Exploring Southeast Alaska’s ABC Islands

Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, in the early afternoon, and embark in time for cocktails and an introduction to the vessel, staff and crew.

Arrival Time: Arrive by 3:00 p.m. local time. 
Arrival City: Juneau

Juneau, Alaska's capital and third-largest city, is on the North American mainland but can't be reached by road. Bounded by steep mountains and water, the city’s geographic isolation and compact size make it much more akin to an island community such as Sitka than to other Alaskan urban centers, such as Fairbanks or Anchorage. Juneau is full of contrasts. Its dramatic hillside location and historic downtown buildings provide a frontier feeling, but the city's cosmopolitan nature comes through in fine museums, noteworthy restaurants, and a literate and outdoorsy populace. The finest of the museums, the Alaska State Museum, is scheduled to reopen in May 2016 on its old site as the expanded Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (SLAM) following several years of planning and exhibit research. Another new facility, the Walter Soboleff Center, offers visitors a chance to learn about the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska–-Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Other highlights include the Mt. Roberts Tramway, plenty of densely forested wilderness areas, quiet bays for sea kayaking, and even a famous drive-up glacier, Mendenhall Glacier. For goings-on, pick up the Juneau Empire (www.juneauempire.com), which keeps tabs on state politics, business, sports, and local news.

Spend the day searching for wildlife in nutrient-rich waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the Inside Passage. Options include a Zodiac cruise among the Inian Islands, home to a sizeable population of Steller sea lions; kayaking in the protected coves of Chichagof Island; or hiking in a lush temperate rainforest where bald eagles dot the canopies.

The Inian Islands are a collection of half a dozen small, rocky islands located at the Pacific Ocean at the end of the Icy Strait. The islands possess a particularly rich ecosystem, on land as in the sea with Steller sea lions, Tridactyl gulls, cormorants and sea otters calling the Inian Island home which you can explore further with a Zodiac® outing.

For the next six days, explore these wild gems of southeast Alaska, located in the northern part of the Alexander Archipelago. This area is a staff favorite for its exceptional wildlife and opportunities for active exploration. With nature as your guide, you will experience wild Alaska up close on Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards and hikes, including an option for an all-day bushwack adventure.

Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait (Admiralty Island) 
The dense forest and snow-capped peaks of Admiralty Island provide a scenic backdrop for exploring its productive surrounding waters. These are prime areas for spotting both orca and humpback whales. With luck, guests may observe their fascinating behavior—breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding—while standing on deck and listening to the play-by-play from expert naturalists.  
 
Baranof Island 
The smallest of the ABC islands, Baranof Island is home to the archipelago’s highest peak, as well as a diverse ecosystem. Meander through the old- growth temperate rainforest, following a stream studded with sockeye salmon making their journey upstream to spawn. The salmon nourish a variety of land and ocean animals including bears, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises and more. Your naturalists will provide a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the Alaskan temperate rainforest, from its edible and poisonous plants to the fascinating mating habits of the banana slug.  
 
Chichagof Island 
Chichagof Island is one of the largest islands in the U.S. and harbors one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. The lush foliage offers excellent opportunities for naturalist-led hikes and photo walks. With the help of your certified photo instructor, practice your macrophotography skills on the variety of mushrooms rising from the mycelium that carpets the forest floor. Stroll the shorelines to witness a kaleidoscope of colorful intertidal life, while keeping an eye peeled for bubble-netting humpbacks feeding in the surrounding waters.

 
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness 
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular fjords with waterfalls cascading from glacially carved walls. See the soaring Dawes or South Sawyer Glacier up close and take a Zodiac cruise for an unparalleled view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises and Arctic terns.

Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof - form a remote wilderness region renowned for dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Located within Alaska’s Inside Passage, these islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, kayaking, and exploring untouched natural landscapes. Visitors experience dramatic scenery, rich Native Alaskan heritage, and a true sense of solitude in one of North America’s most pristine environments.

Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof - form a remote wilderness region renowned for dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Located within Alaska’s Inside Passage, these islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, kayaking, and exploring untouched natural landscapes. Visitors experience dramatic scenery, rich Native Alaskan heritage, and a true sense of solitude in one of North America’s most pristine environments.

Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof - form a remote wilderness region renowned for dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Located within Alaska’s Inside Passage, these islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, kayaking, and exploring untouched natural landscapes. Visitors experience dramatic scenery, rich Native Alaskan heritage, and a true sense of solitude in one of North America’s most pristine environments.

Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof - form a remote wilderness region renowned for dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Located within Alaska’s Inside Passage, these islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, kayaking, and exploring untouched natural landscapes. Visitors experience dramatic scenery, rich Native Alaskan heritage, and a true sense of solitude in one of North America’s most pristine environments.

Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof - form a remote wilderness region renowned for dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world. Located within Alaska’s Inside Passage, these islands offer exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, kayaking, and exploring untouched natural landscapes. Visitors experience dramatic scenery, rich Native Alaskan heritage, and a true sense of solitude in one of North America’s most pristine environments.

After breakfast, disembark in Juneau and transfer to the airport for your flight home. 
 
Departure Time: Depart after 10:30 a.m. local time 
Departure City: Juneau

Juneau, Alaska's capital and third-largest city, is on the North American mainland but can't be reached by road. Bounded by steep mountains and water, the city’s geographic isolation and compact size make it much more akin to an island community such as Sitka than to other Alaskan urban centers, such as Fairbanks or Anchorage. Juneau is full of contrasts. Its dramatic hillside location and historic downtown buildings provide a frontier feeling, but the city's cosmopolitan nature comes through in fine museums, noteworthy restaurants, and a literate and outdoorsy populace. The finest of the museums, the Alaska State Museum, is scheduled to reopen in May 2016 on its old site as the expanded Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (SLAM) following several years of planning and exhibit research. Another new facility, the Walter Soboleff Center, offers visitors a chance to learn about the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska–-Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Other highlights include the Mt. Roberts Tramway, plenty of densely forested wilderness areas, quiet bays for sea kayaking, and even a famous drive-up glacier, Mendenhall Glacier. For goings-on, pick up the Juneau Empire (www.juneauempire.com), which keeps tabs on state politics, business, sports, and local news.