From Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia, experience the dynamic culture and natural splendor this region has to offer. Cruise past the six-mile-wide Hubbard Glacier and through the labyrinth of the incredible Misty Fjords. See the totem poles of Metlakatla and learn of the Tsimshian and Tlingit indigenous cultures. Tour the Tongass National Forest and seek out wildlife by land and sea. Nature lovers will delight not just in the sweeping mountain- and fjord- views, but also in sightings of Bald Eagles, brown and black bears, humpback and orca whales, and shy harbor seals.
Highlights
Cruise along Hubbard Glacier the largest glacier in North America
Discover Ketchikan, one of the larger towns in the region
Visit theTsimshian people, famous for their emblematic Totem Poles
Observe native cultural presentations and ceremonies
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
It is hard to believe that a place as beautiful as Seward exists. Surrounded on all sides by Kenai Fjords National Park, Chugach National Forest, and Resurrection Bay, Seward offers all the quaint realities of a small railroad town with the bonus of jaw-dropping scenery. This little town of about 2,750 citizens was founded in 1903 when survey crews arrived at the ice-free port and began planning a railroad to the Interior. Since its inception, Seward has relied heavily on tourism and commercial fishing.
College Fjord in the northern sector of Prince William Sound is considered one of the most scenic fjords in the world with spectacular glacier viewing. There are over a dozen major glaciers in the fjord, all surrounded by rugged snow-capped mountains. It is possible from one point to see eight glaciers at once. College Fjord was discovered in 1899 during the Harriman Expedition. Edward Henry Herriman, a millionaire railroad tycoon, set sail with 125 other passengers and crew, including 23 of esteemed scientists from several Ivy League schools, to explore the fjords of Alaskan.
Cape St Elias is the southwest end of Kayak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. It is separated from the mainland by a channel 4 miles wide. The island, named by Lt. Sarichef of the Russian Navy in 1826 because its outline resembles the shape of an Eskimo skin canoe, is 20 miles long and only 2 miles wide and covered in dense rainforest. The cape itself was named by Russian explorer Vitus Bering on July 20, 1741, in honor of St. Elias, whose saint's day is July 20.
Hubbard Glacier, off the coast of Yakutat, Alaska, is the largest glacier in North America, with a calving front that is more than six miles wide. One of the main sources for Hubbard Glacier originates 76 mi inland. It has been a very active glacier, experiencing two major surges in the past 30 years. This glacier was named after Gardiner Greene Hubbard, a U.S. lawyer, financier, and philanthropist. He was the first president of the National Geographic Society.
Elfin Cove sits snugly on the southern shore of Cross Sound, which leads in eastwards to the Inside Passage. Northwards and across the Sound from the small community lies Glacier Bay National Park and the Fairweather Mountain range. Elfin Cove is a quaint little harbor clustered with attractive timber houses built into the wooded hillsides on stilts. The population swells to about 200 during the summer months, from a rather meager 6 or so during the snowy and isolated winters.
Just to the east of the Elfin Cove along the Bay of Alaska, Idaho Inlet is a deep bay that extends 12 miles south from South Passage. The inlet is nestled amidst dramatic tree-topped mountains and is full of wildlife visible on land or from a small watercraft. From the water, nature lovers may spot sea otters, Sitka black-tailed deer, and even a brown bear along the shores of this inlet. The area is appreciated in the summer by local people and wildlife alike for its ample salmonberries, blueberries, and huckleberries.
Day 6: The Brother Islands | Little Pybus Bay, Alaska
Located within Alaska’s Frederick Sound along the way to Stephens Passage, the Brothers are an archipelago made up of East Brother and West Brother Islands, named because they are twin islands nestled close together. These islands are a popular haul-out location for sea lions; depending on the season, visitors may see up to a hundred sea lions resting in the sun. The islands are lined with venerable fir trees that cast stunning reflections in the still waters, lending themselves well to beautiful nature photography.
Little Pybus Bay is located just 47 miles from Sitka, near Hood Bay, Alaska. Pybus Bay holds a protected cove, the shoreline of which is surrounded by thick temperate rainforest of old-growth spruce and hemlock trees, ferns, shrubs, and grasses. There is ample wildlife to be found in this area, including Sitka black-tailed deer, brown bears, shorebirds and migratory waterfowl. Pybus Bay is quiet and remote and therefore a fisher’s paradise. This area is also an ideal place for humpback whale sightings.
