Alaska and British Columbia: Wilderness, Glaciers and Culture (Southbound)

Explore Anchorage, then journey to Seward. Board the MS Roald Amundsen and embark on a southbound cruise, marvelling at coastal landscapes. A welcome dinner awaits, introducing you to the grandeur of your upcoming 14-day expedition.

Today we visit College Fjord, which features five tidewater glaciers and five valley glaciers, as well as a dozen other types. We’ll get as close to the glaciers as we safely can, taking our small expedition boats into the fjord or even exploring by kayak if conditions permit.

Today is an exploration day in Icy Bay. If conditions allow, you’ll explore three glaciers in our small expedition boats or by kayak, immersing you in the remarkable beauty of this icy landscape. 

Our next port of call is William Henry Bay. Located south of Haines at the edge of the Chilkat Range mountains, William Henry Bay is home to brown bears, black bears and moose. Under the care of expert local guides, you'll venture onto the nearby shoreline after the anchor is dropped and explore the shores lined with old-growth forest. You may even be lucky enough to spot a brown or black bear!

Near the head of the Lynn Canal lies the frontier town of Haines, which was originally home to the Chilkat Tlingit people. They are renowned for their weaving skills, with mountain goat fur and cedar bark woven into intricate designs, and here, you’ll see excellent examples of their work. 

Holkham Bay is home to two beautiful landscapes, Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Your captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day, as they'll be an opportunity to see harbour seals, who are often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears and mountain goats. 

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.  

Explore Alaska in true expedition style on today’s exploration day in this magical corner of the Inside Passage. Conditions permitting, we may take to the water in our small expedition boats, and seek out secluded coves, iceberg-filled bays, and thickly forested shorelines.

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

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of evergreens, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. Weather permitting, you'll join the Expedition Team to tour Misty Fjords in our small expedition boats, or take kayaks out.

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.  

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 considered to be a real privilege.  

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