After yet another peaceful night of sleep, I got up at 6:15 and ate a hearty breakfast of baked eggs(a new dish to me) and bacon and cranberry juice. We had docked at Juneau and got on bus #281 from the Gray Line bus company. Ben, our driver, took us to Mendenhall Glacier. There were many buses there as several large cruise ships had docked in Juneau. This was the only time we encountered so many other travelers. It looked like an Asian invasion as hundreds of Asians got off their buses and started walking toward the glacier. Our small group was early enough that we got to experience this wondrous sight without too large a crowd. We walked by the Mendenhall Glacier visitor Center. This glacier is in the Tongass National Forest and is 12 miles long from its origin on the Juneau ice field to it's terminus at Mendenhall Lake. Here, there is a spectacular waterfall. The noise made by the rushing water makes you very aware of the force of nature's water. We stood close to the edge of the lake and could feel the cool spray from the rushing water. Some of our group went on a whale watching tour and one mother and her daughter did a dog sled tour. The three of us ate at ''the Hanger on the Wharf'' downtown. I ate fried halibut for the first time and we all three gave it a thumbs up. The three of us strolled through downtown and did a little shopping. Several huge cruise ships were docked there and I was very thankful that I was on a small cruise ship. Those large ships are floating cities. We rode the Mt. Roberts Tram, owned and operated by the Tlingit natives. It was very crowded. Once we got to the top, we had a stupendous view of the city which was 18oo feet below. At the top, we saw the Juneau Raptor Center bald eagle display. After we rode the tram down, I was craving a cappuccino so we stopped in a small coffee shop. Aspen and I split a chocolate and hazelnut gelato. At one store, we watched two guys making fudge and Aspen made a couple of purchases there. We met the rest of our group at the bus at 3:45. Boarding the ship, we then headed to Orca Point Lodge on Colt Island. The chefs had prepared a king crab dinner for us. We had shrimp cocktail and shrimp dip and salmon jerky. The lodge had a gift shop and I bought a bar of soap that was made from glacier silt. I tried it when I got home and my face felt as soft as a baby's. Pam and Dave are the caretakers at the lodge and have been there many years. It is very remote and must travel by boat to get to town. Pam shared some very interesting anecdotes with us; one about getting away from a bear. After dinner, the chef filleted a king salmon out on the deck for us to observe. He was quite handy with a knife. The huge salmon was taken to our ship's chef to prepare for us. The lodge has a touch tank to see Alaska's marine invertebrates up close and the young people strolled on the beach looking for starfish etc. Afterwards, someone built a bonfire and Howard regaled us with a native Tlingit story. He also played his drum and we all danced. Everyone was back on the ship by 11 and the ship headed for Tracy Arm. We were told this was a magical place and it did not take long for us to see it's allure. Soon, I was lulled to sleep by the roll of the ship .
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days 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
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.