VOYAGERS' GLACIER COUNTRY

Aboard the Safari Explorer

Day 1: Arrive in Juneau, Embarkation
After meeting fellow guests and your Expedition Leader at the Goldbelt Hotel on Juneau’s waterfront, we’ll drive out to lovely Mendenhall Glacier, which flows down from the Juneau Icecap in the high mountains north of town. Mendenhall is fronted by an iceberg-dotted lake. Later board the Safari Explorer. We’ll anchor overnight at Funter Bay.

Day 2: Icy Strait and Elfin Cove
Crossing Icy Strait we'll search for the tell-tale blow of the humpback whale as we cruise today, and later, all the charm of Alaska will greet us as we pull into tiny Elfin Cove, a remote fishing village tucked into Chichagof Island. We'll step ashore to stretch our legs and meet the people who choose to live their lives in this wilderness of forests and islands. This evening we'll anchor in a remote bay and lower the kayaks and skiff, keeping our eyes open for sea otters and bears nearby. Enjoy another delectable dinner onboard and relax in the hot tub before calling it a day.

Highlights:

Included private city tour at port of embarkation. Exploring Glacier Bay National Park with a Park Naturalist. Quiet nights at anchor in remote bays and coves. From-the-yacht wilderness kayaking and small-boat excursions. Unhurried time for whale watching and wildlife viewing. Daily insights from your onboard Expedition Leader/Naturalist. Beachcombing and guided hikes in the rain forest. Handcrafted cuisine.

Days 3 - 4: Glacier Bay Natrional Park
Over the two day in the park we’ll travel nearly 60 miles cruising up-bay to Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers, which frequently calve huge icebergs into the bay. If conditions permit, we'll lower the inflatable and weave among the icebergs that have fallen from the face of the glaciers. We'll enjoy evenings at anchor in hidden coves, and mornings paddling our kayaks in the quiet of this majestic wilderness. And what will we find? Here in the bay there are puffins and sea lions, mountain goats and bears, moose, eagles, and scenery more spectacular than any place on Earth. Glacier Bay is at its best when explored by small groups on a nimble yacht over the course of two days to hike and kayak inside the bay and wilderness areas. .

Day 5: Frederick Sound and Sea Lions
Today we’ll cruise around wilderness Admiralty Island to more prime humpback-viewing waters in Frederick Sound. We’ll take time for skiff operations and sea kayaking in Saginaw Bay, and cruise up-close to a sea lion colony at the Brothers Islands. Tonight we'll anchor in a remote and picturesque bay.

Day 6: Rainforest Hiking and Petersburg
We’ll tuck into Gambier Bay, a large, island-speckled body of water on the south coast of Admiralty Island National Monument. We’ll drop the kayaks and launch the skiff for up-close exploration of this cool forested bay. Never logged, the thick evergreen forest crowds right down to the gravel beaches. Here is an outstanding opportunity to spot the huge brown – or grizzly – bears for which Admiralty Island is famous. At low tide they’re right down on the beaches, seeking a shellfish supper. Once again under way, we’ll watch for humpback whales before anchoring at Wood Spit for more exploration by kayak and skiff.

Day 7: Ford’s Terror and Endicott Arm
Cliff-walled fjords sliced into the mountainous mainland are on tap today as we tuck into an area widely acclaimed as the most beautiful in all of Alaska. Snow gleams on mountaintops high overhead, as bears amble on the shoreline and mountain goats cling to impossibly precarious perches. Seemingly every few hundred yards another sparkling waterfall tumbles down the cliffs. Enjoy a skiff ride at Ford’s Terror, named after an early mariner who was somewhat taken aback when a waterfall appeared at the turn of the tide where none had been visible at high tide. We’ll anchor overnight at Taku Harbor to enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner in an utterly lovely setting

Day 8: Disembark in Juneau
Transfer to the airport or hotel.

To check availability or request a brochure on American Safari Cruises, drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739