Wilderness, Glaciers & Culture - Alaska & British Columbia: Southbound

Explore Alaska's capital, or see wildlife in Denali

Your Alaskan adventure starts with an overnight stay in Anchorage, a city brimming with restaurants, galleries and shops. If you can, it's worth extending your time here.

The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center give you a taste of local culture. If you prefer the open air, why not visit the flowering Town Square Park, or go salmon fishing in Ship Creek.

The incredible Denali National Park is home to North America's highest peak and a high density of Alaskan wildlife. Animal lovers will love our optional Pre-Programme, which takes this in.

Enjoy a drive through spectacular scenery

After breakfast you'll enjoy a scenic drive to Seward. Our route goes through the Kenai Peninsula and some of the world's most awe-inspiring backcountry scenery.

On the way, stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and learn about their work with orphaned and injured animals, including eagles, owls, bison, bears and musk oxen.

Our embarkation point, Seward, is the gateway to the vast, mountainous Kenai Fjords National Park, home to the largest ice fields in Alaska. It's a spectacular and fitting launch point for the adventures ahead.

Get ready to experience nature's raw power

Today we visit College Fjord, which features five tidewater glaciers and five valley glaciers, as well as a dozen other types.

The 1899 Harriman expedition team, which charted the fjord, named the glaciers after their alma maters, including Vassar, Harvard and Yale. Princeton is missing, apparently a deliberate snub.

We'll get as close to the glaciers as we can, taking our small expedition boats into the fjord if possible, or even exploring by kayak. From the water, you might catch sight of humpback whales, Bald Eagles, otters and sea lions, all of which who inhabit this icy wilderness.

Wildlife watching in glacier-fed waters

You'll experience a fantastic expedition day in Icy Bay today. Three glaciers – Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall – regularly calve into the bay. If conditions allow, you'll explore in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape.

Wildlife abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, offering unrivalled photography opportunities. Humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters and harbour seals lazing on floating chunks of ice are often seen in these waters.

Ancient forests, wildlife and whales

In the morning we'll pass by Point Adolphus, located on the northern tip of Chichagof Island across from Glacier Bay National Park. The nutrient-rich waters are famous for attracting humpback whales and other marine life, so be sure to get out on deck and have your camera ready.

William Henry Bay lies south of Haines, at the edge of the Chilkat Range mountains, and is home to brown bears, black bears and moose. Under the guidance of an expert local guide we'll drop anchor here and explore the shores lined with old-growth forest. .

Discover an artistic heritage in the 'Valley of the Eagles'

Beside Lynn Canal is the frontier town of Haines, originally home to the Chilkat Tlingit people. Renowned for their weaving skills, here you'll see excellent examples of their work, with mountain goat fur and cedar bark woven into intricate designs.

Haines has a flourishing art scene, with galleries and workshops filled with totem carvings, silverwork and sculptures. Investing in Alaskan art is a great way to support local creators.

You can practice your photography skills in the incredible landscapes; it's also ideal for adventurers seeking hiking and wildlife spotting opportunities. Look out for Bald Eagles, bears and moose.

See the lesser-known gems of Holkham Bay

Holkham Bay is home to two beautiful fjords – Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Your captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day. Both are equally special to explore!

At the end of each fjord, fresh icebergs calve from the glaciers against a stunning backdrop of forested cliffs. Endicott Arm is a breeding ground for harbour seals, often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears, mountain goats and moose.

Get tips from our onboard photographer before heading out on our small expedition boats to get closer to these unique sights.

Take in Sitka's views and unique mix of cultures

Surrounded by Tongass National Forest, Sitka is only accessible by sea or air. Get out on deck for stunning views of the Sisters Mountains and Mount Edgecumbe volcano.

Discover Sitka's fascinating history with our Expedition Team. Inhabited by the Tlingit people for 10,000 years, it was occupied by Russia in 1804 before being sold to America after the Crimean War. Today, Sitka blends all three cultures.

Visit the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Russian Bishop's House. Admire ornate Haida and Tlingit totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park, a real highlight, or enjoy a walking trail through the forest to the ocean.

Discover Southeast Alaska's magical waterways

Explore Alaska in true expedition style, with an exploration day that gives us the freedom to probe this magical corner of the Inside Passage.

We may head to the charming town of Petersburg, with its proud Norwegian heritage and thriving fishing community. Explore the docks and discover some of the fantastic nature to be found across Frederick Sound, just outside the harbour.

We may also take to the water in our small expedition boats, and seek out secluded coves, iceberg filled bays, and thickly forested shorelines. Try and catch a glimpse of some of Alaska's most iconic wildlife, including eagles, otters, whales and even bear if luck is on our side.

Visit one of Alaska's oldest harbour towns

We continue cruising the Alaskan islands to Wrangell. Only a mile out of town, the incredible Petroglyph Beach is where you'll seek out the ancient rock carvings among the sand.

Visit the local museum to learn more about Wrangell's fascinating past. Now part of the United States, it was once governed by Britain, Russia and the Tlingit people. Cross to Shakes Island, where the Chief Shakes Tribal House and totem poles tell the story of the Indigenous Tlingit people.

Hikers will enjoy the nature trails, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River, and the foot of Mount Dewey to the edge of the rainforest.

Revel in a wilderness where wildlife thrives

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. The revered naturalist writer John Muir described the area as one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen.

Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in our small expedition boats, or take kayaks out.

Misty Fjords is rich in wildlife. You'll scan for mountain goats, bears and moose as you explore. The waters are home to Pacific salmon, otters, sea lions, harbour seals, orcas and Dall's porpoises. Skywards, you might spot herons and Bald Eagles.

See sublime scenery as we sail the Inside Passage

The Inside Passage coastal route takes us through the great North American Pacific Fjordland, a protected stretch of water over 930 miles long. Unlike other cruises which pass through at night, you'll be able to view the sublime scenery in all its glory during the day.

Our smaller expedition ship allows us to reach areas that larger vessels can't, meaning you'll get to explore lesser-travelled channels with breathtaking scenery. Keep your cameras and binoculars at the ready to catch sight of dolphins, porpoises, orcas and humpback whales.

Indigenous culture and heritage in Alert Bay

We arrive at Alert Bay, a scenic village on Cormorant Island, north of Vancouver Island. Here we'll have the opportunity to meet and learn from the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations community – to be welcomed by them is a real privilege.

At the U'mista Cultural Center, you'll see elaborate totem poles, paintings, carvings,ceremonial masks and other meaningful artifacts

The island's sheltered waters attract a huge array of wildlife – the Yellow-billed Loon, with its distinctive speckled back, is a particular highlight. Keep an eye out for orcas and humpback whales close to shore.

Arrive at British Columbia's largest city

Your expedition cruise ends in this beautiful city at the foot of the Rockies. Visit Gastown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, and climb Vancouver Lookout for a citywide panoramic view overlooking neon-lit Granville Street, the West End beaches, and the towering cedars of Stanley Park.

Vancouver has a flavour all its own – and so does its global cuisine. Dine out in Chinatown, Punjabi Market or Little Italy for a taste of the city's buzzing atmosphere.

While you're here, you might want to join our optional Post-Programme tour to the historic and beautiful mountain resort of Whistler. What better way to end your adventure?