Experience the wonders of Glacier Bay the best way possible—by comfortable expedition vessel with kayaks aboard! This awesome landscape of fjords, glaciers, and towering mountains is simply glorious, and we’ll feel as if we have it all to ourselves as we anchor in hidden coves, walk on massive tidewater glaciers, and kayak through pristine waters. The wildlife is as spectacular as the scenery, with Steller sea lions congregating on rocky islands, harbor porpoises feeding along the shores, and bald eagles peering down at us from giant spruce trees at water’s edge. After each day’s adventures, we return to the cozy warmth of our 6-passenger ship, watching for wildlife from the deck during the long Alaskan twilight.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Gustavus / Reid Glacier / Kayaking / Hiking

Embarking from Bartlett Cove, we set off into Glacier Bay, John Muir’s “icy wilderness unspeakably pure and sublime,” cruising up to Reid Glacier, with its incredible wall of ice. Kayaking here is fantastic (no previous experience required), with calm mirrored waters and breathtaking glacier views. Paddling to shore, we hike onto the ice to explore ice caves, hunt for unusual ice worms, and learn about the ebb and flow of glaciers. At day’s end we return to the welcome of our ship for a cup of hot chocolate or glass of wine and to savor a delicious dinner (fresh seafood, of course!).

Day 3
Johns Hopkins Glacier / Tarr Inlet / Margerie Glacier

We venture close to the Johns Hopkins Glacier, the fastest advancing glacier in the park, to listen for the crackle and boom of impending calving and watch seals lounging on floating icebergs. Inside Tarr Inlet, where the Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers plunge into the water, we paddle below a sheer cliff with a kittiwake and puffin rookery, and right in front of the icy face of Margerie Glacier.

Days 4-5
Hugh Miller Inlet / South Marble Island / Elfin Cove / George Island

At the entrance of the Hugh Miller Wilderness Area, we paddle through quiet coves, viewing mighty glaciers while looking for wildlife along the beach. If the tides are right, we can peer into a fascinating marine world of sea stars and sea urchins. The next day, we cruise to a series of islands to view a large Steller sea lion haulout and a seabird rookery. We also visit the tiny fishing community of Elfin Cove, accessible only by floatplane or boat, and enjoy a hike or paddle before a bonfire and s’mores on the beach.

Days 6-7
Idaho Inlet / Gustavus

Paddling the placid waters of Idaho Inlet, named for a steamboat that ran aground here a century ago, we encounter sea otters and watch for bears feeding in the stream. On our last morning, we cruise to the rich waters off Point Adolphus to search for the humpback whales that call this home in summer. Arriving in Gustavus in the late afternoon, we bid farewell to our captain and 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. It is an active trip for people who are in good health. You should be able to comfortably get in and out of the kayaks as well as the skiff that brings us to the beaches. Each day we kayak for 2-3 hours and explore remote shores and fjords, climbing and hiking for 2 hours, then retreat to the comfort of the boat in the evening for good food, fine company, and a comfortable bunk. The boat travels a maximum of five hours, and the rest of the time we enjoy our sea kayaking and nature walks. We spend each evening in a different remote anchorage along our journey, and our expedition vessel serves as our mobile base camp.

We cruise a glorious stretch of pristine glacial wilderness, where glaciers crackle in lovely fjords and the sea is filled with whales, orcas, porpoises, and sea lions. Kayaking and shore activities are as active as you like. If you want to kick back and relax on board, that is always an option. Our kayaks are very stable double kayaks and on our kayaking excursions, we are usually very quiet as we like to become part of the landscape so we can view wildlife at their eye level. We also carry a skiff to ferry folks to the beach. The shore landings are either “dry” (where there are rocks or wooden piers to step onto when you disembark from the skiff) or “wet” (which involves stepping out of the skiff into a foot or so of water and wading to shore). Getting out of the skiff for a dry landing is occasionally tricky because the skiff is moving with the waves and the rocks you step onto may be slippery.                                 

Our shore walks are nature walks following the tracks of wolves, bears and moose, learning about our plants and even nibbling on a few. Glacier Bay’s weather is variable but each change in temperature and precipitation brings different adventures. As long as you have rain gear and knee-high rubber boots, you will be ready for whatever the skies bring. Our trips are scheduled for the peak of summer season, when the days are longest, allowing for an incredible range of activities and discoveries.

Explanation of Trip Levels