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This cruise offers a diverse experience of Southeast Alaska, from fishing towns to wilderness solitude, from islands to glacial fjords, and wondrous bear viewing at the infamous Pack Creek Zoological Reserve. Our goal is to provide the most remote wilderness experience possible, with up close wildlife encounters while enjoying the amenities of our wandering home.

While we have a general planned itinerary, each trip differs depending upon the time of the tidal currents, the weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and the wishes of our clients. This glacial wilderness supports a diversity of wildlife as varied as the landscape. On water there is the probability of sighting humpback whales, Orca, porpoise, and stellar sea lion as well as numerous sea birds. On terra firma we may see black bear, brown bear, and mountain goats. We average three to four hours of running per day, allowing plenty of opportunity for exploring by foot and by kayak. Our routes and anchorages are chosen to give us the best available opportunities to experience the rich and diverse environment of this temperate rain forest.

We are proud this trip was featured in National Geographic Magazine's Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime.

Read a Staff Trip Report

Day 1 - Arrive Juneau

Passengers are welcome to come on board at 12:30 pm, stow your gear and get familiar with the vessel. We will be underway by 1:15 pm, headed south down Gastineau Channel and out into Stephens Passage. We will then enjoy a buffet lunch and have an orientation and safety meeting. About a few hours running, our first night will be spent anchored at Limestone Inlet. This evening or the next day will be spent introducing everyone to kayaking. We carry six doubles and three single kayaks. Don’t worry if you have never been in a kayak before, the guide is a trained instructor. The doubles are very stable for the beginner and the singles allow the expert to exercise his or her skills. We may also take a skiff ride up the river to look for bear, jumping salmon and nesting water fowl.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: lunch and dinner

Day 2 - Ford's Terror

Underway in the early morning hours to make the slack tide across Wood spit and into Endicott Arm. Passengers awake to the heart beat rhythm of the Washington Diesel as we dodge icebergs and wind our way into the fjord. It is twenty seven miles up the Arm to the face of Dawes Glacier where we will linger for awhile to witness the calving and booming of the burgs and view harbor seals and their pups. Then we will make our way to a seldom visited anchorage called Fords’ Terror, comparable to a flooded Yosemite Valley. At Ford’s Terror we will become intrepid adventurers. There are places to explore by foot and by kayak. Surrounded by 5,000 foot granite faces, the mist hanging to the precipices, the vessel suspended in crystal clear water, suspended in time... Today we will kayak through the tidal rapids (at slack water of course) and paddle into the majestic inner fjord.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 - Endicott Arm & Pack Creek Reserve

Waking in the morning we will hike the highlands of Ford’s Terror unique glacial caused ecosystem of alpine, bog and forest and view the raging tidal rapids from above. We will then head out of Endicott Arm watching for bear, moose, wolves, and whales. Tides permitting, we may stop to hike a meadow and woods along the way. Crossing Stephen’s Passage and rounding Point Hugh we will enter Seymour Canal. This 23 mile long inlet is home to the highest concentration of Bald Eagles in SE, and its rich waters support a large population of energetic Dall’s Porpoise. Our destination today is the Pack Creek Zoological Reserve. Pack Creek has been a place where for over 60 years Brown Bears and humans have lived in close proximity, and the bears have had generations to become accustomed to the presence of people. This is by far the best Brown Bear viewing opportunity in SE Alaska. Arriving in the afternoon, we will go ashore until the Rangers go off duty in the early evening.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Frederick Sound

We now head back to Stephens Passage and into Frederick Sound. We’ll head for Admiralty Island, keeping a sharp lookout for whales along the route. This is prime salmon spawning habitat, along with the brown bears that come down to the rivers this time of year to feed on them. Here we’ll have an estuary paddle, allowing the tide to take us into bear territory and at low tide we’ll walk into their home, and learn about their amazing contribution to the forests of SE Alaska.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - The Brothers Islands

