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 Southeast Alaska: Wildlife and Scenic Splendor – a lodge-based journey to Alaska’s Inside Passage
July 12-21, 2012
 We at Naturalist Journeys have wrestled with just how to offer SOUTHEAST ALASKA for several years, trying to find a cruise that would be right for us. We found one that is a small ship and environmentally aware, and the cost runs in the $6000+ range. So, to offer an alternative, we went back to the drawing board! We decided the trip CAN be done for a small group, with freedom to wander - best done from land and not sea! We simply put ourselves in the heart of the place, surrounded by spectacular scenery, 360° around.
For many years, Peg’s colleagues and friends have raved about Gustavus Inn, a small lodge set right in the heart of Glacier Bay, a stunning National Park. We can access this lodge and park by air (Alaskan Airlines, a 737 from Seattle), and then by air (small plane) or Alaska Marine Ferry we travel on to other sites. With a lodge-based tour wecan set the pace, enjoy full days on the water for whale-watching and glacier-gazing, and come back to most comfortable digs for the night. On other days we can hike  coastal trails, peek into tide-pools, identify the myriad wildflowers, and search for breeding birds. We can offer some options such as taking a float plane over to bear-viewing areas, or time to paddle quieter waters in sea-kayaks, even a kayak trip with the whales! Our plan is to spend 5 nights at the lodge, then 3 nights in Haines with a day for a train trip up to historic Skagway, and a final night in Juneau, where Peg has wonderful colleagues she’d like to introduce you to as they will share their intimate knowledge of the area. People may want to stay on to visit Admiralty Island, a world-renowned bear viewing site (though July is a bit early for peak activity there), or make a stop en route home (easy to do on Alaska Airlines) in historic Sitka.
 We are proud to offer this alternative way (lodge-based trip) to see Southeast Alaska; one that offers so much hospitality and comfort. The caveat is that we have to book this trip EARLY - we need to make a significant deposit to Gustavus Inn, as they are small and have one short season. We also want to book our ferry passes to travel together as a group, and we may want to get a special bear-viewing permit if there is interest in that option.
If you have been waiting to see Southeast Alaska, please go online and check out Gustavus Inn (www.Gustavusinn.com), and then call me with any questions.
 *** This journey is being promoted as Naturalist Journey’s first REUNION trip, a journey where our travelers can enjoy time together, at a less-structured pace in beautiful environments. In future years we may choose a guest ranch, a seaside resort, or a tropical hideaway.
We start this year in SOUTHEAST ALASKA as we know its high on many of traveler’s hope-to-do lists. We hope to have enough clients that both Peg Abbott and Greg Smith (joining us as second leader with 9 or more clients) will be on hand to offer great options for the group each day. In addition to our guides, we have just 7 rooms at Gustavus, so if this is on your bucket list, please contact me right away to guarantee your space! We estimate our group will be 12-14, and each day at the lodge we offer activities such as a park-ranger led all day cruise into Glacier Bay, a wildflower walk, a photographic session, or you can just sit and soak in 360 degree panorama of beauty!
ITINERARY COMING SOON!
COST
OF THE JOURNEY
Cost of the journey is $4290.00, based on double occupancy, from Gustavus, Alaska, departing Juneau, Alaska. Cost of the journey includes: accommodations for 9 nights (5N Gustavus Inn, 3N Hotel Halsingland in Haines, and 1N Juneau; all meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner); park entrance and other activity fees for activities described in the itinerary including a boat tour of Glacier Bay National Park, and an all-day whale-watching boat tour from Gustavus. The tour includes transportation between Gustavus and Haines, and then from Haines to Juneau by flight or ferry (partly determined by weather) and the ferry and train tour from Haines to Skagway and White Pass. There will be options for sea-kayaking, additional flight-seeing, and fishing as you select, at additional cost. Your journey includes Naturalist Journey’s host and local professional guide services, pre-departure materials and miscellaneous program expenses. This will be a spectacular trip!
Costs do not include: round-trip airfare to Gustavus, Alaska and from Juneau, Alaska – both cities served by larger airplanes of Alaska Airlines. The tour cost does not include items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar; or gratuities for luggage handling or personal services.
Single supplement for the journey: Please note that Gustavus Inn is a small Inn with a short season, and they will not readily accommodate singles. If this is REALLY important to you please contact our office and we will inquire. We can do a partial single supplement for the other four nights of the journey, and that cost is $295.00.
Group size: Maximum of 12, minimum of six. The cost of the journey is based on 8 participants, with fewer than 8, a small-group surcharge (typically $100-300 per participant) may apply, or we may request that you pick up the cost of a few additional dinners in lieu of that surcharge.
*Greg Smith will be a second guide with more than 8 people.
TRAVEL
INFORMATION
Alaska Airlines serves the Alaska-state run Gustavus Airport (GST). Our lodge is close to the airport (as is everything in this remote, but incredibly scenic village!) so you may arrive on a flight that works for you. Please feel free to coordinate this with others of the trip or with our office as you make your flight plans. Departures from Juneau (JNU) are at your leisure, and by taking one of the evening flights, you will have a full day to explore Alaska’s capital city. Our arrival date is July 12, and departure July 21, 2012.
Photo
Credits
Skagway White Pass Railroad, Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry; Whale tail, Greg Smith - www.flickr.com/photos/slobirdr/; all other images by ©Bud Ferguson. |
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