Explore beautiful Sitka, the only community in Southeast Alaska that faces the open ocean waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Participate in a wilderness hike on one of the many trails in town. Visit sites that highlight the community’s rich Alaska Native and Russian history. Embark for the winding narrows north of town while searching for bald eagles, sea otters, bears, whales, and other wildlife.

Spend the day exploring remote, Inside Passage wilderness. Hike a rainforest trail, featuring towering spruce and hemlock trees and lush undergrowth. Your knowledgeable guide will provide commentary on the indigenous plants and wildlife of the area. Explore Baranof Island’s charming shoreline dubbed “The Waterfall Coast” and savor an opportunity to kayak a protected bay in the area.

Enjoy morning hours on deck witnessing navigation of the Wrangell Narrows between Mitkof and Kupreanof Island. This channel wends its way around islands, rocks, and shoals and is known to be one of the most technical areas to pilot in the Inside Passage. Traffic from local fishing vessels, the alluring scenery, and wildlife provide an active morning of observation and learning from your onboard expedition team. In Wrangell, enjoy several options to explore the town’s colorful history, including a guided tour and a trip to the Wrangell Museum. Visit the intriguing State Historic Park, Petroglyph Beach, which contains the highest concentration of petroglyphs in Southeast Alaska. Stretch your legs on a hike of the scenic Rainbow Falls Trail.

Visit Thomas Bay, a wilderness location shrouded by curious Alaska Native legends and mysterious stories told by early gold miners. Enjoy one of several trekking options in the bay, such as the Cascade Falls trail, Scenery Cove, or the outwash plain leading to the terminal moraine of the Baird Glacier. Witness the power of glacial ice in shaping even the most rugged landscapes.

Enjoy an exciting kayak expedition in Endicott Arm, a glacial fjord in the Tracy Arm Ford’s Terror Wilderness area. Paddle the turquoise fjord water amidst icebergs, guided by a crew member. Board your ship’s expedition skiff for a journey into Ford’s Terror, a narrow fjord that earned its name when a 19^th century seafarer discovered the power of its current. View the impressive Dawes Glacier, an active tidewater glacier at the head of Endicott Arm.

Begin the day with unscripted exploration of Southeast Alaska. Your captain and crew will search for wildlife, including the area’s famous humpback whales. End the day’s adventure with a relaxing evening at Orca Point Lodge, our own exclusive day-lodge on Colt Island. Enjoy a Tlingit cultural presentation, as well as the beautiful grounds, beach, and marine life touch-tank. Dine on Alaskan salmon, Alaskan king crab, or prime rib from the warmth of the lodge, or nestled next to a beachside bonfire.

This remarkable national park fjord extends 65 miles, contains eight tidewater glaciers, and provides pristine habitat for a wide-array of wildlife, including both brown and black bears, wolves, mountain goats, Steller sea lions, and humpback whales. The highlight for many is the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving displays. A Glacier Bay National Park Service Ranger narrates the day’s program and a Native Huna Tlingit interpretive naturalist joins us to reveal traditional cultural ties to this ancient treasure. End the day in Bartlett Cove to enjoy a rainforest path, the inspiring Tlingit tribal house, and a fully articulated humpback whale skeleton.

Disembark in Alaska’s capital city of Juneau. Transfer to your hotel or the airport is complimentary.