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Alaska's Inside Passage

  • 8 days aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion or Sea Bird
  • Departures every Saturday and Sunday from mid-May to August
  • Explore Alaska's remote wilderness with a team of experts
Request a ReservationClick to see dates

Expedition Details

Experience the remarkable beauty of southeastern Alaska on a voyage aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird or National Geographic Sea Lion into a land of mist-shrouded fjords, tidewater glaciers, and islands teeming with wildlife. Search for orcas and humpback whales, kayak around dramatic icebergs, spend a full day in Glacier Bay National Park, and learn about Alaska’s rich Native American heritage.

Our approach during this voyage is one of discovery. We take time to stop and explore this beautiful and intriguing land up close, in the company of expert naturalists who have an intimate knowledge of the region. Our small ship has the flexibility to take you ashore to places that few others see. The long days of summer allow for wildlife viewing well into the evening hours.

Trip Highlights

  • Kayak into protected coves and look for sea otters, seabirds, and whales.
  • Hike through lush forest trails to cascading waterfalls, and take a Zodiac into sheltered coves where brown bears feed.
  • Watch for calving ice in the iceberg-laden waters of Glacier Bay National Park.
  • Meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn about the local whale population, and get a firsthand perspective on Alaska’s indigenous peple from a Tlingit cultural interpreter.

Itinerary - 8 Days

Day 1 — Seattle/Juneau, Alaska

Fly from Seattle to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Visit the imposing Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaska State Museum, an excellent introduction to Alaska's natural history and cultures. There is time to explore Juneau on your own before we embark the ship in the late afternoon.
National Geographic Sea Lion or National Geographic Sea Bird (D)

Day 2 — Tracy Arm Fjord—Fords Terror Wilderness

Enter Tracy Arm, a spectacular 22-mile-long fjord where waterfalls cascade from towering, glacially carved walls. We maneuver among large icebergs, keeping an eye out for feeding bears on the shoreline and mountain goats on the cliffs above.
(B,L,D)

Day 3 — Petersburg

Discover the small town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island, founded more than 100 years ago by rugged Norwegian fishermen. A visit to Petersburg provides a glimpse of a true Alaskan town. There is an opportunity for optional flight seeing via floatplane over nearby LeConte Glacier (weather permitting) and for hikes on forest trails. Later, cruise out to look for whales in the southern part of Frederick Sound, or explore LeConte Bay, a virtual sculpture garden of grounded icebergs.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 — Exploring Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait

These waters often make for great whale watching. Look for Steller sea lions stretched out on the rocky islands that dot the channels. Take a walk with naturalists along a quiet forest trail or kayak in the tiny coves in this area. Meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation—whose work is supported by a grant from the National Geographic/Lindblad Fund—and discuss some of their recent discoveries about the region's marine mammal population.
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Point Adolphus/Chichagof Island

Look for humpback whales at Point Adolphus, a favored feeding area. Then cruise along the northern coastline of Chichagof Island and find playful sea otters. Keep an eye out for eagles, which are commonplace in the surrounding Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States.
(B,L,D)

Day 6 — Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Spend the day exploring magnificent Glacier Bay, where enormous glaciers flow from the ice fields far above. Watch and hear glaciers calving as tons of ice crash into the sea. Venture near islets that are home to seabirds such as puffins and guillemots, and look for humpback whales and orcas. Get a firsthand perspective on Alaska’s indigenous people from a Tlingit cultural interpreter, who will be on board with us today to share stories passed down through oral tradition and art. Later, walk along trails among towering spruce trees and meadows of wildflowers.
(B,L,D)

Day 7 — Exploring Alaska's Islands, Bays, and Fjords

Beachcomb, hike forest trails, explore by kayak, or cruise along Admiralty Island, where the massive brown bear is found, along with perhaps the world's highest density of nesting bald eagles. If conditions permit, explore the coastlines of some remote islands by kayak. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.
(B,L,D)

Day 8 — Sitka/Seattle

After breakfast, disembark in Sitka, a unique town with a strong Russian heritage. Visit St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, a striking testament to Alaska's roots prior to the U.S. purchase of the territory from Russia. Then explore Sitka National Historical Park, where totem poles line serene wooded trails. In the early afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Seattle.
(B)

Optional Extension

Related Trips

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Expedition Team

Accompanying each expedition is a diverse team of experts — from naturalists to regional specialists — who will share their knowledge and insights on the wildlife, landscapes, and local culture. See one of the members of our extraordinary team below.

