The Best of Southeast Alaska

Day 1: Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation
Day 2: Saint James Bay Park
Day 3: Hains
Day 4: Icy Strait / George Island
Day 5: Lisianski River / Pelican Town
Day 6: Glacier Bay National Park
Day 7: Chichagof Island and Neka Bay 
Day 8: Juneau
Day 9: Tracy Arm - Fords Terror Wilderness
Day 10: Frederick Sound
Day 11: Wrangell Narrows / Thomas Bay
Day 12: Wrangell
Day 13: Behm Canal
Day 14: Misty Fjords National Monument
Day 15: Juneau, Alaska – Disembarkation

Day 1: Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation
Once you check-in at the hospitality area, perhaps you will have time to explore a bit of Juneau. Surrounded by the rich, green Tongass National Forest, and located on beautiful Gastineau Channel, Juneau is an important port and a popular tourist destination. Unique because it is the only state capital in the United States that is inaccessible by road, Juneau sits at sea level below the steep mountains that are home to the Juneau Icefield and the Mendenhall Glacier. 

Once on board, get ready for two weeks of scenic channels and secluded wilderness. (D)

Day 2: Saint James Bay Park
Just what you need, morning stretches on deck with your guide. Warm those hard-at-play muscles. You know firsthand that conditions in the Southeast change from one inlet to the next. Your captain is at the helm and picks just the right spot. The adventures are as big as the water is deep! So many hidden pockets in the Tongass National Forest. Give your paddle board skills a glide. Watch for big-eyed harbor seals from a kayak. Bushwhack into the forest of giants. Your guides know the area’s history and keep it lively. (BLD)

Day 3: Haines
The center of adventure. Tucked beneath snowcapped peaks, Haines has it all. Hiking, biking, kayaking, and history. One thing’s for sure—the trails are irresistible. Go easy, or feel the burn—whatever your speed, the views reward in spades. Your expedition team shares the city’s captivating history. A trading outlet for Chilkat Tlingit, they called it “Dtehshuh”—the end of the trail. European explorers, the Klondike gold rush, a U.S. Army outpost—influences still apparent today. What holds your interest? Follow your curiosity on a self-led tour. (BLD)

Day 4: Icy Strait / George Island 
From kelp-lined channels to hemlock and spruce forests, every inch of this far northwest corner is worth exploring. Today’s adventures promise to be as big as the water is deep! Seals and sea lions haul out on rocky outcroppings, resting before disappearing in the water to search for food. If the tides are right, your guides will load up the skiff for a closer peek along the rugged shore, or perhaps, make it all the way to George Island. Remember that your expedition team guides you in whatever you choose to do: wilderness trekking, skiffing, or paddling. (BLD)

Day 5: Lisianski River / Pelican Town
The tiny fishing community (75 year-round residents) of Pelican plays host to sport fishermen and kayakers in the summer. Join your guide for a 6-mile hike on the Lisianski trail, or a 4-mile trek through old-growth forest and a historic mining area on Bohemia Basin. Take a skiff or kayak along the coast in search of brown bears, Sitka black-tail deer, whales, orcas, sea lions, or rafts of sea otters. (BLD)

Day 6: Glacier Bay National Park
Today features South Marble Island with its significant seabird colony. Rare sea birds, black oystercatchers, and orange-beaked tufted puffins can be sighted as well as the federally endangered species, the Stellar sea lions. As you tuck into the silent Tidal Inlet - the stomping grounds for bears, wolves, mountain goats, and eagles - the backdrop is spectacular. At the end of the westernmost arm of the bay sits Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. (BLD)

Day 7: Chichagof Island and Neka Bay
Remote passages offer more opportunities for you to search for the mighty humpback whale. Keep your binoculars at hand and watch for the misty spout of these gentle giants as they feed in the waters around you. Anchor in a remote Chichagof Island inlet. Backpacks loaded and adventure toys lowered (skiffs, paddle boards, kayaks), it’s time to go play. Stick to the water in a kayak excursion, and don’t forget to look above and below the surface. A nosy seal could be watching your every stroke while you spy tiny creatures clinging to rocks, or beachcomb the rocky shores. (BLD)

