Sail from Juneau to Ketchikan on an 8-day Alaska expedition cruise aboard the Discoverer. Begin in Juneau with a welcome aboard before exploring Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, where harbor seals rest on floating ice. Continue to Frederick Sound for whale watching, paddle through Thomas Bay, and navigate Wrangell Narrows’ “Christmas Tree Lane.” Discover the wild beauty of the Blashke Islands and the remote coves of Behm Canal, home to black bears, eagles, and otters. Conclude in Misty Fjords National Monument, known as “The Yosemite of the North,” with its dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and rich wildlife. End the journey in Ketchikan, Alaska’s Salmon Capital.
Highlights
Cruise through Endicott Arm surrounded by steep granite cliffs and icebergs
Visit Dawes Glacier for a skiff tour near active ice calving
Observe humpback whales and sea birds across Frederick Sound’s calm waters
Discover Misty Fjords’ towering cliffs and waterfalls in Rudyerd Bay
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.
Step aboard the ship and meet the captain and crew. Take some time to get familiar with the vessel, your home for the week. A welcome drink is served in the lounge before departure. As the ship leaves the dock, head to the deck with binoculars from your cabin to look for whale spouts on the horizon.
Day 2: Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier Wilderness Area
Overnight, the ship enters Endicott Arm, a narrow fjord surrounded by steep granite cliffs and floating icebergs. The landscape shows evidence of glacial activity from the last Ice Age, and Harbor Seals can often be seen resting on the ice with their pups. As the ship moves deeper into the fjord, the air becomes cooler. The journey ends at Dawes Glacier, a large tidewater glacier at the fjord’s head. A skiff tour offers a closer look at the glacier and its surrounding ice.
Misty spouts on the horizon signal what is in store. Humpback whales are in the neighborhood. As you navigate whale-rich waters, your expedition team has the day’s adventures ready. Paddle at your own pace, watch for sea stars and shorebirds along the shoreline, or charge ahead on a longer kayak journey or a guided hike into the heart of the Tongass. Skiff tours, snorkeling opportunities, and hikes offer another perspective on this wildlife-filled region. Either way, today is about going big in whale country.
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 have space to roam. Remote and rugged, the Blashke Islands are a choose-your-own-adventure playground, where dense forests beckon exploration. Hike, kayak, snorkel, skiff, or opt into a full-day yak-and-whack expedition. Here, you can experience the unique intertidal life that exists between this wonderland of islands. Keep your eyes out for orcas, who frequent these waters.
Winding through remote coves and forested bays, Behm Canal is Southeast Alaska in its purest form. This day offers a choice of low-elevation trail hikes alongside rushing streams, with opportunities to photograph dripping moss, dense forest, and the wildlife that calls this place home, including black bears, eagles, and mink on land, and porpoises, seals, and otters in the water. Calm, protected waters make this one of the best places of the week for open paddling, with options for all-day hikes, kayaking, and skiff tours as you explore the quiet beauty of the canal.
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. End the day with a festive Farewell Dinner and a slideshow of the week’s best moments, lovingly assembled by your guide team.
Day 8: Ketchikan, Alaska | Disembark
1 Breakfast
All good journeys must end, and this one concludes in Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of the World. After breakfast, say farewell to your crew and fellow adventurers. Ask for local tips if you are staying longer. There is still plenty of Alaska to explore. Until next time!
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.
$4,8002-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
Navigator
Main Deck, cabins 200-208, 210. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
Trailblazer
Observation Deck, cabins 301-302, 307-320. Queen bed or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window
Pathfinder
Observation deck, cabins 303-306. Outside entry, double bed with private bath with shower and view window.
Compass/Single
Main Deck, cabin 202. Twin bed; view window; private bath with shower
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
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
