A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii

DAY 1: Seattle/Embark

Meals: Dinner

Arrive in Seattle this afternoon and embark the ship.

DAY 2: Gulf Islands, British Columbia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Search for orca whales and cruise around forested islands.

DAY 3: Johnstone Strait and Alert Bay, British Columbia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

At the community of Alert Bay, visit the U’mista Cultural Centre, where we’ll watch traditional First Nations performances and learn from the Kwakwaka'wakw people. Visit Johnstone Strait, one of the foremost viewing areas for orcas in the Northern Hemisphere.

DAY 4-5: Inside Passage of British Columbia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Head northward along the untouched coastline looking for whales, dolphins, bears, deer and other wildlife. Go ashore to explore or kayak the many bays and inlets.

DAY 6-8: Haida Gwaii

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

With a shared respect for the natural world, explore the islands of Haida Gwaii. A Haida Interpreter will join us as we visit the Haida Heritage Center at K’aay Llnagaay to learn about the incredible history of the Haida people and the meaning behind their renowned artwork. In the ancestral town of Old Massett, join in a traditional dance performance and feast, and meet community members and local artistans. Explore Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. See the ancient totems at SGang Gwaay (Ninstints) or K'una (Skedans). Kayak and take expedition landing craft around the incredibly biodiverse islands where black bears are the largest in the world and endemic species thrive.

DAY 9: Misty Fiords, Alaska

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Cruise past glacially-carved cliffs and kayak in the stillness of Misty Fiord’s forested backwaters.

DAY 10: Frederick Sound and Petersburg

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Join naturalists on deck and search for orcas, humpback whales, and Steller sea lions. Go ashore for a walk along a quiet forest trail and in the fishing village of Petersburg, known as “Alaska’s Little Norway.” Explore with optional flightseeing or a bicycle ride. Enjoy a crab feast this evening.

DAY 11: Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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 on an expedition landing craft for an unbeatable view of sculpted icebergs.

DAY 12: Juneau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Visit Mendenhall Glacier with your naturalists and observe the ever-changing, ice-carved valley up close.

DAY 13: Glacier Bay National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Spend the entire day among the enormous glaciers and expansive wilderness. Listen as the quiet stillness of the area is broken by the thunder of tons of ice calving into the sea. Search for Steller sea lions, puffins and mountain goats. A native Tlingit interpreter joins us to share the lore and legend of the area. A National Park Service Ranger will join us as well.

DAY 14: Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Kayak and hike among forested islands on our final exploration of southeast Alaska.

DAY 15: Sitka/Disembark/Home

Meals: Breakfast

Visit Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral with its picturesque spire and meet eagles up close at the Raptor Rehabilitation Center before transferring to the airport for flights to Seattle.