Famed Passages of Discovery is a 13-day adventure through Alaska's and Canada's Inside Passages. Cruising from Juneau to Seattle (or the reverse), keep an eye out for wildlife and whales and explore the epic waterways by kayaking, paddle boarding, or skiffing in secluded coves and passages. Explore dramatic Misty Fjords National Monument, navigate Wrangell Narrows and wildlife-rich Behm Canal, discover Tlingit culture in Ketchikan and at Wrangell’s Chief Shakes Tribal House, and visit The Whale Museum in quaint Friday Harbor.
Highlights
View glaciers and float among the ice-rich waters of Tracy Arm
Transit the winding Wrangell Narrows and wildlife-rich Behm Canal
Explore Misty Fjords National Monument—only accessible to small vesssels
Discover Tlingit culture in Ketchikan &Wrangell’s Chief Shakes Tribal House
Enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, and skiffing amidst glacial landscapes
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Snow-covered mountains, glowing blues, and the white thunder of calving ice take your breath away at the face of Dawes Glacier. As you glide through Endicott Arm, spy harbor seals and their pups lounging on “bergy bits” in the water. If the tides allow, explore Fords Terror — a narrow passageway with towering walls and cascading waterfalls framed by the Coastal Mountains.
Keep watch for colossal marine life — humpback and orca are frequent residents of these waters — as your captain navigates through Southeast’s remote fjords. Hike through an other-worldly landscape of hanging waterfalls and emerald greens. Or investigate the wild inner reaches of a salt chuck — a tidal salt-water lake — by kayak and paddle board, keeping a lookout for bears, heron, moose, mink, and harbor seals.
Step into the back country of Alaska's wilderness, in an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz. Explore glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. Adventure and natural beauty are sure to please whether you choose kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or hiking today. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows.
Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder, Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only one ever governed by four nations. Brush up on your Tlingit culture and view recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park. Wander past the fishing marina to the famed and historically significant Chief Shakes Tribal House. Touch Wrangell's storied past at the artifact-filled museum.
Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest — orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Paddle along the canal or venture out on an intertidal shore walk.
Misty Fjords is home to nearly every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska, with stunning glacial valleys filled with seawater, untouched wetlands and estuaries, and 3,000-foot vertical cliffs that are a haven for wildlife. Soak in the splendor of this largely unknown corner of the world with an up-close look at this majestic, 2.3 million-acre wilderness.
Alaska’s southernmost city and “salmon capital of the world” also claims fame to having the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles. Explore Tlingit culture and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district in downtown Ketchikan.
Take in the pure, wilderness air and see how many bald eagles you can spot from the deck. Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sighting orca and other wildlife as you sail through Canada's Inside Passage.
Fill your days through the passage with splendid scenery, relaxation, and plenty of onboard activities. Your expedition team aims to entertain and keep you busy with engaging presentations, games, and enlightening narration. Unlock the natural history of the area and discover how Native influences and the fishing and forest industries have shaped these sparsely-populated islands and communities.
Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, before passing Prince Rupert, BC and crossing the US/Canadian border into Washington State. Shaped and molded by the last ice age, forested islands dot the shores of the Salish Sea. Weave through the inlets of this yachter’s paradise, keeping watch for the resident orca pods.
In quaint Friday Harbor, discover maritime history, art galleries, and a fascinating Whale Museum. Gunkhole close to shore by skiff or kayak as you explore the serene San Juan Islands—an archipelago of islands first charted by the Spanish in 1791. At the end of the day, gather in the lounge with new-found friends and reminisce about your Alaskan journey with a slideshow from your crew.
Day 13: Seattle, Washington | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Arrive to a waterfront view of the Emerald City, or with a transit of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks into Fishermen’s Terminal (depending on your vessel). Disembark after breakfast and transfer directly to the Seattle airport or begin an optional hotel stay.
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.
$8,995
Select a Date
Navigator Cabin
C1, C2, C3, C4, C6. King, queen or twin beds, elevated port holes, private bath.
- All rates are quoted in USD and represent cost per person, based on double occupancy.
- Quoted rates include all excursions, meals, educational programming, and transfers.
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 4.8 | 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.