Discover a wilderness beyond the expected on a 13-day Alaskan journey through Inside Passages and Glacier Bay National Park aboard Safari Explorer. Enjoy adventure activities in the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and Misty Fjords National Monument. Learn more about the Native culture and Pacific Northwest's natural history. In Frederick Sound and Icy Strait, keep an eye out for whales and other marine animals. Kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing, and hiking are all ways to experience the Last Frontier.
Highlights
Cruise Alaska’s and Canada’s Inside Passages
Visit Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Discover Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers and see ice in LeConte Bay
Watch for whales and wildlife in Frederick Sound and Icy Strait
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.
Arrive in Seattle and check in at the hospitality area before boarding the ship. Departing from Fishermen’s Terminal, the ship passes through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, descending about 20 feet into the Salish Sea before leaving the city behind.
This island features sandstone formations, forested trails, and clear green waters. Accessible only by boat, it offers a remote experience in the Pacific Northwest.
Mountains rise higher. Fjords get deeper. It’s a day of intricate waterways and cruising for critters, keeping watch for black bears on shore, including the elusive spirit bear. Civilization slips away as you enter remote waters leading north through British Columbia. Surf-happy dolphins and porpoises like to catch a ride on the bow wave. Your captain and crew are on the lookout and give the call of a sighting. A waterfall andan old abandoned cannery come into view—that’s Butedale. Slow down and take it all in as forested fjords roll by. Aiming to entertain and educate over the next few days, your expedition team is at the ready. Natural history, Native influences, and their favorite trivia games, too.
Take your cup of joe to the bow. The world wakes up with you. Bald eagles watch the ship along its course from treetops. Islands to the west, inlet-etched mainland to the east. Your captain and mates navigate twisting passages. Harbor seals spend their days on rocky islets. Breathe in the fresh air and take in miles of forested wilderness. In the lounge, your bartender mixes up the daily special. Take the challenge and play a few friendly hands of cards with your shipmate.
Passport required. Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur to maximize your experience.
Today you sail through the northernmost portion of Canada's wild Inside Passage and enter Alaska's. Check out the bridge - it's an ideal spot to look for whales and other wildlife. See what the crew has in-store today. Maybe a cooking or cocktail demonstration or a galley tour. Or maybe learn more about navigation from the crew and try your hand at tying knots! Anticipation builds as tomorrow you start the Alaska portion of the adventure.
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 seawater. Sheer 3,000-foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sand itka 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 a fjord-released shower. The area’s affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved.
In Ketchikan, connect with the Tlingit Culture. Tribal leader and local legend Joe Williams, known as Ka XeshX’e in his native language, guides you on a walking tour. With a rich oral tradition, the Tlingit passed stories from generation to generation—and Joe’s storytelling is captivating! Explore Creek Street in Ketchikan on a self-guided tour, wandering its historic boardwalk lined with colorful buildings, learning about its storied past, and spotting the iconic Chief Kyan Totem Pole—featured in your passport as a symbol of Tlingit heritage.
When you come this far, you’ll want to keep going. This is the way back - backcountry of Alaska’s wilderness is seldom seen. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, mud, and a lush Forest. This day is for you to choose your own adventure: kayak or even paddle board in calm protected waters, hike to find a snow-melt waterfall in Cascade Creek. Whatever you decide, you’ll definitely have bragging rights when you return home.
Spend some time on the bow as you glide through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Then anchor for more activities. Time to lower the kayaks and skiffs and get up close and personal with a sea otter or wildlife watching from your kayak. Camera in hand, set off on land and sea explorations. Closer inspection by skiff, moss-dripping trees run right down to the water. Any bears in there? With one of the world’s largest populations of bears, it’s possible. Go searching for giant trees and tidal pools. Hiking in the Tongass, it won’t take long to find them. Your eagle-eyed guides lead the pack—and pull up the rear.
Bull whip kelp threads through nearby channels like deep, twisted mangroves. And you know better, but orange and purple starfish and jellyfish make it hard to believe you’re not in the tropics. Follow the currents out to where the sea lions flock to remote rock formations. Your captain is on the bridge, the expedition team on deck, and all eyes are on the water and the shore. Everyone is on watch for the telltale blow of humpbacks. Come closer to the shoreline by skiff, kayak, or on foot. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest wonders. Take in the evening solitude from the bow, or the hot tub. Or both—why choose just one?
There’s a cool factor, and it’s not just coming off the face of the glaciers! This 3.3-million-acre park was covered by ice as recently as 1795. Since then, the park’s receding glacier activity has made it easier to access those inner reaches. Glacial history, retreats, advances, moraines. They come with expert insight from your onboard naturalists, so bring on the questions. Pigeon guillemots, puffins, common murres, and cormorants colonize and nest at South Marble Island. One good whiff and a few loud barks give away one of its mammalian residents—Steller’s sea lions. It’s a full day in the bay exploring Muir’s legacy—all the way to Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers
Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. Today is day two in the park, and you’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. Hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and ice fields is energizing. If you motor over to Tidal Inlet, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. Kayak the bay. Bushwhack into the forest. Tonight, join your captain for the Farewell Dinner. As a special treat, your expedition team shares a slideshow of your journey.
Day 13: Juneau, Alaska | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the Juneau airport.
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.
$9,9002-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Navigator Cabin
Navigator Cabins come with a fixed queen (B3, B6, B8, B10, B12, B14) or your choice of a fixed queen or two twin beds (B7, B9, B11, B13). Enjoy an en-suite bathroom, TV, DVD player, a view window, and ample storage space. Amenities include a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, water bottles, binoculars, and bathrobes for your comfort.
Trailblazer Cabin
Trailblazer Cabins come with your choice of two twin beds or one king bed. Enjoy an en-suite bathroom, TV, DVD player, a view window, and ample storage space. Amenities include a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, water bottles, binoculars, and bathrobes for your comfort.
Admiral Cabin
Admiral Cabins offer sleeping space for two guests (B1), two adults and one child (C1), or three adults (C2). Each cabin comes with your choice of a king bed or two twin beds. Cabins C1 and C2 come with an additional sleeper. Amenities include a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, water bottles, and binoculars for your convenience.
Jr. Commodore
Jr. Commodore Suite offers a single sofa sleeper and the option of two twin beds or one king bed. Enjoy an en-suite bathroom, Jacuzzi and shower, view window, TV, DVD player, and sitting area. Amenities include a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, water bottles, binoculars, and bathrobes for your comfort.
Commodore Suite
Commodore Suites offer a double sofa sleeper and the option of two twin beds or one king bed. Enjoy a private balcony, Jacuzzi and shower, view window, mini-fridge, TV, DVD player, and sitting area. Amenities include a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, water bottles, binoculars, and bathrobes for your comfort.
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.
Initial deposit is 20% of the cruise plus port taxes and fees and 50% of any land services, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard or Discover
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