In the morning we are bound for The Brothers, a group of small islands positioned in the middle of Frederick Sound. Along the way we will be alert for Humpback or Orca whale sightings. This is one of the prime summer feeding grounds for the migratory Humpback and it is a rare transit if we do not encounter a few. We may shut down the engine and just drift, watching them feeding or breaching and listening to their songs with the hydrophone. We will drop the hook in an idyllic anchorage where the sounds of breathing whales, Stellar Sea Lions hauled out close by, or the screech of an eagle, comes drifting across the evening calm. Today we’ll kayak around the islands and explore the open under story of the rain forest or fish for halibut for an evening meal.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Thomas Bay

Tides being right we’ll explore the tidepools and then head out to view the Stellar Sea Lion haul-out close by where hundreds of the vocal fellows and felines spend their days. If the Humpbacks are out our front door, we will spend some time shadowing their movements. In the afternoon we head south down the sound for Thomas Bay and watch for black bear on the beaches, anchoring at Scenery Cove. We will then skiff across the glacial river to the spit of glacial flour and hike on the extensive glacial moraine that lies at the foot of Baird Glacier to stand on its ice. Tonight is our last evening together as a group, the night of the Captains' Ball.

Accommodations: Pacific Catalyst
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Petersburg

A relaxing morning underway eating a late breakfast, sitting on the deck, enjoying the heart beat of the Catalyst’s engine, as we head toward Petersburg. We will be tied up at the dock about ten, time enough to catch the morning flight to Juneau and on to Seattle or to get settled into your room in town so that you can explore this fishing village.

Accommodations: na
Included Meals: breakfast

2012 Special Departures
Apr 28-May 11 - Friday Harbor to Juneau
May 14 & 24 - Juneau to Juneau
Jun 10 & Aug 18 - Petersburg to Peterburg
Jul 1-7 & 29-Aug 4 - Petersburg to Juneau
Aug 19-25 - Petersburg to Ketchikan
Aug 26-Sept 4 - Ketchikan to Friday Harbor, WA
Sept 10, 17, 24 & Oct 1 - Friday Harbor to Friday Harbor

Please Call For Details

Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be spontaneous makes our style of cruising unique. In addition to the standard and reverse itineraries listed above, we are also offering the following special departures.

Private Charters: You can charter the Catalyst for your special family or group. Call for details.

Single Travelers: Single cabin available. There is a 50% Single Supplement for single travelers in a double cabin.

Cost Includes: The following costs include accommodations, excursions, entrance fees, leadership, crew, all meals, local guides, and permits, unless otherwise indicated in the itinerary. We reserve the right to make any changes in the itinerary or to substitute modes of transport or guides, from those mentioned in the literature.

Not Included: The cost of air flights, unless otherwise indicated in the itinerary, airport taxes, passports, visas, immunizations, insurance of any kind, laundry, excess baggage, items of a personal nature, medical costs, costs of hospitalization, additional expenses arising from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, political disputes, illness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our control.

Arrival/Departure: Depending on the dates of travel, the Active Inside Passage cruise begins in Petersburg (PSG) or Juneau (JNU), Alaska and ends in Juneau or Petersburg, Alaska. Airport transfers are by your own arrangement. Welcome aboard starts at 12:30pm and the vessel embarks at 1:15pm. On Day 7, the cruise finishes and disembarks at about 10:00am. Please do not schedule your return flights until after 11:00am.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage is required for this trip. Consider Travelex Select or Max policies to ensure the best level of coverage. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Accommodations Aboard: Your comfortable home-base throughout Alaska will be aboard the M/Y Catalyst. This 75-foot vessel accommodates up to 12 guests in 5 comfortable cabins. The cabins share 2 bathrooms and 1 shower. There are 4 double and 3 single kayaks aboard.

Qualifications: These trips will be enjoyed by anyone with a love for nature and the outdoors.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to Denali National Park and more.

General Information: Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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