DAY 1 ARRIVE IN JUNEAU Transfer to the Goldbelt Hotel. The hotel's waterfront locale is a perfect base for exploring.

DAY 2 SAIL FROM JUNEAU Your small ship sails in the late afternoon. Once onboard, step out on deck to watch Gastineau Channel glide by as you enter Alaska's true wilderness. D

DAY 3 TRACY ARM Many travelers consider these narrow fjords the most spectacular spots in Alaska. Sheer cliffs rise thousands of feet from waterline to snowcapped peaks, their sides studded with stunning waterfalls. And there's the ice. Conditions permitting, your crew will welcome you into inflatable excursion craft to explore the waters and shorelines amid bouncing ice berg bits calved from ancient glaciers. BLD

DAY 4 FREDERICK SOUND AND WILDERNESS EXPLORATION Frederick Sound teems with the humpback whale's favorite food - and the whales take full advantage, feeding as they prepare for their long migration. Once they leave Alaska waters at summer's end, these giant creatures will not eat again until they return next year. This afternoon you'll discover the joys of "gunk-holing," a nautical term that means "exploring at leisure." Your Captain and Exploration Leader know these waters intimately- and each voyage is likely to be different, depending on what magic they find to share with you. BLD

DAY 5 SITKA This beautiful little city is thought by many to be the "Jewel of the Inside Passage." Its setting alone is breathtaking. But, for you, getting there is half the fun. While big ships must plow through miles of open ocean and moor far from the tiny docks, your small ship will come to Sitka "through the back door," threading through beautiful Peril Strait and navigating the delicate passage through Sergius Narrows where tides challenge all but the most expert mariner's skill. Enjoy the peaceful setting as you stroll amongst the totems at the beautiful Sitka National Historic Park, or choose other optional excursions to further explore this gem of Baranof Island. BLD

DAY 6 ICY STRAIT Watch for the gentle humpbacks as they feast on small fish and tiny krill churned by upwelling waters from the Pacific Ocean. Watch for the behaviors you may see them exhibit. Spouting. Sounding. Breaching. Tail slapping. Fin smacking. Lunge feeding. Even rare bubble feeding if you're very, very lucky. The tiny Inian Islands stand between you and the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska, with enticing opportunities to get out and explore by inflatable craft. Be sure to keep watch for Steller sea lions, orcas, harbor seals, and porpoise. BLD

DAY 7 GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE Declared by many to be the most extraordinary and untouched place in the world, Glacier Bay was first established as a National Monument in 1925 and has since enjoyed the highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Glacier Bay National Park shows you the earth in transition. The glaciers here are receding rapidly, leaving in their wake scoured cliffs and deep fjords. A few of the most outstanding highlights are:

• The birds and Steller sea lions of South Marble Island, where you'll find constant activity off these rocky sentinels.

•  The 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather represents the steepest climb from sea level in the world.

• Massive glaciers of all varieties - hanging, tidewater, and valley glaciers - abound here. In a full day of exploration, you'll be accompanied by the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger and a Native Cultural Interpreter who board your small ship and stay throughout your visit. BLD

DAY 8 EXPLORATION You may visit one of the tiny, coastal communities of southeast Alaska, accessible only by sea, to explore and maybe even share a friendly chat with the locals. For those lucky and hearty few that call this wilderness home, "traffic" takes on a whole new meaning! We will port call at one of a handful of small Alaskan villages to briefly get a taste of what it would be like to be a part of a community that rests in this wild and off-the beaten- path part of the world. BLD

DAY 9 ARRIVE IN JUNEAU Disembark in Juneau this morning, and we'll escort you to the airport. B

Request: Wilderness Waters Inside Passage 9a Availability.

* Photography Tour