Casey Anderson

Casey AndersonThe host of Nat Geo WILD’s Expedition Wild and America the Wild, naturalist Casey Anderson was nicknamed the “animal magnet” while growing up in Montana. In 2002, Casey rescued an abandoned grizzly bear cub and dedicated his life to raising Brutus (pictured with Casey at left) to be an ambassador for his wild grizzly cousins. Casey built Brutus a sanctuary which became the Montana Grizzly Encounter, a bear rescue and education facility. Together, they have been featured in the National Geographic Channel’s Expedition Grizzly and in numerous educational videos, films, television shows, and commercials. When not on set, they spend their days at the rescue center helping educate the public about wildlife conservation. A passionate advocate for wildlife as well as an entertaining presenter, Casey will share insights from his many adventures including those in Alaska, where he studied the grizzly population of Kodiak Island.

Casey will join the following departure:

May 20 - 27, 2012

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Lindblad/National Geographic Logo

This trip is offered in association with Lindblad Expeditions.

Expedition Dates

2012 2013 All
2012
  • May 19 - 26, 2012 [SL]
  • May 20 - 27, 2012 [SB]
  • May 26 - Jun 02, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • May 27 - Jun 03, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 02 - 09, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 03 - 10, 2012 [SB]
  • Jun 09 - 16, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 10 - 17, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 16 - 23, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 17 - 24, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 23 - 30, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 23 - 30, 2012 [SL]
  • Jun 24 - Jul 01, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jun 30 - Jul 07, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 07 - 14, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 08 - 15, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 14 - 21, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 15 - 22, 2012 [SB]
  • Jul 21 - 28, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 28 - Aug 04, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Jul 29 - Aug 05, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 04 - 11, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 11 - 18, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 12 - 19, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 18 - 25, 2012 [SB] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 19 - 26, 2012 [SL] (waitlist only)

2013 dates »

2013
  • May 11 - 18, 2013 [SL]
  • May 12 - 19, 2013 [SB]
  • May 18 - 25, 2013 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • May 19 - 26, 2013 [SB]
  • May 25 - Jun 01, 2013 [SL]
  • May 26 - Jan 02, 2013 [SB]
  • Jun 02 - 09, 2013 [SB]
  • Jun 09 - 16, 2013 [SB]
  • Jun 15 - 22, 2013 [SL]
  • Jun 16 - 23, 2013 [SB]
  • Jun 22 - 29, 2013 [SL]
  • Jun 23 - 30, 2013 [SB]
  • Jun 29 - Jul 06, 2013 [SL]
  • Jul 06 - 13, 2013 [SL]
  • Jul 07 - 14, 2013 [SB]
  • Jul 13 - 20, 2013 [SL]
  • Jul 14 - 21, 2013 [SB]
  • Jul 20 - 27, 2013 [SL]
  • Jul 27 - Aug 03, 2013 [SL]
  • Jul 28 - Aug 04, 2013 [SB]
  • Aug 03 - 10, 2013 [SL] (waitlist only)
  • Aug 10 - 17, 2013 [SL]
  • Aug 11 - 18, 2013 [SB]
  • Aug 17 - 24, 2013 [SL]
  • Aug 18 - 25, 2013 [SB]

« 2012 dates

Indicates trip operates in reverse. Click here to see the reverse itinerary .

[SB] National Geographic Sea Bird
[SL] National Geographic Sea Lion

Expedition Costs

2012 2013 All
2012
Prices for the 2012 season.
Category 1
 		$5,990
Category 2
 		$6,790
Category 3
 		$7,890

« 2010 costs | 2013 costs »

2013
Prices for the 2013 season.
Category 1
 		$5,990
Category 2
 		$6,990
Category 3
 		$7,990

« 2012 costs

View Ship/Deck Plan Prices are per person, double occupancy. For a single cabin in 2012, add $3,000 in Category 1 and $3,400 in Category 2. For a single cabin in 2013, add $3,000. in Category 1 and $3,500. in Category 2.

Airfare is not included in the expedition cost. Round-trip economy airfare from Seattle to Juneau, and return from Sitka, is $650 (subject to change).

Special Offer

Receive complimentary round-trip airfare between Seattle and Alaska on the June 3, 9 and 10, 2012 departures and on the May 11,12, 19, 25, 26 and June 2, 2013 departures (a $650 value). Subject to availability.

Request a ReservationClick to see dates
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