Alaska's Inside Passage and Glacier Bay

Alaska's Inside Passage: Glacier Bay 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 the crew, settle in, and relax with your shipmates. Within minutes we'll cruise the scenic channels of the Inside Passage.
  All meals included once onboard. Plan to arrive in Juneau, Alaska before 2:00p.m.

• Day 2 Glacier Bay National Park - a World Heritage Site - is a treasure of natural wonders and wildlife.

  One of America's crown jewel national parks is yours to explore and marvel at for the next three days—Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. A National Park Ranger joins you to explore coves and corners of the bay that most visitors miss. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before you in the waters of Glacier Bay.

  Paddle a kayak and be awed at the face of a massive glacier. Go on a boot-sucking trek through sandbars and rainforest. And ride a skiff along shore for an up-close exploration of Glacier Bay. You'll find sea lions, mountain goats, sea otters, bears, moose, eagles, and spectacular scenic backdrops. Linger near South Marble Island to spot the many species of rare sea birds that call this area home. Keep your eyes on the water and the island for brightly-colored puffins and Black Oystercatchers. Stop in Bartlett Cove for a visit to the Park Service's Headquarters.

• Day 3 Experience the tidewater glaciers, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes by kayak, skiff or from the bow.

  Enjoy another day of guided exploration in the park.

• Day 4 The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay offers rare opportunities to study the ebb and flow of glaciers.

  Make the best of your third and last day in the park with a hike, paddle, or skiff excursion in this majestic national park.

• Day 5 Icy Strait is perhaps the best place for whale sightings in SE Alaska. They share these waters with Dall porpoises, seals, and sea otters.

  Set your course for arguably the richest whale waters in Southeast Alaska. Join the Captain on the bridge or the Expedition Leaders/Naturalists out on deck in search of marine mammals. Ride the skiffs for a closer inspection of the remote coastline with eyes set on the shoreline for possible bear sightings.

• Day 6 Today we'll cruise off of Chichagof Island, the highest population of bears per square mile of any place on Earth.

  Meander along the spectacular waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. In the Un-Cruise expedition spirit, marvel at the grand scenery as our crew expertly guides you through unsung, glacier-carved fjords. Anchor in remote waters for an opportunity to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Explore the shoreline on an intertidal walk or forest exploration with your guides.

• Day 7 From the bow, watch for eagles perched on trees along the shores of Peril Strait.

  Peril Strait runs 50 miles from Chatham Strait to Salisbury Sound. This haven for small boats is scenically highlighted by a very narrow connecting passageway called Sergius Narrows and an opening at Hoonah Sound. This historic and wildlife-rich waterway is a great place to watch the shoreline for bears, the waters for otters and whales, and to look skyward for eagles. The passage narrows to only 300 feet in one spot (24 feet deep). After an adventurous, but "un-perilous" day, toast your voyage with a festive Farewell Dinner and a "photo journal" of your trip presented by your Expedition Leaders.

• Day 8 Disembark in Sitka and discover why it was once deemed the "Paris of the Pacific".

  Gather for breakfast this morning as you cruise into Russian-influenced Sitka for disembarkation. Transfer to the airport or begin your overnight stay or land tour. Flights out of Sitka must be scheduled after 11:30a.m.

On alternate weeks this cruise will be the reverse itinerary starting in Sitka and ending in Juneau. 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.

The Wilderness Explorer is an expedition ship 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.

REI Adventures standard payment and cancellation policies do not apply. At the time of reservation, a $600 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.

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, the adventure list includes kayaking among icebergs, 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

• Due to storage restrictions in your cabin, luggage should not be more than 21" deep when lying flat. Soft sided luggage with wheels is OK.
• 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.