There are few places in our world that offer as much natural diversity as Alaska. With majestic mountain peaks, breathtaking ocean coasts, green temperate forests and an abundance of wildlife rarely seen in other parts of the world, Alaska is truly America’s last frontier. Below are three Alaskan experiences that invite travelers to explore, understand and celebrate the natural wonders of our 49th state.

Experience 1: Explore Alaska on a Luxury Cruise Expedition

Small Ship Alaska Cruises into Pure Wilderness

Cruising is one of the most popular ways to see this bustling tourist destination. But for those looking to also experience Alaska’s untarnished beauty; we suggest taking a closer look at the Alaskan adventure expeditions offered by Lindblad National Geographic Expeditions. Compared to large cruise ships that often carry upwards of 6,000 passengers per sailing, Lindblad’s luxury expedition vessels carry only 62 passengers per expedition. It’s this small size that affords passengers the opportunity to venture where others can’t, with experts who know Alaska best.

Taking You Where Others Can’t

From the moment you wake on board a Lindblad National Geographic Alaska cruise, you will feel intimately connected to Alaska’s pristine wilderness. Stay on board as the ship takes you within feet of tumbling waterfalls and majestic blue glaciers, or disembark to explore further. Naturalist-lead zodiac expeditions bring you closer than you’ve ever been (and probably ever will be) to some of Alaska’s most unique wildlife, including sea lions, brown bear and humpback whales. Kayak, bike and hiking expeditions are also available for adventure-seekers looking to venture out and explore remote coves, rainforests and trails.

Learning from Lindblad’s Naturalists

As the sun sets, passengers and crew alike come together in the ship’s cozy lounge to sit back, sip cocktails, dine on fresh local cuisine, and reminisce about the day’s events. It is here that Lindblad’s naturalists and photographers share their wisdom with an engaged group of like-minded travelers through entertaining and educational presentations. This “must experience” tradition is only one of many that makes a Lindblad expedition truly unique.

Experience 2: Photograph Brown Bears in Katmai National Park

Travel Beyond consultant Matt Bracken has travelled the world. His adventures have brought him face-to-face with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and the great white sharks of False Bay in South Africa. But it’s Matt’s dad, Will Bracken, who enjoyed a fly-in photography expedition to Hallo Bay Wilderness Camp in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. It is here where he had the privilege of photographing Alaska’s elusive brown bear. His first encounter was not only captured on film, but also in writing. To read his journal entries and see his stunning photography, visit his blog post here.

Experience 3: Hike with Kennicott Wilderness Guides (Special Blog Extra)

For Alaskan travelers looking for more adventure, Kennicott Wilderness Guides offer activities designed to merge natural beauty and active exploration into unforgettable experiences. These expert naturalists and explorers are based out of Kennicott, Alaska, in the midst of the Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The park preserve features remant volcanoes, twisting rivers, spectacular glaciers and unmarked trails. With so much to see and only two roads in the vast reserve, expert guides are essential to a safe and exciting experience.

Kennicott Wilderness Guides offer half day and full day activities that range from family friendly glacier hikes to ice climbing to explorations into the alpine ecosystem to learn about the region’s mining history. One of the company’s most popular activities involves a small plane ride to the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, where guests and guides are dropped off for a day of adventure. Here, Kennicott Wilderness Guides can arrange anything from family hikes to romantic picnics, surrounded by pure Alaskan beauty.

Find out more

To discover more about traveling to Alaska by luxury cruise or land, contact us.

About Flip Nicklin

National Geographic photographer Flip Nicklin is regarded as the world’s premier whale photographer. In this presentation, Flip shares stories from his intimate whale experiences, talks about his trips with Lindblad Expeditions and explains the National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions partnership.

Interested in joining Flip’s next expedition?

Flip is leading two expeditions called “Baja California: Among the Great Whales” during March 2011. Let us know if you’re interested, as space is likely to run out.

Small-ship Alaska Cruises into Pure Wildness
Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic small-ship expedition Alaska cruises let you go where others can’t, with the experts who know Alaska best. Each Alaska expedition cruise is an active, engaging adventure travel vacation through wild Alaska and beyond. Our passionate Expedition Team and experienced cruise ship Captains will take you to hidden coves and narrow channels that only Alaska adventure cruise travel experts know. From the ship, Zodiac landing craft and kayaks bring you further inside Alaska. Until it’s just you and the whales, bears, eagles and remarkable wildlife that makes a small ship Alaska cruise such a special adventure travel destination.

Join us this year for Alaska expedition cruises full of whales, wildness and wonder.

Learn More from an Expert Expedition Team
You will travel with a generous ratio of 1 expert for every 12 guests on our intimate and comfortable 62-guest expedition cruise ships and when exploring on land. You’ll be amazed at how easily interestingly our hand-picked Expedition Team (Naturalists, Historians and experts from National Geographic) can convey even the most detailed of information. And they’re always there when you need them.

Taking You Where Others Can’t
Via special-use permits, you are able to experience the hidden coves of Tongass National Forest and spend a full day in Glacier Bay National Park. The combination of special access and staff expertise allows you to hike, cruise and kayak in remote wildernesses that even smaller ships never explore.  Zodiac landing craft allow you to cruise close to resting sea lions and feeding whales at a moment’s notice. A fleet of kayaks lets even beginning paddlers have an eye-level view of Alaska at their own pace.

Discover More with Expedition Technology
Our longstanding relationships with researchers in Southeast Alaska lets you be right where the action is, when it’s at its peak. Microscopes and hydrophones provide exceptional perspectives on wonders few are ever able to see or hear. Listen to the song of the humpback. Learn how a piece of algae can change your view of even the tallest mountains.

