Itinerary 1

You will board the boat for a mid-morning orientation and then depart Juneau Harbor for the fjords and glaciers of Tracy Arm. Keep an eye out for whales and bears as you head south along the eastern shore of Stephens Passage. A gourmet lunch is served as you embark upon your cruise through the 25-mile fjord of Tracy Arm, during which you'll see dramatic waterfalls along the shore and watch for goats on the near-vertical, 3,000-foot walls.

Navigating icebergs, the boat approaches Marguerite Island. If conditions permit, skiffs are launched for a closer look at the North and South Sawyer Glaciers. A naturalist then describes the history and geology of glaciers as you scoop up a piece of glacial ice for your drink. By late afternoon, you're on the way out of Tracy Arm and ready to anchor for the evening. But with hours of daylight still remaining, there is plenty of time left to explore the bay by kayak or skiff, hike to a beaver pond, fish or sit back and watch the whales.

As the dinner hour approaches, you can relax and enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail from the sunroom, back deck, saloon or flying bridge.

Your day begins by crossing Stephens Passage to Admiralty Island-a pristine National Wilderness Area that is prime humpback whale territory and also home to a large population of Alaskan brown (or grizzly) bears. Just in time for lunch, the yacht reaches a secluded cove surrounded by tree-covered islands known as Gambier Bay. Bundle up before hiking, fishing or kayaking. Summer or not, the air on Alaskan waters gets chilly!

First thing in the morning, we cruise over to the magical, moss-covered forest of the Brothers Islands. Upon arrival, you can choose to take a leisurely walk or a challenging hike. Either way, you'll have the chance to see three-foot-thick tussocks of sphagnum moss first hand. While you're likely to see plenty of deer and river otters along the way, you won't have to worry about bears on these small islands.

Once your feet are good and tired, take a skiff ride to a nearby island to see a large colony of Stellar Sea Lions and maybe even a pod of humpback whales. Since Brothers Island also boasts fantastic Halibut fishing, go ahead and drop a line before you leave for Admiralty Island's Pybus Bay.

Your next destination is Pybus Bay, an ideal place to jump in your kayak and explore the small bays, islands and streams or continue fishing-this time for trout and salmon. After dinner, take a walk on the beach or grab your poles and paddles again!

After breakfast, enjoy a whale-watching trip through Frederick Sound as you make your way towards the rugged beauty of Baranof Island. By lunchtime, the towering waterfalls, snow covered peaks, lush forests and tidal flats of Deep Cove will surround you. Spend your afternoon fishing the fertile waters that teem with halibut and salmon or explore one of several nearby lakes. Dinner is served against an extraordinary, natural backdrop.

The fishing is so good in Deep Cove that you will want to stay through lunch. Afterwards, the journey into Chatham Strait and towards the settlement of Baranof Warm Springs begins. Set near the top of a grand waterfall, the natural warm springs are a welcome stop after either the rigorous hike up to the Sadie Lake or the more relaxed walk to Baranof Lake. Either route will take you through a mix of muskeg/bog forest with dwarf shore pines and coniferous forests. Here is where fly fish enthusiasts get to cast for cutthroat trout in the crystal clear Baranof River.

As afternoon turns to evening, the boat moves farther north, anchoring at a secluded cove in Takatz Bay. After dinner, you can use the hours of remaining sunlight to explore the dramatic shorelines and tidal creeks by kayak or skiff.

The journey continues northward to the mouth of Peril Strait-prime whale-watching territory. Sailing west into the passage, between the rugged mountains of Baranof and Chicagof Islands, you will pass through the strong tidal currents of Serguis Narrows and into Salisbury Sound. The open Pacific Ocean is so close that you can actually feel the swells as the boat heads into Kalinin Bay.

Salmon, lingcod and halibut fishing is only a short skiff ride away, but so is a spectacular hike to the wave-swept ocean coast. Whatever you do, you will be hungry for the final dinner of the voyage. Fresh-caught fish anyone?

On the way to Sitka, you will visit the sea otters of the Scraggy Islands and travel through the narrow channels of Olga and Neva Straits. Look for bears while cruising the shorelines of Nakwasina Passage before you enter the final stretch into Sitka Sound.

Flanked by the jagged mountains of Baranof Island and the roaring Pacific, ringed with an archipelago of small, rocky islands, the historic city of Sitka is well worth exploring. You will arrive to the dock by 2:00 PM, and then be taken to your evening destination. Of course, the final day arrives much too soon, but this amazing life experience stays with you forever.