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

All that makes Alaska extraordinary—spectacular landscapes, breathtaking wildlife, a pristine wilderness barely touched by the hand of man—can be found in the Inside Passage, the storied corridor of islands and glaciers along the southeast coast. And the ultimate way to experience it is aboard the 11-passenger M/V Catalyst, an historic wooden ship that brings us into hidden places where big ships can’t maneuver. 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 each day’s end, we savor the welcoming comfort of the Catalyst and enjoy an evening of fine food and congenial company.

Highlights

  • Explore one of Alaska’s prime whale-watching areas
  • 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

Details

  • 7-day trip begins in Petersburg and ends in Juneau
  • 6 nights aboard the 75-foot M/V Catalyst
  • All meals included
  • Daily choice of easy to moderate kayaking and hiking, 2-6 hours a day

Tour Costs

$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)

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Jun 27-Jul 3, 2010
Aug 1-7, 2010

*June departure is Southbound Itinerary, August departure is Northbound Itinerary.

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Alaska's Inside Passage route-map

Day 1
Petersburg, Alaska (Northbound itinerary)

In Petersburg, we board the historic M/V Catalyst 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

We set out for The Brothers, a group of small islands in Frederick Sound, watching 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. We then travel north to 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. 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 looks like a flooded Yosemite Valley. The M/V Catalyst is powerful enough to push against 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 Catalyst and her crew and depart.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

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.