Humpback whales feed in the Inside Passage

Whale watching, sea kayaking in glacial fjords, and hiking in temperate rainforests delight us every day on our journey from Juneau to Petersburg aboard the MV Catalyst.

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Alaska's Inside Passage

Whale Watching and Sea Kayaking in a Glacier-Carved World of Hidden Fjords

Alaska's Inside Passage route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $3850   see pricing
Length: 7 days
Arrive: Petersburg, Alaska
Depart: Juneau, Alaska
Lodging: 6 nights aboard a comfortable 75-foot boat describe
Meals: All meals included
Activity: Hiking / Trekking, Small Boat & Yacht Cruising, Wildlife & Natural History, Sea Kayaking
Trip Level: Daily choice of easy to moderate kayaking and hiking, 2-6 hours a day
2 explain

Highlights

  • Explore one of Alaska’s prime whale-watching areas by small ship
  • Sea kayak amid icebergs below towering granite walls
  • Hike on glacial moraine and in old-growth cedar, hemlock, and spruce forests
  • View calving glaciers, sea lion colonies, bald eagles, and breaching whales

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

All that makes Alaska extraordinary—spectacular landscapes, breathtaking wildlife, a pristine wilderness on the grandest scale imaginable—can be found along the Inside Passage, the storied corridor of islands and glaciers along the southeast coast. And the ultimate way to experience it is aboard our historic, 11-passenger wooden vessel that brings us into hidden places where big ships can’t even dream of entering. With our on-board naturalists, we kayak into narrow inlets like Ford’s Terror, whose sheer granite walls are wreathed in ephemeral mists, hike in old-growth forests, and encounter amazing wildlife from humpbacks to bald eagles. At day’s end, we savor the welcoming comfort of our boat and enjoy an evening of fine food and congenial company.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Day 1
Petersburg, Alaska

(Northbound itinerary) In Petersburg, we board our historic vessel and cruise north into Frederick Sound, one of the best places for humpback whale watching in southeast Alaska. Tides permitting, we hike on the moraine of the Baird Glacier, and later we enjoy our first sea kayaking excursion (no previous experience is necessary).

Days 2-3
The Brothers / Admiralty Island

Setting out for The Brothers, a group of small islands in Frederick Sound, we watch for humpback and orca whales in this prime summer feeding ground. We may shut down the engine and drift, listening to their ethereal songs with the ship’s hydrophone. On Day 3, we hike through temperate rainforest, sea kayak along the shores, or even fish for halibut for tonight’s dinner! Nearby is a Steller sea lion haulout, where hundreds of these vocal creatures crowd the rocks. Our next destination is 100-mile-long Admiralty Island, with its cathedral-like old-growth rainforests and high populations of brown bears and bald eagles. From our idyllic anchorage, the sound of breathing whales or the call of an eagle drift across the evening calm.

Days 4-5
Endicott Arm / Ford’s Terror

Getting underway in time to make the slack tide into Endicott Arm, we dodge icebergs as we wind our way into the fjord. Along the way we watch for whales, stopping to watch them surfacing as they prepare to dive for krill or bubble net for herring. At Dawes Glacier, we linger to watch the glacier’s calving, booming bergs. A treat awaits us at a seldom-visited anchorage called Ford’s Terror, a spectacular natural amphitheater that resembles a flooded Yosemite Valley. Our ship is powerful enough to push against the strong current into this sublime place, and we anchor here on Day 5 to explore by sea kayak, crossing saltwater rapids and paddling beneath steep 5,000-foot granite walls shrouded in otherworldly mists.

Days 6-7
Ford’s Terror / Juneau

A hike in the highlands above Ford’s Terror offers a bird’s-eye view of the raging tidal rapids. Heading out of Endicott Arm, we watch for bear, moose, wolves, and whales as we motor to Juneau, where we bid farewell to the ship’s crew and depart.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 2, Easy to Moderate. The M/V Catalyst serves as our mobile base camp. We explore remote coastlines and fjords by day, then retreat to the comfort of the ship in the evening for good food, fine company, and a comfortable bunk. Southeast Alaska is one of the few places in North America largely untouched since the first explorers trod through its ancient forests 200 years ago. Following in the wake of the naturalist John Muir, who was deeply inspired by Alaska’s wild grandeur, we cruise a glorious stretch of wilderness where glaciers crackle in lovely fjords and the sea is filled with whales, orcas, porpoises, and sea lions. Along the way, we pass countless miles of old-growth forests of spruce, hemlock, and cedar, home to bears and bald eagles. With just a few hours of cruising each day, there is plenty of time for walking, wildlife watching, or sea kayaking all in the company of an on-board naturalist who shares insights into the local botany, natural history, and native culture.

You should be ready for a variety of weather conditions. Layered clothing works best in the changing weather conditions typical of the Pacific Northwest Coast and Southeast Alaska.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures

Jul 10-16, 2011
Jul 31-Aug 6, 2011

*Jul 10 departure is Southbound Itinerary, call for details

Tour Costs

Prices are for 2011

$3850 per person, double occupancy (for cabins 2, 3 & 5, shared bath; cabin 4 is single occupancy)

$4400 per person, double occupancy (for cabins 1 & 6, with private bath)


more on pricing

Tour Cost Includes:

  • expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
  • accommodations aboard the M/V Catalyst
  • meals as noted in the Full Trip Brochure, including welcome and farewell dinners
  • kayaks, paddles, radios, PFDs (life jackets), and boat safety gear

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

Airfare to/from points of embarkation and debarkation of the M/V Catalyst, accommodations in Juneau or Petersburg, meals not specified in the detailed itinerary, travel insurance, optional gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors, expenses such as immunizations (if any), and other expenses of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, and so on).

Trip Payment Schedule*

At time of reservation: $500
150 days prior to departure: 50% of tour cost
90 days prior to departure: Balance

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Cancellation Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $500
91-150 days prior to departure: 50% of tour cost
90 days or less: 100% of tour cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

The M/V Catalyst

Alaska, USA

The 75-foot M/V Catalyst is a historic wooden vessel that accommodates up to 11 guests. Constructed in 1932 as a marine research boat, she can maneuver around icebergs, follow whales, get close to glaciers, and tuck into tiny coves that most passenger vessels wouldn’t even dream of approaching. Delicious meals, including fresh-caught seafood, are served by the Catalyst's chef in the warm, wood-paneled salon, and a fleet of sea kayaks on board add to the spirit of exploration and discovery. Cabins 1 and 6 have a private head and shower, while the lower deck cabins (2, 3, 4, 5) share one bathroom and shower.

Deck Plan

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.