Alaska Cruising the Inside Passage Family Adventure

A 6-Day Thomson Adventures tour starting from $4,990

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Starting Price: $4,990 Printer Friendly Page
Tour Length: 6 Days
Countries Visited: United States
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  • Triple Discount for Children
  • Groups of 6 or more traveling together save money
 
More Information About This Tour:
Tour Type:
 Escorted Tour
Tour Category: Family Tour
Tour Operator: Thomson Adventures
Tour Code: THALASKA
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Cities Visited:
Gustavus, Barlett Cove, Lamplugh Glacier, North Sandy Cove,Dundas Bay, Juneau,

You slip into your kayak and start paddling, only to find you're not alone. Twenty sea otters are paddling along with you.
There's the look on their faces - curious because, well, humans are downright rare here. Then there's the look on your kids' faces – even the teens – because Alaska is one of the most "Wow!" places on earth, and they know it. And you know this experience will be the stuff of shared family memories for years to come.
Based in a small ship with access to places most tours can't go, Thomson Family Adventures takes you deep into the bays, fjords and wildlife-rich coastline of Alaska. Daily kayaking and short hikes put your family front and center to experience the roar of calving glaciers, the ethereal beauty of ancient forests and so many curious critters you'll probably lose count, all in the company of guides that are passionate about this awe-inspiring place.

 
• All entrance fees

• Accommodations based on double and triple occupancy at comfortable and distinctive tourist level hotels

• Most meals; we leave off a couple so your family can explore on your own.

• Travel in groups of 15 to 25 people
• Services of a bilingual guide who will accompany you throughout your trip

• Land transportation, airport transfers and internal air

• All excursions

• Bottled water and snacks

• Travel insurance – Travel Insured International policy

• Groups of 8 or more will be accompanied by a mentor whose primary jobs will be to provide kid-friendly enrichment activities for up to an hour each day that enhance the overall trip experience; to provide organized fun for kids that helps them get to know each other; to provide things for kids to do during delays, flights and long bus trips (our teen trips don’t include mentors)

• Ages 6 to 16 will be matched with pen pals with whom they can correspond and then meet in country (our cruises of Inside Passage of Alaska and our teen trips don’t include penpals)

• There may be slight variations to this listing for certain adventures

 
Day 1 – Arrive Gustavus, Alaska / Bartlett Cove / Reid Glacier
Make your way to Gustavus and begin yuor journey to the Inside Passage.
For the next five nights, you and your family will sleep aboard the Sea Wolf. A former marine boat that used to protect San Francisco Bay, she is capable of carrying twelve passengers plus six crew in great comfort.

  • Cruise to Reid Glacier The landscape on this journey from Bartlett Cove to Reid Glacier is so remarkable that even the kids end up awestruck. Your family can see incredible vistas, bears on the beaches and whales breaching out of the ocean. Just look for the bluest ice you’ve ever seen and you’ll know the Sea Wolf has arrived at Reid Glacier.

  • Kayaking lesson After a safety briefing and introductory class, your family will hop into your kayaks and paddle around exquisite Reid Glacier to make sure you feel comfortable on the calm ocean waters. All our kayaking excursions are first-timer friendly.

  • Hike and explore grounded icebergs Step ashore for an easy walk up the mountain and across a few glacier streams for close-up look at the face of Reid Glacier. We'll hunt for ice worms, learn about glacier geology and walk among the grounded icebergs, where we scoop up glacial silt for a wonderful glacial facial.


  • Day 2 – Lamplugh Glacier / Johns Hopkins Inlet / Margerie Glacier
  • Cruise to Lamplugh Glacier As we pull away from Reid Glacier, we'll look for the remnants of a 1930s mine once owned by gold prospectors, and spend the next hour taking in the Alaskan coastline. Don’t be surprised if you look up and see eagles soaring against the backdrop of icy glaciers and 15,000 foot peaks.

  • Hike to scenic overlook of Lamplugh Glacier This light hike up the mountain will bring us to a stunning bird's-eye view of the top of Lamplugh Glacier. Johns Hopkings inlet is another panoramic outlook here you can't miss – it has nine calving glaciers in different stages of decline and growth.

  • Tarr Inlet kayaking We'll pass Bear Knob to look for brown bears roaming the shoreline. Once at Tarr Inlet, where the Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers cascade into the water, it’s time to paddle along a towering cliff. This area is a colony for kittiwakes and puffins, and kids love seeing these unique birds in their natural habitats. Then kayak to Margerie Glacier to watch an active calving glacier from a safe distance.


