Alaska Expeditions

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July 31, 2022

South Marble Island, Alaska

56.958° S -134.146° E

Nathan Kelley, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

We're proud to be awarded the #1 small ship cruise line by the 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards!

Epic Adventures, Close to Home

Each summer, thousands flock to Alaska to experience its legendary wildness, but relatively few will actually explore it. Our small ships go beyond the predictable ports to where authentic Alaska is found—in the palpable thunder of a calving glacier, the smell of towering spruce trees, and intimate encounters with wildlife.

This is what happens deep inside in Alaska where our nimble ships roam—join us this summer and witness the exhilarating wildness of Alaska.

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Alaska

A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii

Special Offers

Duration

15 days

May
Sep

From

$12,160

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)

Highlights

Alaska

A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii

Duration

15 days

May
Sep

From

$12,160

Top Highlights

With very special access, spend four days in Haida Gwaii, a UNESCO World Heritage site, learning from Haida interpreters about their nearly lost ancient culture and exploring these remote islands
Sail deep into fjords, narrow channels and hidden coves and bays, searching for humpback whales, dolphins, bears, and eagles
Kayak in Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm for an up-close view of calving glaciers, towering forests, and seals afloat on iridescent icebergs
In wild, roadless places, see spectacular fjords with cascading waterfalls and soaring old-growth forests of spruce and cedar
Explore the picturesque fishing village of Petersburg, and by special permit, spend a full day exploring Glacier Bay National Park

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Special Offers

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES

In the spirit of celebration aboard, you and your companions will be entitled to Milestone benefits: 5% off groups of 8 or more; $150 shipboard credit which can be used for gift shop items, or most shipboard items including the LEXspa, the ship’s bar and dining room; complimentary video chronicle; complimentary custom photograph of you and your guests taken by the LEX-NG Photo Instructor to capture the moment; complimentary specially served decorated cake; special welcome gift in your cabin. Milestone celebration needs to be communicated at time of booking, amenity package is one per group and intended for the guest celebrating the Milestone event. Group discount is applicable to cruise portion only, and does not apply towards additional services such as hotels, extensions, etc. Group cancellation terms also apply. Not combinable with certain offers. Valid for groups of 8 or more.

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Alaska

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

Special Offers

Duration

8 days

May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

From

$7,560

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)

Highlights

Alaska

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

Duration

8 days

May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

From

$7,560

Top Highlights

Hike through lush forests and muskegs, kayak into secluded inlets, and cruise by Zodiac among electric blue icebergs and curious wildlife
By special permit, spend a full day exploring Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
If schedules permit, our conservation partners from the Alaska Whale Foundation will come aboard to meet with us and speak about the local whale population
Discover Alaska’s seldom-seen, vibrant marine life revealed by our undersea specialist
Hike and kayak in the wild remote areas of Tongass National Forest by special permit

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Special Offers

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES
In the spirit of celebration aboard, you and your companions will be entitled to Milestone benefits: 5% off groups of 8 or more; $150 shipboard credit which can be used for gift shop items, or most shipboard items including the LEXspa, the ship’s bar and dining room; complimentary video chronicle; complimentary custom photograph of you and your guests taken by the LEX-NG Photo Instructor to capture the moment; complimentary specially served decorated cake; special welcome gift in your cabin. Milestone celebration needs to be communicated at time of booking, amenity package is one per group and intended for the guest celebrating the Milestone event. Group discount is applicable to cruise portion only, and does not apply towards additional services such as hotels, extensions, etc. Group cancellation terms also apply. Not combinable with certain offers. Valid for groups of 8 or more.
$350 AIR CREDIT ON SELECT DATES

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Alaska

Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia

Special Offers

Duration

14 days

May
Aug
Sep

From

$10,960

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)

Highlights

Alaska

Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia

Duration

14 days

May
Aug
Sep

From

$10,960

Top Highlights

Hike the San Juan Islands, and cruise where killer whales reliably gather each year to hunt among the numerous uninhabited isles’ remote inlets and bays
By special permit, sail into Glacier Bay National Park and pass a full day taking in the grand scale of the mountains, fjords, and active glaciers
Spend an afternoon strolling the streets of the 100-year-old town of Petersburg learning about its fishing industry and Norwegian heritage
In Misty Fjords National Monument, kayak along sheer, glacially carved cliffs and forested backwaters
In British Columbia explore along the shores of forested islands to see whales, dolphins, bears, and eagles

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Special Offers

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES
In the spirit of celebration aboard, you and your companions will be entitled to Milestone benefits: 5% off groups of 8 or more; $150 shipboard credit which can be used for gift shop items, or most shipboard items including the LEXspa, the ship’s bar and dining room; complimentary video chronicle; complimentary custom photograph of you and your guests taken by the LEX-NG Photo Instructor to capture the moment; complimentary specially served decorated cake; special welcome gift in your cabin. Milestone celebration needs to be communicated at time of booking, amenity package is one per group and intended for the guest celebrating the Milestone event. Group discount is applicable to cruise portion only, and does not apply towards additional services such as hotels, extensions, etc. Group cancellation terms also apply. Not combinable with certain offers. Valid for groups of 8 or more.
$200 AIR CREDIT ON SELECT DEPARTURES

