Summary of Trips Available

The Queen Charlotte Islands - Canada's Galapagos

This is an outstanding wilderness area, preserving large stands of 'old growth' rainforest, natural hot springs, and nesting sites for thousands of birds -- puffins, bald eagles, auklets and peregrine falcons. Called the "Canadian Galapagos", the islands are isolated 60 miles off the coast and have developed unique plants and animals.  The southern islands and their incredible diversity of life are now protected and jointly managed by the Haida Nation and the federal Parks Service.   The rich native heritage and history is a major focus of the trip.

The Haida name for the islands, Gwaii Haanas, translates as "place of wonder".  We visit the famous, old Haida village of Ninstints (Skung Gwaii), now a United Nations World Heritage Site.  There are more original standing totem poles remaining here than anywhere else on the coast.  The feeling and magic of seeing the totem poles still in the old village site is incredible -- completely different than in a museum.  We have the unique opportunity to meet Haida elders during the trip and learn about modern Haida life.

Southeast Alaska

Southeast Alaska is a vast wilderness, made up largely by the Tongass National Forest -- the largest National Forest in America.

This is an incredible trip because the small size of the group and vessel allows us to; experience the landscape and wildlife as few can ever do.   In Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait up to one hundred humpback whales gather each summer.  Truly one of nature's amazing spectacles is forty-five tons of whale arching out of the water in a beautiful breach.  Little compares to humpbacks lunge-feeding, suddenly rising out of the water with enormous mouths open.  Many other species of marine mammals can be found -- Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoise, killer whales.   These waters are alive with life.
     On Admiralty Island National Monument there are more bears per square mile than anywhere on earth.  We often visit a bear viewing platform to watch bears and eagles feed on spawning salmon.

     Tracy Arm is a spectacular fjord cutting deep into the coastal mountains.  Cliffs and waterfalls thousands of feet high surround us as we reach the beautiful Sawyer glaciers. 

Alaska is one of the few places in the world where glaciers reach the sea, breaking off into magnificent icebergs.

     Southeast Alaska has been inhabited by Tllingit, Tshimshian and Haida natives for thousands of years.  Their heritage still remains in small coastal villages, and now abandoned sites

Orcas and Grizzly Bears - Northern Vancouver Island

One of the most exciting marine mammals to observe, we watch orcas gorge for salmon, spy-hop, and breach -- leaping clear of the water.  From whale researchers and the onboard naturalist, participants learn about the behavior of these fascinating creatures, listen on the ship's underwater microphone, and learn to identify individual animals.

Our exciting "Orcas & Grizzly Bear" trip combines majestic killer whales with the rare opportunity to see the powerful grizzly bear.   We voyage up scenic Knight Inlet two watch grizzly bears feed on spawning salmon in a mountain river.  From the safety of raised viewing platforms, local bear guides inform and educate us. 

These islands protect a wealth of wildlife and native cultural history.  In our "Orcas & Totems" trips we discover a wide variety of marine mammals.   With permission from the Kwakwaka'wakw, we visit the abandoned village of Mamelelekala to see the old houses and totem poles.  The modern village of Alert Bay has an outstanding collection of Kwakwaka'wakw potlatch masks and artifacts.  Marine mammals abound -- Dall's porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins, gray whales, harbor seals, and river otters.  Look for a wide variety of birds from the majestic bald eagles to tiny phalaropes.

The Gulf Islands

The beautiful San Juan and Gulf Islands lie surrounded by the mountains of the Olympic peninsula, Vancouver Island, and the mainland.  Straddling the US / Canada border, geologically the islands are all similar.  However, in the United States they are called San Juan, and in Canada the Gulf Islands. 

They are famous for their beauty, sailing and climate.  The islands are in a rain shadow behind the mountains of Vancouver Island and form a unique dry ecosystem characterized by Douglas fir, Garry Oak and the beautiful Arbutus or Madrone tree.

Spring and Fall provide an ideal time to visit this diverse and interesting area -- away from the summer crowds.  Frequent stops are made to go ashore at some of the excellent marine parks.  We will take walks with our naturalist in the coastal forest , and along the shore, exploring for intertidal creatures.

The numerous islands and the channels between them offer excellent opportunities to observe marine mammals such as Orcas, minke whales and Dall's porpoise.

Both spring and fall trips coincide with the migration of thousands of birds down the Pacific flyway. River deltas and estuaries are important stopover areas for the birds.