Cruise aboard Safari Quest on this 13-day exploration of Alaska and Canada's Inside Passages and Glacier Bay. Experience wilderness kayaking, paddle boarding, skiffing, and hiking. Learn the native culture and Pacific Northwest natural history, and participate in adventure activities at Hurricane Ridge, Tongass National Forest, and Misty Fjords National Monument
Highlights
Visit Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Experience wilderness kayaking, paddle boarding, skiffing, and hiking
Watch for whales and wildlife in Icy Strait
Tour Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers and LeConte Bay iceberg gardens
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 continuing out of Seattle.
Only accessible by boat, Sucia Island is a quiet Pacific Northwest retreat—wild, remote, and full of charm. Sculpted sandstone cliffs rise above emerald waters, while winding paths lead through forested landscapes and secluded coves. Spend the day exploring tidepools, wandering sandy shores, hiking to scenic viewpoints, or simply enjoying the stillness—every moment here offers natural beauty and a genuine sense of escape.
As you sail north, you enter Canada’s Inside Passage, a winding network of forested islands, narrow channels, and remote anchorages. Keep an eye out from the bridge for whales and seabirds. Today’s pace is more relaxed. Join a cocktail or cooking demo, take a galley tour, or chat with the crew about navigation and knot tying. Wildlife can appear at any time. Keep binoculars close and spirits high.
Start your day with coffee on the bow. Watch bald eagles follow the ship from treetop to treetop. On one side is rugged mainland. On the other, the islands stretch westward. The captain and crew expertly navigate the twisting route and take time to breathe in the wild. In the lounge, sip the day’s special and join a friendly round of cards or conversation with new friends.
Day 5: Canada’s Inside Passage - Northbound Toward Alaska
Today is about slowing down and savoring the journey. You travel intricate waterways, past remote forests and villages. Keep watch for black bears and, with luck, the elusive white spirit bear. Civilization draws closer, but the wilderness remains close at hand.
Some places do not just take your breath away; they leave you speechless. Misty Fjords is one of them. Sheer 3,000-foot cliffs, glacially carved valleys, and rainforest-cloaked slopes cradle every paddle and skiff ride. Explore Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay by water during an open paddle, skiff, or even (if the conditions are just right) a long-drop paddle where you’ll enjoy the experience of feeling truly left in the wilds of Alaska, or float quietly and take it all in.
Welcome to Ketchikan, Alaska’s First City. Here, you connect with the vibrant Tlingit culture. Tribal leader and storyteller Joe Williams (KaXeshX’e) guides a walking tour steeped in tradition and local history. The stories, like the landscape, run deep.
Glacially carved Thomas Bay is a mosaic of moraines, muskegs, and shimmering mudflats. Enjoy an open paddle over glassy waters where fjord walls reflect like mirrors, exploring at your own pace. Or join a skiff tour over these waters or a waterfall hike or bushwack. Depending on when Captain sets sail, you may get to witness Wrangell Narrows, nicknamed Christmas Tree Lane for its vibrant red and green navigational lights. It is a peek into everyday life in Southeast Alaska’s backcountry.
Today, you explore the wild coastline of Chichagof Island in search of the elusive coastal brown bear. This remote area is rich with life and offers some of the best bear-viewing opportunities in Southeast Alaska. Your captain and expedition leader take you deep into bear territory using their expert local knowledge. Activities include shoreline walks, kayaking, skiff rides, and up-close (but safe) bear spotting from the water. This is a day of awe-inspiring encounters with nature at its most raw.
Ease into the day with sunrise stretches on deck and a strong cup of coffee as your expedition team scouts the best opportunities for exploration. Today is all about flexibility and immersion, with options to kayak at your own pace, join an all-day paddle, set out on a shore walk, or venture deeper on a bushwhack hike that reveals the raw textures of Alaska’s wild landscapes. Skiff rides open access to otherwise unreachable stretches of coastline, while open paddles and yak-and-walk combinations let you shape the day moment by moment alongside your naturalist guides, who bring the region’s ecology, geology, and sense of place to life.
Spanning 3.3 million acres, just shy of the size of Connecticut, Glacier Bay National Park is vast, wild, and mostly unexplored. But you are not most visitors. Today, you venture deep into the park where you can kayak, skiff, hike glacial ridges, moraine walks, or even all-day paddle. Watch for mountain goats, sea lions, puffins, and, if you are lucky, a surprise whale sighting. You have two full days here, plenty of time to absorb its grandeur.
Start your morning with a deep breath of glacier-fresh air. Today’s adventures are yours to shape, whether you choose an all-day paddle through kelp-lined channels, a wilderness trek through spruce and hemlock forest, or a skiff ride to tucked-away inlets, this is your chance to fully immerse yourself in the quiet magic of this remote, rugged corner of Alaska. Moraine walks and skiff tours may also be available.
Day 13: Juneau | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Arrive in Juneau and enjoy a final breakfast with new friends before disembarking. Say farewell to the crew who guided you through the wilds of the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska. Your journey may end here, but the stories and connections travel with you long after you return home.
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.
$8,8002-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Navigator Cabin
C1, C2, C3, C4, C6. King, queen or twin beds, elevated port holes, private bath.
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
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
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