Alaska's Inside Passage

8 Days From $7,560

Maximum Group Size: 100

Trip Type: Expedition Cruise

Activity Level: Light or Moderate

• Spot brown bears and humpbacks while exploring fjords and islands by Zodiac or kayak.

• Learn about the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit from a native cultural heritage guide.

• Meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn about their latest research.

Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis)

On your trip, be on the lookout for...

Humpback whales, brown bears, bald eagles, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, mountain goats, puffins, and more.

Days 1–2: Juneau, Alaska/Tracy Arm—Fords Terror Wilderness

Arrive in Juneau and visit the Alaska State Museum—home to an impressive collection of natural and cultural artifacts—before embarking our ship. The next day, voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular glacially carved fjords. See the soaring South Sawyer or Dawes Glacier up close; and take a cruise in a Zodiac for views of sculpted icebergs, keeping an eye out for harbor seals, porpoises, and arctic terns.

Accommodations: National Geographic Venture or National Geographic Quest for the entire voyage

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca)

Days 3–4: Petersburg/Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait

Search for humpback whales as we head toward the small town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island. Explore Southeast Alaska’s muskeg, an area with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. Seek out whales in the waters of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait, and take a walk with naturalists in the area’s tiny coves. Meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation (schedules permitting)—whose work is supported by a grant from the Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic Fund—and discuss some of their recent discoveries.

Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Days 5–6: Inian Islands/Icy Strait/Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Cruise among the Inian Islands, where an upwelling of undersea organisms attracts an abundance of marine life. Hike nearby islands and search for sea otters and Steller sea lions in the rich waters off Icy Strait. The following day, explore Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve by special permit. Observe magnificent calving glaciers and spy mountain goats and brown bears patrolling the shores. A native cultural heritage guide joins us to discuss the Huna Tlingit’s ancestral homeland of Glacier Bay, and a National Park Service ranger will offer insights on the natural world.

Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias Jubatus)

Days 7–8: Alaska's Islands, Bays and Fjords/Sitka

Go beachcombing, hike stunning forest trails, or see bear tracks worn into the soil while walking through an isolated meadow. If conditions permit, we’ll go kayaking, always watching for marine and terrestrial life. Disembark in Sitka the next morning and visit the Alaska Raptor Center, enjoying a close-up view of species normally seen at a distance. Then take a walk in Sitka National Historical Park, where Tlingit and Haida totem poles tower over coastal trails. Later, drive to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Your National Geographic Expert

Tierney Thys, Marine Biologist and Filmmaker

National Geographic Explorer Tierney Thys has received numerous grants from the National Geographic Society for projects that include satellite tracking of marine megafauna and mapping the connections between nature and human well-being.

Find the departure(s) Tierney will join on our website.

Information

This trip is operated in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions.

This expedition is offered from May through September.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and vary by cabin category. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Airfare is not included in the price. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. This itinerary is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time without notice.

Wild Alaska Escape: A Voyage from Juneau to Ketchikan

6 Days From $4,800

Maximum Group Size: 62

Navigate winding narrows and glacial bays on an action-packed voyage through the southern reaches of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Kayak past the soaring cliffs of Misty Fjords National Monument; hike through Tongass National Forest in search of moose, black bears, and bald eagles; and explore the indigenous history of Wrangell Island. Visit our website for details.

Call 1-888-966-8687 or your professional travel advisor

Find details and dates for all our expeditions at natgeoexpeditions.com/wildlife