At a glance
- Duration:
- 14 Days
- Start/End:
- Seattle to Sitka, or reverse
- From:
- $10,209
- Time of Year:
- April through May, September
On this 14-day Treasures of the Inside Passage cruise, enjoy active exploration amid a dramatic scenery of mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers along the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia.
Led by Lindblad’s Expedition Team of naturalists and experts, learn all about the nature and wildlife we encounter. Learn about the living indigenous culture of the region from the Kwakwaka’wakw people; explore the charming provincial capital of Victoria; and sail the waters where orcas gather to hunt in Johnstone Strait.
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.
Treasures of the Inside Passage Highlights
- Hike the San Juan Islands, and cruise where orcas gather annually to hunt within the isles’ inlets and bays
- By special permit, sail into Glacier Bay National Park and spend a full day discovering the grand scale of the mountains, fjords, and active glaciers
- Stroll through the 100-year-old fishing town of Petersburg and learn about its Norwegian heritage
- In Misty Fjords National Monument, kayak along sheer cliffs and forested backwaters
With luck, witness the northern lights and capture them with help from your certified photo instructor - Explore the wild and remote areas of southeast Alaska by special use permit with the Tongass National Forest
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.
Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia Details
Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Seattle, Washington / Embark Ship
Arrive in Seattle, Washington state’s largest city, and embark National Geographic Quest or National Geographic Venture.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: San Juan Islands, Washington
Spend a full day exploring the San Juan Islands via Zodiac, kayak and naturalist-led hikes. Search for whales, seals and sea lions in rocky inlets, and marvel at bald eagles while walking through lush forests.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Victoria, British Columbia
Clear into Canada in the charming city of Victoria and choose from several tailor-made options to explore based on your interests. Visit private gardens, bike along the waterfront, take a stroll through history in Old Town or discover James Bay on an architecture tour. In the evening, enjoy a private reception at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Gulf Islands
Located in the Strait of Georgia, between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands are a kayaker’s paradise. Explore the myriad islets and rocky coasts and keep an eye out for harbor seals and an array of seabirds, shorebirds and birds of prey.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Alert Bay and Johnstone Strait, British Columbia
Sail through Johnstone Strait, a waterway cut through a magnificently wild and scenic area of mountains and islands. These ocean waters are also home to extraordinary marine mammals and bird watching. Visit the Big House in the First Nations village of Alert Bay, Canada and gain insight from the Kwakwaka’wakw people who will share their art, music and regional knowledge.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6-7: Inside Passage of British Columbia
Cruise northward along the pristine coastline in search of whales, dolphins, bears, deer and other wildlife. Go ashore to explore or kayak among the many bays and inlets.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Misty Fjords, Alaska
Enjoy the day soaking up the spectacular scenery of Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument, a 2.3-million-acre wilderness of shear rock walls, temperate rain forest and glacier-sculpted waterways. Kayak in the still, forested backwaters of this protected national treasure and discover a pristine habitat for brown bears, bald eagles, harbor seals and more.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Petersburg
Search for humpback whales on the approach to picturesque Petersburg, a small fishing village on Alaska’s Mitkof Island that 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 10: Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness
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 11: Glacier Bay National Park
Spend the entire day cruising amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers, and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. See 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.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Inian Islands / Icy Strait
Cruise among the Inian Islands, where Steller sea lions and sea otters abound. Hike nearby islands, kayak, and search for whales in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Exploring Baranof or Chichagof Island
Spend a full day kayaking, hiking, and searching for bubble-net feeding or breaching humpback whales.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 14: Sitka / Disembark Ship / Home
Disembark in Sitka and transfer to the airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
