Alaska Fjords and Glaciers

Arriving in Juneau and being warmly welcomed is a good start. You will have time to discover a bit of the city once you have checked in at the reception desk. But after boarding, have a glass of sparkling wine on board the boat. Set sail for the Endicott Arm wilderness.

Take a look out the window. The cliffs of the fjords rise to the sky. Ice floats on the water. And deep U-shaped valleys can be seen from the boat. The magic of nature is very real. Walk past the harbour seals and their pups basking on pieces of ice. At the end of Endicott, the blue wall of the Dawes Glacier is a fairy tale. And in the classic shape of a fjord, Tracy Arm delivers beautiful blue colors like those of the Sawyer Glaciers. If the tides permit, your skiff captain knows the area inside out and will guide you. It’s a mix of imposing ice walls, capricious currents and coastal mountains. You will also be able to observe numerous waterfalls and mountain goats climbing the cliffs.

Stretching on the deck starts the day. Hunchbacks and killer whales are frequent visitors of this southeast passage. A foggy beak is a sure sign that they are in the neighborhood. Your captain sails through Stephens Passage to Port Houghton. And you are ready for a day of adventure with your team of guides, walking and paddling. The routes are all chosen. Make your choice and take action. Glide down the kayak launch pad and take your time to spot starfish and shorebirds. Or take a hike in the Tongass. It’s a landscape of suspended waterfalls and shades of green.

When you get there, you might as well do everything you can. This is the backcountry of wild Alaska. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs and mud. In this playground, everything is possible today. Kayak and skiff in almost glass-clear water. The mirror image of the fjord walls plays on the surface. Hiking in the waters of the Baird glacier. You will also have the opportunity to take an interpretive walk in the forest through a grassy meadow. Later, go to Wrangell Pass. Abundant bright red and green navigation lights guide the way. It is of course nicknamed “Christmas Tree Lane”.

Native culture and wildlife have gotten along well for centuries. Wrangell is one of the oldest cities in Alaska. It is also the only one to have been governed by four nations. Tlingit culture is deeply rooted here. And the local islanders come aboard this morning with a presentation that brings their stories and legends to life. Venture into town to see the recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Park. See how many totem poles you can choose from on each mast. Enter the famous Chief Shakes Tribal House.

Wildlife is abundant. Black bears, mink, eagles. In the Behm canal, they are all isolated streams and the Tongass national forest. On the Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low altitude hike with extensive views. Good opportunities to take panoramic pictures of the southeast. In the water, killer whales, porpoises, seals and otters go about their business. Make yours with a guided paddle through the tiny deserted waterways that feed the Behm Canal.

There are places on the planet that are completely beyond you. This is one of them. Beauty. Peace. The sense of belonging you feel. The Misty Fiords National Monument represents almost every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska, and that alone is much to consider. Glacial valleys filled with seawater. Cliffs 900 meters high. Seabirds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, black-tailed deer from Sitka, all find a safe refuge here. Kayak at Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you’ll find it’s as easy to paddle and leave as it is to sit and float and take it all with you. You can also skiff to the foot of a waterfall to take a shower in a fjord. The area’s affectionate nickname, “North Yosemite”, is well-deserved, and it’s an amazing conclusion to your week. Your captain joins you tonight for a farewell dinner. Celebrate and remember your trip to Alaska with a “photo journal” of your crew.

After this morning’s breakfast, say goodbye to your new friends before disembarking and heading to Ketchikan airport or starting your extended hotel stay or land tour.