Alaska is a destination of superlatives - most rugged, most remote, most majestic. For centuries, travelers have made difficult, dangerous journeys to explore - and to exploit - this harsh and beautiful land. The inexorable forces of nature are on full display here - mountains eroded by the crushing force of massive glaciers, icebergs crowding cold aquamarine seas, the reproductive cycles of plants and animals compressed into the scant, warm weeks of an arctic summer.
There is no better time to see Alaska than during the long days of the higher latitudes, and no better way to appreciate the teeming life of the coastal waters than from the comfort of a 36-passenger deluxe vessel. A small vessel offers advantages that no city-ship can match, a chance to have a more personal, and meaningful, connection with nature and your fellow travelers. A flexible itinerary and more maneuverability means that you can see and hear orcas and humpback whales as they surface, undisturbed, alongside the ship; quickly deploy kayaks to get a closer look at nursing sea otters and fishing grizzlies; or float peacefully in a secluded bay, redolent of sea and forest, while bald eagles swoop and wheel overhead.
Trip Highlights:
- Sail on the deluxe 36-passenger Safari Explorer, a beautifully designed vessel that affords guests the chance to experience the dramatic fjords and quiet bays in a way that simply cannot be duplicated by the multi-thousand passenger mega-ships
- Hear lectures and be accompanied throughout the journey by naturalist Greg Greer, who will speak about the ecosystem and flora and fauna of this primal wilderness.
- Travel in large, deluxe, all outside staterooms that allow you to observe the majestic scenery from the comfort of your own cabin.
- Spend two full days in Glacier Bay, the gem of the Inside Passage. Most vessels only spend part of one day in this icy wonderland.
- See some of North America’s mammals including grizzly bear, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, seals, sea otters, orcas and humpback whales.
- Experience the humid, green beauty of the largest temperate rainforest zone in the world.
- Witness the raw beauty of the Alaskan coast, rimmed with snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers.
- Meals, drinks, and shore excursions are included during this deluxe cruise.
Expedition Dates:
August 13-20, 2010