Alaska's Inside Passage: Eastern Coves

Alaska's Inside Passage: Eastern Coves Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Make time to visit Mendehall Glacier near Juneau before embarking on your SE Alaska adventure.

  Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted as we set sail into the Tracy Arm Wilderness.
  All meals included once onboard. Plan to arrive in Juneau before 2:00p.m.

• Day 2 From Tracy Arm - one of the most dramatic locations in North America - to Frederick Sound, today is just a sample of more to come.

  At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls, hundreds of cascading waterfalls, and some of the largest floating icebergs in all of Alaska, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers—North Sawyer and South Sawyer. The fjord is home to brown and black bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, birds such as arctic terns and pigeon guillemots, and mountain goats, usually spotted high on the cliffs. Later today, move into Frederick Sound—summer feeding ground for the Northern Hemisphere's largest concentration of humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca, and Steller sea lions.

• Day 3 Thomas Bay provides an amazing spot to drop anchor and a chance to kayak or hike the mainland.

  Choose kayaking and a lush forest trek on a scenic rainforest trail, or go big on a roundtrip 11-mile hike to the glacially-fed and rarely visited Patterson Lake for spectacular kayaking in the meltwaters of Patterson Glacier. Discover the origin of its "Devil's Country" nickname during a reading from "The Strangest Story Ever Told," about the area's mythical shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.

• Day 4 Many options to explore glacial landscapes today. Later in the day we cruise through "Christmas Tree Lane".

  Step into the back country of Alaska's wilderness, in an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz. Explore glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. Adventure and natural beauty are sure to please whether you choose kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or hiking today. An abundance of bright red and green navigation lights guide you along "Christmas Tree Lane" as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows this evening.

• Day 5 Our stop in Wrangell gives us insight to the Tlingit people and their ancestors who have inhabited the island for thousands of years.

  Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder—Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only one ever governed by four nations. Before venturing into town, local islanders join you on board for an in-depth presentation on Tlingit and Haida cultures. View recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park and step inside the famed and historically significant Chief Shakes Tribal House.

• Day 6 Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world, surrounds the quiet coves of Behm Canal.

  Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest—orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Paddle along the canal or venture out on an intertidal shore walk or low-elevation trek on the Cleveland Peninsula.

• Day 7 Misty Fjords National Monument is a pristine wilderness setting and offers excellent kayaking opportunities.

  Affectionately called "The Yosemite of the North," Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. Glacial valleys filled with sea water, and sheer 3,000 foot cliffs are a haven for sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, moose, river otters, and other wildlife. Glide through Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay by kayak or explore by skiff soaking in the splendor of this largely forgotten corner of the world. This evening, join the Captain in a farewell toast and reminisce about your Alaskan journey over a sumptuous dinner.

• Day 8 Disembark in Ketchikan and discover why this is the "Salmon Capital of the World".

  Enjoy a farewell breakfast before disembarking the ship this morning. Transfer directly to the Ketchikan airport or begin your add-on overnight stay or extended land tour. Flights out of Ketchikan must be scheduled after 11:30a.m.

Due to the nature of our explorations, itineraries are guidelines and will change in order to maximize wildlife and natural encounters. Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

All single travelers pay the single fare.

Trip price includes accommodations on board, airport transfers for embarkation day and disembarkation day, all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8, kayaks and kayaking gear, paddle boards, guided hiking, and small boat exploration.

Airfare to/from Alaska, lodging and meals on the mainland, port fees and taxes, insurance, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature.

REI Adventures standard payment and cancellation policies do not apply. At the time of reservation, a $600 ($750 for 2014) deposit is due. Full payment for this cruise is due at 90 days before departure. Cancellations received at any time after making your trip reservation are subject to a non-refundable $300 per person service charge. When a trip cancellation is received 120-91 days from departure, your deposit is 100% non-refundable. When a trip cancellation is received inside of 90 days from departure, all trip costs are 100% non-refundable.

The "Wilderness" vessels are expedition ships capable of nimble exploration through nature's most dramatic hideaways. The shallow draft and hull design allow easy access to Southeast Alaska's wildlife-rich shores and glacially-fed inlets and serve as ideal "launching pads" for an exciting array of daily adventure excursions. The interior complements the outside and both public and private spaces are loaded with amenities.

This trip is rated Easy Active [2]. Active beginners are welcome. However, these expeditions are focused on providing guests with a multitude of meaningful ways to experience Southeast Alaska and its surrounding waterways in many private adventures. Whether you are looking for easy or moderate Alaska adventures, extended and challenging outdoor pursuits like hiking and kayaking, we can tailor most any expedition to suit your skill level. Every Alaska adventure activity is ranked with an Activity Level and Activity Description to ensure that you feel comfortable with your selection.

Among your choices, kayaking, hiking far-off trails, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, "polar bear club swims", observing whales and other marine wildlife from inflatable boats, bird watching, friendly sporting contests and glacier walks.

Long periods of rainy, cool and overcast weather are common in Southeast Alaska. Summer daytime temperatures range from 45° to 65°F. When the boat is underway there is a cool breeze if you are on deck. During the summer, days are long: May has an average of 16:47 hours of daylight, June has 18:15, July has 17:36, August has 15:25 and September has 12:51 daylight hours. June is the driest month, but the Inside Passage has a marine climate which means you should always be prepared for rain.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to pack essential items such as appropriate identification, money, eyewear and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens users should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
• Good raingear is essential. Your raingear should be able to repel a full day of rain without leaking. It should have taped seams and preferably an attached hood. We recommend bringing two jackets: A waterproof, non-breathable jacket with attached hood for use aboard the ship or on the zodiak, and a waterproof, breathable jacket with attached hood for use while kayaking or other physical activities.
• Rain protection for your camera will be a must while in the temperate rain forest. There are many affordable options, all of varying degrees of effectiveness, depending on the amount of exposure to rain. If you are bringing a point and shoot camera, there are water proof cameras on the market that are small and a great optical quality. Bring a cloth to wipe rain and spray from the lens. Also, be sure to have a lanyard attached to your camera, you'll be thankful for it the first time it saves your camera from falling from your kayak or onto the steel deck of the boat.
• A dry bag is highly recommended to keep your gear dry while kayaking (or hiking in the rain). Dry bags can be affixed to the top of your kayak.
• If wildlife viewing is one of your main reasons for choosing this cruise, we recommend bringing good binoculars to have handy at all times.