This Week In...Alaska: Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness by Linblad Expeditions
See the iconic wildlife—whales, bears and eagles—amid secluded coves and towering forests. Explore massive glaciers, kayak scenic coastlines, plus see the hidden wonders Linblad Expeditions has discovered in their 30+ years leading Alaska expeditions.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Juneau, Alaska/Embark Ship
To begin your Alaska Cruise, we will take an early afternoon flight from Seattle to Juneau. Meet your naturalists and visit Mendenhall Glacier, set in the dramatic Mendenhall Valley, located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Embark the ship and take the time to settle into your cabin before dinner. After dinner onboard, take a few hours to yourself and explore the port of Juneau.
DAY 2: Tracy Arm Fjord—Fords Terror Wilderness
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular glacially carved fjords. We’ll also pass the Sawyer Glacier, which has been described as bluer than any blue on earth, or the towering Dawes Glacier. If conditions permit, we'll use our expedition landing craft to provide unparalelled up close views of the glacier. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, porpoises and arctic terns.
DAY 3: Petersburg
Search for humpback whales as we head towards the small, true Alaskan town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island. Explore a unique Southeast Alaskan ecosystem, the "muskeg," with stunted trees and carnivorous plants.
DAY 4: Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait
These waters are prime areas for both killer whales and humpback whales. It's not uncommon to observe their fascinating behavior — breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding — as we fill the deck and listen to the play-by-play from our expert naturalists. We'll explore spectacular bays and inlets, following bear trails and salmon streams. Once ashore, we’ll have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest trail. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another option for up close exploration.
DAY 5: Icy Strait and the Inian Islands
Hike and kayak among the Inian Islands, where an abundance of Steller sea lions and sea otters reside. We’ll search for whales in the rich waters of Icy Strait and, conditions permitting, lower the ship’s hydrophone to listen in on the whales’ communication.
DAY 6: Glacier Bay National Park
We spend the entire day amidst the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. You’ll see glaciers that end abruptly at the water’s edge and observe them “calving” — tons of ice crashing into the sea — accompanied by an exhilaratingly thunderous sound. Mountain goats scaling the peaks as well as harbor seals, Steller sea lions and puffins are some of the creatures we may observe. A visit to Tidal Inlet may bring the sight of brown bears lumbering up the hillside. A native Tlingit interpreter joins us onboard to share the legend of the area.
DAY 7: Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords
Today, nature is our guide as we set forth with the flexibility to take advantage of wildlife and weather conditions. We may stop at an isolated beach to take a closer look at tide pools, beachcomb, and hike stunning forest trails. Keep an eye out for old bear tracks worn into the soil as you move from forest to meadow. This area is home to the highest density of nesting bald eagles in the world, so sightings are very common.
DAY 8: Sitka/Disembark Ship/Seattle
After breakfast we disembark in Sitka, southeastern Alaska’s only oceanfront town. Sitka has a strong Russian heritage, which is readily apparent as you visit the onion-domed St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church. Gaze up at the grand totem poles that line the wooded trails through Sitka National Historic Park. At the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, we have close views of species normally seen at a distance in the wild — bald eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. After our visit, our Alaska Cruise ends.
This Week In...Alaska: Magical Fjords & Rainforests of Alaska by Kensington
Custom Crafted Vacation
Your breath with hang thick in the air as you cruise in eerie silence through an other-worldly ice passage illuminated in electric blues as soaring glacial waterfalls carve the ever-changing landscape before your eyes.
Explore Alaska’s bountiful natural riches on this custom independent trip. The many historical sites of Anchorage offer an insightful introduction into the incredible ancient culture of this land, and you’ll fall deeper in love with Alaska when you fly to Juneau where you’ll cruise past the large colonies of seals and pups that laze on the icebergs of Sawyer Glacier, witness huge glacial waterfalls that gush down sheer cliffs, and gasp at the massive chucks of ice that fall from the face of these frozen juggernauts and into the ocean below. You’ll also have ample time to explore the charming villages of Sitka and Ketchikan, and cruise past remote coves, columnar basalt formations, ancient volcanoes and towering cliffs en route to stunning Misty Fjords.
