Wild, Woolly and Wow | Best of Glacier Bay Tours and Cruises - 8 Days
Join fellow adventurers on the most active back country itinerary that our exclusive cruise partner offers. See areas that no other boats visit, and stretch your legs and imagination in all new areas.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore parts of Glacier Bay National Park rarely seen by visitors as we explore the "Outback"
- Hike and bike through Chichagof Island - UnCruise has the only permits in this area
- Learn what it's like to live and work in the wild country of Alaska
- All day kayak and "yak-and-whack" opportunities
- Full days - from morning birding to evening skiff tours and kayaks to an evening campfire ashore
- Wildlife search - Humpback, orca, seals, bears, moose, puffins and other sea birds
- LeConte and Baird Glaciers
- Opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, paddle board, skiff, and bushwhack, all in one week
Itinerary and Specifics
Included
- Private cabin on board the ship
- All meals on board the ship - breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All activities including kayaking, skiffing and paddle boarding
- Experienced Professional Crew and Expedition Team to share the experience with
- Wildlife searches - humpback whales, orca, seals, bears, moose, puffins and other sea birds
Not Included
- Drinks and other items you may purchase at the bar
- Your flights / travel to Juneau and back - book your own travel arrangements to the start point in Alaska
- Any activities you wish to engage in before, during or after your stay in Juneau. We may be able to help advise what activities are best for you - there are many in the area depending on your interests and activitiy level.
- Gratuities for the crew. We recommend $10 per person per day given the high level of service they provide and the speciality of their knowledge, skill and experience.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 -Juneau Embarkation
Board the Legacy just in time for a welcome cocktail or glass of champagne before dinner. The captain and crew will introduce themselves and provide an overview of the adventure that awaits this week!
Day 2 - Glacier Bay National Park Outback
Wake up this morning in the Glacier Bay National Park āOutbackā. Today we will anchor in one of three outback areas of this epic national park. This will include one of the rarely visited areas of either Fern Harbor, Dundas Bay, or No Name Cove near Excursion Inlet. The entire day is set aside for activity, starting with early morning kayak and birding departures into the park. Full activities may include kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff excursions, hiking, beach strolls and more. The likelihood of seeing any vessels or other people is very low. Meals may be aboard the Wilderness Legacy or packed as a picnic.
Day 3 - Corner Bay, Chichagof Island, Multi-Sport, and Local Color
Corner Bay is our playground for the day. Chichagof Island is known for its high population of Brown Bears with multiple trails and abandoned Forest Service roads that make for ease of hiking to lakes and rivers. Full range of activities will be available with a lean towards hiking and for some, biking. This is the best opportunity for long hikes on trails and old Forest Service roads. This is also home to the Chew family. Learn what it is like to live and work in the wilds of Alaska. Our cruising partner is the only company permitted for guiding guests in this area.
Day 4 - South Baranof Island Primitive and National Wilderness Area
Join us for an early riser breakfast as we enter Patterson Bay, oh my! One of the most scenic areas in SE Alaska, Patterson is a deep narrow bay hemmed in mountains. We will drop off all day kayakers and early morning skiff tours and begin our day. Soon after, the ship will go on a slow meander of South Baranof Wilderness Area including Deep Cove, Port Walter, Mist Cove and eventually reach the southern extent of this primitive area. Activities will be more water-based today, with some hikes and whale watching. No other small ships visit this area. Weather permitting, this is an ideal area for snorkeling. Good chance to see Humpback or Orca whales. Alaska fishermen troll this area for prized King Salmon. End of the day will include a cruise to Gut Bay at the north end of the wilderness area. This is a very dramatic location. Keep your camera at the ready today!
Day 5 - Thomas Bay & Baird Glacier
Wake near Cascade Creek in Thomas Bay. This bay is the quintessential playground for our guests and crew. Long flat hikes, steep elevation climbs, calm kayaking, and hikes to a glacial lake with the mighty Baird Glacier still calving ice into the lake may all be options today. Depending on tides, we may start the day near Cascade Creek or at Scenery Cove near Baird Glacier. Regardless, after lunch the boat will move to the opposite end of Thomas Bay for more adventures. This is an epic day for adventurers. Evening skiff tours and kayaks take in the pre dark hours when the sounds of the wilds beckon.
Day 6 - LeConte Glacier National Wilderness Area & Ideal Cov
Todayās timing of activities is entirely controlled by the rise and fall of the tide. We may visit the Glacier early or late. LeConte Glacier is the southernmost tidewater glacier in the northern hemisphere. The shallow current-filled entrance requires us to enter near slack water. If the tide is early, you may hear ice against the hull of the Legacy as you wake up. We will also visit Ideal Cove today and take advantage of trails and if the timing is right, an evening campfire ashore.
Day 7 - Whales, Sea Lions & Sea Life Search
Today itās all about finding Humpbacks, Orca, Steller Sea Lions, Porpoise, Dolphins, Pelagic birds, Seals, and other marine life. We will slowly cruise the whale rich waters of Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage. This area has the highest seasonal concentration of Humpback Whales in Alaska and perhaps the entire Northern Hemisphere. This evening enjoy the Captainās Dinner and a slide show of the weekās adventures put together by your crew.
Day 7 - Juneau Disembarkation
Welcome back to Juneau. Enjoy your last breakfast aboard. Check every nook and cranny of your cabin for all of your things and say farewell to the crew as we disembark.