Day 8: Juneau
You have a choice on how to spend your day off the boat. Accompanied by a local expert (and plenty of snacks), the West Glacier Trail excursion takes you through the dense temperate rainforest with massive views overlooking Mendenhall Glacier and the surrounding coastal mountain range. Or, opt for a more relaxed pace visiting Juneau highlights on your own. An included tramway ticket provides a ride up the Mt. Roberts Tram, where views unfold as you ascend 1,800 feet through the forest. At the top, explore the trails and Nature Center; back at the bottom, explore Alaska’s heritage at the Alaska State Museum. Both options also include a lunch voucher for a local restaurant. A complimentary laundry service is provided today. (BLD)

Day 9: Tracy Arm - Fords Terror Wilderness
Jutting off Stephens Passage with two deep, glacially carved fjords, this designated wilderness area contains over 600,000 acres. Your explorations today are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Literally, it’s a harbor seal’s delight lazing away the day atop a floating bergie as you cruise past chunks and chunks of floating ice (there’s far more beneath the surface than the eye can see). In classic fjord form, the end of the arm doesn’t disappoint with the blue face of a story-high glacier. If conditions are right, skiffs are the ticket to getting in close. (BLD)

Day 10: Frederick Sound
Humpback whales are frequent visitors of this Southeast passage. A misty spout is a sure sign they’re in the neighborhood. Your captain navigates Stephens Passage to Port Houghton. And you’re in for a boot-sucking, paddle-smacking day of adventure with your guide team. The routes are all picked out. Make your choice and make your move. Slip off the kayak launch and take it slow spotting sea stars and shore birds. Hard chargers take a long wild paddle to the salt chuck at the back of the inlet. Or, hike into the Tongass. (BLD)

Day 11: Wrangell Narrows / Thomas Bay
Thomas Bay is known for its glaciers and its abundance of wildlife. Moose, bears, and wolves are just a few of the animals you may see while traveling through this bay. Rich with gold, quartz, and lore, Baird Glacier drains into the bay. You can kayak and skiff in water almost as clear as glass. The mirror image of fjord walls plays on the surface. Hike through the outwash of Baird Glacier or keep it green on an interpretive walk through a grassy meadow into the forest. Later, wind into the Wrangell Narrows, nicknamed “Christmas Tree Lane". Abundant bright red and green navigation lights guide the way. (BLD)

Day 12: Blashkee Islands
The Blashkee Islands are your playground today. A full day of choose-your-own-adventure fun. Hiking, kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling, and full-day yak-n-whack excursions. Get ready for a full day! (BLD)

Day 13: Behm Canal
Behm Canal is located in the Alexander Archipelago. Wildlife abounds along this 108-mile-long natural channel such as black bears, mink, and eagles. On the Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low-elevation hike with wide-stretching views. In the water orca, porpoises, seals, and otters are abundant. A guided paddle will explore the small deserted waterways that feed into Behm Canal. (BLD)

Day 14: Misty Fjords National Monument
There are still a few places left on the planet that can strike awe. Misty Fjords National Monument is one of them. Carved out by the last great North American glaciation, narrow winding granite walls guide the ship deeper into the wilderness. Nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska is represented here. Seabirds, 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. The area's affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved, and it’s an amazing wrap to your week. Your captain joins you tonight for a Farewell Dinner. Celebrate and reminisce about your Alaskan journey with a “photo journal” by your crew. (BLD)

Day 15: Ketchikan, Alaska – Disembarkation
After breakfast, this morning, bid adieu to your new pals before you disembark and transfer to the Ketchikan airport or begin your extended stay. (B)

Day 1: Ketchikan, Alaska – Embarkation
Day 2: Misty Fjords National Monument
Day 3: Behm Canal
Day 4: Blashkee Islands
Day 5: Wrangell Narrows / Thomas Bay
Day 6: Frederick Sound
Day 7: Tracy Arm / Fords Terror Wilderness
Day 8: Juneau
Day 9: Chichagof Island and Neka Bay 
Day 10: Glacier Bay National Park
Day 11: Lisianski River / Pelican TOwn
Day 12: Icy Strait / Goerge Island 
Day 13: Haines
Day 14: Saint James Bay Park
Day 15: Juneau, Alaska – Disembarkation

* Itinerary details are the same as the Juneau to Ketchikan tour direction.