From the slow rhythms of village life to vast coastal rainforest and the other-worldly landscape of frozen ice fields, this extensive tour combines the cultural and natural life of Alaska in one remarkable package.
Itinerary
Day 1: Anchorage
Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.
Day 2: Anchorage
Meet your driver-guide for a private half-day tour of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Full of interesting sites, picturesque scenery, and history, Anchorage makes for a great sightseeing tour. Your tour will pass attractions like the Log Cabin Visitor Center, the Alaska Railroad Depot, and the Museum of Art & History. Visit Resolution Park and the Captain Cook Monument as well as Ship Creek Viewpoint, which overlooks Cook Inlet.
Day 3: Anchorage - Juneau
Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.
Take a direct flight from Anchorage to Juneau.
Meet your driver for an airport transfer with private vehicle.
The remainder of your day today is spent at leisure.
Day 4: Juneau
Board a 40-50 passenger vessel and embark on a full-day cruise of the Tracy Arm Fjords Glacier. Tracy Arm is one of Alaska's best kept secrets, and rivals more famous attractions. Hundreds of seals and pups laze on the icebergs at the face of Sawyer Glacier. Watch for chunks of ice to calve off the face of the glacier with a splash! Waterfalls stream down sheer cliffs as you learn about how the glaciers carved the fascinating surroundings.
Day 5: Juneau
Start your tour today with a narrated transfer to spectacular Mendelhall Glacier, and its adjacent visitor center. Explore the area on your own before you continue your whale watching adventure from Auke Bay. Here you will board the state of the art jet boat, which is custom designed for Juneau whale watching, and features large windows as well as an outside viewing deck. Watch for humpback whales that return to the nutrient-rich waters around Juneau each year. You might also see other wildlife during the tour such as bald eagles, and a variety of seabirds. An onboard naturalist will provide interesting information along the way. After the tour, transfer to Gold Creek Salmon Bake. The salmon bake has a beautiful setting in a lush rainforest along a creek. Savor the aroma of wild salmon, grilling slowly over fires of fragrant alder wood.
Day 6: Juneau - Sitka
Your scheduled flight from Juneau to Sitka today will take approximately 45 minutes.
The remainder of your day today is spent at leisure, allowing you to explore Sitka and its history
Day 7: Sitka - Ketchikan
Your scheduled flight from Sitka to Ketchikan today will take approximately 35 minutes.
Upon arrival in Ketchikan, the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the town independently.
Day 8: Ketchikan
Join today's boat cruise to the heart of the 3,570-square mile Monument provides an opportunity to view Misty Fjords from a dramatic perspective. A naturalist will provide in-depth commentary on the area as you cruise past a mysterious Native pictograph, Punchbowl Cove, with its columnar basalt formations and the colorful Mossy Wall bird rookery. Enjoy the dramatic landmark New Eddystone Rock, an ancient volcanic plug that juts up 237 feet from the water. Watch for mountain goats, guillemots and other seabirds. You'll be surrounded by cliffs towering thousands of feet, and view waterfalls cascading into emerald waters.
This Week In...Alaska: Ultimate Bays & Fjords by Un-Cruise Adventures
Thoreau once wrote, “We need the tonic of wildness...We can never have enough of nature.” On Un-Cruise Adventures small ship cruises in Alaska’s Inside Passage, they’ll share with you an abundance of nature and uncommon encounters—days in Glacier Bay National Park, brown and black bears, mountains and glaciers, humpback whales and orca, rainforests, bald eagles, and sea birds. Expert teams will guide you on unique and unforgettable journeys.
Itinerary
Day 1: Sitka, Alaska — Embarkation
Welcome aboard! Meet the crew, settle in, and relax with your shipmates. Within minutes you’ll cruise the scenic channels of the Inside Passage.
Day 2: Peril Strait / Sergius Narrows
Peril Strait runs 50 miles from Chatham Strait to Salisbury Sound. This haven for small boats is scenically highlighted by a very narrow connecting passageway called Sergius Narrows and an opening at Hoonah Sound. This historic and wildlife-rich waterway is a great place to watch the shoreline for bears, the waters for otters and whales, and to look skyward for eagles. The passage narrows to only 300 feet in one spot (24 feet deep).