See More with Flexible Itineraries
You’ll be able to see more and do more because each of our Alaska expedition cruises explore on a flexible itinerary. Our Captains and Expedition Leaders craft your expedition cruise as it happens. Whether it is lingering to watch a group of feeding humpbacks or changing course to follow a fantastic wildlife report – you are able to indulge to the fullest.

A Note on Conservation
In Alaska, Lindblad works with the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) and the Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF). Together with our guests, we have contributed $330,000 (as of September, 2008). Funds donated to AWF assist with research projects on humpback whale communication and behavior, which is shared with guests through the research team’s visit to the ships.

To learn more contact Craig Beal at CraigB@TravelBeyond.com or call us at (800) 823-6063.

Hallo Bay Wilderness Camp, Katmai National Park, Alaska

Four of us boarded a four seat Cessna at the Homer, Alaska airport with a young lady pilot after loading our camera gear and one duffle bag each for the one hour flight to the Hallo Bay Wilderness Camp in Katmai National Park.  Our enthusiasm and excitement was focused on finding and photographing brown bear as they fished for salmon in one of the many rivers that empty into the Shelikof Strait between Hallo Bay camp and Kodiak Island.  Our pilot made a smooth landing on the hard sand beach in front of the camp.  We carried our gear to our assigned tents, and listened to an orientation about camp routine and bear behavior.  We were fitted with hip boots, gathered our camera gear and set off with our guides, Simyra and John.  We walked about a mile along the beach, keeping an eye out for any bear who might be fishing at the mouth of the river or digging for clams in the tidal area.

We trekked another couple of mile or so up a river whose name I don’t know and found a spot on a rocky islet where we set up our camera gear, tried to find a comfortable sitting position, and waited.  The temperature was about 65 degrees and John said to a bear this was pretty warm, and so they might not be very active until later in the day.  My enthusiasm began to wane a bit until John quietly said “bear at 11 o’clock.”  I watched a large female brown bear make her way out of the wooded river bank into the water.  She splashed around a bit, as if she was playing with some unseen water toy, making what seemed to me a rather feeble attempt to catch a fish.  Her thick amber-colored winter coat sparkled in the sun.  The salmon were so plentiful she didn’t have to work very hard and she seemed to be very picky.  She rejected several fish before finding a keeper.  I was so excited to be so close to this beautiful animal (maybe 20 ft) I forgot for a moment that I had a camera and I just enjoyed the experience.  Being with this bear in her environment was both awe inspiring and humbling – two emotional experiences that are too often absent from my daily life.   Over the next couple days I would see and photograph more bear, but this first one is the one I remember the best.

Hey Matt -

As you know, Jenny and I just returned from our Alaskan cruise – this was no ordinary cruise!  We had no interest in spending our trip to Alaska sitting beneath a jumbotron, looking out the window at the last frontier, we wanted something more intimate, and we found it!

We cruised for 7 days from Sitka to Juneau with The Boat Company aboard the Mist Cove, a small, 12 cabin fishing ship with 3 skiffs on board!  It was love at first sight.  The ship was incredible.  The cabins were huge, the beds comfy, and each cabin had its own private bathroom.  It was more than enough space for two people and all the gear we brought with us. 

We started out heading north out of Sitka and the views were incredible; the setting sun to the west lit up the mountains to the east and the water was smooth as glass.  Each night we anchored in a private bay (impossible for large ships to access) and each morning we got to choose from a list of activities ranging from kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, or just camping out at the open bar.  It was hard to pick! 

I couldn’t believe the food.  The ship not only had an amazing cook on board, but also a pastry chef, so each day we had fresh breads, muffins, rolls – you name it.  It was really quite impressive.  I would have been thrilled with a granola bar and a firm pat on the back, but the assortment of food they served was beyond my wildest expectations.  Every day we had fresh fruits, breads, halibut (that we caught), shrimp (that we caught) and crab (that we caught).  The last night aboard the ship we had the single largest filet mignon I’ve ever seen.   Believe me, none of the guests left hungry.

The crew was always ready to serve us; anything we needed, whenever we needed it.  They waited on us, straightened up our rooms, took care of launching the skiffs, canoes and kayaks, and guided us on our fishing trips and hikes – they did everything.  I can’t say enough about them.  I think it was the first time in 35 years somebody else baited my hook!

It was pretty incredible waking up to the most amazing scenery I’ve ever seen, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting on the bow watching grizzly bears forage on the shoreline…..then eating breakfast and hiking the trails the bears left on.  It was all very exciting.  Being surrounded by rain forest covered mountains while watching eagles fly by or whales filling the air with mist was truly something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

No TV’s, no phones, no computers, no internet.  I left my phone on the charger at my house and never once missed it.

My description of this experience really doesn’t do it justice.  The scenery was incredible, the wildlife (bears, whales, seals, eagles, ravens, porpoises, ducks, geese….I guess the only thing we didn’t see much of was other people!), the fishing, the hikes, all simply incredible, beyond words.  This was by far the coolest experience of my life. 

One week away from the monotony of big city life wasn’t enough.  Riding on a skiff through icebergs on the way to a glacier is something I could do every day.  Telling Jenny that catching a 45 pound halibut (her first fish ever!) – “isn’t typical”, went over about as well as our guide making her kiss it for luck!  Yuck!

I only had one complaint about the whole trip – they made me get off the boat at the end of the week.

We really enjoyed our trip and we couldn’t have done it without our friends and co-workers at Travel Beyond.  You guys are the best! 

A very relaxed,

Lee Mikkelson