Alaska Fjords & Glaciers

Overnight, you’ve sailed into a new dimension. Sheer granite walls propel themselves thousands of feet above milky blue waters as the ship glides between massive icebergs. Deep, U-shaped valleys tell the story of the last Ice Age and harbor seals haul out on the ice with this year’s recruitment of pups. Endicott Arm is a spectacular place to get outside and feel the air get cooler the deeper you travel into Endicott’s wilderness. The ship slows down as it approaches a massive wall of blue ice that blocks the end of the fjord–Dawes Glacier is your destination for the day. Bundle up and jump on a skiff tour for an intimate visit with one of the most active tidewater glaciers in Southeast Alaska.

Humpback whales are frequent visitors of this Southeast passage. A misty spout is a sure sign they’re in the neighborhood. Your captain navigates Stephens Passage. You’re in for a boot-sucking, paddle-smacking day of adventure with your guide team. Routes are all mapped, so make your choice and make a move. Slip off the kayak launch and take it slow, spotting sea stars and shore birds. Hard chargers take a long wild paddle or hike into the legendary Tongass.

Thomas Bay’s glacial landscapes are marked by moraines, muskegs and mud. In this playground, paddle or skiff on water almost clear as glass. The mirror image of fjord walls plays on the surface. Or keep it green on an interpretive walk through a grassy meadow into the forest. You’ve come a long way as this is the backcountry of Alaska’s wilderness. In the distance, a symphony of water emerges—the resonant flow of Cascade Creek, cutting through the forest in a mesmerizing display of waterfalls. Count the navigational markers as you get a peek into life as only local Southeast Alaskans can relate to. Wrangell Narrows boasts abundant bright red and green navigation lights guiding your way—that may be why it’s aptly nicknamed “Christmas Tree Lane.”

The Blashke Islands, located off the southern coast of Alaska, form an enchanting archipelago renowned for its rugged beauty and untamed wilderness. Carved by glaciers and shaped by the relentless forces of nature, these islands boast dramatic landscapes characterized by towering cliffs, fjords and dense forests. This is your playground today. A full day of choose-your-own-adventure fun. Hiking, kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling and full day yak-n-whack excursions. Get ready for a full day!

In Behm Canal, it’s all remote waterways and the isolated Tongass National Forest coves, streams and bays. On Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low-elevation hike near clear, rushing streams. Opportunities to flex your photography skills for enticing forested shots of Southeast. Wildlife abounds! On land black bears, mink, eagles—in the water porpoises, seals and otters go about their business. Go about yours on a guided paddle in tiny, deserted waterways that feed into the canal.

There are places on the planet that completely overcome you, this is one of them. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. Glacial valleys filled with sea water, sheer 3,000-foot cliffs, sea birds, bears and Sitka black-tailed deer all find safe haven here. Choose your own adventure strategy in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay, where you can paddle, skiff to the base of a waterfall for fjord released shower, or sit and float to take it all in. Whatever you choose, you’ll find out why the affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is well deserved. As a fitting end to your Alaskan journey, share a farewell dinner with your captain, celebrating the week’s adventures and capturing memories with a photo slideshow presented by your dedicated guide team. It’s the perfect conclusion to a week in the wilds of Southeast.

Your ship and crew members are hard to say goodbye to, but your time together ends here in Ketchikan. The Salmon Capital of the World, there are more adventures to be had—ask your crew for suggestions as you depart and wave goodbye to your crew—new friends made along the way who can’t wait to see you again!