Alaska

58° 18′ N 134° 25′ W

The National Geographic Sea Bird DIB cruisers in front of Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, part of the Tracy Arm - Fords Terror Wilderness, Alaska.
ExpeditionsUi Arrow rightWild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords

Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords

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Highlights

Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, Inside Passage, Alaska, USA
  • Venture by Zodiac into a fjord laden with blue ice from the Leconte or Baird glacier

  • Sail Behm Canal into Misty Fjords National Monument in search of humpbacks, orcas, and sea lions

  • Roam small, uninhabited islands, hiking through the moss-draped cedar and Sitka spruce or tidepooling along the craggy shores

  • Scan the shorelines along Sumner Strait for a chance to spot black bears, wolves, and bald eagles in search of salmon

  • Visit a tribal house and a beach famous for native petroglyphs on remote Wrangell Island, or take a jet boat excursion up the Stikine River

Day by Day

Multiple routes available

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

Southbound


Starts at

Juneau, Alaska

Ends at

Ketchikan, Alaska

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Day 1

Juneau / Embark Ship

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

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 1

Juneau / Embark Ship

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

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2

LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm

Today we explore either LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm. These areas feature some of the most active glaciers in Southeast Alaska. Icebergs regularly break off from glaciers, getting caught in shallow moraines and along the shorelines as they float out of the bay. Our experienced captain will evaluate the underwater morraine outside of LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm, where we'll set out by Zodiac to navigate among these surreal floating sculptures. Take advantage of spectacular photographic opportunities, practicing tricks and tips from our certified photo instructor.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2

LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm

Today we explore either LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm. These areas feature some of the most active glaciers in Southeast Alaska. Icebergs regularly break off from glaciers, getting caught in shallow moraines and along the shorelines as they float out of the bay. Our experienced captain will evaluate the underwater morraine outside of LeConte Bay or Tracy Arm, where we'll set out by Zodiac to navigate among these surreal floating sculptures. Take advantage of spectacular photographic opportunities, practicing tricks and tips from our certified photo instructor.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Sumner Strait

Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for orcas and humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around our ship. Explore the coast by kayak or Zodiac and go ashore to trace bear trails through forests intersected by crystalline salmon streams. Along the way, learn about the rainforest ecosystem from our naturalists. Fix your binoculars on the banks to spot Sitka black-tailed deer and moose as well as black bears, wolves, and bald eagles that frequent the shoreline in search of plentiful salmon. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Sumner Strait

Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for orcas and humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around our ship. Explore the coast by kayak or Zodiac and go ashore to trace bear trails through forests intersected by crystalline salmon streams. Along the way, learn about the rainforest ecosystem from our naturalists. Fix your binoculars on the banks to spot Sitka black-tailed deer and moose as well as black bears, wolves, and bald eagles that frequent the shoreline in search of plentiful salmon. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Wrangell

This morning we arrive in the small town of Wrangell. The Tlingit and their ancestors have made this island their home for thousands of years. Take an optional jet boat journey up the Stikine River or explore town, including a visit to Chief Shakes Tribal House and Petroglyph Beach, home to ancient rock carvings. This afternoon we cruise Eastern Passage and Blake Channel, narrow waterways on the backside of Wrangell Island where other ships rarely venture. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Wrangell

This morning we arrive in the small town of Wrangell. The Tlingit and their ancestors have made this island their home for thousands of years. Take an optional jet boat journey up the Stikine River or explore town, including a visit to Chief Shakes Tribal House and Petroglyph Beach, home to ancient rock carvings. This afternoon we cruise Eastern Passage and Blake Channel, narrow waterways on the backside of Wrangell Island where other ships rarely venture. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Misty Fjords National Monument

Wake up this morning to catch the sunrise over the stunning cliffs of Misty Fjords National Monument, rising more than 2,000 feet above the deep blue waters of the fjord. Watch wisps of cloud drift down the winding waterway and drape over green peaks as we cruise through the mists that give this extraordinary landscape its name. Set out by Zodiac and kayak to get close to the forested banks and the many dramatic waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Misty Fjords National Monument

Wake up this morning to catch the sunrise over the stunning cliffs of Misty Fjords National Monument, rising more than 2,000 feet above the deep blue waters of the fjord. Watch wisps of cloud drift down the winding waterway and drape over green peaks as we cruise through the mists that give this extraordinary landscape its name. Set out by Zodiac and kayak to get close to the forested banks and the many dramatic waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Ketchikan / Disembark Ship

Arrive in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of sylvan slopes on Revillagigedo Island. Its many monikers, from “salmon capital of the world” to “rain capital of Alaska,” capture the spirit of this city, famous for colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to view the priceless collection of 19th-century totem poles. Enjoy breakfast aboard ship before disembarking. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6

Ketchikan / Disembark Ship

Arrive in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of sylvan slopes on Revillagigedo Island. Its many monikers, from “salmon capital of the world” to “rain capital of Alaska,” capture the spirit of this city, famous for colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Visit the Totem Heritage Center to view the priceless collection of 19th-century totem poles. Enjoy breakfast aboard ship before disembarking. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

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Before they built the National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest, U.S. shipbuilder Nichols Brothers built the twin ships National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird. Nimble, reliable, and intimately scaled, they both continue to sail the waters of the west coast of North America and Central America.

National Geographic Sea Lion accommodates just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. Her inviting public spaces foster a sense of shipboard life where everyone is integral to the adventure, engendering a rewarding sense of community and esprit de corps. National Geographic writer Andrew Evans called National Geographic Sea Lion the “closest thing to Cousteau’s Calypso” he’s ever had the pleasure to be on.

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Before they built the National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest, U.S. shipbuilder Nichols Brothers built the twin ships National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion. Nimble, reliable and intimately scaled, they both continue to sail the waters of the west coast of North America and Central America.

With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships. She can venture into fast-moving channels where whales come to feed, transit a series of locks in the Pacific Northwest, nose up to waterfalls in secluded coves, and sail into protected anchorages in small bays perfect for snorkeling and kayaking.

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Experience the pure power of primal wilderness on this compact, six-day expedition along the untamed southern regions of Southeast Alaska. Witness the electric blues of iceberg-dotted LeConte Bay and navigate narrow channels like Behm and Blake, as well as Walker Cove in Misty Fjords. Board Zodiacs to explore Prince of Wales Island and take kayaks and paddleboards into salmon-studded waters to trace the rugged, wildlife-rich shorelines of Kupreanof Island.

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From

$4,660

/ per person

Book Now
Book before Jun 30

$700 AIR CREDIT

See all offers

View our brochure for more details