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Peregrine Travel Centre

Exploring Alaska, Great Bear Rainforest and the San Juan Islands Cruise

Exploring Alaska, Great Bear Rainforest and the San Juan Islands Cruise

From AUD $13,970

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Description

Embark on an extraordinary 14-day journey through some of the Pacific Northwest’s most pristine wilderness, from Alaska’s dramatic fjords to the ancient forests of the Great Bear Rainforest. This comprehensive expedition combines the best of three iconic regions: Southeast Alaska’s wildlife-rich waters, British Columbia’s protected coastal wilderness and Washington’s enchanting San Juan Islands. With special access to remote areas managed by First Nations peoples, explore pristine fjords and moss-draped forests where you may encounter the elusive spirit bear—found nowhere else on Earth. 

Trip Name
Exploring Alaska, Great Bear Rainforest and the San Juan Islands Cruise
Days
14
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Passenger Capacity: 100 Built: 2017 National Geographic Venture is a purpose-built expedition vessel designed to follow the seasons and uncover the wild beauty of North America’s west coast and Baja California. A sister ship to National Geographic Quest, she was constructed at the renowned Nichols Brothers shipyard in the Pacific Northwest, continuing a legacy of shipbuilding excellence that began with Sea Bird and Sea Lion in the 1970s. Carrying 100 guests in 50 comfortable cabins, Venture offers the perfect balance of modern amenities and expedition-ready design, with a shallow draught that allows for access to hidden coves, narrow inlets, and wildlife-rich waters. On board, guests enjoy spacious public areas including a lounge with bar and presentation space, a dining room with open seating, a Global Gallery, fitness centre, and a furnished sundeck. A mudroom with lockers keeps expedition gear handy, while the open Bridge invites guests to learn from the Captain and crew. With twin Zodiac platforms for efficient embarkation, Venture is ideally suited for spontaneous wildlife encounters and exploration by paddleboard or kayak. Her design, informed by over 50 years of expedition expertise, ensures an immersive, flexible, and unforgettable experience at sea.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Juneau, Alaska / Embark Ship
Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, in the early afternoon and embark the ship in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew. 
Day 2 - Day 2 Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness
Voyage into Tracy or Endicott Arm, both spectacular fjords with waterfalls cascading from glacially carved walls. See the soaring Dawes or South Sawyer Glacier up close and take a cruise in a Zodiac for an unbeatable view among sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, harbor porpoises and arctic terns. 
Day 3 - Day 3-4 Exploring Southeast Alaska
Spend two days exploring the wild gems of southeast Alaska, in the northern part of the Alexander Archipelago. With nature as your guide, you will cruise Chatham Strait in search of orca and humpback whales and experience wild Alaska up close on Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards and hikes. Explore the wild and remote areas of southeast Alaska by special use permit with the Tongass National Forest. 
Day 4 - Day 5 Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
Wake up in Prince Rupert, a scenic harbor town on British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast. Get immersed in First Nations history at the Museum of Northern British Columbia, built in the style of a coastal longhouse. Breathe in the scent of cedar beams and peruse an impressive collection of ornate carvings, weavings, ceremonial objects and regalia. Visit the North Pacific Cannery Museum, a collection of cannery buildings located in pristine wilderness surroundings that highlight British Columbia’s economic, cultural and natural development over the last century. 
Day 5 - Day 6 Lowe Inlet Marine Provincial Park / Cruising
Seek out pods of killer whales and foraging bears as you sail north through the narrow Grenville Channel between Pitt Island and the mainland, a dramatic navigational experience. Not only does the channel narrow to less than a quarter of a mile across, but a slight bend in the passage makes the waterway seem to disappear into the hills ahead and behind the ship. Here, you'll explore the salmon run at Verney Falls in Lowe Inlet Marine Provincial Park by Zodiacs.
Day 6 - Day 7-10 Exploring Great Bear Rainforest and Rugged Coastline of British Columbia
Over the course of the next four days, you will cruise far into the fjords and deep valleys that carve into the Coast Range looking for black and grizzly bears. You will cruise the eastern coast of Princess Royal Island in search of the elusive spirit bear. It is believed that between 10 to 20 percent of bears in this region are born with the recessive gene that causes the white fur; fewer than 400 are estimated to exist.  British Columbia has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any jurisdiction in the world. Almost 15 percent of the land is protected, with a wide range of provincial parks, national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Alongside your veteran expedition team, go ashore and explore several remote locations where few people venture.  Discover hidden gems by Zodiac and kayak, navigating the tidal narrows that lead to the backs of bays while scanning for bears along the rocky shoreline and meadows such as Gilttoyees Inlet. 
Day 7 - Day 11 Alert Bay and Johnstone Strait, British Columbia
Visit the Big House in the First Nations village of Alert Bay, Canada and gain insight from the Kwakwaka'wakw people who will share their art, music and regional knowledge. Sail through Johnstone Strait, a waterway cut through a magnificently wild and scenic area of mountains and islands. These ocean waters are also home to extraordinary marine mammals and bird watching. 
Day 8 - Day 12 Southern British Columbia
Discover British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, a mecca for kayakers and small yachts. Anchor in calm, sheltered waters to kayak in isolated bays that beckon for exploration. On land, hike through meadows and forest ecosystems.  
Day 9 - Day 13 San Juan Islands, Washington, U.S.A.
Discover the wild charm of the San Juan Islands, a captivating archipelago in northern Washington State. Paddle hidden coves by kayak, keeping an eye out for friendly harbor seals. Navigate dramatic shorelines aboard Zodiacs. Hike along rugged coastal trails where bald eagles soar overhead, while expert naturalists provide insight on the fascinating ecology and cultural history of this distinctive northwest wilderness.   
Day 10 - Day 14 Seattle / Disembark Ship
Disembark in Seattle and transfer to the airport for flights home.  Departure Time: Depart after 10:30 a.m. local time. Departure City: Seattle, Washington 
Day 11 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change. 

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
20-09-202603-10-2026AUD $16,206Category 01
20-09-202603-10-2026AUD $18,178Category 02
20-09-202603-10-2026AUD $19,249Category 03
20-09-202603-10-2026AUD $21,385Category 04
20-09-202603-10-2026AUD $23,645Category 05
26-09-202709-10-2027AUD $13,970Category 01
26-09-202709-10-2027AUD $14,948Category 02
26-09-202709-10-2027AUD $15,991Category 03
26-09-202709-10-2027AUD $19,190Category 04
26-09-202709-10-2027AUD $21,103Category 05

Inclusions

    • Take kayaks and Zodiacs deep into verdant fjords and wildlife-rich shores in search of bears, golden eagles, river otters and more
    • Journey into the most pristine forests in the region, inaccessible by road and managed by First Nations people
    • Immerse yourself in First Nations culture at Alert Bay's Big House, where the Kwakwaka'wakw people share their traditional art, music and regional knowledge
    • Cruise the eastern coast of Princess Royal Island in search of the elusive spirit bear, a rare but thrilling sighting
    • Hike the San Juan Islands, and cruise nearby waters in British Columbia where orcas gather annually to hunt within the isles’ inlets and bays
    • Explore at water level in Tracy Arm for an up-close view of calving glaciers, towering forests and harbor seals afloat on iridescent icebergs

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