Alaska: Famed Passages of Discovery
Alaska
Day 1: Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation
Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted as we set sail for the Tracy Arm Wilderness.
Day 2: Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound
At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls and large floating icebergs, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Explore Frederick Sound—a summer feeding ground for humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca, and Steller sea lions.
Day 3: Thomas Bay
Enjoy kayaking and trekking through the forest on a scenic backcountry trail. Discover the origin of its "Devil's Country" nickname and hear legends about the area’s mythical shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.
Day 4: Glacial Landscapes / Wrangell Narrows
In an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz, natural beauty is today's setting for kayaking, paddle boarding, skiffing, or trekking. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows.
Day 5: Wrangell
Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder, Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska. Brush up on your Tlingit culture, and view recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park. Wander past the fishing marina to the famed and historic Chief Shakes Tribal House. Touch Wrangell's storied past at the artifact-filled museum.
Day 6: Behm Canal
Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest, including orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Paddle along pristine waterways or venture out on an intertidal shore walk.
Day 7: Misty Fjords National Monument
This majestic, 2.3 million-acre wilderness is home to nearly every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska—stunning glacial valleys filled with seawater, untouched wetlands and estuaries, and 3,000-foot vertical cliffs that are a haven for wildlife. Soak in the splendor of this largely unknown corner of the world.
Day 8: Ketchikan
Alaska’s southernmost city and “salmon capital of the world” also claims fame by having the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles. Explore Tlingit culture and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district in downtown Ketchikan.
Day 9: Canada’s Inside Passage
Take in the pure wilderness air and see how many bald eagles you can spot from the deck. Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sighting orca and other wildlife as you sail through Canada's Inside Passage.
Day 10: Canada’s Inside Passage
Fill your days through the Passage with splendid scenery, relaxation, and plenty of onboard activities. Your expedition team aims to entertain and keep you busy with engaging presentations, games, and enlightening narration. Unlock the natural history of the area and discover how native influences and the fishing and forest industries have shaped these sparsely-populated islands and communities.
Day 11: Canada’s Inside Passage / Salish Sea
Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, before passing Prince Rupert, BC and crossing the US/Canadian border into Washington State. Shaped and molded by the last ice age, forested islands dot the shores of the Salish Sea. Weave through the inlets of this yachter’s paradise, keeping watch for the resident orca pods.
Day 12: Friday Harbor, Washington
In quaint Friday Harbor, discover maritime history, art galleries, and a fascinating whale museum. Gunkhole close to shore by skiff or kayak as you explore the serene San Juan Islands—an archipelago of islands first charted by the Spanish in 1791.
Day 13: Seattle – Disembark
Transit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks into Fishermen's Terminal and disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the Seattle Airport for your flight home.