Ketchikan is famous for its colorful totem poles, rainy skies, steep–as–San Francisco streets, and lush island setting. Some 13,500 people call Ketchikan home, and, in the summer, cruise ships crowd the shoreline, floatplanes depart noisily for Misty Fiords National Monument, and salmon-laden commercial fishing boats motor through Tongass Narrows. In the last decade Ketchikan's rowdy, blue-collar heritage of logging and fishing has been softened by the loss of many timber-industry jobs and the dramatic rise of cruise-ship tourism.
Walker Cove, located just 41.8 miles from Ketchikan, extends about 8.5 miles into the mainland. The scenery is stunning with towering rock walls on both side and hundreds of waterfalls plunging down into the fjord. There is always the possibility of seeing bears, harbor seals, and bald eagles along the shoreline. The British explorer George Vancouver noted this bay on his chart in 1793, although there was no mention of it in his log. It was named after Dr. William Walker, the physician on board the HMS Chatham.
Rudyerd Bay is one of the highlights of the Misty Fiords, 40 miles east of Ketchikan, along the Inside Passage. This fjord cuts through steep-sided mountainous terrain and extends far into the mainland. The scenery is stunning, with dramatic thousand-foot waterfalls plunging down rainforest covered cliffs to the water below.
Since the late 19th century, Metlakatla has been the major settlement of the Metlakatla Indian Community of the federally recognized Annette Islands Reserve, the only remaining reservation in Alaska. It is located on Annette Island, and in 2010 had 1,405 residents. Membership in the community is primarily by lineage and is comprised primarily of Tsimshian people.
Spend a day on the ship while you sail through the Inside Passage, you might attend a workshop by your Photographer to edit the many photos taken so far, or join one of the experts for final lectures regarding Alaska and British Columbia. Perhaps a wine-tasting seminar is more to your liking. Make sure you get some exercise, either on the outer decks or in the Fitness Centre. Or simply relax on the Sun Deck and enjoy being at sea.
Nanaimo is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, about 70.2 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Victoria and 34.1 miles (55 kilometers) west of Vancouver. The 'Harbor City' of Nanaimo is separated by the Strait of Georgia and linked to Vancouver via the Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries terminal in West Vancouver. As the site of the main ferry terminal, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations both on the northern part of the island, such as Tofino, Comox Valley, Parksville, Campbell River, Port Alberni, and Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.
Day 12: Vancouver, Canada | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark in Vancouver and continue your adventure on your own or head home. Vancouver is a delightful juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an outdoor playground for hiking, skiing, kayaking, cycling, and sailing—and so much more—while the cuisine and arts scenes are equally diverse, reflecting the makeup of Vancouver's ethnic (predominantly Asian) mosaic. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world's most livable cities, and it's easy for visitors to see why.
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.
$9,900
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Select a Date
Adventurer Class
6 cabins on Deck 3, 180 sq. feet, Twin or Queen beds, 2 portholes.
Select a Date
Explorer Class
4 cabins on Deck 4, Twin or Queen beds, 180 sq. feet with view window.
Select a Date
View Suite
12 suites on Deck 3, 230 sq. feet with view window, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Vista Suite
16 suites on Deck 4, 194 - 230 sq. feet with large window, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Veranda Suite
8 suites on Deck 5, 215 sq. feet with French balcony, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Medallion Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 358 sq. feet with private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Silver Suite
6 suites on Deck 5, 430 sq. feet with 2 French balconies, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Grand Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 650 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
Select a Date
Owner
2 suites on Deck 7, 540 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
Notes
Please note: Fares are capacity controlled, and subject to change at any time without notice. All prices are in US dollars, cruise-only per person based on double occupancy.
- The supplement for single occupancy in a Vista, Veranda or Midship Veranda Suite ranges from 25% – 100% above the double occupancy fare, depending upon the sailing and suite selected. Single supplement for a Silver or Medallion Suite (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper), Owner’s, Grand or Royal Suites are 100% above of the double occupancy fare. Suites for single and third guests are capacity controlled.
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
