7 Night Alaskas Fjords and Glaciers with Ketchikan Cruise from Ketchikan

Your journey starts in Ketchikan after boarding, as you push off the dock enjoying great views. (D)

There are places on the planet that completely overcome you. This is one of them. The beauty. The peace. The sense of place you feel. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. And that alone is a lot to consider. Glacial valleys filled with sea water. Sheer 3,000-foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, all find safe haven here. Kayak in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you find it's just as easy to paddle and go, as it is to sit and float and take it all in. The area's affectionate nickname, "The Yosemite of the North", is deserved. (BLD)

In Behm Canal, it's all remote waterways and the isolated Tongass National Forest. In the water orca, porpoises, seals, and otters go about their business. Go about yours on a guided paddle in tiny, deserted waterways that feed into Behm Canal. In Yes Bay, wildlife abounds. Black bears, mink, eagles. On Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low-elevation hike near clear, rushing streams. Good opportunities for enticing forested shots of Southeast. (BLD)

The Blashke Islands are your playground today. A full day of choose-your-own-adventure fun. Hiking, kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling, and full-day yak-n-whack excursions. But let's remember this area is unknown to most, with a chain of islands perfect for off-vessel activities. But watch out for whales that frequent this area...they can surprise you! (BLD)

When you come this far, you might as well go all in. This is a backcountry of Alaska's wilderness. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. In this playground, it's all an option today. Kayak and skiff in water almost clear as glass. Later, wind into the Wrangell Narrows. Abundant bright red and green navigation lights guide the way. It's nicknamed "Christmas Tree Lane", of course. Thomas Bay is one of the few areas where the fit can hike to elevation along the famed Cascade Creek Trail to lake above...but you will need to be in top condition for this or choose a long relaxing kayak journey. (BLD)

Humpbacks beeline it here each season to feed on krill, zooplankton, and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. Based on wind and weather, your expedition team has the lineup of adventures all mapped out. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska's oldest light station, and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky knobs. Paddle into the deeps of Port Houghton or Windham Bay or head ashore for a hike. Tonight, toast another big day in Alaska. (BLD)

Take an early peek out your window. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep U-shaped valleys. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. At the end of Endicott, the blue face of Dawes Glacier is stories high. And in classic fjord form. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It's a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coast Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy foot work on the cliffs. Look for them. (BLD)

After breakfast this morning, bid adieu to your new pals before you disembark and transfer to the Juneau airport or begin your extended UnCruise hotel stay or land tour. (B)