Alaska

58° 39′ N 136° 54′ W

Brown bear fishing. Alaska.
ExpeditionsUi Arrow rightExploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness  

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Highlights

Guests explore by zodiac from the ship National Geographic Quest in Rudyerd Bay, Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
  • 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 and 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

Day by Day

Multiple routes available

Some departures follow a modified itinerary. Please refer to departure dates for exact routing of your departure.

Expedition (Westbound)


Starts at

Juneau, Alaska

Ends at

Sitka, Alaska

Download Itinerary

Day 1

Seattle / Juneau, Alaska / Embark Ship

Our Forest Service Special Use Permit for Tongass National Forest enables guests to hike and kayak in wild and remote areas of Southeast Alaska. 

Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, in the early afternoon and embark National Geographic Venture or National Geographic Quest in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 1

Seattle / Juneau, Alaska / Embark Ship

Our Forest Service Special Use Permit for Tongass National Forest enables guests to hike and kayak in wild and remote areas of Southeast Alaska. 

Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, in the early afternoon and embark National Geographic Venture or National Geographic Quest in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2

Tracy Arm-Fords 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 cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and arctic terns.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2

Tracy Arm-Fords 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 cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and arctic terns.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Petersburg

Visit the small, true Alaska fishing town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, which still retains much of its Norwegian heritage. Explore a unique Southeast Alaska ecosystem, the muskeg, with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town. This evening, enjoy a crab feast.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Petersburg

Visit the small, true Alaska fishing town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, which still retains much of its Norwegian heritage. Explore a unique Southeast Alaska ecosystem, the muskeg, with stunted trees and carnivorous plants. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town. This evening, enjoy a crab feast.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait

These waters are prime areas for both orca and humpback whales. With luck, guests may observe their fascinating behaviorbreaching, tail-slapping and variations on feedingas we fill the deck and listen to the play-by-play from our expert naturalists. We will explore spectacular bays and inlets, following bear trails and salmon streams. Once ashore, we have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest trail. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another option for up-close exploration.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait

These waters are prime areas for both orca and humpback whales. With luck, guests may observe their fascinating behaviorbreaching, tail-slapping and variations on feedingas we fill the deck and listen to the play-by-play from our expert naturalists. We will explore spectacular bays and inlets, following bear trails and salmon streams. Once ashore, we have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest trail. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another option for up-close exploration.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Icy Strait and the Inian Islands

Explore among the Inian Islands, where an abundance of Steller sea lions and sea otters reside. We will search for marine mammals in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait and choose the perfect spot around Chichagof Island to hike where sightings of bald eagles are common. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Icy Strait and the Inian Islands

Explore among the Inian Islands, where an abundance of Steller sea lions and sea otters reside. We will search for marine mammals in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait and choose the perfect spot around Chichagof Island to hike where sightings of bald eagles are common. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Glacier Bay National Park

Spend the entire day amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers, and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. Witness glaciers that end abruptly at the water's edge and observe them calving, when tons of ice separate and crash into the water accompanied by a thunderous sound. Mountain goats scaling the peaks, as well as harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and puffins, are some of the creatures we may observe. A visit to Tidal Inlet may bring the sight of brown bears lumbering up the hillside. A native Tlingit interpreter joins us on board to share the indigenous history of the area.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Glacier Bay National Park

Spend the entire day amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers, and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. Witness glaciers that end abruptly at the water's edge and observe them calving, when tons of ice separate and crash into the water accompanied by a thunderous sound. Mountain goats scaling the peaks, as well as harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and puffins, are some of the creatures we may observe. A visit to Tidal Inlet may bring the sight of brown bears lumbering up the hillside. A native Tlingit interpreter joins us on board to share the indigenous history of the area.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays, and Fjords

Today, nature is our guide as we set forth with the flexibility to take advantage of wildlife and weather conditions. We may stop at an isolated beach to take a closer look at tide pools, beachcomb, and hike stunning forest trails. Keep an eye out for old bear tracks worn into the soil as you move from forest to meadow. Sightings of bald eagles are common. If conditions permit, we will do some kayaking, always watching for marine and terrestrial life. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Southeast Alaska’s Islands, Bays, and Fjords

Today, nature is our guide as we set forth with the flexibility to take advantage of wildlife and weather conditions. We may stop at an isolated beach to take a closer look at tide pools, beachcomb, and hike stunning forest trails. Keep an eye out for old bear tracks worn into the soil as you move from forest to meadow. Sightings of bald eagles are common. If conditions permit, we will do some kayaking, always watching for marine and terrestrial life. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Sitka / Disembark Ship / Seattle