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Alaska

New Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest: Native Culture & Wildlife in the Land of the Spirit Bear

Special Offers

Duration

8 days

Sep

From

$5,560

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)

Highlights

Alaska

New Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest: Native Culture & Wildlife in the Land of the Spirit Bear

Duration

8 days

Sep

From

$5,560

Top Highlights

Kayak deep into verdant fjords and hike in search of mountain goats, cougars, and grizzly bears as well as subspecies and genetically unique populations like the coastal grey wolves
Cruise by Zodiac in protected waters in search of killer whales, sea lions, sea otters, and more
Experience the silence as you stand among towering, monumental cedars
Witness the surprisingly colorful undersea through video shot by our undersea specialist

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Special Offers

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES

In the spirit of celebration aboard, you and your companions will be entitled to Milestone benefits: 5% off groups of 8 or more; $150 shipboard credit which can be used for gift shop items, or most shipboard items including the LEXspa, the ship’s bar and dining room; complimentary video chronicle; complimentary custom photograph of you and your guests taken by the LEX-NG Photo Instructor to capture the moment; complimentary specially served decorated cake; special welcome gift in your cabin. Milestone celebration needs to be communicated at time of booking, amenity package is one per group and intended for the guest celebrating the Milestone event. Group discount is applicable to cruise portion only, and does not apply towards additional services such as hotels, extensions, etc. Group cancellation terms also apply. Not combinable with certain offers. Valid for groups of 8 or more.

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Expedition Highlights

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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Life Aboard

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.

Expert Perspectives: Wild Alaska with Travel Writer Fran Golden

A visitor to Alaska since the mid-1990s, award-winning writer Fran Golden shares some well-traveled wisdom, gleaned from the depth of immersion only small ships can offer.

Discover

Discover Alaska

When Zodiac cruising around icebergs, I always feel like I'm in the middle of nature's sculpture garden.

Doug Gould, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

FAQs

FAQs and Key Information

From climate conditions, to cabin information, to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Naturalist

Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.

Undersea Specialist

Undersea specialists on select expeditions are your eyes on the world that lies beneath the waves. Using an array of tools, including a high-definition camera, our Cousteau-like undersea specialist dives frequently during the voyage to show you strikingly clear images of the seldom-seen world beneath the ship.

Photo Instructor

Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

Everyone was knowledgeable and well able to explain and share their information with anyone. Their enthusiasm is contagious!

Peter & Ann G.

Making a Difference

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.

1.800.397.3348

Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

9/25/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Lowe Inlet Marine Provincial Park

On this, the final day of our expedition, we awoke to the sound of rain in Lowe Inlet Marine Provincial Park. After several days of attempting to make our way to Lowe, only to get thwarted by whales, killer whales, bears, and other wildlife, we finally arrived today. The rainforest greeted us with the full rain shower service we have come to love and expect, and we greeted the rainforest first thing in the morning with the option to either hike or cruise through this lovely place. Intrepid hikers made their way from the inside of the back bay of Lowe through the home of the Great Bear and into the muskeg typical of this landscape, which used to be covered in glaciers. Those of us who explored by water were treated to a close-up view of Vierney Falls. We also explored the back bay where salmon swam, herons hunted, eagles perched above us, and kingfishers dipped about. Early on, our Zodiacs spotted yet another black bear, who greeted us before wandering back into its forested home. This trip has been so full of bears that we are struggling to keep count. After our cruises, we loaded back onto the vessel and turned due north to our final destination of Prince Rupert, our first stop where we began so many days ago. Our journey here was unexpected in every way. It was so full of life and memories that we will carry with us as long as we tell the story of where, how, and who. Where these animals live, how they need this forest to survive, who the people that live here are, and how they continue to fight for this land after calling it their home for thousands of years.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/24/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Princess Royal Channel and Aaltanhash

We could not have had a more incredible day aboard National Geographic Venture . It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, one that I am sure can never be repeated. The early morning started off with dense fog obscuring the coastline, but as the sun continued to rise, the fog burned off and the conditions changed to an overcast sky and a slight drizzle. The coastline became clear and with a low tide, we suddenly had the perfect conditions for spotting wildlife. The past couple of days have already offered us wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities, including orcas chasing a Dall’s porpoise, spouting humpbacks, and a sighting of a spirit bear, also known as a white Kermode bear. Everyone was blown away by seeing one spirit bear, and it never crossed our minds that we might have the extraordinary luck to see a spirit bear twice! And yet, as we cruised along Princess Royal Island, a waterfall came into view, providing a perfect opportunity for a potential bear. Naturalist Jesse Humbert was on the spotting scope, prepared to spot another spirit bear! Two black Kermode bears were also quickly spotted, adding to the magical moment. Already more than satisfied with the day, we continued to cruise. A couple of the naturalists noticed a tall dark fin rise above the surface of the water only a few hundred feet from a small sailboat. Orcas were spotted! Turning the vessel around, we observed the orcas until humpbacks were seen spouting and swimming along the coastline of Work Island and Princess Royal Island. One would never think you could ever see anything more unique and awe-inspiring than a white Kermode bear, but all of us aboard the ship were happily mistaken when a pod of orcas started to engage with a humpback mother and calf. At first, we assumed the worst…the humpback calf was about to start fighting for its life, but soon the interaction appeared nonviolent. At the risk of anthropomorphizing the situation, the orca and humpback calves were swimming in tandem, taking a breath together and diving simultaneously. Witnessing this seemingly playful interaction was absolutely breathtaking. We could not imagine a more beautiful way to end our day searching for wildlife.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/23/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Klemtu Big House/Green Inlet

