The response to the news of our June 2021 restart in Alaska has been incredible—so we’ve added an extra ship—the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Bird, sister to the sold-out National Geographic Sea Lion—and a slate of additional departure dates. This should make it easier for you to get the ‘tonic of wildness’ in Alaska this summer.
**SOLO SAVINGS! Just added to our brand-new Wild Alaska Escape: Juneau to Ketchikan. Waive the solo premium on select departures and come be a part of our vibrant onboard community. See itinerary for details.
This is what happens deep inside in Alaska where our nimble ships roam—a thrilling spectacle, playing right off the bow. Don’t miss out. Let Alaska lift your spirits this summer.
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Hear the thunderous crack of calving glaciers. Sail alongside pods of killer whales. See breaching humpbacks and soaring eagles. Feel the stillness in verdant old-growth rainforests. Kayak peaceful coves and coastlines. Explore a land where towering mountains rise from the sea and colossal glaciers carve the living landscape. Coastal brown bears lumber through streams fishing for spawning salmon, and the sea comes alive with feeding whales and playful otters. In the 35 years we’ve been exploring, we have created the richest experience possible in Alaska.
Alaska
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Length
15 days
From
$11,350
Prices are per person
Alaska
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Alaska
Russian Far East
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Length
22 days
From
$27,990
Prices are per person
Alaska
Russian Far East
Special Offers
Alaska
Special Offers
Length
13 days
From
$17,830
Prices are per person
Alaska
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Alaska
Special Offers
Length
8 days
From
$7,200
Prices are per person
Alaska
Special Offers
This is the Alaska of legend — to experience it you have to go deep. Venture into narrow fjords, where virgin rock that has never before been seen or touched by humans is now being exposed by receding glaciers. Go into remote bays to linger and observe whales going about the slow business of their daily lives. Walk through temperate rainforests on trails worn into the spongy earth by foraging bears. Venture into small towns, populated by hardy, friendly souls, to discover the way life has been lived in Alaska for centuries. Meet First Nations people in mutually rewarding encounters and learn their traditions and ways of life. Plus, sail aboard U.S.-built and -flagged ships to minimize time-consuming protocols to clear customs and maximize time exploring.
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Each part of the Alaskan cruising season also holds its own allures. Midsummer makes for the most daylight hours, while the shoulder season—the first week of May and the beginning of September—is the only time one can transit the entire Inside Passage.
Read MoreEveryone was knowledgeable and well able to explain and share their information with anyone. Their enthusiasm is contagious!
Peter & Ann G.
Henry David Thoreau called it the "tonic of wildness." It’s what Alaska, with its beauty and wildness intact, gives you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, add the luxury of comfort to the privilege of being here—with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Alaska currently support our regional partner, Alaska Whale Foundation, in its efforts to study and conserve Alaska’s whales and other wildlife.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Venture
Today we woke up in Hanus Bay to overcast skies with a bit of sunshine on the mountains of Baranof island. As our hard-working deck crew lowered the inflatable boats, we had a delicious breakfast prepared by our talented galley team. We disembarked the vessel from the fantail and headed to shore, with the Zodiac drivers taking extra care to land the boats on a very low tide. Immediately upon entering the forest, we were impressed with the size of old-growth Sitka spruce and eastern hemlock trees. Along the hike to Lake Eva, we saw many flowering plants, including watermelon berry, false Lilly of the Valley, and foam flower. Some of our guests also were lucky to observe a coastal brown bear near a stream. The “long hikers” explored the shoreline of Lake Eva and even observed our Expedition leader Shawn Lucas hugging a huge Sitka spruce tree. While we ate lunch, our skilled bridge team navigated us into protected Saook Bay, where we spent the afternoon exploring the bay via inflatable kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Over dinner, we headed into Hanus Bay and then north into Chatham Strait. Another excellent day exploring Southeast Alaska.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Quest
As we entered Saook Bay before breakfast, deer were grazing in the intertidal zone with mirror perfect reflections of Baranof Island. Our morning was divided between kayaking in the bay and hiking along the edge of a large meadow. Flowers were abundant and made for great photo opportunities. A river otter den surrounded by flowering orchids was a particularly cool find. Although we didn’t spot any bears, we did see lots of sign including many fresh tracks in the mud. After lunch it was time to head into Chatham Strait and head south towards Petersburg. Numerous humpback whales were spotted including one that gave us an anatomy lesson. This whale repeatedly slapped its tail and slammed its pectoral flipper. Interspersed with our whale spotting we had presentations on killer whales and humpback whales, both of which we have had excellent encounters with on this voyage.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Venture
