Expedition Details
Experience the remarkable beauty of southeastern Alaska on a voyage into a land of mist-shrouded fjords, tidewater glaciers, and islands teeming with wildlife with some of our finest photographers. Sailing aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird, 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 photographers who have an intimate knowledge of the region. Our small ship has the flexibility to take you ashore to places that few others see. This specially crafted expedition will put you in position to take photos with some of the world's premier photographers as your guides.
Trip Highlights
- Sail aboard the comfortable 62-passenger expedition ship National Geographic Sea Bird equipped with Zodiacs and sea kayaks.
- The expedition will feature sessions for both photographers and videographers.
- 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.
Itinerary - 8 Days
Day 1 — Seattle/Sitka, Alaska
Fly from Seattle to 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. Embark the ship in the late afternoon.
National Geographic Sea Bird
(D)
Day 2 — 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.
(B,L,D)
Day 3 — Point Adolphus/Inian Pass
Look for humpback whales at Point Adolphus, a favored feeding area. Then cruise to Inian Pass 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 4 — Glacier Bay National Park
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. Walk ashore among towering spruce trees and meadows of wildflowers.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 — Exploring Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait
These waters often make for great whale watching. Look for Steller sea lions hauled 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 Fred Sharpe to learn about his work with the Alaska Whale Foundation—supported by a grant from the Lindblad/National Geographic Fund—which has recently made some fascinating discoveries about the region's marine mammal population.
(B,L,D)
Day 6 — 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 or helicopter over nearby LeConte Glacier (weather permitting) and for hikes on forest trails.
(B,L,D)
Day 7 — Tracy Arm
Wake in 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 8 — Juneau/Seattle
Visit the imposing Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaska State Museum, an excellent recap of Alaska's natural history and cultures. There is time to explore Juneau on your own before you head to Seattle to catch your flight home.
(B)
View LargerExpedition Team
A diverse team of expert photographers and naturalists will accompany this expedition. They will share their knowledge and insights on the photographic techniques required to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and cultural elements of this voyage. See one of the members of our extraordinary team below.
Flip Nicklin
National Geographic photographer and marine biologist Flip Nicklin is one of the world's leading photographers of whales. His majestic photos and amazing audio tracks of humpbacks and killer whales have been featured in numerous National Geographic publications and television specials. The North American Nature Photography Association has named him Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year. Flip migrates with the humpbacks, spending summers in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and winters off Maui, Hawaii.
Flip will join the following departure:
Aug 25 - Sep 01, 2012
This trip is offered in association with Lindblad Expeditions.
Expedition Dates 
![[SB]](/images/icon_ship-sb.png){kind=icon}
National Geographic Sea Bird![[SL]](/images/icon_ship-sl.png){kind=icon}
National Geographic Sea Lion
