Alaska Vacation Packages

Wilderness Waterways - Tour 820
This smaller will take you on a cruise around the Inside Passage to some of Southeast Alaska's beautiful ports of call.

Highlights
Juneau (Flightseeing, Mountaintop Tram ride, salmon fishing), Tracy Arm, Kake, Alexander Archipelago, Sitka, Icy Strait, Glacier Bay

Day 3 • Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm
Tracy Arm is a 22-mile long fjord that many travelers consider the single most spectacular spot in Alaska. Sheer granite cliffs soar for thousands of feet straight up to snowpacks that send waterfalls down the granite faces. Mountain goats cling to precarious perches, bears forage on the beaches, and seals play all around in the water. Also explore adjacent Endicott Arm, and perhaps tuck into Ford’s Terror. Endicott Arm ends in Dawes Glacier, which often calves immense amounts of ice into the fjord. This evening, anchor out in a secluded bay.

Day 4 • Frederick Sound and Wilderness Exploration
The waters of Frederick Sound teem with the humpback whale’s favorite food – and the whales take full advantage, feeding in the rich waters as they prepare for their long migration south. Once they leave Alaska waters at summer’s end, these giant creatures will not eat again until they return next year. This afternoon you’ll discover the joys of “gunkholing,” a nautical term that means, among other things, “exploring at leisure.” Your Captain and Exploration Leader know these waters intimately – and each voyage is likely to be different, depending on what magic they find to share with you at the moment.

Day 5 • Sitka
This beautiful little city is thought by many to be the “jewel of the Inside Passage.” Its setting alone is breathtaking. But, for you, getting there is half the fun. While big ships must plow through miles of open ocean and moor far from the tiny docks, your small ship will come to Sitka “through the back door,” threading through beautiful Peril Strait and navigating the delicate passage through Sergius Narrows where tides challenge all but the most expert mariner’s skill. Take in the historic beauty of the artifacts of St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church. Come face-to-face with majestic birds of prey at the fascinating Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center. Then, listen to their cousins in the wild as they cluster and chatter over your head at the beautiful Sitka National Historical Park.

Day 6 • Icy Straight
Watch for the gentle humpbacks as they feast on tiny krill churned by waters from the Pacific Ocean. Today, try to count, not only the whales, but the numbers of behaviors you’ll see them exhibit. Spouting. Sounding. Breaching. Tail slapping. Fin smacking. Lunge feeding. Even rare bubble feeding if you’re very, very lucky. The tiny Inian Islands stand between you and the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska, with enticing opportunities to get out there and explore by inflatable craft. Be sure to keep an eye out for Stellar sea lions, orcas, harbor seals, and porpoise.

Day 7 • Elfin Cove
Tucked on the north shore of Chichagof Island, Elfin Cove gives you a rare look at what it means to “live off the grid.” No vehicles are used here because there are no roads. Wooden boardwalks connect the few structures. You’ll have time to hike, explore, and maybe even share a friendly chat with the locals while you’re here.

Day 8 • Glacier Bay National Park
A National Park Service Ranger joins you on board, as you spend a full day cruising through this awesome wonderland. At the very northernmost point, you will approach very close to Margerie Glacier, as it pours from a remote pocket of British Columbia’s mountains into Alaskan waters. Watch for puffins and murres at the Marble Islands, mountain goats high on the cliffs, and harbor seals on the icebergs.

Day 9 • Arrive Juneau
We’ll say goodbye with regret as you disembark in Juneau this morning. Depending on your flight arrangements, you may have time to explore this charming city a bit more. When you’re ready to leave, we’ll escort you to the airport and send you home with our fondest wishes and a lifetime of unforgettable memories. (Note: The order of destinations on this itinerary may vary in response to conditions and/or opportunities.)