Glacier Bay Highlights - 12A

Spend five days in the beautiful remote wilderness of Alaska's Inside Passage. In the soaring sanctuary of Glacier Bay National Park, you'll experience the true meaning of wonder: Acres of pristine wilderness invite your senses to explore. Listen to the call of a thousand sea birds as they cluster on tiny islands. Feel the chill of a glacier on your face. Inhale the clean freshness of an unspoiled world, set apart for generations to treasure.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Juneau

Transfer to our hospitality area in preparation for your cruise. The convenient waterfront locale is a perfect base for exploring Alaska?s beautiful capital city, one of the most popular cruise ship ports in Alaska. Accessible only by air or sea, Juneau sits in a rainforest with the Mendenhall Glacier in its backyard.

Some of the best optional excursions in Alaska are available in Juneau. Perhaps a flightseeing trip over the famous Juneau Ice Field, exploring the impressive Mendenhall Glacier. Board your ship to begin your cruise down the Gastineau Channel.

Day 2: Haines

With its strategic location along the Chilkat Trail, the area around Haines has thrived for hundreds of years as an important and integral trade center for the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for the intricately designed blankets woven with the hair of mountain goats. Haines is also renowned as home to the world?s largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles, with the Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve located 18 miles from the town.

This truly Alaskan town, known for its scenery, military history, numerous artisans, galleries and off-the-beaten-path attitude will allowyou to breathe in a taste of life in the "real" Alaska that few have the privilege to enjoy. Take plenty of time to explore on your own or indulge in a wide variety of optional activities that will allow you to take home more than photographs.

Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Designated a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, you'll enter a 3.3-million-acre nature wonderland with over 200 species of fish are found in Park waters, including all five species of Pacific salmon. About 220 species of birds have been recorded in the Park as well as large populations of land mammals.

In the early morning we?ll pick up a Glacier Bay Park Forest Ranger and a local Tlingit Cultural Interpreter in Bartlett Cove. They will provide a comprehensive day of narrative sightseeing. Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice began dramatically retreating 200 years ago. Approach Marble Islands and hurry outside to encounter a teeming multitude of seabirds like black-legged kittiwakes, murrelets and puffins, all swooping and swarming above the writhing, barking haul-out of Steller?s sea lions. You may encounter mountain goats on Gloomy Knob or watch brown and black bears foraging along the shoreline. Look for more harbor seals, sea otters and the humpback whales that call Glacier Bay their summer home.

Day 4: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Day 2 in Glacier Bay National Park. The Ranger will help you look for mountain goats, brown and black bears, moose, harbor seals, Steller's sea lions and puffins.

Day 5: Juneau

Disembark in Juneau. If you have time before your flight we?ll give you ideas for exploring this interesting capital city, like a rainforest hike, the Mendenhall Glacier or glacier flightseeing. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.