AMIRALTY ISLAND

1. JUNEAU

2. TENAKEE INLET

3. CHICHAGOF ISLAND

4. ADMIRALTY ISLAND

JUNEAU

At the Alaskan end of the Inside Passage, Juneau is the capital city of Alaska. The attractions will suit people with outdoor interests. The nutrients provided by the glaciers attract humpback whales and orcas which you must see. Water activities available include water-skiing, kayaking, and rafting which is also a good way of sight-seeing along the coast. Bear viewing tours, dog sledding and ziplining are also on offer. Nearby Mount Roberts provides excellent views and can be ascended either on foot or by tram. The area has active glaciers and these can be best seen from light aircraft or helicopters. The Juneau Icefield is a massive area of ice which is best explored by trekking or flightseeing.

If you’ve had enough of the outdoors, the Alaska State Museum is well worth a visit.

Tenakee Inlet

The tiny beachfront city of Tenakee is the perfect place to drop anchor and switch off for a few days. With no cars allowed and a wealth of wilderness right on your doorstep, charter guests will adore the endless opportunities to indulge in nature. Endless logging trails offer keen mountain bikers the chance to pedal and push for miles, rich salt waters invite you to cast your lines, humpback whales can be spotted crossing these waters during the month of October, and steamy hot springs let you soak away any traces of stress left. The community may be small but it’s lively, artistic, ever welcoming and even home to a historic market that dates back to 1899.

Chichigof Island

The largest of the Alaskan ABC Islands, Chichagof is reputed to have the largest concentration of brown bears in Alaska. There are four settlements on the island, the biggest by far being Hoonah from where you can experience interesting tours. These include coastal kayak tours, whale watching and bear searching tours. It is wisest to be accompanied by an experienced guide when venturing into the wilderness from the city. The island is rich in culture and a cultural tour will leave lasting impression. Dining options here are not of the fine dining variety but wholesome and flavoursome.

Admiralty Island

The first alphabetically of Alaska’s ABC Islands, Admiralty is home to more bears than humans, and more bald eagles than bears. A prime activity on the island is watching brown bears interacting in their natural habitat from safe observation posts in the pack creek Brown Bear Viewing Area, for which a permit is easily obtained. Main activities on the island include hiking, cycling, back-packing, bird-watching, fishing, kayaking in fjords, white-water rafting and snorkelling. If you plan on spending some time on the island, cabins in the wild can be rented from the Forest Service. There are no restaurants on the island and it is best to get provisions from Juneau if necessary.

Glaciers, icebergs, waterfalls, and all the stars of the Southeast Alaskan show can be found on the doorstep of Pybus Bay. This wild and rugged place sets a dreamy mise-enscene for intimate wildlife adventures, first-class fishing, and unbridled beauty at every turn. Charter guests looking to haul in a mammoth salmon, watch whales breach the cool blue waters, and even see bears play and tumble along the shore will fall hard for this enchanting spot. Pybus Bay even boasts its own motto - come to disconnect and leave connected. This slogan perfectly suits the mood where days are spent exploring glaciers, admiring waterfalls, and counting off seals, whales, bears, and more on your fingertips. One of the major draws of Pybus is its commitment to providing exceptional fishing opportunities with lots of guided saltwater fishing fun.

Tracy Arm Fjord

The Tracy Arm fjord is accessible only by boat or seaplane. It is a wonderful place to visit and should be included in any charter in the region. It is a place to view some marvels of nature from the water, surrounded by mountain peaks and waterfalls. Apart from the two glaciers, North and South Sawyer which are major spectacles themselves, you will see much land and marine life. On land you will probably see bears, wolves, deer and goats. Because the ice interferes with whales’ communication, it is a good spot for seals to have their pups. Above these spectacles you will see majestic eagles and other minor birdlife flying around. The glacier is live, in that it is flowing and “calving” or losing pieces of ice into the water. You will enjoy the stillness and the sounds of the ice if the boat’s engines are turned off. A loud and memorable crash normally accompanies larger pieces of ice hitting the water. In the water and on the ice flows you may see whales, orcas and seals of various sizes.

At the Alaskan end of the Inside Passage, lies Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. The nutrients provided by the glaciers attract humpback whales and orcas which are a must see. Water activities include water-skiing, kayaking, and rafting which is also a good way of sight-seeing along the coast. Bear viewing tours, dog sledding and ziplining are also on offer. Nearby Mount Roberts provides excellent views and can be ascended either on foot or by tram. The Juneau Icefield is a massive area of ice which is best explored by trekking or flightseeing. If you’ve had enough of the outdoors, the Alaska State Museum is well worth a visit.

TIME ZONE

ALASKA STANDARD TIME - UTC/GMT -9 HOURS

CURRENCY

USD - US DOLLAR - $

CLIMATE

MAY - HIGH 57°F / LOW 42°F

JUNE - HIGH 63°F / LOW 48°F

JULY - HIGH 64°F / LOW 51°F

AUGUST - HIGH 62°F / LOW 50°F

SEPTEMBER - HIGH 55°F / LOW 45°F

CRUISING TIME 31 HOURS

DISTANCE

340 NAUTICAL MILES