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Enjoy active exploration amid a dramatic scenery of mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers along the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia. Led by our Expedition Team of naturalists and experts, learn all about the nature and wildlife we encounter. Learn about the living indigenous culture of the region from the Kwakwaka'wakw people; explore the charming provincial capital of Victoria; and sail the waters where orcas gather to hunt in Johnstone Strait.
Expedition Highlights
• Hike the San Juan Islands, and cruise where orcas gather annually to hunt within the isles' inlets and bays
• By special permit, sail into Glacier Bay National Park and spend a full day discovering the grand scale of the mountains, fjords, and active glaciers
• Stroll through the 100-year-old fishing town of Petersburg and learn about its Norwegian heritage
• In Misty Fjords National Monument, kayak along sheer cliffs and forested backwaters
• With luck, witness the northern lights and capture them with help from your certified photo instructor
• With National Geographic Global Explorers, our exclusive family program, kids and teens will learn about this wild corner of the world—from its massive glaciers to bald eagles
Day 1 - Sitka, Alaska / Embark Ship
Arrival Time: Arrive by 2:00 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Sitka
Arrive in Sitka, Alaska, situated on the western coast of Baranof Island and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in the early afternoon and embark National Geographic Venture or National Geographic Quest in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew.
Day 2 - Exploring Baranof or Chichagof Island
Spend a full day kayaking, hiking, and searching for bubble-net feeding or breaching humpback whales.
Day 3 - Inian Islands / Icy Strait
Cruise among the Inian Islands, where Steller sea lions and sea otters abound. Hike nearby islands, kayak, and search for whales in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait.
Day 4 - Glacier Bay National Park
Spend the entire day cruising amid the coves, fjords, tidewater glaciers, and majestic mountains of Glacier Bay National Park. See glaciers that end abruptly at the water’s edge and observe them calving, when tons of ice separate and crash into the water accompanied by a thunderous sound.
Day 5 - Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular fjords, with waterfalls cascading from glacially carved walls. See the soaring Dawes or South Sawyer Glacier up close and take a cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises and arctic terns.
Day 6 - Petersburg
Search for humpback whales on the approach to picturesque Petersburg, a small fishing village on Alaska’s Mitkof Island that retains much of its Norwegian heritage. Explore a unique Southeast Alaska ecosystem, the muskeg, with stunted trees
and carnivorous plants. There is an opportunity to stretch your legs with an optional bike ride around town. This evening, enjoy a crab feast.
Day 7 - Misty Fjords, Alaska
Enjoy the day soaking up the spectacular scenery of Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument, a 2.3-million-acre wilderness of shear rock walls, temperate rain forest, and glacier-sculpted waterways. Kayak in the still, forested backwaters
of this protected national treasure and discover a pristine habitat for brown bears, bald eagles, harbor seals, and more.
Day 8/9 - Inside Passage of British Columbia
Cruise southward along the pristine coastline in search of whales, dolphins, bears, deer, and other wildlife. Go ashore to explore or kayak among the many bays and inlets.
Day 10 - Alert Bay and Johnstone Strait, British Columbia
Visit the Big House in the First Nations village of Alert Bay, Canada and gain insight from the Kwakwaka’wakw people who will share their art, music, and regional knowledge. Sail through Johnstone Strait, a waterway cut through a magnificently wild and scenic area of mountains and islands. These ocean waters are also home to extraordinary marine mammals and bird watching.
Day 11 - Gulf Islands
Located in the Strait of Georgia, between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands are a kayaker’s paradise. Explore the myriad islets and rocky coasts and keep an eye out for harbor seals and an array of seabirds, shorebirds, and birds of prey.
Day 12 - Victoria, British Columbia
In the charming Canadian city of Victoria, choose from several tailor-made options to explore based on your interests. Visit private gardens, bike along the waterfront, take a stroll through history in Old Town, or discover James Bay on an architecture tour.
Day 13 - San Juan Islands, Washington
Spend a full day exploring the San Juan Islands via Zodiac, kayak, and naturalist-led hikes. Search for orcas, seals, and sea lions in rocky inlets, and marvel at bald eagles while walking through lush forests.
Day 14 - Seattle / Disembark Ship
Enjoy breakfast aboard ship. Transfer to the airport for flights home.
When she rolled out of Nichols Brothers shipyard and into the bay on Whidbey Island, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest became the third ship in the Lindblad fleet built at this storied Pacific Northwest shipyard.
National Geographic Quest was purpose-built to explore the North American coast, her design and engineering informed by our nearly 40 years of experience in these regions. Her twin boarding platforms, for example, were suggested by a veteran staffer. Enabling our team to load two Zodiacs at once means guests get off the ship quickly to take advantage of wildlife sightings and maximize exploring time.
Modern cleaned-lined, with large expanses of glass to keep you connected to the extraordinary views, National Geographic Quest enables you to see, do, and experience the best of her geographies.
| Luxury star rating: | |
| Guests #: | 100 |
| Crew #: | 35 |
| Ice Class: | ice strengthened expedition ship |
| Speed: | 14 |
| Refurbished: |
| Year built: | |
| Length: | 238m |
| Width: | 46 |
| Draft: | 9 |
| Tonnage: | 2920 |
| Registry: | |
| Elec Outlets: |
We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.
