Highlights of this 8-day voyage include exploring the mainland of Alaska — glacial landscapes, old growth, and rainforest. Along the way enjoy wilderness hikes, massive icebergs, and calving glaciers; watch for wildlife and whales in Frederick Sound; kayak, paddle board, and wildlife-watch in Stephen's Passage; explore Tongass National Forest on hikes and shore walks; discover isolated coves and dramatic Misty Fjords National Monument; visit Wrangell's Kiksetti Totem Park and Chief Shakes Tribal House, and; transit Wrangell Narrows and wildlife-rich Behm Canal. Awe-inspiring glaciers, wildlife, and rainforests await you on this Alaska adventure cruise!
Highlights
Explore the glacial landscapes of Thomas Bay
Watch for whales in Stephens Passage, and wildlife in Tongass National Forest
Navigate winding Wrangell Narrows and Behm Canal
Kayak, paddle board, skiff, and hike in glacial landscapes and old growth
Adventure exploration in Misty Fjords National Monument
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Take an early peek out your window. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep u-shaped valleys. There’s no abracadabra here. Mother Nature’s magic is real. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. At the end of Endicott, the blue face of Dawes Glacier is stories high. And in classic fjord form, Tracy Arm delivers with the cotton candy blue Twin Sawyers glacier of its furthest reaches. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy foot work on the cliffs. Look for them.
Humpbacks beeline it here each season to feed on krill, zooplankton, and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. Based on wind and weather, your expedition team has the lineup of adventures all mapped out. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Paddle into the deeps of Port Houghton or Windham Bay or head ashore for a hike. Somewhere nearby, carrot-billed black oystercatchers are saying hello. Tonight, toast another big day in Alaska.
When you come this far, you might as well go all in. This is way back backcountry of Alaska's wilderness. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. In this playground, it’s all an option today. Kayak and skiff in water almost clear as glass. The mirror image of fjord walls plays on the surface. Hike through the outwash of Baird Glacier. Or keep it green tromping through a grassy meadow into the forest. Later, pass by the fishing town of Petersburg and wind into the Wrangell Narrows. Abundant bright red and green navigation lights guide the way. It’s “Christmas Tree Lane”, of course.
The Blashkee Islands are your playground today. Afull day of choose-your-own-adventure fun. Hiking,Kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling, and full day yak-n-whack excursions. Get ready for a full day!
Wildlife abounds. Black bears, mink, eagles. In Behm Canal, it’s all remote waterways and the isolated Tongass National Forest. On Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low-elevation hike near clear, rushing streams. Good opportunities for enticing forested shots of Southeast. In the water orca, porpoises, seals, and otters go about their business. Go about yours on a guided paddle in tiny, deserted waterways that feed into Behm Canal.
Its affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved. There are places on the planet that completely overcome you. This is one of them. The beauty. The peace. The sense of place you feel. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. And that alone is a lot to consider. Glacial valleys filled with sea water. Sheer 3,000 foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, all find safe haven here. Kayak in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you find it’s just as easy to paddle and go, as it is to sit and float and take it all in. Or skiff to the base of a waterfall for fjord-released shower. It’s an amazing wrap to your week. Your captain joins you tonight for a Farewell Dinner. Celebrate and reminisce about your Alaskan journey with a “photo journal” by your crew.
Day 8: Ketchikan | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a farewell breakfast before disembarking the ship this morning. Transfer directly to the Ketchikan airport or begin your independent journey.
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.
$3,6002-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Navigator
Main Deck, cabins 201, 204-208 and 210. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
Trailblazer
Observation Deck, cabins 310-325. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
Pathfinder
Observation Deck, cabins 300-309. Outside entry, queen bed, sitting area, private bath with shower and view window.
Admiral
Sun Deck, cabins 400-403. Separate sitting area, queen or twin beds, private bath with shower, large picture window with sofa bed/triple.
Notes
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.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.9 | 306 reviews
TrustScore 4.9 of 5
Based on 306 reviews on
2 weeks ago
Personal, knowledgeable service. We felt so informed and supported before our trip. Highly recommend and would use again.
Michelle S
4 weeks ago
First off we had great weather all week.
We had a wonderful Naturalist on board the Admiirality Dream. John was a very knowledgeable and shared history and folklore with facts about wildlife every day. The entire crew made sure everyone had everything they needed. We were very impressed with all the work they did every day. Loved the fact that there were 49 passengers and you were able to meet and connect with so many people. Highly recommend!
Jessica T.
1 month ago
Jess was very helpful in planning our last minute trip to Alaska. Her promptness in responding to our questions was particularly impressive.
Richard
1 month ago
So well looked after - so much to see - and so much information - all the crew were informative, enthusiastic, and very friendly - nothing was too much bother. It was fantastic being on such a small boat with a group of like-minded passengers. The sea otters won the 'best wildlife' 'competition' (surprisingly)!
Graeme McCarthy
1 month ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
