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Cruise Alaska's Inside Passage up close your own pace aboard the Schooner yacht Sundance. Travel in the company of lifelong Alaskans with over 45 years experience cruising Alaska's Inside Passage. Intimate explorations aboard the Sundance are perfect for family cruises and groups of 8-12 guests. Alaska Exploration Cruises aboard the MV Sundance offer an authentic alternative to other Alaskan small ship cruises.

The MV Sundance is an ocean class exploration vessel accommodating 8-12 travelers in four staterooms each with a double lower bed and a single upper bunk. Rooms each have a private sink and custom 7 foot mattresses. On an Alaskan cruise aboard the Sundance you will; Explore remote wilderness in kayaks or skiffs and venture ashore on nature hikes and explore historic sites. View glaciers, bears, eagles, sea lions& whales. Relax in remote hot springs. Listen to the whales sing via our hydrophone! Try sport fishing or crabbing to catch dinner. Relax and enjoy Alaskan solitude.

Choose from one of our 7 day sample itineraries or work with an experienced crew member to plan your own custom Alaska charter cruise cruise aboard the MV Sundance.

The May 25 - June 7th Northbound sailing will be cruising for 2 weeks for the price of one. We plan to spend 7 days in British Columbia between Anacortes Washington and Ketchikan, Alaska- then 7 more days from Ketchikan to Juneau, Alaska. A sample full two week itinerary is listed below the 7 day itineraries.

Juneau - Juneau

Day 1 - Boarding in Juneau

Welcome aboard the Sundance! After a short safety orientation, set sail to explore Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. This evening the Sundance drops anchor in Port Fredrick. Enjoy long daylight hours in Alaska during this time of year which allow for plenty of time to explore the anchorage by kayak. Or you may choose an optional rugged portage overland to Port Fredrick (no trail). If time allows visit the traditional Tlingit town of Hoonah. In this place "where the north wind doesn't blow" ancient indigenous heritage has survived. In current times, Tlingit oral history is passed on from the Elders ensuring that the culture and history are not forgotten. Tlingit language is taught in the schools, cultural objects are made, traditional Potlatch gatherings are held, and cultural songs and dances that share stories of Tlingit history and relationships are performed by young and old alike. Take a walk and stretch your legs on a visit to the historic cemetery a half mile from town.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 2 – Tenakee Inlet

Continue cruising Alaska's wilderness to Tenakee Inlet. Here you can stroll along scenic boardwalks through the unique town of Tenakee. Along the way keep searching for Alaskan coastal wildlife and try our luck catching crab and prawns. While cruising aboard the Sundance watch for Brown Bears and Humpback whales as local Alaskan naturalists give insight into the behaviors of these wondrous creatures. This afternoon take a hike through the Tongass National Forest to the largest known Sitka spruce tree (no trail) or paddle the kayaks along Alaska’s secluded coastal inlets.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 – Baranof Island and Brown Bears

Experience Alaska’s coastal wilderness up close while cruising along the east shore of Baranof Island to Warm Springs Bay where natural hot springs situated next to a rushing waterfall are the reward for traveling off the beaten path. Later the Sundance arrives at an anchorage that allows for a short hike to a picturesque lake within the Alaskan wilderness. After anchoring in a remarkable Southeast Alaskan bay, explore the region and look for wildlife by kayak and shore boat. Paddle with naturalist guides along the shore in an area known for Alaska’s famous brown bears.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Frederick Sound and Humpback Whales

After a home cooked breakfast watch for Humpback Whales as the Sundance cruises to the Brothers Islands which is a home to a pod of these magnificent marine giants. This area of Frederick Sound is world-famous and possibly the best place in the world to watch whales. Humpbacks, Orcas, and Dall’s porpoise are all residents of this nutrient rich marine environment. Freshly charged camera batteries are a must here as the photo opportunities are endless.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Wilderness Exploration

This morning we will have time to explore an abandon cannery, kayak, beach comb, and try our luck crab fishing. Spend the day experiencing Alaska’s coast with local naturalist guides aboard the Sundance yacht.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 – Endicott Arm

Early this morning we will cruise into the dramatic Endicott Arm. The "arm" is a coastal fjord that pierces 30 miles into the Coast Mountain Range. Enjoy spectacular views that the big ship passengers will never see. Observe huge icebergs that have survived their journey all the way out from the Dawes Glacier at the head of the fjord. As the Sundance yacht cruises up Endicott Arm, the scenery changes dramatically as we enter a vertical world of granite cliffs and glacier-carved cirques. The granite walls of the fjord tower over us, with waterfalls cascading down on either side.


Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 – Juneau and Disembark

This morning your Alaska Exploration Cruise aboard the MV Sundance will disembark in Juneau, Alaska.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast

Juneau - Sitka

Day 1 - Embark the Sundance in Juneau

Welcome aboard Sundance! Settle in, have your safety orientation and then we will cruise down the Inside Passage towards Endicott Arm Fjord anchoring for the evening. Day light is long in Alaska this time of year allowing you to explore the anchorage late this evening by kayak.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Endicott Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier

Early this morning we will continue the short distance into Endicott Arm. The "arm" pierces 30 miles into the Coast Mountain Range. Views are spectacular! Watch for whales and other marine mammals, especially as we enter Endicott Arm, where an underwater glacier moraine creates nutrient-rich up-welling currents. We may see huge icebergs that have survived their journey all the way out from the Dawes Glacier at the head of the fjord. As we cruise up Endicott Arm, the scenery changes dramatically as we enter a vertical world of granite cliffs and glacier-carved cirques. The granite walls of the fjord tower over us, with waterfalls cascading down on either side. After our glacier exploration we will cruise to our next anchorage where we can explore the woods, beachcomb and kayak.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Frederick Sound Whale Watching

This morning we will cruise over to the Brothers Islands which is a home to a pod of humpback whales. This area of Frederick Sound is world-famous and possibly the best place in the world to watch whales. Humpbacks, Orcas, and Dall porpoise are all residents of this special place. There are spectacular photo opportunities so have your camera batteries charged and ready!

After our whale watching adventure we will then cruise the east shore of Baranof Island exploring one of the more remarkable bays in southeast and anchor for the evening, once again exploring by kayak and shore boat. This is bear country so keep your eyes open for Alaska's famous brown bears.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Warm Springs Bay

This morning after breakfast we will then cruise on to Warm Springs Bay where guests may avail themselves of the natural hot springs or bath house.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Peril Straits

Today we will continue on our journey towards Sitka to Peril Straits where we will anchor in front of an abandoned cannery and old Indian village called 'where the rock fell on someone's head." The name refers to a story in which a man killed his wife's lover by rolling a rock off a cliff onto the offender's head. A battle followed at the nearby stream and ended with everyone leaving the site! Brown bears are very common here to as well as humpback whales. This is yet another great place to explore by kayak, shore boat and very carefully by foot.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6-7 - Wilderness Exploration and Sitka

This morning we will navigate through the very scenic and narrow passages getting even closer to Sitka. You will have your choice of continuing to the town of Sitka for this evening or anchoring one last time in one of Alaska's many scenic bays and continuing on to Sitka for a morning arrival and your journeys end.

Beautiful Sitka by the Sea, the capital of Russian America and the site of the handover of "Seward's Folly" to the United States. One look at lovely Sitka and you'll know why Alexander Baranof, governor of the Russian American Company, decided to build his "castle" here. With views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to the water's edge, Sitka is considered Alaska's most beautiful seaside town. Sitka's past is a unique blend of Tlingit culture and Russian history. This historic and scenic community is situated on Baranof Island, nestled between forested mountains and the great Pacific Ocean, on the outer waters of Alaska's Inside Passage. Sitka offers a combination of Native culture, Russian history, and Alaskan wilderness which will provide a diverse and unequaled experience. This Alaska Exploration Cruise will disembark in Sitka, Alaska.

Accommodations: Sundance
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Two Week Itinerary

Day 0– Meet the boat the day before sailing. Get your gear settled on board, go into town for a nice relaxing evening, then spend the night on the boat.

Day 1– well rested, receive a safety brief from the crew as we set out early this morning from Anacortes Washington cruising through the scenic San Juan and Orca Islands north through British Columbia. We cross the border and clear customs so bring your passports!

Day 2 and 3– We navigate the narrows and continue north to Alert Bay, home to the U’mista Cultural Center. We spend the day picking among the abandon native villages and learning of the First National Peoples at the Alert Bay Heritage Center that is one of the top draws on the British Columbia Coast.

Day 4– we anchor in Pruth Bay on Calvert Island for a trip to beach comb a seldom visited, white sandy beach exposed to the Pacific Ocean. Guests explore the bay on Kayak, explore the shore by skiff, or try their luck fishing for salmon and halibut.

Day 5 and 6– Our voyage may take us up River Inlet to the site of the largest fishing and canning settlement on the British Columbia coast, or we may continue our journey north stopping at the abandon ghost town of Butedale. We soak our bones in nearby Bishop Bay hot springs and explore a hidden mountain lake that supplied the town with power from a pelton wheel.

Day 7– Meandering the narrow and winding passages we emerge into Hecate Strait and cross over the boarder into Alaska. Depending on the weather we anchor in Foggy Bay and launch the skiff to explore a long abandon fox farm on the island. At evening we head for Alaska’s first city Ketchikan Alaska.

Day 8– On our trip north we stop in the small settlement of Meyers Chuck to look at native art and local made souvenirs. We set our crab and shrimp pots and once again try our luck at Halibut and Salmon.

Day 9 and 10– Navigating Wrangell Narrows we stop in the Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg for a true taste of the Alaskan spirit. We use the ship to shore boat and kayaks to get a view of the local country side and catch our first glimpse of the majestic Alaskan Glaciers.

Day 11 and 12– we explore the abandon settlement at Cape Fenshaw and cross into “Whale Country” in Fredrick Sound– THE best place in Alaska to photography humpback and Orca whales.