Today, guests of National Geographic Venture were honored and privileged to be invited to the Big House at the Kitasoo/Xai’Xais Nation village of Klemtu, on the east side of Swindle Island. The caretaker, Shane, hosted us, answered our questions, and talked about life in this small native town of about 480 residents. We had many photo opportunities and visited a small museum. It was a good cultural learning experience. We visited Green Inlet in the afternoon and explored by Zodiac and on foot. The groups on shore found a trail across the peninsula that led to a muskeg with fascinating plants. Baffle Falls is an interesting feature that flows the other direction when the tide gets high enough. The Zodiacs visited waterfalls, examined meadows for bears, and encountered a humpback whale as it repeatedly surfaced and dove, and even lunged up through a bubble net that it made by itself.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/22/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Cruising Prince Royal Island

When timing is in your favor, magical moments take place. The docile tone from Expedition Leader John Mitchell greeted us with the morning announcement as we found ourselves sitting off Hartley Bay, British Columbia. A logistical fuel stop that was needed this morning for our fleet of Zodiacs set the pace for what turned out to be a perfectly timed wildlife extravaganza on both water and land. You see, the fuel dock station normally opens at 8:00 a.m. Today, they started their morning a little late and didn’t open until 8:30 a.m. Our ship’s boatswain returned to the ship from the fuel stop around 9:30 a.m., and the deck team immediately raised the Zodiac so we could make our way towards Prince Royal Island in search of wildlife. National Geographic representative Lauren Eckert was in the lounge giving her presentation, “Welcome to the Great Bear Rainforest: The Land of the Spirit Bear & So Much More.” Almost immediately, our team of naturalists on the bow spotted a group of killer whales! The bridge team positioned the ship for a closer look, and it was then that we noticed a lot of splashing and surface activity taking place. A Dall’s porpoise in the mix with killer whales! Were we witnessing an active hunt? As time progressed, there was no sign of the Dall’s porpoise anymore, and the activity of the killer whales quieted. We made our turn towards Prince Royal Channel only to be stopped by humpback whales! We stopped for a bit to curiously watch these beautiful animals as they displayed their flukes just off the bow. The winds started to increase, and the rain became steady as we continued making our way towards Prince Royal Channel. The fuel stop and observations of killer and humpback whales delayed our arrival towards Prince Royal Island and our search for the Kermode “Spirit” Bear. It was as if these “delays” placed before us were to slow us down for what happened next. We continued cruising south along Prince Royal Island. We scanned the shoreline when suddenly an announcement came over the ship’s internal public address speaker: “Good afternoon to those aboard National Geographic Venture . We have spotted a Spirit Bear along the shore.” The persistent rain and winds did not stop the bow from filling up with excited guests, crew, and staff. The bear acknowledged us and went back to eating barnacles, bivalves, and berries along the shoreline and the forest edge. At one point, the bear meandered up a rock face and into the tree line before peeking its head out for a look at us below. We quietly floated for almost an hour as we witnessed this beautiful animal in its environment. What a magical moment for all!

Daily Expedition Reports

9/21/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Foch-Gilttoyees Provincial Park, British Columbia

We arrived in Foch-Gilttoyees Provincial Park early in the morning, slowly entering the final stretch of the park as the sun rose over the surrounding peaks. The passengers and naturalists amassed on the bow to watch for megafauna and chat while the day warmed up. After breakfast, the Zodiacs hit the water for a tour of the aquatic sections of the park with a brief excursion up the river mouth. Guests were delighted to see eagles, waterfowl, and harbor seals exploring the intertidal inlets and pools. After a return to the ship, guests ate lunch and departed a second time for land excursions and water activities (kayaking and paddleboarding). After exploring the old growth forests and intertidal regions, the hikers returned to the ship as the sun passed behind the surrounding peaks. As the ship set sail for our next destination, guests discussed the day’s experiences and enjoyed supper. Overall, the location and weather provided an amazing experience that guests and staff will not soon forget.

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

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

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Alaska

Alaska 2021-22

WHY EXPEDITION? Reasons to explore Alaska aboard a small ship | BIRDSEYE ALASKA Soar above Glacier Bay, Mendenhall Glacier & more | GO BEYOND What’s outside the Inside Passage? | EXPERTS ON BOARD A spirit bear researcher, Emmy nominee & more

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