Alaska’s Inside Passage

TRAVELER FAVORITE

8 DAYSFROM $7,560

• Get up close to icebergs and wildlife, exploring by kayak and Zodiac. • Search for bears while hiking in the Tongass National Forest by special permission. • Meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn about the local pods.

Expedition Cruise Light or Moderate

DAY 1 I JUNEAU, ALASKA Arrive in Juneau. Meet our naturalists and visit the Alaska State Museum—home to an impressive collection of natural and cultural artifacts. Tour downtown Juneau before embarking your ship. National Geographic Venture or National Geographic Quest for the entire voyage Meals: 1D DAY 2 I TRACY ARM—FORDS TERROR WILDERNESS 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 an unbeatable view of sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, porpoises, and arctic terns. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 3 I PETERSBURG Search for humpback whales as we head toward the small town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, founded more than a hundred years ago by Norwegian fishermen. Explore Southeast Alaska’s muskeg, an area with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. Stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town, before enjoying a crab feast for dinner this evening. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 4 I FREDERICK SOUND AND CHATHAM STRAIT These waters often offer great whale watching. Take a walk with naturalists along a quiet forest trail or kayak 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 about the region’s marine mammal population. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 5 I INIAN ISLANDS/ICY STRAIT Cruise among the Inian Islands, where an upwelling of undersea organisms attracts an abundance of marine life. Hike nearby islands, kayak, and search for marine mammals in the rich waters off Icy Strait. Conditions permitting, we’ll lower the ship’s hydrophone to listen in on whale communications. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 6 I GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE By special permit, explore Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve today. See glaciers that end abruptly at the water’s edge, and observe them calving—when tons of ice crash into the sea. Wilderness abounds here—mountain goats and brown bears patrol the shore; and sea otters, Steller sea lions, and puffins swim in these icy waters. Hear from our naturalists about the rich cultural history of Glacier Bay, the ancestral home of the Huna Tlingit people. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 7 I ALASKA’S ISLANDS, BAYS, AND FJORDS Today, nature is our guide. We may go beachcombing and tide pooling, hike the trails of the stunning Tongass National Forest by special permission, or watch for wildlife in a secluded meadow. Sightings of bald eagles are very common. If conditions permit, we’ll go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, always watching for marine and terrestrial life. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 8 I SITKA After breakfast, disembark in Sitka, Southeast Alaska’s only oceanfront town. Visit the Alaska Raptor Center, enjoying a close view of species normally seen at a distance. Then take a walk in Sitka National Historic Park, where Tlingit and Haida totem poles tower over coastal trails. Later, drive to the airport for your flight home. Meals: 1B

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GLOBAL EXPLORERS PROGRAM

Young travelers on any of the Alaska expeditions can participate in the National Geographic Global Explorers program. Developed with National Geographic Education, this hands-on, interactive program teaches kids how to develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of an explorer while offering all kinds of fun activities. In the company of certified field educators, kids and teens will hone their observation skills and learn to capture and share their experiences through photographs, videos, maps, drawings, and more. With a range of activities to choose from—in the field and on board—kids can explore their own interests, whether that’s marine biology or photography.

YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM

A diverse expedition team, including an Expedition Leader and local guides, will accompany this trip.

INFORMATION

This trip is operated in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions. Dates: This expedition is offered from May through September. All departures are family friendly and feature the National Geographic Global Explorers Program (see box at left). 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.

ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE

EXPLORE DENALI NATIONAL PARK Pre- or Post-trip | 7 days from $7,790 per person Extension

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