Northern Passages with Glacier Bay & Sitka - Safari Endeavour
Experience a thrilling week-long Alaskan expedition, navigating majestic fjords and rugged coastlines, and encountering diverse wildlife by kayak, skiff, or paddle board.
SPECIAL OFFER
7.8*
ECO SCORE
84
PASSENGERS
8
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Alaska: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Safari Endeavor
Embark on a week-long expedition through Alaska's northern passages. Navigate scenic fjords and tranquil inlets, explore the rugged coastline in a skiff, kayak, or paddle board, and encounter wildlife in its natural habitat. Your journey will begin or end in the beautiful town of Sitka.
This immersive adventure takes you deep into Alaska’s wilderness. Start in Juneau and sail through remote areas like Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait, Chichagof Island, and Baranof Island. Enjoy guided hikes through old-growth forests, paddle among sea lions and harbor seals, and watch for humpback whales and brown bears. With each day offering new discoveries, this trip promises a captivating and intimate experience of Alaska's untamed beauty.
- • Your seasoned captain & crew will tailor your cruise according to current conditions, so that you get the most out of what the wilderness has to offer on any particular day.
• With special access to less-visited areas, you’ll kayak in front of massive glaciers and get up close to wildlife.
• The perfect expedition for travelers who don’t just want to see Alaska, but truly experience it!
Travel Curator’s Insights:
SPECIAL OFFER:
$1,000 off Per Person on Most Dates! (Exclusive to Wild Nectar, Not Reflected in Rates Below)
Rates:
From $4,900 per person
April & May offer fewer crowds and early-season wildlife like bears emerging from hibernation.
June to August is Glacier Bay's peak season, offering warmer weather, abundant wildlife, and stunning glacier views.
September offers fewer crowds & vibrant fall colors.
Ask us for exact dates.
April - September;
Hover here for more information.
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
CARBON
Fantastic advances in minimizing carbon footprints at locations.
ENERGY
On the East African Energy Renewal Board
EDUCATION
Runs local educational facilities for children.
Itinerary
Day 1: Juneau Embarkation
After a day of exploring Alaska’s Capital City of Juneau, there’s nothing like a hearty greeting from your crew and some bon voyage bubbly. With all souls settled in on board, you’re underway. The adventure starts now. From the first moment, your expedition team is all hands on deck - looking for the first whale spouts of the week. Out on the bow, Southeast Alaska welcomes you with coast and mountain views. (Dinner)
Day 2: Captain's Choice
We’re in the backcountry. The Tongass National Forest is a vast, infinitely discoverable place. Your Captain and Expedition Leader make the call on where we’re headed today. The seasons and movement of critters dictate every choice we make about location. The waters are calm and inviting. The guides help you gear up and lead your adventures into the woods or along gentler terrain in back meadows and mellow shorelines. By kayak or paddle board, this is your day to get familiar with the water, enveloped in the vastness of Southeast Alaska’s wilderness. Bald eagles dot the treetops. Harbor seals bob up for air and slip under the water. Spouts from the humpback whale (or orca, if you’re truly this lucky on day one), pepper the horizon line. This is your introduction to Southeast, and it welcomes you in to learn and experience more. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park
What a privilege. At 3.3 million acres—this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is massive. In the calm of the night, the ship’s crew has taken you deep into Glacier Bay National Park. It’s early in the morning – hot coffee and pastries are out in the lounge – and directly off the bow is Margerie Glacier, or Johns Hopkins Glacier, depending on the time of year and ice access. Less than 1% of visitors to the park have the opportunity you are about to have – get on land with, or kayak in front of, a deep blue, mile-wide chunk of ice. The morning is intimate, calm, and inspiring.
Tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots and marbled murrelets are just a few possible sightings. Arriving at South Marble Island, you can hear and smell ‘em before you see ‘em—it’s a haul out for sea lions. Watch for mountain goats, and lower along shore, foraging bears. Lounging harbor seals laze on bits of berg. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Icy Strait
The Pacific Ocean flows into northern Southeast Alaska via Icy Strait. This interface between land and sea is remote and wild. The plan for the day? Whales and marine mammals. The northern coast of Chichagof Island is rugged and filled with life. Spouts and fin slaps are certain giveaways. Sea lions surf in the swell, and birds hover over the water's surface in search of fish. Porpoises and dolphins hitch a ride on the bow of the boat as you move from cove to cove. On land, trees that pre-date the country are tucked just inside the forest edge. Bushwhack through old growth, pausing to appreciate the scope and scale of North America’s Amazon. Skiff along the shoreline searching for intertidal life; paddle along kelp-threaded channels as Steller sea lions follow your party through blue waters that invoke visualizations of more tropical climes. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Chichagof Island
Welcome to the west coast of Chatham Strait – one of the largest, longest, and straightest fjords on the planet. We’re deep within a nutrient highway, and endless coves and glacial fjords draw unsuspecting lines along the coast. Chichagof Island is home to the coastal brown bear – supported by the lush meadows, rich berries, and prolific salmon runs. Each cove and bay hold their very own microcosm of the greater ecosystem – and your guides are getting into the granular details of the connections between place, species, and time. The time of year dictates the destination. Spring meadows are filled with wildflowers. Summer salmon runs bring bears to the freshwater cornucopia of the largest return of nutrients from sea to land on earth. Fall colors in the alders beckon the return of the Aurora Borealis. There’s no “good” or “bad” time to visit this place – every season brings new surprises. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Baranof Island / Peril Strait
Baranof Island is our playground for the day. Glacially carved fjords become more exposed as we approach South Baranof Wilderness. We continue our search for the coastal brown bear and bushwhack up into muskegs that offer sweeping views across Chatham Strait towards Kootznoowoo. Whales transit the coastline in search of schools of herring and salmon that gather here in numbers beyond comprehension. Following the spouts west, we enter Peril Strait – an infamous stretch of water rich in indigenous and Russian history. Tight channels and swirling eddies bring marine mammals to the area, here to take their chances at salmon returning to their natal streams. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Krestof & Nakwasina Sounds
There aren’t many straight lines along Baranof Island. Its western side is spattered with remote, uninhabited islands - endless opportunities for adventure. Secluded coves, windswept shorelines, and cliffs battered by winter storms provide ample habitat for migratory birds. Drop anchor, pick your modus operandi, and get going. Rocky intertidal zones are Alaska’s touch tanks – sea stars and edible kelps abound - turn a stone or two to see what’s underneath. There are no groomed trails here—get out on a guided hike that John Muir himself would approve of. Toast your voyage with Captain’s Dinner and a “photo journey” of your trip. A gift to you, from your expedition team. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Sitka Disembarkation
Welcome to Sitka-by-the-Sea. A quaint fishing town, Sitka is as endearing as it is remote. Enjoy your last meal onboard and wish farewell to your crew, traveling companions, friends made along the way. Disembark and transfer to the airport or your hotel stay or land tour. Not to be missed – a visit to the Raptor Center or a walk through the Sitka National Historic Park. Enjoy your time here, it is a look into life in Southeast Alaska that is honest, inviting, and a perfect bookend to your visit to this corner of the world. (Breakfast)
PLEASE NOTE:
Depending on the date, this itinerary may run in reverse (from Sitka to Juneau)
Safari Endeavor
Polished, unwavering, and upscale, the Safari Endeavour may be the workhorse of the fleet but it’s her zest-for-life persona that’s remembered most. She looks sharp—a nod to the crew who work hard to keep her that way. Wood fixtures and accents shine and artwork highlights the warm and cool waters where she sails. No other vessel in this operator’s line covers more territory, and like her namesake, Captain Cook’s Endeavour, both the ship and crew are true explorers. Her roomy lounge, dining room, and sun deck are undisputed, but the Safari Endeavour claims to have the biggest heart, too.
• Capacity: 84 Guests
• Cabins: 42
• Specialists: Expert Naturalists, 33 Crew
ACHIEVEMENTS
"Best Adventure Cruise Line 2021" Condé Nast Gold List
"2021: Best Adventure Cruise Line" USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards
"2020: The Top 10 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines" Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards
"While the Safari Endeavour is not a luxury liner, it offers a comfortable and practical platform for exploring the breathtaking wildlife in this region. Its classic nautical styling and casual ambiance make it feel like a welcoming, albeit older, vacation home on the sea. This ship is a fabulous size, with ample room to relax or prepare for your next adventure. Paired with a first class, enthusiastic crew, the Safari Endeavour is perfect for travelers who want to prioritize experiencing the surrounding wildlife and landscapes up close."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
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Questions?
Rates
COMMODORE SUITE
Cabins 205 - 208; Each can be set with one king (shown) or two twins in the bedroom. The sitting room has a foldout sofa and a step-out balcony. Your cabin features a TV/DVD player; hairdryer, conditioning shampoo, body wash; binoculars; and reusable water bottles.
From in USD:
$8,900pp
“This classic expedition vessel offers an opportunity to get as close as possible to humpback whales, orcas, and bears hunting along the shoreline. This operator has been in the region for decades and has fantastic permits for Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage. Focused on the experience rather than luxury, this ship offers an exciting Alaska getaway at an excellent value.”
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Group transfers and baggage handling between airport/vessel on embark/disembark day, entry fees to national parks/preserves,
From-the-vessel adventure activities and equipment, exclusive activities and shore visits, all meals aboard the vessel, premium wine, beer and liquor (excludes super-premium wines), non-alcoholic beverages, wellness amenities, onboard expedition/heritage guides and guest experts, refer to your final guest documents for any additional inclusions specific to your itinerary and vessel.
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare to and from your home city, discretionary gratuities to the vessel's crew, travel protection, optional excursions and land tours, port taxes/fees.
