Luxurious Wilderness in British Columbia and Glacier Bay with Seabourn

Day 1 – 2 Vancouver

Upon arrival in Vancouver meet your driver for your private transfer to Vancouver’s downtown. Spend the next 2 days enjoying the sights of this beautiful downtown. A juxtaposition of vistas awaits from the coastal mountains to the sounds of the Pacific waters hitting Vancouver’s coastline. Explore the beauty of Stanley Park, or view a magical sunset from a café on English Bay. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain are just two options to explore the great outdoors within this city. 2 nights Vancouver.

Day 3 – 4 Sonora Resort

Today meet your driver for you journey to Vancouver South terminal for your helicopter/seaplane transfer to Sonora Resort. Once checked in relax for a time before enjoying a dinner of locally sourced ingredients. Perhaps take some time to consult with the staff at Sonora as to what activities are planned for the next day, you can also prebook a Guided Bear watching excursion or a Guided Salmon Fishing excursion to do on Day 2. Day 2 at Sonora includes a 1-hour nature eco-tour on board an 8.53m Zodiac boat accompanied by a local guide. On this tour you will receive a fascinating commentary while viewing wildlife in its natural habitat. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, swimming, and tennis throughout your stay. In the evening, sit down to a gourmet dinner and sip a fine wine or mingle with other guests in one of the lounges or games room. 2 nights Sonora Resort, including lunch and two dinners.

Day 5 – 6 Vancouver

After breakfast at Sonora Resort take some time to independently explore the area around the resort before a delicious lunch prior to your journey back to Vancouver. On arrival at Vancouver South terminal meet your driver for a private transfer to downtown. Spend your time exploring more of Vancouver or why not hop over to Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia, to explore the history and vast wildlife off the shores here! 2 nights Vancouver.

Day 7 Embarkation and Transit the Seymour Narrows

After embarkation at Vancouver Cruise you will make way up the Seymour Narrows. These 3 miles stretch of Discovery Channel north of Vancouver Island is notorious for the strength of tidal currents. This part of the cruise requires skill and technical accomplishment as the Venturi effect created from the tides increasing the velocity.

Day 8 Cruising the Queen Charlotte Sound

The Queen Charlotte Sound lies between the Queen Charlotte Strait, which winds between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland in the south, and Hecate Strait, which is northward, adjacent to the Haida Gwaii Islands of the pacific coast. This long shipping route is also called the Inside Passage, stretching from the shores of Washington to Alaska.

Day 9 Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords)

Misty Fjords is a true wilderness, often shrouded in mist. Its vertical granite cliffs, which reach 900m above sea level, descend another 300m below the water's surface. Carved by glaciers and covered in a green carpet of mosses and lichens. Misty Fjords receives more than 381cm of rain per year. This rainfall keeps vegetation in abundance, bringing various wildlife to the area including Mountain goats, brown and black bears, coastal wolves, sea lions, bald eagles, and ravens. Dall's porpoises, orca and humpback whales can also be spotted along its shorelines and throughout the waters. Your ship will cruise among these spectacular forest’s waterfalls and mountains., The onboard Ventures by Seabourn team will offer exceptional excursions including kayaking the fjords and a short sightseeing float plane flight.

Day 10 Wrangell

Wrangell Island sits at the heart of the Tongass National Rain Forest and receives approximately 203cm of rain per year. The city of Wrangell, a true Alaskan frontier town, sits at the northern end of the island, a short distance from the mouth of the mighty Stikine River. The history is deeply rooted in the Tlingit people, the fur trade, and the gold rush. The Stikine River, Shakes Glacier and Anan Creek boast the largest pink salmon run of the Inside Passage, attracting brown and black bears in great numbers.

Day 11 Juneau

The capital of Alaska, Juneau, is only accessible by air and sea, due to the rugged mountain terrain that surrounds the city. The city has plenty to offer the outdoor adventure. Choose to explore on foot along the Perseverance Trail or around Mendenhall Glacier, or board one of the many local whale-watching boats or view the mountains and extensive glaciers of the Juneau Icefield from a helicopter.

Day 12 Inian Islands

As the gatekeepers to the northern entrance of the fabled Inside Passage, the remote Inian Islands stand between Cross Sound and Icy Strait, exposed to the high energy seas of the Pacific Ocean. Tidal currents surging through the narrow channels separating the islands can be severe. Nicknames like ‘The Laundry Chute’ justify their notorious reputations.

Day 13 Hubbard Glacier

The Hubbard Glacier is the largest, and one of the most spectacular tidewater glaciers in North America. Records show the glacier has been growing in thickness and advancing since 1895. It's nutrient packed waters attract various species.

Day 14 Sitka

A stroll through the streets and National Historic Park of Sitka is a glimpse into its unique and colourful past. A blend of Tlingit and Russian cultures defines this first capital of Alaska. Although fish canning and gold mining were the initial catalysts for growth in Sitka, the construction of an air base during World War II truly paved the way for Sitka to come into its own. One of Sitka's most intriguing structures is the Cathedral of Saint Michael, built in 1848 to honour a Russian Orthodox bishop.

Day 15 Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a picturesque coastal town with a colourful frontier history, standing at the southern entrance to Alaska's famed Inside Passage. Once dubbed the 'Canned Salmon Capital of the World,’ the renowned Creek Street, perched on stilts along the mouth of the creek, would bring lasting infamy to the area for the red-light district that burgeoned there during the Gold Rush. A visit to Ketchikan is not complete without visiting one or all of Native American sites such as Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, Saxman Native Village, and the Totem Heritage Centre. Together, these locations comprise the world's largest collection of standing Native American totem poles.

Day 16 Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert, set amongst the coastal mountains, is the jumping-off point for travelers joining the coastal ferries to Haida Gwaii, Vancouver or north to Alaska. Highlights include the quaint Cow Bay with its shops and restaurants, the Museum of Northern British Columbia, the totem carving house or the stunning sunken gardens.

Day 17 Seymour Narrows/Johnstone Strait

Seymour Narrows is a 3-mile stretch of the Discovery Channel north of Vancouver Island notorious for the strength of the tidal currents flowing through it. During extreme tides, the current through the narrows is subject to severe Venturi effect, resulting in an increased velocity that can reach 15 knots. This cruising day will also give you another opportunity to view wildlife as the Johnstone Strait is the summer range of a large pod of seasonally resident orcas which are frequently seen in the area.

Day 18 Fly Home

Today marks the end of your exploration of Alaska and Canada’s Wilderness. Enjoy some time at your leisure prior to boarding your flight back to the UK.

ESTA online application for entry to the USA

Important: All cruise passengers must complete the online Visa Waiver form by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov which is needed for entry into the US at a cost of $21 per person.

You must complete an ESTA application at least 72 hours before flying. Any traveller who fails to complete an ESTA application at least 3 days before departure will almost certainly be refused entry into the country under new US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations. If you are even considering visiting the States, it's worth filling out an ESTA application now as they are valid for two years. Important: If you are refused entry because you do not hold the correct travel documents or have had your application for ESTA rejected - you will NOT be entitled to any form of refund or covered by your travel insurance policy.

Want to alter anything?

Please call one of our travel experts on 0207 616 9184 to tell us your requirements