Discover iconic wild Alaska on an expedition honed over 35+ years

Venture into a land of mist-shrouded fjords, tidewater glaciers, and islands teeming with wildlife. For over 35 years we’ve been sharing the remarkable beauty of Southeast Alaska with adventurous guests, and over those years we’ve found the shallow, fast-moving channels where whales return to feed year after year and the ancestral trails carved in the forest by lumbering bears. Join us to explore these wild places and search for marine life, kayak along the coast, and spend a full day in Glacier Bay National Park with insights from a park ranger and a Tlingit cultural interpreter.

  • 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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Duration

8 Days

Price

From $7,340 per person
(does not include flight)

Dates

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Special offers

Free Airfare ON SELECT DATES

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES

EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS

COMBINING OFFERS

BRINGING THE KIDS

BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS

TRAVELING AS A GROUP

Ships

Alaska

Day By Day

Get out and explore by walking forest paths created by wildlife and seeing eagles, bears, whales, sea lions, and more. Make the expedition as active as you choose, and each day join a different naturalist in exploring for more viewpoints and learning. Hike, kayak, cruise by Zodiac and stand-up paddleboard.

Current

Embark

Juneau, Alaska

Disembark

Sitka, Alaska

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Reverse

Embark

Sitka, Alaska

Disembark

Juneau, Alaska

Download Itinerary

Alternative Route

Get out and explore by walking forest paths created by wildlife and seeing eagles, bears, whales, sea lions, and more. Make the expedition as active as you choose, and each day join a different naturalist in exploring for more viewpoints and learning. Hike, kayak, cruise by Zodiac and stand-up paddleboard.

Embark

Disembark

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)

Call now

Make a reservation

RESERVE

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Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)

Call now

Make a reservation

RESERVE

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

sign up

Special Offers

Special Offers

Free Airfare ON SELECT DATES
Special Offers

Book by November 30, 2021, to receive free roundtrip airfare from Seattle to Alaska on select departures on Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness and Wild Alaska Escapes, or free one-way airfare on select departures on Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia and A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii. Complimentary air is based on economy group flights and must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions. In the case that Lindblad's group flight is not available at time of booking, we reserve the right to issue a credit. Baggage fees may be additional. New bookings only and not combinable with other offers or pre- or post-extensions. Call for details.

CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES
Special Offers

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. For new Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness departure bookings only. 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.

EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS
Special Offers

Book 2023 departures and get 2022 rates if booked by November 30, 2021. Valid for new bookings on departures on Lindblad-National Geographic ships, Delfin II, and The Jahan made by Nov 30, 2021, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.

COMBINING OFFERS
Special Offers

Certain offers may be combinable, up to two savings opportunities, except where noted otherwise. For example, travel with a group of 8 or more on back-to-back expeditions, and take advantage of both savings.

BRINGING THE KIDS
Special Offers

We believe sharing an expedition with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. So take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.

BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
Special Offers

Save 10% on any consecutive journeys taken on board one of our expedition ships. This savings is applicable on voyage fares only, and are not valid on extensions or airfare.

TRAVELING AS A GROUP
Special Offers

Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.

Dates, Rates & Cabins

Travel on this itinerary from $7,340 per person

Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff

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Extensions

Extensions

Make the most of your proximity and time

Denali National Park Post Voyage Extension
Denali National Park Post Voyage Extension

Post-trip

6 Days

From

$6,950 per person

Discover the wildness that lives at the heart of Alaska; add an inland exploration of Denali National Park to your coastal expedition.

Explore from a comfortable, elegant wilderness lodge.
With the idyllic Kantishna Roadhouse Lodge as your base camp, you’ll enjoy special access. Kantishna's relationship with the Park ensures exclusive opportunities for you to explore Denali National Park’s most pristine backcountry areas for prime hiking and wildlife viewing. Set deep in the heart of the Park, this unique wilderness retreat offers unparalleled views of Denali, a wide range of outdoor activities and nightly presentations that emphasize Denali’s natural and cultural history, plus locally sourced cuisine. The small group size of 11 guests per naturalist enhances the intimacy of outings and opportunities for in-depth learning. Explore via private touring vehicles, or if you prefer a more personal exploration, you can hike a trail near the lodge or around Wonder Lake, bike the trails or even spend an afternoon fishing. At the expedition’s end, you’ll return to Anchorage first class in lavishly appointed cars on the Alaska Railroad that feature original Alaska art and a private outdoor viewing deck.

