ALLURING ALASKA

Take a soul stirring cultural immersion with Ponant.

The Smithsonian Journeys And Ponant Experience

Set sail on Alaska’s Inside Passage on a small-ship voyage from Vancouver to Sitka with Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys, discovering majestic scenery and an intriguing cultural mosaic as you explore dramatic fjords, icebergs and glaciers, bays teeming with whales and dolphins, and the enduring traditions of Alaska Native communities. Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys' two departures to Alaska on July 5 and July 20, 2024, will be accompanied by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts and a team of naturalist guides. Lectures and information sessions will cover wildlife, history, environmental protection, and more. This program includes a one-way flight from Sitka to Seattle at the end of the cruise.

Each Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys departure is handcrafted to enrich the mind, inspire the spirit, and ignite the instinct to explore. Eminent leaders in their field, handpicked for affability and expertise, will explore the core themes of the destinations with fellow travelers.

Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys’ first Alaskan departure will be even more awe-filled when the award-winning natural history filmmaker, John Grabowska, and renowned geologist, Dr. Scott Burns, join guests on excursions throughout The Last Frontier.

The Ponant Experience

Here are some highlights from Ponant’s 14 inspiring and introspective journeys to choose from.

The ancient village of Kake is home to one of the largest totem poles in the world, carved by indigenous Tlingit people. Connecting with a native of Elfin Cove reveals the way of life in the quaint fisherman settlement. While cruising near the west coast of British Columbia, experience a traditional cultural dance performed by the Kwakwaka’wakw people — the original inhabitants of the Northern Vancouver Island area.

Because Ponant specializes in small-ship cruises, passengers can enjoy access to the small island and inlets of Sitka Sound, where it’s common to observe Alaska’s charming and extraordinary wildlife, including sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, orcas, black bears, and bald eagles. The majestic grizzly bear — an iconic symbol of untamed wilderness — can easily be spotted pacing the sea cliffs, steep fjords, and rock walls jutting 3,000 feet straight out of the ocean in Misty Fjords National Monument. Blue glacial lakes, dizzying waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks surround you during a hike through the Tongass National Forest.

Another small-ship advantage is the ability to journey through the narrow Endicott Arm Fjord, which ends with a front-row view of the towering Dawes Glacier. More than 600 feet tall and a half-mile wide, this active icecap is known for spectacular calving displays.