  • Day 3 – Tidal Inlet / North Sandy Cove
  • Cruise to Tidal Inlet On our way to Tidal Inlet, we scan the waters for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions and the high cliffs of Gloomy Knob for mountain goats. Once at the inlet we’ll have a chance to paddle past craggy bluffs and forested hillsides, with impressive shimmering waterfalls cascading on both sides.

  • Explore North Sandy Cove This region is a very rich ecosystem that's home to black bears, moose, coyotes, wolves and plenty of marine wildlife. With any luck, we'll see whales, sea lions, porpoises and seals feeding in the fertile bay. Then we'll kayak around the shores scanning for black bears and moose.

  • Kayak to Puffin Island for marine life viewing Puffin Island offers a truly wondrous look at a low tide vertical intertidal zone. It’s home to hundreds of sponges, periwinkles, whelks, sea stars, sea cucumbers and urchins (just to name a few species), that literally hang here awaiting the return of the high tide. This is a fun place to get some great pictures if the kids have waterproof cameras!


  • Day 4 – Dundas Bay
  • Beach at Dundas Bay We'll anchor at the mouth of this special spot for kayaking, beach combing, discovering animal footprints and exploring old growth forests. Wildlife here includes deer, wolves, bears, sea and river otters, marmots, moose, cormorants and cranes.

  • Strawberry picking We'll pick strawberries, learn about and taste native plants and revel in glorious flower strewn meadows. Cow parsley, chocolate lily, yarrow, lupine, wild iris, lily of the valley and Indian paintbrush are among the few plants that brighten the splendid landscape here.


  • Day 5 – Inner Dundas Bay
  • Explore the boulder field at Dundas After we skiff out to the boulder field it's time to do some climbing. Children of all ages love scaling these boulders to take in the breathtaking views of the rivers and surrounding meadows. Here there’s a chance to see otters, black bears, wolves and hoary marmots grazing the fields for intertidal snacks.

  • Hike through Sitka Spruce Your family will see the largest spruce trees in the world on this brief adventure through Sitka Spruce. On the mountainside we’ll explore and learn about a mature muskeg and see bog plants such as orchids, an insect eating plant called a sundew, stunted spruce, hemlock, marsh marigolds and violets.

  • Kayak along the Great Brady Ice Field After we discover the rest of the Dundas Bay on the Sea Wolf, we’ll get into our kayaks to paddle in the shadow of the Great Brady Ice Field. This sheet of ice is so extensive it dwarfs everything in sight.


  • Day 6 – Whale watching / Gustavus
  • Whale watch Our last day on the Sea Wolf is spent watching whales and exploring remote coves with beautiful tidal pools.

  • Depart the Sea Wolf

  •  
             
    Touring Date
    Land Only
    Land + Air
    Single
    (Land Only)
    Single
    (Land + Air)


    No Departure Date Information was found for this Tour. This could be due
    to our website undergoing an update.

    Please call a tour specialist at 1-800-942-3301 for personalized assistance.

     

             

    Airfare Disclaimer
    A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

    Documents
    TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

  • Alaska, our country’s last frontier, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Icy blue glaciers, shimmering waterfalls, old growth forests, glorious flowering meadows — your family will be in heaven as you hike, kayak and cruise among the diverse beauty and splendor of our 49th state. Not to be missed is kayaking around the palatial Reid Glacier, hiking up to a panoramic view of John Hopkins inlet and flying high above the majestic wonder of Alaska. This is one vacation you family will never forget one breathtaking moment of!


  • Kayaking around the palatial Reid Glacier: After a safety briefing and introductory class, your family will hop into your kayaks and paddle around exquisite Reid Glacier to make sure you feel comfortable on the calm ocean waters. Once you get your sea legs, look for the bluest ice you’ve ever seen and incredible vistas. All our kayaking excursions are first-timer friendly.


  • Alaska is home to incredibly rich and diverse habitats for hundreds of species of plant and wildlife, including the largest populations of bald eagles and brown and black bears in the world. Imagine eagles soaring high above against the backdrop of 15,000 foot peaks, or brown bears ambling along the shoreline. Throughout your journey, as you cruise to areas that are only accessible by small boat, you might see whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals and sea otters feeding, swimming and frolicking in the seas. Stay on the lookout for moose, sheep and caribou, too!

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    RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8+

    All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.

    Internal Air = $300

    Teen Tour Price (12-17)= $4,990
    Child Tour Price (<12) = $4,790

    Recommended Age 8+

     
     

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    All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.