Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1: Enter Glacier Bay, a park of more than 1,000 glaciers
Fly by floatplane from Juneau over vast mountains and ice to Gustavus
Check in to Glacier Bay Lodge, the park's only lodging, on Bartlett Cove
The short floatplane ride from Alaska’s capital, Juneau, to Gustavus, the gateway for Glacier Bay National Park, offers an aerial view of the vastness of the mountains and ice that dominate this part of Southeast Alaska. With more than 1,000 active glaciers, the park is aptly named. On arrival in Gustavus, you are met at the dock and transferred to Glacier Bay Lodge, the only accommodation within the national park. Set among majestic Sitka spruce trees on Bartlett Cove, the lodge provides an inviting base from which to explore the surrounding rainforest on a hiking trail looping through the woods and to the shore. Or relax on the deck, watching the tide flow in and out—a difference of up to 25 feet during full or new moons! Meals at the lodge include freshly caught seafood, where the local haul might include Dungeness crab, halibut or salmon.
Day 2: See a forest reclaim land the glaciers scraped bare
Cruise the fjords by catamaran past tidewater glaciers with a park naturalist
Watch for humpback whales, orcas, Steller sea lions and brown bears from the water
Step inside the Huna Tribal House, carved with eagle and raven totem poles
After breakfast, embark on a catamaran excursion accompanied by a park naturalist. As you navigate the fjord complex, take in the dramatic sight of towering peaks and tidewater glaciers that wind to the sea while learning how the forest reclaims the landscape that the rivers of ice have scraped bare. Watch for humpback and orca whales, Steller sea lions, black and brown bears, moose, mountain goats, puffins and other seabirds. Have lunch onboard, then return to Bartlett Cove to spend the rest of the day exploring on your own. There are plenty of options: Take a hike in the lush forest, spend hours examining abundant marine life in the intertidal zone if the tide is low, tour the visitor’s center or visit the Huna Tribal House, with its carved eagle and raven totem poles, and learn about the history of the Huna Tlingit people, for whom Glacier Bay is their ancestral homeland.
Day 3: A final water-level morning on Glacier Bay's quiet waters
Paddle Bartlett Cove's calm waters, watching for humpback whales and harbor seals
Fly back to Juneau after a final morning on the water
After breakfast, meet your kayaking guide for a quiet paddle in Bartlett Cove—no previous kayaking experience is necessary in these protected waters. Your guide will share the fascinating natural and cultural history of the area as you explore the coastline from an intimate, water-level vantage point. Keep an eye and ear out for signs of wildlife—whether the blow of a humpback whale or the splash of a curious harbor seal—as you soak up views of Glacier Bay. Then transfer to the airport in Gustavus for your return flight to Juneau.