Experience the wilderness wonder of Glacier Bay by private expedition vessel! This is one of the most glorious landscapes in North America, and you’ll explore the best of it as you anchor in turquoise coves, view tumbling glaciers, sea kayak through pristine waters, paddle to puffin rookeries, and see spectacular wildlife from moose to humpback whales.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Please note: Because of the boat schedule, Day 1 of this itinerary must be a Saturday.

Days 1-4
Sea Kayaking, Whale Watching

After arriving in charming Gustavus, we board the Whale Song and set off into the unspoiled wonderland of Glacier Bay, John Muir’s “icy wilderness unspeakably pure and sublime.” This is superb country for seeing orcas, humpbacks, and minke whales, and it’s a thrill to witness them breaching in this awesome landscape of fjords, glaciers, and towering mountains. With your naturalist guide, hike wild beaches looking for tracks of bear and moose, walk on tidewater glaciers, hike up a mountainside for bird’s-eye views, and explore by sea kayak (no previous experience necessary). Bald eagles soar and seals lounge on ice floes as you discover the breathtaking fjords and watch glaciers calve. At day’s end, return to the welcoming warmth of the Whale Song for a cup of hot chocolate or glass of wine, to savor a delicious meal (fresh seafood, of course!), and enjoy wildlife watching from the deck during the long Alaskan twilight.

Days 5-7
Magical Dundas Bay, Idaho Inlet, and Point Adolphus

Rarely visited Dundas Bay is a misty paradise of rugged snow-dusted mountains, secluded glacier-carved inlets (great for sea kayaking!), and a profusion of beautiful native plants in full summer bloom. This is prime country for bears and you can safely observe them as they wander the beaches and graze the meadows. In Idaho Inlet, paddle to watch for wolves and other wildlife, then search for humpback whales in the rich waters off Point Adolphus. Disembark in Gustavus in the afternoon of Day 7.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

• Extra hotel nights in Gustavus at the start or end of your trip

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated 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 skiffs that bring you to the beaches. Each day, you walk, kayak, and explore remote shores and fjords, then retreat to the comfort of the ship in the evening for good food, fine company, and a comfortable bunk. Each evening is spent in a different remote anchorage along our journey. The M/V Whale Song serves as your mobile base camp. The cruise explores 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, relax, and watch wildlife from on board, that is always an option. The on-board kayaks are very stable double kayaks. There is also a skiff to ferry folks to the beaches. 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.

Explanation of Trip Levels