Auk Bay, Lynn Canal, Icy Strait, Cross Sound, Dundas Bay, Glacier Bay

We begin our journey from the port of Auk Bay near the city of Juneau Alaska.  Immediately we enter the souther portion of Lynn Canal and head West through the confluence waters of Icy Strait, Chattam Sound, and Lynn Canal.  Rich whale grounds full of food will give us the best opportunity to whiteness the feeding behaviors of Humpback Whales.  As we continue our journey westward in Icy Strait we get prepared for entering the beautiful waters of Glacier Bay National Park.  The waters here are icy cold and the air is crisp and clear. Because Glacier Bay is a National Park and affords all the protections that come with such status, wildlife abounds within the bay. Guests can look to possibility of intimate contact with humpback whales, bears, moose, wolves, sea otters, seals, sea lions, goats and eagles to name a few.

Since Glacier Bay has just recently emerged from the ice, it is considered a geologically young area. A trip up Glacier Bay is like a trip back in time. Old growth forests give way to bare rock as we make our way back into the upper reaches of the bay. Here, the tidewater glaciers still rumble and roar as they make their slow retreat back, dropping huge icebergs into the sea. Magnificent granite cliffs tower above our small ship as we wind our way up the fjord through the ice floes towards the faces of these massive glaciers. Along the way, our expert naturalist and guide will point out the finer points of plant succession, glaciations’, local geology, and the interconnectedness of the animals that call this area home. The biodiversity of this place is simply amazing.

Evenings will bring secluded anchorages with time to reflect and share a delicious meal prepared by our Chef in the galley. Many evenings will offer time to quietly explore the shores by kayak or slowly motoring along in the skiff. It's amazing how much can be seen and heard along the shores in the quiet evening time. Before bed, the Captain will bring out the charts to review the happenings of the day, and to make a plan for the following day. We keep the schedule incredibly flexible to allow for adaptation to the multitude of variables that can be encountered along the way.

With a newfound appreciation of the world in which we live, and memories to last a lifetime, guests will disembark around 12 am in Bartlett Cove. Many will opt to catch the afternoon flight back to Juneau to continue on with their Alaska adventures or head home.  Others may want to stay in one of the hotels or bed and breakfasts in Gustavus to further experience a small, coastal Alaska town.