Alaska Cruise: Inside Passage - Juneau to Sitka

Duration	8 days
Prices from	$ 4,895
Departures 29/08/2009, 18/07/2009, 05/09/2009, 25/07/2009, 01/08/2009, 08/08/2009, 22/08/2009, 20/06/2009, 15/08/2009, 27/06/2009, 13/06/2009, 06/06/2009, 30/05/2009, 23/05/2009, 06/09/2008, 30/08/2008, 11/07/2009, 04/07/2009

It?s calm in Icy Strait, which is your first stop and one of Alaska?s most beautiful glacial fjords. In the still water, you hear a popping like that of puffed-rice cereal ? it?s ice decompressing and expanding after centuries of being crushed by its own glacial weight. This voyage also includes two days exploring Glacier Bay National Park with a park Naturalist, unhurried time for whale watching and wildlife viewing, guided hikes and beachcombing.

Note: This itinerary includes one full day exploring Glacier Bay National Park instead of two full days: 8/23/2008 and 8/30/2008

Itinerary

Day 1: Sail from Juneau

Transfer to your yacht after an included city and glacier tour. Your crew greets you with champagne and smiles, and you?ll cruise to a secluded wilderness anchorage this evening.

Days 5-7: Wilderness, Whales and Hot Springs

You'll discover the heart of Alaska's Inside Passage during the next three days. On any given morning, you may be off in your kayaks wandering through misty coves, beachcombing around tidepools, or watching a bear with her cubs ambling along the shoreline. You'll spend your days cruising the waters where humpback whales, Steller's sea kions, orcas and porpoise feed and frolic. You'll enjoy guided nature hikes and soak in natural hot springs. It simply does not get any better than this.

Day 2: Icy Strait and Elfin Cove

You'll search for the telltale blow of the humpback whale as you cruise in Icy Strait today, and later all the charm of Alaska will greet you as you pull into tiny Elfin Cove. You'll step ashore to stretch your legs and meet the people who choose to live their lives far removed from modern-day conveniences. This evening, you'll drop anchor in a remote bay and drop the kayaks for a paddle before calling it a day.

Days 3-4: Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay, at 3.2 million acres, is roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. Here, tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, their faces terminating in the waters of the bay. You'll spend time weaving among the floating icebergs, then enjoy your evenings at anchor in hidden coves. In the morning, you'll paddle your kayaks in the quiet of this majestic wilderness. Throughout your visit, you'll watch for puffins, mountain goats, bears, moose and scenery more spectacular than any place on Earth.

Day 8: Sitka