Cruise West Inside Passage

Day 1: Arrive Juneau
Transfer to the Goldbelt Hotel on arrival. The hotel's central waterfront locale is perfect for exploring Alaska's beautiful capital city.

Day 2: Sail from Juneau
You have all day to enjoy the host of optional activities available in Juneau. Ride the mountaintop tram, flightsee to the Juneau Ice Cap, or try salmon fishing. This afternoon, board your ship to begin your Wilderness Waterways adventure. Wave goodbye to civilization as you cruise down Gastineau Channel. (D)

Day 3: Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm
Words can't prepare you for the splendor of these narrow fjords - many travelers consider the single most spectacular spot in Alaska. Sheer cliffs soar for thousands of feet straight up to snowpacks that send waterfalls down the granite faces. Mountain goats cling to precarious perches, bears forage on the beaches and seals play in the water. You will cruise all the way to the head of the fjord, where a fork splits off to two spectacular glaciers that pour icebergs into the deep, cold waters. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Frederick Sound and Wilderness Exploration
For an entire delightful day, your ship explores the wilderness waterways of Alaska's Inside Passage. The only other people you're likely to see are on the occasional fishing boat or private yacht. Such leisurely exploration is tailor-made for seekers of wildlife. Today you might hope to spot orcas, humpbacks, bears, seals, sea otters, bald eagles and more. The waters of Frederick Sound teem with the humpback whales favorite food - and the whales take full advantage, feeding in the rich waters as they prepare for their long migration south. Discover the joys of "gunkholing" a nautical term that means, among other things, "exploring at leisure." (B, L, D)

Day 5: Sitka
Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows, accessible only by small ship (and only at certain times of the tide) lead to beautiful Sitka-by-the-Sea. Sitka was the site of a Tlingit fortress before being colonized by Alexander Baranof in 1804 as the capital of Russian Alaska. From St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church to local museums filled with native art, Sitka is a treasurehouse of art both old and new. Shopping here is among the finest in Alaska. On an included tour, you will come face-to-face with bald eagles at the Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center, which cares for birds injured in the wild. On the edge of town, the Sitka National Historical Park preserves a number of finely carved totems. Don't miss the adjacent forested trail, where evocative totems are sprinkled along the verge of the old growth cedar and hemlock forest, with a driftwood-strewn beach just beyond. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Icy Strait
Today you are watching for whales and endangered Steller sea lions as your ship navigates Icy Strait. The tiny Inian Islands stand sentinel before the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska, and the tide floods in and out strongly. This is a major travel corridor for marine mammals such as humpback whales. Depending on conditions, you may explore wilderness coves or visit the tiny fishing village of Elfin Cove, which large ships never visit. (B, L, D)

Day 7: 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 are here. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Glacier Bay Cruising
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 by anywhere on the planet, the glaciers here are receding rapidly, leaving in their wake scoured cliffs and deep fjords. A National Park Service Ranger joins you on board, as you spend a full day cruising 65 miles into the awesome wonderland that is Glacier Bay National Park. Watch for puffins and murres at the Marble Islands, mountain goats and bears on the hillside, and harbor seals on the icebergs. To the north Mt. Fairweather, though not always visible, is over 15,000 feet high, and represents the steepest climb from sea level to that height in the world. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Arrive Juneau
Disembark in Juneau this morning. Transfer to the airport on arrival. (B)

Note: We do not expect any major changes from this schedule. However, in the spirit of adventure travel, there may be itinerary changes unforeseen and out of our control. Please read the Alaska Wildland Adventures Disclaimer of Liability.

Trip Price*:
$2999-5349

Prices are in U.S. dollars, per person, double occupancy.

*Trip price includes overnight and full day in Juneau, tour of the Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center. All meals as noted. One excursion or activity is included at all ports of call and shore stops.

Trip Length:
9 Days / 8 Nights

Spirit of Alaska (Roundtrip from Juneau):
May 14, 21, 28; June 4, 11, 18, 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; August 6, 13, 20, 27

This trip is recommended but not operated by Alaska Wildland Adventures. Prices and dates are subject to change without notice.