View extension

Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

9/10/2021

Read

National Geographic Quest

Cruising Ushk Bay

A fine and adventurous day was awarded to us on our last chance to explore Southeast Alaska on this voyage. We anchored in the morning at Ushk Bay just between Baraknof and Chicagof Islands. We spent the morning exploring the vast beach, meadows, and forests that make this area so special and wild. Salmon were making their final push upstream while the less lucky fishes lay as carcasses along the streams. We have learned and seen so much in our short time in Southeast Alaska and it has never disappointed.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/9/2021

Read

National Geographic Quest

Glacier Bay National Park

We woke up to today to sculptures of ice floating down the mirror-still water of a mist filled fjord as we proceeded towards Johns Hopkins Glacier. The air was crisp and still holding only a slight chill. The dramatic landscape unfolded in front of us, showcasing countless waterfalls spilling from the high walls of the fjord and complex structures of ice at the face of the glacier. Kittiwakes streamed by silently in the morning air as seals gave us a curious glance.   Spending the day in Glacier Bay National Park is always an anticipated highlight of our voyages. This incredible location has so much to offer, as our full schedule showed. Shortly after our early morning glacier, we made way to view our late morning glacier at the northern extent of Glacier Bay. The cool air and increasing fog just added to the mystique of this very special place.   Throughout the day we switched between viewing wildlife, listening to presentations, and dining with our friends, new and old, aboard the National Geographic Quest. A mother and cub brown bear gave us quick looks as they skirted from the beach into the forest. Mountain goats effortlessly traversed the impossibly steep walls of Gloomy Knob. Dazzling flocks of seabirds painted lines around the ship in Russel Cut. Rafts of sea otters paddled along as the fog lifted from the azure waters. Glacier Bay does not disappoint.   Approaching South Marble Island, a breeding location for many seabirds and a haul-out spot for Steller sea lions, life was abundant. The sea lions were present in loud playful groups, and the birds showed themselves in large quantities and diversity. As we were starting to depart, a pod of killer whales came towards the island. Four individuals, including a male with a distinct tall dorsal fin, began to tour the island and the sea lion haul-outs. The pinnipeds scrambled to get to high ground as the tide took their crowded refuge. Several naturalists believe that the whales were successful in hunting sea lions during our prolonged stay at the island. Observing killer whales hunt is a rare opportunity, so we were all glued to the bow taking in the dramatic scene unfolding in front of us.   As we began to peel away from the island and share the excitement of what we had just witnessed, puffins flew about and several more brown bears worked their way along the shore. This was the kind of day that will live on in story for years after it ends; another amazing day in Alaska.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/8/2021

Watch

National Geographic Quest

Southeast Alaska, Inian Islands - George Island

After several days of liquid sunshine in Southeast Alaska, the sun came out to illuminate the Inian Islands and all of the wildlife that utilizes this amazing corridor of Alaska. Everyone took a Zodiac ride in the morning to see Steller sea lions, sea otters, and a myriad of birds. The current ripped through the islands, bringing the fish buffet up to the hungry sea lions. The ecosystem in this area is returning homeostasis compliments of the burgeoning sea otter population after their near extinction during the Russian America days. Everyone enjoyed close up views of sea otters!    After lunch, the expedition continued to George Island where there were a variety of hikes through the forest and kayaking from the beach. The afternoon ended with some hot cider and an opportunity to take a “Polar Plunge” in the Southeast Alaskan waters.  

Daily Expedition Reports

9/7/2021

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National Geographic Quest

Kuiu Island and Security Bay

This morning the National Geographic Quest headed towards Kuiu Island and dropped the hook in Security Bay. Dropping all of our toys after breakfast, we prepared for our chosen activities: kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, or hiking. On the water, perfect calm conditions and a gorgeous coastline made for smooth paddling and some of us had good sightings of harbor seals and sea otters.   In the forest, hikers were blown away by the beauty of the enchanted temperate rainforest. HUGE Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees left us in a state of “WOW.” If only these trees could talk they’d have quite the stories to tell.   Our landing area, from where all activities commenced, was very close to a spot called Retaliation Point. An intriguing name with a story of dire consequence. Northern Kuiu Island is part of the traditional territory of Kake Tlingit. Security Bay was heavily used by these native people prior to 1870. In 1869 two white men were killed by Kake Tlingit, presumably to avenge the shooting of one of their people by an Army guard. In retaliation a Lieutenant Commander Meade, commanding the US steamer Saginaw, burned and destroyed three villages, including the one here at Retaliation Point. Poking around the forest we found some indentations in the earth and wondered if these could have been old house sites from the village that was burned.   While the island is home to the two largest known trees in Alaska, it has seen its fair share of logging. We found evidence of that industry in the woods: huge stumps, cables and a yarder used to pull the trees out of the forest with a winch. Old fishing boats and a mysterious barge were also encountered on the shore.   In the woods we found scat, evidence of moose and bear. Kuiu is home to one of the densest black bear populations in North America with up to 4 bears per square mile! As we head further north to the ABC islands we will leave these two species behind. Moose and black bear populations on Kuiu arrived here by island hopping from Mitkof and Kupreanof islands after swimming across from the mainland.   While it was a wet day in Southeast, Alaska, we made the most of our layers and rain gear and were “WoW’ed” by the incredible forest and coastline.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/6/2021

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National Geographic Quest

Petersburg & Ideal Cove

National Geographic Quest spent the morning in the fishing village of Petersburg as the largest ship among a fleet of small fishing vessels. We then positioned south to Ideal Cove, a wonderful place to introduce everyone to the amazing temperate rainforest I call home.

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)

Call now

Make a reservation

RESERVE

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

Sign up

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)

Call now

Make a reservation

RESERVE

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

Sign up