Alaska Nature & Wildlife Expedition
This unique tour explores six spectacular wildlife habitats including ocean, estuary, river, lake, muskeg, and rain forest. This is your best opportunity to photograph bald eagles in the wild.
Board a fast ferry and travel approximately 45 minutes, along the Lynn Fjord, to the town of Haines. During your journey, enjoy commentary from your guide whom will point out numerous sights such as wildlife, waterfalls and mountain peaks.
Once in Haines, travel by bus and by foot through the various ecosystems surrounding this beautiful town. There is no strenuous walking involved. Follow the route of returning salmon, from ocean to fresh water. Frequent stops allow guides to spot even the most reclusive animals. Watch for migrating waterfowl and marine mammals along the fjord. At the estuary, see eagles soaring, diving for salmon and raising their young in nests. View the wildlife through powerful spotting scopes which you can also take photos through.
Your journey continues beside the enchanting Chilkoot River, the ancestral fishing grounds of the Tlingit people, where brown bears may be seen meandering along the flowered banks. Stop along the shore of a picturesque mountain lake before walking under the old-growth trees where you'll experience the sights, sounds, scents and even tastes of the world's largest temperate rain forest.
From August, when spawning salmon offer a greater chance to spot bears, the long Alaska twilight is taken advantage of on a mid-afternoon departure of this tour called the Evening Wildlife Expedition, now described below:
Just before sunset, brown bear families leave the cover of the forest and converge on the Chilkoot River to feed on spawning salmon and add valuable weight to stay healthy through the long Alaskan winter. You may also view harbor seals, eagles; river otters; Stellar’s sea lions, and many species of birds that join in this feeding event.
The unique evening wildlife viewing opportunity has limited capacity and includes a delicious picnic-stye dinner on the cruise back to Skagway. Dinner consists of a smoked salmon, herbal cream cheese, and vegetable wrap, served with fresh fruit, a home baked cookie, and boxed juice.