Day 13 and 14– We travel north up Chatham Straits to fish for salmon and halibut. We stop to explore remote hot springs, abandon canneries, and view bears along this isolated stretch of Alaska’s “Hidden Coast.” Here we find some of Alaska’s most unique places like Warm Springs Bay and Tenakee. We end our voyage in Alaska’s Capitol City of Juneau in picturesque Auke Bay Alaska.

Popular Ports

Ketchikan

Surrounded by wilderness, nestled among mountains lies Ketchikan. Ketchikan is the first port-of-call via water in Alaska and is accessible only by boat or air. Once known as the "Salmon Capital of the World," Ketchikan has been a thriving community since 1900. Many of Ketchikan's streets are built on pilings and until only recently were made of wooden planks. An outstanding collection of totem poles makes a visit to Ketchikan essential for anyone interested in Native art. Misty Fjords located 22 miles east of Ketchikan is part of a vast coastal rain forest and supports many nearly untouched coastal ecosystems covering about 3,570 square miles. Walker Cove and Rudyerd Bay are surrounded by rock walls jutting 3,000 feet (900 meters) above the ocean.
Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Wrangell

The community of Wrangell is located on the north end of Wrangell Island on Alaska's Inside Passage in the heart of the Tongass National ForestHere you can explore the natural wonders, wildlife and culture of Central Southeast Alaska's rural communities. The area offers abundant wildlife viewing, glaciers, Alaska Native, local and culture and historic sites, delicious seafood, majestic coastal mountains, international river exploration and adventures! If history and cultural influences are your pursuit, visit the Tlingit Chief Shakes Island and Tribal House Historic Monument, and Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park. Travel the Stikine River to visit the places where gold miners camped and garnets were mined, and see the abundant wildlife that lured the Hudson Bay Company to establish a settlement.

We'll take 7 days to explore abandoned cannery sites and old marble quarries, search for long abandoned native villages and petroglyphs. We'll travel through channels so narrow that high tide is required for safe passage. We'll kayak along the beach sneaking up on wildlife such as bears and otters.

If you like, you can explore the caves at El Capitan, one of the longest mapped caves in the Americas. Over two miles of passage have been mapped from the main entrance. Ancient grizzly bear bones in El Capitan Cave have been radiocarbon dated to 12,295 years before present. Black bear bones have been dated to 11,565 years before present. El Capitan Cave is accessed by a somewhat strenuous 1,100 foot hike up a steep 367-step stairway to an elevation of 250 feet and a platform at the mouth of the cave.

Juneau

At the base of grand mountain peaks and at the pristine waterfront of the Gastineau Channel is Juneau Alaska's capital city, located in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass Rainforest climate provides Juneau with lush terrain and vibrant wildflowers. Early settlers included miners during Alaska's gold rush and Russian fur traders. The Tlingit and Haida Indians were the first settlers in this area. Juneau is the third largest city in the state. Juneau is full of contrasts, a sophisticated cosmopolitan city in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. The community's rich culture and history is displayed throughout the town and in several local museums.

Sitka

With views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to water's edge, Sitka is yet another of Alaska's beautiful seaside towns. Sitka is situated on Baranof Island, nestled between forested mountains and the great Pacific Ocean on the outer waters of Alaska's Inside Passage. Sitka's past is a unique blend of Tlingit culture and Russian history. Sitka's mild climate, rich habitat, and relatively low human population make it one of the best places to view wildlife in Southeast Alaska. Nearby waters are a popular feeding ground for humpback whales in the late fall and early spring. Summertime offers a wonderful opportunity to view tufted puffins and other sea birds at St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge.

No cruise ships and curio shops, just mother-nature. This area is only visited by local residents and fishermen. If you truly want to see how Alaskans explore their own state, this is the tour for you, truly Beyond the Back Door to Alaska.

Notes on Itinerary: Alaska Exploration Cruises aboard the MV Sundance require at least 6 passengers for the sailing to be confirmed. Please note that your final cruise itinerary will be determined in consultation between you and the Captain in light of weather, bareboat charters-fuel costs and other considerations he may present.

Single Travelers: There are limited Single Cabins on each sailing.

Land Cost Includes: Your accommodations aboard the MV Sundance, meals, activities, use of kayaking and fishing equipment, park and reserve entrance fees, taxes and port fees.

Not Included: Airfare to Alaska, excess baggage charges, gratuities to Naturalist Staff and crew, items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, and insurance of any kind.

Arrival/Departure: Embarkation and disembarkation locations depend on the chosen itinerary. Some trips will require an overnight hotel stay prior to embarkation early the following morning on Day 1. Suggested times for return flights home also depend on the itinerary and the point of disembarkation. Please contact our Alaska small ship cruise experts for further details.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A deposit of 25% of your charter cost is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 90 days prior to departure. All prices and payments are in US dollars and no other currencies can be accepted. A special cancellation policy applies to this trip, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. Cancellations made after deposit up to 90 days prior to departure will incur a cancellation fee of 75% of deposit. Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure are subject to a cancellation of 100% of the total tour cost.

Qualifications: This trip is available to any traveler with a love of nature and sense of adventure.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations 'Terms & Conditions'. 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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