ship meandering along the glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Our likely plan of action today will be to anchor in Chichagof Island inlet and hop into our kayaks, skiffs or paddleboards to explore the waters and search for whales, seals and seabirds soaring above. A hike up through the moss-covered trees and rain-fed waterfalls will be strenuous but rewarding, or you may wish to stay on lower ground and beachcomb the rocky shores whilst looking for seals, sea creatures and bears. Boasting one of the world’s largest populations of bears, today might be our best chance to see them!

In the afternoon we will sail into Peril Strait and you can join your expedition guides who share the tragic tales of how this passage earned its foreboding name.

Today’s adventures take us into the 300 foot wide and 24 foot deep Sergius Narrows where we will enjoy another day of adventures on land and in the water. An early rise to skiff to the shoreline will reward in a memorably eerie and foggy hike in the verdant woods in search of wildlife. Alternatvely, a kayak or paddle along the shoreline looking out for floating otters may be just as memorable.

In the afternoon we will sail into Hoonah Sound and wind into Neva Strait where it might be time to hop into the hottub and watch as the sun sets on another beautiful day in Alaska.

Our last full day of adventure will take us along the remote, uninhabited islands of Baranof Island where the secluded coves and tree-covered islets make excellent spots for kayaking, paddelboarding and skiffing in search of our last sea lion and whale sightings. Alternatively you may enjoy some beachcombing along the rocky intertidal zones or some guided hikes through the untouched forests.

In the evening you can join your captain for a special farewell dinner and slideshow presentation celebrating your voyage.

Arrival in the port town of Sitka signals the end of your voyage and after breakfast you will disembark and join your transfer to the airport for onward or homeward travel. Should you wish to extend your stay in Alaska, please enquire for options and suggestions.