The Ultimate

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9 days/8 nights

8 days easy to moderate sea kayaking and hiking.

4 nights camping, 4 nights lodging.

$3,495 (4-10 guests)

June 20-28
July 4-12
July 18-26
August 1-9
August 15-23

Here are some

Questions and Answers.

LEVELS
Each of our trips has been rated "1" to "4" according to what conditions can be expected on the trip, with "1" being the easiest and "4" being the more challenging trips. Keep in mind that even easy trips may become difficult if weather conditions are adverse. On all trips, guests help carry personal and group gear and, on sea kayaking trips, help carry their boat up and down the beach (65-80 pounds for two-four people). Most of our trips travel to remote wilderness locations with no facilities of any kind, and evacuation may be prolonged and difficult. More specific information can be found in each trip's detailed itinerary.

Level "2" to "4" trips entail travel to remote wilderness locations without facilities and walking over uneven and sometimes slippery terrain.

LEVEL 1: Easiest

LEVEL 2: Easy to Moderate

LEVEL 3: Moderate

LEVEL 4: Moderate to Challenging
(Some trips are rated at level "4" due primarily to the length of the trip in remote wilderness, or because a specific skill level is assumed, not because they are extremely physically demanding.)

Our most popular trip provides a diversity not encountered on any other adventure we offer. In addition to watching wildlife amid scenic vistas, we will enjoy sea kayaking, camp in some of the most beautiful places on earth, hike in pristine wilderness, and learn the fascinating natural history of coastal Alaska. Each camping segment is interspersed with a night at a wonderful inn or hotel.

Kayak at Point Adolphus where humpback whales, sea lions, and seals abound; paddle and hike along the pristine fjords of Glacier Bay; wander through the lush Tongass National Forest; watch for bald eagles and brown (grizzly) bears feasting on spawning salmon at Pack Creek Brown Bear sanctuary. The floatplanes and charter boats between trip areas offer fantastic views of the Inside Passage. Two guides will accompany only ten guests on this truly ultimate adventure. Begins and ends in Juneau.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Whale watching and sea kayaking at Point Adolphus.
Sea kayaking and hiking in Glacier Bay.
Bear watching and sea kayaking at Pack Creek on Admiralty Island Wilderness.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Days 1-2 - We will pick you up from the Gustavus airport or ferry dock and go to our cozy, quiet inn. Borrow a bike, go for a walk, or just relax in this rural setting. We will gather for a delicious Alaskan dinner and attend the pre-trip meeting held at the inn. From there our own charter boat will carry us across Icy Strait to Point Adolphus - feeding grounds for humpback whales. This is our first wilderness "home." Any stress we have brought to Alaska will now be long gone.

Days 3-4 - Don't be surprised if you wake to the splashing and blowing of humpbacks. They often treat us to a breakfast show along the shoreline of our camp. We'll spend the days kayaking among whales, sea lions, seals, bald eagles, sea birds, and other marine life, and exploring the verdant old growth forest. We camp on pristine beaches with expansive views. Our guides will cook the finest meals this side of the Fairweather Range. We'll meet our boat on day four for a whale-watching trip back to Gustavus and check into our charming Alaska Discovery Inn and gather for a group dinner.

Day 5-7 - We'll head to the headquarters for Glacier Bay National Park and board a boat for a spectacular ride into the bay's stunning West Arm. We'll kayak this pristine area with photographic opportunities at every bend: glaciers, icebergs, flowers and the magnificent Fairweather Range. We'll explore a quiet inlet, created by the Reid Glacier, where seals follow us with curiosity, delicate Arctic terns nest on shore, and bears often wander along the beaches. The serenity is broken with each calving of this active glacier. On day seven, we'll eat breakfast in time to meet our boat back to Gustavus. We'll fly to Juneau and stay in our favorite downtown hotel. Dinner in our beautiful capital city is on your own this evening. Museums, Mt. Roberts Tram, waterfront shops, and restaurants are within walking distance.

Days 8-9 - Bear watching at Pack Creek! An early scenic floatplane flight will take us to Admiralty Island Wilderness. This exciting day entails sea kayaking and viewing wildlife in the famous old growth forests of Admiralty, one of the largest pristine forests left in America and with the highest concentration of brown bears and nesting bald eagles in the world. We'll spend a day at the Pack Creek Brown Bear Sanctuary watching for bears as they fish for salmon. Late afternoon floatplanes will take us back to Juneau. One last dinner and another night in our hotel will round out this fabulous journey. We are happy to treat you to breakfast unless you book an early morning jet home.

Electronic mail request: ultimateexpedition@glacierbaytravel.com

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