After breakfast, disembark in SitkaSoutheast Alaska's only oceanfront town. Sitka has a strong Russian heritage, which is readily apparent as you visit the onion-domed St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church. At the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, enjoy up-close views of species normally seen at a distance in the wild, such as bald eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Seattle. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8

Sitka / Disembark Ship / Seattle

After breakfast, disembark in SitkaSoutheast Alaska's only oceanfront town. Sitka has a strong Russian heritage, which is readily apparent as you visit the onion-domed St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church. At the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, enjoy up-close views of species normally seen at a distance in the wild, such as bald eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Seattle. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Download Itinerary

Dates & Rates

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Ships

Ship National Geographic Quest

National Geographic Quest

Guests

100

Cabins

50

National Geographic Quest: Designed for Adventure

Built in 2017, National Geographic Quest is ideal for the fast-moving channels and shallow coves of the Pan-American waters. Her design and engineering were informed by our nearly 40 years of experience in the narrow straits of Alaska, the coast of Costa Rica, and into the gray whale nursery lagoons of Baja. 

Examples of features unique to Lindblad Expeditions include twin boarding platforms that enable our team to load two Zodiacs at once, so our guests can get off the ship quickly to take advantage of wildlife sightings and maximize exploring time. She also features a shallow draft, allowing her Captain to navigate the inner reaches and provide more intimate experiences.

Modern, clean-lined, with large expanses of glass to take in the extraordinary views, National Geographic Quest enables guests to see, do, and experience the best of her geographies.

Ship National Geographic Venture

National Geographic Venture

Guests

100

Cabins

50

American-flagged, she and her sister National Geographic Quest are ideal for discovering domestic waters

Following the build of National Geographic Quest at Nichols Brothers shipyard, her sister ship, the 100-guest National Geographic Venture, floated into the bay on Whidbey Island, becoming the fourth ship in the Lindblad fleet built at this storied Pacific Northwest shipyard. Like her sister ship National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture has dual boarding platforms, enabling our team to load two Zodiacs at once means guests get off ship quickly, to take advantage of wildlife sightings and maximize exploring time. Modern, cleaned-lined, with large expanses of glass to keep you connected to the extraordinary views, National Geographic Venture enables you to see, do and experience the best of her geographies.

Book now and join us on an unforgettable journey

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Expedition Extensions

A Grizzly bear walking the tundra in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Denali National Park Post-Voyage Extension

7 Days

From

$7,790

/ per person

Explore
A Grizzly bear walking the tundra in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Denali National Park Pre-Voyage Extension

7 Days

From

$7,790

/ per person

Explore

Expedition Team

Over 50+ years of exploring, Lindblad Expeditions’ veteran staff and the quality companionship they provide has established the company’s reputation. From expedition leaders to naturalists, most hold advanced degrees and are established authorities in their fields. Some join a few expeditions each year to explore the same sites, some of them spending some time in the field away from rigorous academic work. And others lead expeditions all around the world—with many guests saying, “Where you’re going, we’re going,” and returning time after time to travel with them. Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff.

Captain Andrew Cook with guests and Staff on the Bridge of National Geographic Venture, Baja California, Mexico

Special Offers

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$700 AIR CREDIT

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Guests gather at the bar of the ship National Geographic Orion, sipping on their favorite drinks and engaging in lively conversation as they relish in the camaraderie of good company.

FREE BAR TAB

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A  young traveler enjoys the sun setting and casting a spectrum of warm hues across the sky on the ship National Geographic Orion, Java Sea

BRINGING THE KIDS

Family fun!

Expedition leaders take guests to explore daily by skiff in the Amazon

TRAVELING AS A GROUP

Guests toast to the sunset on the ship National Geographic Quest/Venture

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer take the Polar Plunge off ice floe in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

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Do more than just see Alaskabe an active participant in all that it has to offer. Voyage into majestic fjords, come face to face with glaciers, and kayak along the coast in search of marine life. Learn about whale behavior and watch for breaching and spy-hopping humpbacks and orcas. Enjoy a full day immersed in the beauty of Glacier Bay National Park with insights from a Tlingit cultural interpreter.

From

$7,560

/ per person

Does not include flight

Book Now
Book before Jun 30

$700 AIR CREDIT

See all offers

View our brochure for more details

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

+1.800.397.3348

From

$7,560

/ per person

Book Now

View our brochure for more details

From

$7,560

/ per person

Book Now
Book before Jun 30

$700 AIR CREDIT

See all offers

View our brochure for more details