Sailing south through Alaska and British Columbia from Glacier Bay winds you through some of the region’s best-known passages and little visited tributaries offering incredible wildlife, scenery and culture. Your nimble expedition small ship and first class onboard natural history guide team make this journey a truly iconic National Geographic experience through the Big Country.
The Inside Passages of Alaska and British Columbia have so much to offer: steep fjords, glaciers and some of the biggest forests in the World. Wildlife includes Humpback and Killer Whales, Steller sealions, dolphins, Bald Eagles and Brown Bears. Beyond the stunning natural beauty, this trip delivers an active and inspiring opportunity to explore ancient indigenous cultures, picturesque fishing villages as well as modern coastal cities.
Accompanying you will be an outstanding team of experts including an underwater specialist and National Geographic photographer. One of the most dramatic scenes here at this time of year is the feeding of Humpback Whales. These enormous creatures blow nets of bubbles in a ring around their prey to funnel them into one place before racing up to the surface and lunging out of the water, swallowing hundreds of fish at a time. Each whale can consume more than a tonne of fish a day.
Killer Whales patrol the inlets and bays of the San Juan Islands for Salmon which come here in huge numbers to spawn upriver in the annual Salmon Run. Brown and Black bears will also be making use of this influx of food and can be seen scouting the sides of the rivers or waiting at rapids for fish to literally jump into their mouths. The relative abundance of these large animals makes this a great itinerary for photographers hoping to frame a bear against a backdrop of dramatic fjords and mountains, luscious forests or meadows.
Tongass National Forest is one of the many incredible locations which is visited on these voyages. The largest temperate rainforest in the world, it spans over 26,000 square miles (almost 70,000 km2) and is home to the renowned Misty Fjords National Monument. This surreal 40-mile-long area is where you will have the opportunity to kayak along sheer cliffs and forested banks which provide a pristine habitat for Brown bears, Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals and more.
You will visit the Kawkwaka’wakw indigenous peoples of Alert Bay, who through sharing their art, music and regional knowledge will give you an insight into the lives of those that lived here long before Europeans ever discovered the Americas.
Alongside frequent opportunities for wilderness kayaking, you will also be able to hike, paddleboard and ride on a rigid inflatable boat (Zodiac) to explore inlets and bays too shallow for your small mothership to access.
Itinerary
Please note that this itinerary is written to provide a flavour of each voyage. The actual route will vary according to choice of vessel, the captain and expedition team in accordance with prevailing ice, weather and sea conditions and opportunities to see wildlife and wilderness scenery.
Day 1 – Sitka
Arrive in Sitka, Alaska. Situated on the western coast of Baranof Island and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Sitka is known for its Tlingit culture and remnants of its Russian heritage which date back to the 1800s. Embark this evening in time for cocktails and an introduction to the staff and crew. You will also have dinner onboard.
Day 2 – Baranof or Chichagof Island
Spend a full day searching for bubble-net feeding or breaching humpback whales, with opportunities for kayaking & hiking.
Day 3 – Inian Islands / Icy Strait
Cruise among the Inian Islands, where Steller sea lions and sea otters abound. Hike nearby islands, kayak and search for whales in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait.
Day 4 – Glacier Bay
Spend the entire day cruising amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. See glaciers that end abruptly at the water's edge and observe them calving, when tons of ice separate and crash into the water with a thunderous blast.
Day 5 – Tracy or Endicott Arm
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular fjords, with waterfalls cascading from glacially carved walls. See the soaring Dawes or South Sawyer Glacier up close and take a cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbour seals, harbour porpoises and Arctic terns.
Day 6 – Petersburg
Search for humpback whales on the approach to picturesque Petersburg, a small fishing village on Alaska’s Mitkof Island, which retains much of its Norwegian heritage. Explore a unique Southeast Alaska ecosystem, the muskeg, with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town. This evening, enjoy a crab feast.
Day 7 – Misty Fjords
Enjoy the day soaking up the spectacular scenery of Alaska's Misty Fjords National Monument, a 2.3-million-acre wilderness of shear rock walls, temperate rain forest and glacier-sculpted waterways. Kayak in the still, forested backwaters of this protected national treasure and discover a pristine habitat for brown bears, bald eagles, harbour seals and more.
Days 8 & 9 – British Columbia’s Inside Passage
Cruise southward along the pristine coastline in search of whales, dolphins, bears, deer and other wildlife. Go ashore to explore or kayak among the many bays and inlets.
Day 10 – Alert Bay & Johnstone Strait
Visit the Big House in the First Nations village of Alert Bay, Canada and gain insight from the Kwakwaka'wakw people who will share their art, music and regional knowledge. Sail through Johnstone Strait, a waterway cut through a magnificently wild and scenic area of mountains and islands. These ocean waters are also home to extraordinary marine mammals and bird watching.
Day 11 – Gulf Islands
Located in the Strait of Georgia, between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands are a kayaker’s paradise. Explore the myriad islets and rocky coasts and keep an eye out for harbour seals and an array of seabirds, shorebirds and birds of prey.
Day 12 – Victoria
In the charming Canadian city of Victoria, choose from several tailor-made options to explore based on your interests. Visit private gardens, bike along the waterfront, take a stroll through history in Old Town or discover James Bay on an architecture tour. In the evening, enjoy a private reception at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Day 13 – San Juan Islands
Visit the more remote of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago in northern Washington State perfect for kayaking, exploring by Zodiac and hiking. Walks with your expert staff will familiarize you with the natural and cultural history of the rugged northwest coast region.
Day 14 – Seattle
You will be able to take breakfast onboard before you disembark in Seattle and transfer to the airport for flights home.