Our second full day in Southeast Alaska began with soft light and low clouds as the National Geographic Venture tied up at the pier in Petersburg. We had a full day planned, with many activities scheduled in the morning. For the afternoon, we looked forward to exploring the waters of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait, wrapping up with a sumptuous crab feast and post-dinner cruising into the long summer evening. Conditions dried out as the day progressed, even with hints of sunshine as the sun rolled into the western sky.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Quest
By breakfast time, National Geographic Quest had reached Cross Sound and found a safe anchorage amongst the Inian Islands near the north coast of Chichagof Island. These islands are located at the north entrance to the famous Alaska Inland Passage, which means we were right at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska. The North Pacific is famous for its stormy seas, but fortunately, the seas were calm this morning and we offered Zodiac cruises to enjoy the natural history of the area. Although most of the islands are completely covered with dense vegetation, in some places by the water’s edge some of the geology could be seen. This bedrock, though smoothed and rounded by past glaciation like what we have seen elsewhere, is totally different in design and formation. It appears to be metamorphosed and foliated, with some layers of deposition now oriented 90 degrees to how they were laid down. The marine richness became quickly obvious as we encountered some incredibly appealing sea otters within the kelp beds, including mothers swimming at the surface with pups on their chests. Where do these creatures rate on the international Cuteness Scale? Our explorations took us around the lush, forest-covered islands and we marveled at the many bald eagles perched in the trees along the shorelines. The main reason for this venture, however, was our hope to observe northern, or Steller’s, sea lions out near the opening to the Gulf of Alaska. In this, we were successful. Dozens of sea lions were observed hauled out on seaside rocks, while others were swimming and cavorting in the currents, upwellings, and whirlpools caused by the strong incoming tide. Many sea lions even approached our Zodiacs as we drifted with the currents. This tidal phenomenon is undoubtedly the reason behind the presence of so many predators in this vicinity. We even observed a couple sea lions catching fish. During lunch, our vessel moved a short distance to Idaho Inlet, where we spent the rest of the afternoon anchored just off Fox Creek. We went ashore to explore the lush, verdant temperate rain forest area on foot. The hikers were treated to an amazing phenomenon when we found a short stretch of an ancient bear trail consisting of footprints that have been sustained for many generations as bears step on top of each other’s foot falls. There was much more to still come. In the early evening, we encountered a small pod of killer whales—four to be exact. We identified them as ”‘transient” killer whales as they passed close to our vessel. Photos of their fins and body markings will be sent to whale researchers to learn more about their movements and population numbers. After dinner, we continued with our whale watching as numerous humpback whales were sighted, still seriously involved with their own dinners.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Quest
Having crossed the park’s boundaries at midnight, we woke up this morning inside Glacier Bay National Park. We were now in waters once occupied by a huge glacier. The story of how that glacier retreated and advanced over time is a fascinating one. The glacier filled the bay when Captain Vancouver sailed there in the 1700s, and it once forced the Tlingit people to move out of its path by traveling “as fast as a dog can run,” according to their oral tradition. Glacier Bay is now a marvelous national park and a natural laboratory where scientists study glaciers and how plant and animal communities recolonize newly de-glaciated areas. It is also a wonderful place to watch wildlife and today we had a wonderful time exploring it. Watching the Johns Hopkins, Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers, we witnessed the very impressive process of calving ice, where huge pieces fall into the ocean, mimicking the sound of thunder and creating huge splashes. Later, we sailed south looking for wildlife. We were very fortunate to find several brown bears along the shore and many mountain goats on steep cliffs bordering the bay, plus many Steller’s sea lions, sea otters, and nesting sea birds, including everyone’s favorite, the tufted puffin. After a delicious dinner, we stretched our legs ashore at Barlett Cove, where the park’s headquarters are located. We got the chance to hike several trails and learn about the temperate rainforest and its many inhabitants. One of them was Snow, a female humpback whale whose complete skeleton is now a marvelous exhibit. A traditional canoe, carved from a tree trunk, and a totem pole allowed us to experience a bit of the cultural significance of Glacier Bay to the Tlingit culture. Back on board, we headed out of the park, crossed Icy Strait and arrived at the northeastern part of Chichagof Island, where we found numerous humpback whales. The perfect ending to an awesome day exploring wild Alaska.
I’ll never forget doing our original reconnaissance in Alaska—soaring in a floatplane over such a wild landscape of dense forest, massive glaciers, and endless waterways. Southeast Alaska is simply magical.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
