Exploring Alaska's Coastal WildernessAboard the National Geographic Sea Bird

Your Travel Itinerary

Day 1 — Juneau, Alaska, Embark
Fly from Seattle to Juneau and visit Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaska State Museum, an excellent introduction to Alaska’s natural history and culture. After dinner, explore Juneau on your own. (D)

Day 2 — 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 Zodiac cruise for an unbeatable view of sculpted icebergs. (B,L,D)

Day 3 — Petersburg
Humpback whale blows are often spotted as we head toward Le Conte Bay, a virtual sculpture garden of grounded icebergs. Around lunchtime, we reach the small town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, for an insight into the character of a true Alaskan town, isolated yet connected by the spirit of community. There is an opportunity for optional flightseeing – a new perspective on the landscape we’ve approached by water. Enjoy a Dungeness crab feast for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Frederick Sound, Chatham Strait
These waters are prime for whales — pods of humpback or orca whales searching for Guests on Zodiac have an up-close encounter with a brown bear. With luck, we’ll get to observe some fascinating behavior, such as breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding. Look for Steller sea lions hauled out and dozing on the rocky islands. Later, there will be time to hike or kayak for up-close exploration. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Point Adolphus/Inian Pass
Hike, kayak, and search for whales near Point Adolphus, consistently a favored summer feeding area for humpback whales. Then, cruise to Inian Pass, where playful sea otters reside. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Glacier Bay National Park
In Glacier Bay, enormous glaciers flow from ice fields far above. Listen as the quiet stillness of the area is broken by the thunder of tons of ice calving into the sea. Search for brown bears along the shore and mountain goats climbing rocky cliffs. A native Tlingit interpreter joins us onboard to share the lore and legend of the area. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Exploring Alaska’s Islands, Bays, and Fjords
Explore with the luxury of a flexible plan. We may stop at an isolated beach to hike a forest trail, beachcomb, observe tidepools, or explore island coastlines by kayak or Zodiac — all in an area with the world’s highest density of nesting bald eagles. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Sitka, Disembark, Seattle
Visit onion-domed St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, discover the grand totems that line the trail through Sitka National Historical Park, and meet eagles up close at the Raptor Rehabilitation Center. Fly to Seattle. (B)