Famed Passages of Discovery is a 13-day adventure through Alaska's and Canada's Inside Passages. Cruising from Juneau to Seattle (or the reverse), keep an eye out for wildlife and whales and explore the epic waterways by kayaking, paddle boarding, or skiffing in secluded coves and passages. Explore dramatic Misty Fjords National Monument, navigate Wrangell Narrows and wildlife-rich Behm Canal, discover Tlingit culture in Ketchikan and at Wrangell’s Chief Shakes Tribal House, and visit The Whale Museum in quaint Friday Harbor.
Highlights
View glaciers and float among the ice-rich waters of Tracy Arm
Watch for wildlife and whales in Frederick Sound
Transit the winding Wrangell Narrows and wildlife-rich Behm Canal
Discover Tlingit culture in Ketchikan &Wrangell’s Chief Shakes Tribal House
Explore Misty Fjords National Monument—only accessible to small vesssels
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Snow-covered mountains, glowing blues, and the white thunder of calving ice take your breath away at the face of Dawes Glacier. As you glide through Endicott Arm, spy harbor seals and their pups lounging on “bergy bits” in the water. If the tides allow, explore Fords Terror — a narrow passageway with towering walls and cascading waterfalls framed by the Coastal Mountains.
Keep watch for colossal marine life — humpback and orca are frequent residents of these waters — as your captain navigates through Southeast’s remote fjords. Hike through an other-worldly landscape of hanging waterfalls and emerald greens. Or investigate the wild inner reaches of a salt chuck — a tidal salt-water lake — by kayak and paddle board, keeping a lookout for bears, heron, moose, mink, and harbor seals.
Step into the back country of Alaska's wilderness, in an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz. Explore glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. Adventure and natural beauty are sure to please whether you choose kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or hiking today. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows.
Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder, Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only one ever governed by four nations. Brush up on your Tlingit culture and view recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park. Wander past the fishing marina to the famed and historically significant Chief Shakes Tribal House. Touch Wrangell's storied past at the artifact-filled museum.
Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest — orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Paddle along the canal or venture out on an intertidal shore walk.
Misty Fjords is home to nearly every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska, with stunning glacial valleys filled with seawater, untouched wetlands and estuaries, and 3,000-foot vertical cliffs that are a haven for wildlife. Soak in the splendor of this largely unknown corner of the world with an up-close look at this majestic, 2.3 million-acre wilderness.
Alaska’s southernmost city and “salmon capital of the world” also claims fame to having the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles. Explore Tlingit culture and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district in downtown Ketchikan.
Take in the pure, wilderness air and see how many bald eagles you can spot from the deck. Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sighting orca and other wildlife as you sail through Canada's Inside Passage.
Fill your days through the passage with splendid scenery, relaxation, and plenty of onboard activities. Your expedition team aims to entertain and keep you busy with engaging presentations, games, and enlightening narration. Unlock the natural history of the area and discover how Native influences and the fishing and forest industries have shaped these sparsely-populated islands and communities.
Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, before passing Prince Rupert, BC and crossing the US/Canadian border into Washington State. Shaped and molded by the last ice age, forested islands dot the shores of the Salish Sea. Weave through the inlets of this yachter’s paradise, keeping watch for the resident orca pods.
In quaint Friday Harbor, discover maritime history, art galleries, and a fascinating Whale Museum. Gunkhole close to shore by skiff or kayak as you explore the serene San Juan Islands—an archipelago of islands first charted by the Spanish in 1791. At the end of the day, gather in the lounge with new-found friends and reminisce about your Alaskan journey with a slideshow from your crew.
Day 13: Seattle, Washington | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Arrive to a waterfront view of the Emerald City, or with a transit of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks into Fishermen’s Terminal (depending on your vessel). Disembark after breakfast and transfer directly to the Seattle airport or begin an optional hotel stay.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$5,995
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Navigator Cabin
Feature queen or twin beds, view window or porthole, private bath with shower, desk & chair.
Feature king or twin beds, view windows, private bath with shower, desk & chair.
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Admiral Cabin
Feature king or twin beds, view windows, private bath with shower, refrigerator, desk & chair.
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Commodore Suites
Separate sitting area, king or twin beds, private bath with jacuzzi tub & shower, view window and french doors to a small balcony.
Notes
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy
- Children ages 8-13 are welcome on all sailings and will received a $500 per child savings
Due to the nature of your explorations, itineraries are guidelines and may change in order to maximize wildlife and natural encounters. Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur.
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 131 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 131 reviews on
21 hours ago
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.
Jennifer Howard Schroeder
1 day ago
Kevin got right on our request and had us booked within the week
Linda Cummings
2 days ago
The info on the website was laid out very well. I did some comparisons with other tours and found Adventure Life met a lot of what I wanted in an Antarctica trip at the cheapest price. Requested a quote on Claudia contacted me right away. She answered a lot of questions the I had via email even though she offered to discuss via phone call. I’m more of an email person so appreciated how she accommodated that and answered all my questions. And when I was ready to book, she quickly got the ball rolling with getting our spots reserved on the trip my friend and I wanted. Thanks again, Claudia!
Hazel Araza
2 days ago
(1) great information on the website and throughout all the "materials." (2) Jane Packer is great: knowledgeable, responsive, takes a personal interest and tone, seems to care about the customer as a person not a sale.
Larry Bethune
2 days ago
great people doing a wonderful job to make our voyages happen.