Day 3: Chichagof Island / Baranof Island
Meander along the spectacular waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. In the Un-Cruise expedition spirit, marvel at the grand scenery as our crew expertly guides you through unsung, glacier-carved fjords. Anchor in remote waters for an opportunity to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Explore the shoreline on an intertidal walk or forest exploration with your guides.
Day 4: Icy Strait
Set your course for arguably the richest whale waters in Southeast Alaska. Join the Captain on the bridge or the Expedition Leader out on deck in search of marine mammals. Camera in hand, begin your land and sea exploration of these remote reaches. Ride the skiffs for a closer inspection of the rugged and wild coastline with eyes set on the shore for possible bear sightings.
Day 5: Glacier Bay National Park
One of America’s crown jewel national parks is yours to explore and marvel at for the next three days—Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. A National Park Ranger joins you to explore coves and corners of the bay that most visitors miss. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before you in the waters of Glacier Bay.
Day 6: Glacier Bay National Park
Paddle a kayak and be awed at the face of a massive glacier. Go on a boot-sucking trek through sandbars and rainforest. And ride a skiff along shore for an up-close exploration of Glacier Bay. You'll find sea lions, mountain goats, sea otters, bears, moose, eagles, and spectacular scenic backdrops. Linger near South Marble Island to spot the many species of rare sea birds that call this area home. Keep your eyes on the water and the island for brightly-colored puffins and Black Oystercatchers. Stop in Bartlett Cove for a visit to the Park Service's Headquarters.
Day 7: Glacier Bay National Park
At the conclusion of our last adventurous, but “non-perilous” day in Glacier Bay, toast the first week of your voyage with a festive dinner and a “photo journal” of your trip presented by your Expedition Leaders.
Day 8: Juneau
While others end their adventure and new guests join later in the day, you will spend the day off the boat. Enjoy lunch in town on us and explore all the many things historic Juneau has to offer. A complimentary laundry service is provided today. Embark this afternoon aboard your new vessel and keep watch for eagles as you set sail for the Tracy Arm Wilderness.
Day 9: Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound
At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls, hundreds of cascading waterfalls, and some of the largest icebergs in all of Alaska, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers—Sawyer and South Sawyer. The fjord is home to brown and black bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, birds such as arctic terns and pigeon guillemots, and mountain goats. Later today, move into Frederick Sound—summer feeding ground for the northern hemisphere’s largest concentration of humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca, and Steller sea lions.
Day 10: Thomas Bay
Choose kayaking and a lush forest trek on a scenic rainforest trail, or go big on a roundtrip 11-mile hike to the glacially-fed and rarely visited Patterson Lake for spectacular kayaking in the meltwaters of Patterson Glacier. Discover the origin of its “Devil’s Country” nickname during a reading from “The Strangest Story Ever Told,” about the area’s mythical, shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.
Day 11: Glacial Landscapes / Wrangell Narrows
In an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz, take on the otherworldly boot-sucking mud until you stand atop the mile-wide glacier. Adventure and natural beauty are sure to please whether you choose kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or trekking today. An abundance of bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows this evening.
Day 12: Wrangell
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. Before venturing into town, local islanders join you on board for an in-depth presentation on Tlingit and Haida cultures. View recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park and step inside the famed and historically significant Chief Shakes Tribal House.
Day 13: Behm Canal
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 or low-elevation trek on the Cleveland Peninsula.
Day 14: Misty Fjords National Monument
Affectionately called “The Yosemite of the North,” Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. Glacial valleys filled with sea water, and sheer 3,000 foot cliffs are a haven for sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, moose, river otters, and other wildlife. Glide through Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay by kayak or explore by skiff soaking in the splendor of this largely forgotten corner of the world. This evening, join the Captain in a farewell toast and reminisce about your Alaskan journey over a sumptuous dinner.
Day 15: Ketchikan — Disembark
Enjoy a farewell breakfast before disembarking the ship this morning.
