At a glance
- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Start/End:
- Juneau - Sitka, or reverse
- From:
- $6,617
- Time of Year:
- May - September
On this 8-day Alaska’s Inside Passage cruise aboard the National Geographic Quest or National Geographic Venture, explore Southeast Alaska on an unrivaled experience, guaranteed of in-depth encounters with all its wonders. Their expedition ships are fully equipped with tools for exploration.
Do more than just see Alaska—be an active participant in all that it has to offer. Voyage into majestic fjords, come face to face with glaciers, and kayak along the coast in search of marine life. Learn about whale behavior and watch for breaching and spy-hopping humpbacks and orcas. Enjoy a full day immersed in the beauty of Glacier Bay National Park with insights from a Tlingit cultural interpreter.
There is no place like Alaska—a vast, untouched frontier of snow-capped mountains, breathtaking fjords, and extraordinary wildlife. Lindblad Expeditions has been exploring the region’s wildest corners for more than 40 years, seeking out inlets and coves where larger cruise ships can’t sail and taking guests deeper into pure wilderness. In these seldom-seen areas, you may witness the thunder of a calving glacier, kayak past foraging bears or Zodiac alongside a pod of orcas. Explore epic wildernesses like Glacier Bay National Park, guided by passionate experts with wide-ranging knowledge of America’s final frontier.
Highlights
- Hike through lush forests and muskegs, kayak into secluded inlets, and cruise by Zodiac among electric blue icebergs and curious wildlife
- Encounter iconic Alaska wildlife such as humpback whales, bears, otters, and bald eagles
- By special permit, spend a full day cruising Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
- Meet our conservation partners from the Alaska Whale Foundation (schedules permitting) and learn how you can contribute to their research throughout your voyage
- Discover Alaska’s seldom-seen, vibrant marine life revealed by our undersea specialist
- With National Geographic Global Explorers, our exclusive family program, kids and teens will learn about this wild corner of the world—from its massive glaciers to humpback whales
Expedition Team
Over 50+ years of exploring, Lindblad Expeditions’ veteran staff and the quality companionship they provide has established the company’s reputation. From expedition leaders to naturalists, most hold advanced degrees and are established authorities in their fields. Some join a few expeditions each year to explore the same sites, some of them spending some time in the field away from rigorous academic work. And others lead expeditions all around the world—with many guests saying, “Where you’re going, we’re going,” and returning time after time to travel with them. Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff.
Alaska’s Inside Passage Details
Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Juneau, Alaska/Embark Ship
Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital—one of only two U.S. capital cities not accessible by car, it lies at the base of the picturesque Mt. Roberts.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness
Explore the wild and remote areas of southeast Alaska by special use permit with the Tongass National Forest.
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular fjords with waterfalls cascading from glacially carved walls. See the soaring Dawes or South Sawyer Glacier up close and take a cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises and arctic terns.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Petersburg
Visit the small, true Alaska fishing town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, which still retains much of its Norwegian heritage. Explore a unique Southeast Alaska ecosystem, the muskeg, with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town. This evening, enjoy a crab feast.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait
These waters are prime areas for both orca and humpback whales. With luck, guests may observe their fascinating behavior—breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding—as you listen to the play-by-play from your expert naturalists. Explore spectacular bays and inlets, following bear trails and salmon streams. Once ashore, you’ll have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest trail. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another option for up-close exploration.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Icy Strait and the Inian Islands
Explore among the Inian Islands, a busy feeding ground for myriad wildlife species, including Steller sea lions and sea otters. Search for marine mammals in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait and choose the perfect spot around Chichagof Island to hike where sightings of bald eagles are common.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Glacier Bay National Park
Spend the entire day amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. Witness glaciers that end abruptly at the water’s edge and observe them calving, when tons of ice separate and crash into the water accompanied by a thunderous sound. Mountain goats scaling the peaks, as well as harbor seals, Steller sea lions and puffins, are some of the creatures you may observe. A visit to Tidal Inlet may bring the sight of brown bears lumbering up the hillside.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords
Today, nature is your guide as you set forth with the flexibility to take advantage of wildlife and weather conditions. You might stop at an isolated beach to take a closer look at tide pools, beachcomb and hike stunning forest trails. Keep an eye out for old bear tracks worn into the soil as you move from forest to meadow. Sightings of bald eagles are common. If conditions permit, you’ll have the opportunity to do some kayaking, always watching for marine and terrestrial life.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Sitka / Disembark Ship / Seattle
Disembark in Sitka and transfer to the airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
