Alaska Inside Passage Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Juneau and Mendenhall
Glacier
Arrive Juneau, pick up car and drive to your hotel, afternoon to explore the Mendenhall Glacier. The most famous of the glaciers in the Juneau Ice Field, Mendenhall Glacier is named for Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, who served on the Alaska Boundary Commission that surveyed the international boundary between Canada and Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is 12 miles long and 1-1/2 miles wide where it stretches across the Mendenhall Valley. Its ice can be 400 to 800 feet deep. Hiking trails around the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center range from a short, 0.3-mile walk to a 6.8-mile hike with a 1,300-foot elevation gain. These trails will give great views of Mendenhall Glacier. Overnight at Pearson's Pond Inn. Evening stroll around downtown historic Juneau. Dinner tonight at The Twisted Fish (fish, burgers, salads, pizzas)
Day 2: Juneau: Admirlty Island Excursion
After a hearty breakfast at your inn, you have a 10:30 a.m. meeting
with our pilot and guide for a 25 minute floatplane
ride from Juneau across the Inside Passage to Admiralty Island, known
as the "Fortress of the Bears" by the Tlingit native people.
Embracing nearly a million acres of old growth rainforest, alpine tundra,
and rugged coastline, Adm
iralty
Island National Monument and the Kootznoowoo Wilderness offer unrivaled
opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation in Southeast Alaska.
The island is a paradise for animals and is home to over 1,600 brown
bears, the highest concentrations of bears in the world. From vantage
points chosen by your guide, you can observe and photograph the bears
safely while they catch and eat salmon.
- Permits, flights, naturalist guide on site, and outfitting with and all necessary gear such as knee high rubber boots, binoculars, and rainwear included.
Day 3: Juneau Tour and Cruise Departure
Today, board a motorcoach for a short drive through the core of historic
downtown Juneau. Your trip will give you a quick orientation of town,
sprinkled with a few historical insights. At 3 p.m. board ship. Once
onboard, step out on deck to watch Gastineau Channel glide by as you
enter Alaska’s true wilderness.
Day 4: Endicott and Tracy Arm
Words can't prepare you for the splendor of these narrow fjords - many travelers consider them the most spectacular spots in Alaska. Sheer cliffs rise thousands of feet from waterline to snowcapped peaks, their sides studded with stunning waterfalls. The sounds of cascading water alone prove that you have left the ordinary far behind.
Today's Excursion: Board inflatable excursion crafts to explore the waters and shorelines amid bouncing bits of ice calved from ancient glaciers.
Day 5: 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.
Day 6: Sitka
This beautiful little city is thought by many to be the “jewel of the Inside Passage.” Its setting alone is breathtaking. Our 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. Experience the beauty and uniqueness of Sitka few tourists ever see. After being outfitted in kayaking gear with paddling instructions, you will launch your kayaks at the Naval Air Base. Your guide will tell you about the history of Sitka and the base as you begin paddling. During your two hours of paddling time, you will visit kelp forests, look for wildlife, identify birds and get a good upper body workout. There will be ample time for photos and your guide will provide narration about the natural history of the area.
Day 7: Glacier Bay National Park
Declared by many to be the most extraordinary place in the world, Glacier Bay National Park shows you the Earth in transition. In a timeline unmatched anywhere on the planet, the glaciers here are receding rapidly, leaving in their wake scoured cliffs and deep fjords. You'll witness firsthand as nature moves in to reclaim newly revealed territory. A few highlights are:
- The birds and harbor seals of Marble Island, where you'll find life teeming on what appears to be barren rocks.
- The 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather, although not always visible under the clouds that hover around it, represents the steepest climb from sea level in the world.
Massive
glaciers of all varieties - hanging, tidewater, and valley - abound
here. You'll have an opportunity to watch spectacular calving as
the changing faces of the Park's massive tidewater glaciers continue
to shape the landscape.- A full day of exploration, accompanied by the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger who boards your small ship in early morning and stays until evening, you'll travel 65 miles into this primal wonderland, discovering the new revelations around every bend.
Day 8: Icy Strait
Watch for the gentle humpbacks as they feast on tiny krill churned by waters from the Pacific Ocean. Watch for the behaviors you may see them exhibit: spouting, sounding, breaching, tail slapping, fin smacking, and/or lunge feeding. You may even be treat to 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 Steller's sea lions, orcas, harbor seals, and porpoise.
Day 9: 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.