Alaska expedition cruises take travelers into an untamed wilderness and allow up-close experiences with the natural wonders of this ecological hot-spot. Wildlife sightings seem limitless: brown and black bears, moose, spirited otters and majestic bald eagles share this region with countless numbers of humpback whales, orcas and porpoises. The landscape of Alaska is as wild as the animals that roam the region. Discover isolated inlets only accessible by sea - zodiacs and kayaks take you through a labyrinth of glaciers, icebergs, fjords and rivers. A small-ship expedition may include trips to the famous Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay, and the Bering Sea. 

Go for the landscape, or go for the adventure.  Either way, in Alaska, you'll go big.  Here are few great ways to go explore the coastal stunners of the final frontier...

Wilderness Explorer
Accommodating 76-passengers, the Wilderness Explorer is equipped for action, adventure, and exploration.  In tangible terms that means it carries kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, inflatable skiffs, hiking poles and yoga mats.  A ship that lives up to its name, travelers can break a sweat while paddling, hiking and cruising into remote areas few have the chance to venture.  Choose from 8 to 15 day itineraries that explore the Inside Passage, Eastern and Western Coves, Glacier Bay and more.

And one additional amenity to mention -- a hydrophone for listening to below-surface; and a bow-mounted underwater camera pipes the action to the lounge and to cabin TVs.

Want to go?

Safari Endeavour
Take the adventure of the Wilderness Explorer, add a dash of luxury, and you have the Safari Endeavour.  This 86-passenger ship is recognized for its top-notch personal attention and refinement, without insisting on stiffness. Its new design features such amenities as an intimate Wine Bar and spa area including two hot tubs, sauna, fitness equipment, yoga classes, and massage suite (complete with a complimentary massage.)

Never forgetting that the wilds of Alaska are the star of the voyage, the Safari Endeavour takes travelers into the best of Glacier Country.  An 8-day itinerary includes the Icy Strait, Fredrick Sound, Endicott Arm and a handful of days in Glacier Bay National Park.

Want to go?

Looking to charter a yacht?
The 12-passenger yacht, Safari Spirit, is a great option for your like-minded friends and family who have an Alaska adventure on their wish-list.  Charters still available for the 2012 travel season.
 

Long days of sunlight and relative warmth make summer a perfect time to travel to USA's largest state. Alaskan weather, however, is defined by its unpredictability, with sunny days turning suddenly stormy—and vice versa. When exploring the south central and southeastern coasts, be prepared for wet weather and mild maritime temperatures. Alaskan summers rarely get hot, but can be comfortably warm with temperatures ranging from the lower 60s to the mid 70s. The best months for an Alaska voyage are July and August, when the temperatures are at their highest and the weather is generally more sunny.  But the shoulder seasons - May/June & September - shouldn't be overlooked...

Read more.

Torres del Paine 6-days
Special departure for our solo travelers, this trekking trip is a great way to experience Patagonia and meet kindred spirits from across the globe. Chile's stunning Torres del Paine National Park beckons with this quick base camp trekking adventure on the W Circuit. Spend the 4 days hiking in one of the world's most spectacular parks to enormous glaciers, turquoise lakes, and verdant temperate rainforests. A quintessential Chile trek!

Hurry -- trip departs from Punta Arenas, Chile, Feb. 8, 2012

Want to go?

- LAST CHANCE -
Submission Deadline:
Jan. 31, 2012

Our annual Share Your Travels. Win a Trip contest is in full swing. Send us stories, pictures or video from your travels and you could be off on another trip. And this time, we're picking up the bill.  I'll get right to the good stuff ... the prizes.

Travel Video Sweepstakes
Win a Galapagos escape for two at Floreana, Isabela and Aventura Lodges

View details on the Travel Video Sweepstakes.

Best Trip Journal
Win a Peru trip for two on the luxury Amazon yacht
MV Aria and to the coast's
Mancora Beach

View details on the Best Trip Journal contest.

Trip Planner, Marissa, shares pictures from her Alaska adventure cruise. She writes:

Alaska has the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Little did I know that a cruise in Alaska could also be an adventure. Kayaking, camping, hiking, and swimming with icebergs...this is an adventure of a lifetime

View album.

Adventure Lifer, Kate Greiner, shares images from her 2010 family Galapagos adventure.  She writes:

After a whirlwind tour of Quito, my family (my parents, brother and my husband) boarded a flight to the land of the unknown... a land we had dreamed about since our last South American family adventure in the early 90's. None of us knew what to expect but we were filled with excitement as we realized we were actually, finally, visiting the Galapagos Islands.

View Album.