Wild Alaska - get close up to Alaska's glaciers and whales on our small-ship adventure cruise

Alaska’s southeast archipelago is one of nature’s finest canvasses. Here towering glaciers meet pristine wilderness and mighty spruce trees vie for space next to majestic fjords.

This is a voyage of discovery to a land of superlatives, where you can watch whales feeding and playing, kayak amongst ice and seals and walk beneath a canopy of primeval forest. And all from the comfort of our own specialised expedition ship, in the company of like–minded travellers and expert specialist guides.

Fjords and Glaciers

Beginning in Juneau, Alaska’s state capital, a land of iceberg studded lakes and spectacular glaciers, we board our comfortable home from home, either MV Sea Lion or MV Sea Bird, and embark on our journey into the unspoilt wilds of Alaska. Sailing first into Tracy Arm, a spectacular 22 mile long fjord of towering walls and cascading waterfalls, we pass by the Sawyer Glacier, described as ‘bluer than any blue on earth’.

With a constant escort of harbour seals, porpoises and Arctic terns and the possibility of sighting humpback whales in the morning light, our journey then takes us past the ice sculptures of Le Conte Bay to the small community of Petersburg. Founded some 100 years ago by Norwegian fishermen, this isolated town gives us a taste of the spirit of Alaska.

Orca and Humpbacks

Moving into the rich waters of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait we enter the realm of the majestic leviathans. These waters abound with orcas and humpbacks and it is not uncommon to see schools of up to 30 of these magnificent creatures at play in these waters. There will be opportunities to walk forest trails and stroll through a landscape carpeted with wild flowers of silverweed, nagoonberry and chocolate lily, whilst over our heads bald eagles soar.

You may kayak between the ice flows and we will spend an entire day exploring the Glacier Bay National Park, one of the best places on earth to witness the movements of these ice giants. With large populations of harbour and Steller’s seals, as well as puffins and brown bears there will be no chance of becoming lonely out here.

Nature and Heritage

The advantages of our small and nimble craft also become evident in these waters as we move on to Point Adolphus, a favoured feeding ground for humpbacks, where we can not only watch, but also hear them in the icy waters, thanks to our on board hydrophone. Nature is very much in evidence wherever you go in Alaska and we also take the opportunity to learn something of the human inhabitants of these isolated regions.

We visit Sitka, Alaska’s only oceanfront town, where a multitude of cultures and peoples have left their mark. Dominated by the volcanic peak of Mount Edgecumbe, Sitka has strong Russian, as well as native influences, evident by the onion domes of its orthodox church and the grand totem poles that line its wooded paths.

View information about your cruise ships, the MV Sea Lion & the MV Sea Bird

Download our Voyage Dossier (pdf) with full information

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