THE EXPERIENCE

Escape the big cruise lines and crowds of tourists on a small-ship adventure through Southeast Alaska’s remote coastal wilderness. Witness ice-capped mountains rising 15,000 feet from the sea and mazes of fjords carved out by ancient glaciers – all inside the world’s largest temperate rainforest and travelling with highly experienced expedition leaders who are among Alaska’s most outstanding guides.

Hundreds of islands dot the Inside Passage, the sheltered saltwater route that rests between the open Pacific and the Coast Range. Bears, whales, seals and eagles rule this uninhibited environment, where human presence is slight. With this package, you’ll explore remote islands and tranquil coves that big cruise ships just can’t reach, for intimate encounters with whales, porpoises, sea lions and sea otters – and with rare close-up views of black and brown bears in their natural habitat at Anan Creek Bear Observatory, as they fish for spawning salmon.

Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage holds legendary status as a must-see destination for all nature travellers. Big ships have cruised this route for years, but our exclusive itinerary offers a chance to experience this marine paradise as few others do, in-depth and nestled in breaches of seclusion, getting you closer to Alaska’s epic wildlife than you ever thought possible./

Just look and see what sets this trip apart from the rest:

• Cruise Aboard a Privately Chartered Yacht for an Intimate Alaskan Adventure


Savour privacy and solitude aboard our luxurious small ship, which carries just 20 guests – in contrast to the 3,000 or more aboard many cruise liners.

• Our Small Ship Goes Places that Big Cruise Liners Can’t


Our vessel’s small size means we offer an immersive wildlife-focused itinerary you won’t find anywhere else. We have access to narrow channels and secluded coves that are off-limits to larger ships, meaning you’ll visit remote wildlife sanctuaries that few other visitors get to see!

• A Rare Visit to Anan Creek Bear Observatory


At Anan Creek near Wrangell – virtually unvisited on most commercial trips – we have a chance to look for both brown and black bears as they hunt, catch and feastduring Southeast Alaska’s largest pink salmon run.

• Overnight in Glacier Bay with a National Park Ranger


Our ship’s special permits allow us to spend the night within Glacier Bay itself – a privilege afforded to very few vessels, and none to big cruise ships. What’s more, we’ll have a Glacier Bay National Park ranger on-board to guide us through and explain the Bay’s natural wonders, with lots of time leftover for personal conversation.

• Alaska’s Best Whale Watching in Frederick Sound


Frederick Sound is home to some of Alaska’s largest populations of orcas and humpback whales – and the humpbacks here are known to exhibit an especially high level of breaching behaviour, often leaping completely out of the sea.

• Multiple Kayaking Excursions – Included!

With an onboard fleet of stable sea kayaks, you can paddle through the ocean alongside Dall’s porpoises, sea otters and puffins. On a typical cruise, you might have a chance to purchase a kayaking excursion at a single port, lumped into the water with a hoard of other passengers – but our small ship carries its own kayaks, which we have the option to use in various locations throughout our voyage.

• Enjoy Personal Interactions with Our Naturalist Expedition Leaders


You’ll travel alongside our own NHA Expedition Leaders, seasoned naturalists who are among Alaska’s most outstanding guides.

ACCOMMODATION

Our ship, The Safari Quest, is a stylish luxury yacht accommodating 20 guests and two Expedition Leaders in 11 staterooms. Built in 1992 and thoroughly renovated in 2006, this yacht is 120 feet long and boasts four spacious decks, with four stateroom categories. The Safari Quest offers both double and single accommodations, and all staterooms come with private en suite bathrooms and showers (with heated tile floors).

Guests may visit the casually elegant salon to recap the day’s activities or watch a movie on the widescreen TV; the onboard library offers a quiet space for reading or journaling; and the yacht’s fully stocked bar is at the ready with your favourite brew. There is a topside hot tub on the sun deck for those wanting to relax, and fitness equipment is also available on board. A full-beam swim step allows for easy access to water activities. Onboard adventure equipment includes kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, inflatable skiffs, hiking poles, fishing rods and tackle, and hydrophones for listening to below-surface sounds. A 2:1 guest-to-crew ratio ensures highly personalised attention to passengers’ every need and comfort.

Crew

9 crew members
2 NHA Expedition Leaders

Rooms

• 5 cabins with one queen bed
• 5 cabins with one king or two twin beds

Cabin Categories

• Category 1: Mariner Staterooms: Cabins C1 (1 queen bed), C2 (1 queen bed), C3 (1 queen or 2 twin beds), C4 (1 king or 2 twin beds), C6 (1 queen).


These rooms are on the cabin deck and include elevated port lights (not suitable for viewing).

• Category 2: Commander Stateroom: Cabin B2 (1 queen bed).

This room is on the main deck and has a view window.

• Category 3: Captain Staterooms: Cabins A1 (1 king or 2 twin beds), A2 (1 king or 2 twin beds), A3 (1 queen bed), A4 (1 king or 2 twin beds).

These cabins are on the bridge deck and include a sliding glass door which opens onto a small balcony.

INCLUDED

Accommodation, meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on final day, purified drinking water, services of NHA Expedition Leader, local guides and boat crew, airport transfers in Juneau or Ketchikan on Day 1 and final day, some gratuities, most alcoholic beverages, all permits, entrance fees and taxes.

NOT INCLUDED

Travel to and from start and end point of trip (Juneau and Ketchikan), most gratuities, some alcoholic beverages, passport and visa fees, items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, optional travel insurance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Easy to Moderate / Flexible 
This adventure does not require a high degree of physical fitness although, should you choose to participate in every activity, you will be required to climb into and out of skiffs and kayaks from the yacht. Please be prepared for water landings and a series of short walks over potentially wet, muddy, uneven terrain. Kayaking will be an option available to guests. It is easy to learn, and we expect that most of our guests have little or no experience. It does, however, take an adventurous spirit.