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.
The island features sandstone formations, forested trails, and clear green waters. Accessible only by boat, it offers a secluded glimpse of the Pacific Northwest.
Mountains rise higher. Fjords get deeper. A day of intricate waterways and cruising for critters unfolds, keeping watch for black bears on shore, including the elusive spirit bear. Civilization slips away as the journey enters remote waters leading north through British Columbia. Surf-happy dolphins and porpoise often catch a ride on the bow wave. The captain and crew are on the lookout and provide the call of a sighting. A waterfall and an old abandoned cannery come into view - that’s Butedale. Take a moment to slow down and absorb everything as forested fjords roll by. The expedition team aims to entertain and educate over the next days, being ready with natural history, Native influences, and their favorite trivia games as well.
Take a cup of joe to the bow. The world wakes up with the scenery. Bald eagles watch the ship along its course from tree tops. Islands lie to the west, inlet-etched mainland to the east. The captain and mates navigate twisting passages. Harbor seals spend their days on rocky islets. Breathe in the fresh air and absorb miles of forested wilderness. In the lounge, the bartender mixes up the daily special. Take the challenge and play a few friendly hands of cards with a shipmate.
Today you sail through the northernmost portion of Canada's wild Inside Passage and enter Alaska's. Check out the bridge - it's an ideal spot to look for whales and other wildlife. See what the crew has in store today. Maybe a cooking or cocktail demonstration or a galley tour. Or maybe learn more about navigation from the crew and try your hand at tying knots! Anticipation builds as tomorrow you start the Alaska portion of the adventure.
There are places on the planet that completely overcome you. This is one of them. The beauty. The peace. The sense of place you feel. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. And that alone is a lot to consider. Glacial valleys filled with sea water. Sheer 3,000-foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, all find safe haven here. Kayak in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you find it’s just as easy to paddle and go, as it is to sit and float and take it all in. Or skiff to the base of a waterfall for a fjord released shower. The area’s affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved.
In Ketchikan, connect with the Tlingit Culture. Tribal leader and local legend Joe Williams, known as Ka XeshX’e in his native language, guides you on a walking tour. With a rich oral tradition, the Tlingit passed stories from generation to generation—and Joe’s storytelling is captivating! Explore Creek Street in Ketchikan on a self-guided tour, wandering its historic boardwalk lined with colorful buildings, learning about its storied past, and spotting the iconic Chief Kyan Totem Pole—featured in your passport as a symbol of Tlingit heritage.
When you come this far, you’ll want to keep going. This is the way back - backcountry of Alaska’s wilderness seldom seen. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, mud and a lush Forest. This day is for you to choose your own adventure: kayak or even paddle board in calm protected waters, hike to find a snow-melt waterfall in Cascade Creek. Whatever you decide, you’ll definitely have bragging rights when you return home.
Spend some time on the bow as you glide through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Then anchor for more activities. Time to lower the kayaks and skiffs and get up close and personal with a sea otter or wildlife watching from your kayak. Camera in hand, set off on land and sea explorations. Closer inspection by skiff, moss-dripping trees run right down to the water. Any bears in there? With one of the world’s largest populations of bears, it’s possible. Go searching for giant trees and tidal pools. Hiking in the Tongass, it won’t take long to find them. Your eagle-eyed guides lead the pack—and pull up the rear.
Bull whip kelp threads through nearby channels like deep, twisted mangroves. And you know better, but orange and purple starfish and jellyfish make it hard to believe you’re not in the tropics. Follow the currents out to where the sea lions flock to remote rock formations. Your captain is on the bridge, the expedition team on deck, and all eyes are on the water and the shore. Everyone is on-watch for the telltale blow of humpbacks. Come closer to the shoreline by skiff, kayak, or on foot. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest wonders. Take in the evening solitude from the bow, or the hot tub. Or both—why choose just one?
There’s a cool factor, and it’s not just coming off the face of the glaciers! This 3.3-million-acre park was covered by ice as recently as 1795. Since then, the park’s receding glacier activity has made it easier to access those inner reaches. Glacial history, retreats, advances, moraines. They come with expert insight from your onboard naturalists, so bring on the questions. Pigeon guillemots, puffins, common murres, and cormorants colonize and nest at South Marble Island. One good whiff and a few loud barks give away one of its mammalian residents—Steller’s sea lions. It’s a full day in the bay exploring Muir’s legacy—all the way to Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers
Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. Today is day two in the park, and you’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. Hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and icefields is energizing. If you motor over to Tidal Inlet, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. Kayak the bay. Bushwhack into the forest. Tonight, join your captain for the Farewell Dinner. As a special treat, your expedition team shares a slideshow of your journey.
Day 13: Juneau | Disembark
Transfer to the Juneau airport or begin your UnCruise overnight stay or extended land tour.
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
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
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