This voyage through Alaska's Inside Passage threads a spectacular route through narrow straits, remote islands and glacier-carved fjords. Summer brings long days, breaching humpback whales, and concentrations of bald eagles. Calm waters are alive with salmon, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, orcas and porpoise. Black and brown bear, wolves, moose and deer roam temperate rainforest. Explore on foot, by Zodiac, kayak, or paddle board. An on-board hydrophone and bow-mounted underwater camera offer a special perspective as does polar snorkeling.
Highlights
Visit Native art galleries and dine on local seafood in Juneau
Search for mountain goats, moose, and Sitka black-tail deer in Tongass NF
Kayak and paddle board in Misty Fjords National Monument
Learn about traditional Tlingit and Haida cultures
Delve into polar snorkeling with nudibranchs, sea stars & giant jellyfish
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
This morning is at your leisure, but recommended is the Admiralty Island Pack Creek Bear Tour before boarding the Wilderness Explorer in the afternoon for departure.
A winding fjord, waterfalls, and glimpses of Rocky Mountain goats lead you through Tracy Arm Wilderness to Sawyer Glaciers, where huge icebergs calve. Watch for bears, wolves, deer, Arctic terns and red-breasted mergansers, then move to Frederick Sound, alive with humpbacks spouting, fluking and breaching, and orcas and Steller’s sea lions. In Endicott Arm, ice-laden granite peaks, calving ice from the Dawes Glacier, and seals on bergy bits abound. If tides allow, explore narrow Ford’s Terror.
At Thomas Bay, trek through scenic rainforest or paddle the surreal blue meltwater of Patterson Glacier. Thomas Bay is known for glaciers, gold and quartz deposits, moose, brown bears, black bears, squirrels, wolves, birds, and rabbits. It is also known as "The Bay of Death," due to a massive landslide in 1750, and the "Devil's Country" since 1900 when several people claimed to have seen devil creatures in the area - learn of the area’s mythical, shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.
Enter a wonderland carved by mighty glaciers, ridged by moraines and decorated by muskegs (Arctic bogs rich in Arctic life). Watch for orcas in the Wrangell Narrows and the next day, visit Wrangell, home to the Tlingit and Haida people. Enjoy the town’s many totem poles and cultural presentations at historic Chief Shakes Tribal House. Once under the jurisdiction of the Russians, the British, and the Americans, as well as originally a Tlingit territory, Wrangell has the unique status of being the only Alaskan city to have been governed under four "flags". Today, it is home to native culture, wildlife and wonder.
Wake up surrounded by pristine Tongass National Forest and hike to El Capitan Cave, largest in Alaska. On Prince of Wales Island, keep watch for bears, deer and eagles. Offshore kayak and paddle board, sharing the sea with harbor seals, humpbacks and orcas. Next you may visit Kasaan, a traditional Haida village, and enjoy marine life and easy treks in Behm Canal.
Day 11-12: Misty Fjords | Disembark in Ketchikan | Fly to Seattle
1 Breakfast
Enter Misty Fjords National Monument, searching thousand-meter granite cliffs for seabirds, eagles and mountain goats. Kayak through Walker Cover or Rudyerd Bay, soaking in the 'Yosemite of the North'.
Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is located on the edge of the Tongass National Forest. After breakfast next day, disembark in Ketchikan for an airport transfer, Seattle flight, and trip’s end.
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.
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Navigator
Main Deck, cabins 200-208, 210. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
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Trailblazer
Observation Deck, cabins 301-302, 307-320. Queen bed or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window
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Pathfinder
Observation deck, cabins 303-306. Outside entry, double bed with private bath with shower and view window.
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Single
Main Deck, cabin 202. Twin bed; view window; private bath with shower
Notes
- All rates are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy.
- Rates do not include port taxes and fees, which vary by itinerary.
- Children 8-13 are welcome on all sailings and will receive a $500 per child savings
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 $950 for one week cruises, $1700 for two or three week cruises, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
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.