Y ou slip into your kayak and start paddling, only to find you're not alone. Twenty sea otters are paddling along with you.

There's the look on their faces - curious because, well, humans are downright rare here. Then there's the look on your kids' faces – even the teens – because Alaska is one of the most "Wow!" places on earth, and they know it. And you know this experience will be the stuff of shared family memories for years to come.

Based in a small ship with access to places most tours can't go, Thomson Family Adventures takes you deep into the bays, fjords and wildlife-rich coastline of Alaska. Daily kayaking and short hikes put your family front and center to experience the roar of calving glaciers, the ethereal beauty of ancient forests and so many curious critters you'll probably lose count, all in the company of guides that are passionate about this awe-inspiring place.

You may choose to extend your stay to explore Juneau with its high-flying tram, glaciers walks, dog sledding and helicopter tours, or book an extension to explore Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula or Denali National Park.

2009 Dates

Dates

Don't see your travel dates? Please call and we'll offer a trip to meet your needs!

Day 1 – Arrive Gustavus, Alaska

Day 2 – Gustavus / Bartlett Cove / Reid Glacier

For the next five nights, you and your family will sleep aboard the Sea Wolf. A former marine boat that used to protect San Francisco Bay, she is capable of carrying twelve passengers plus six crew in great comfort.

Cruise to Reid Glacier The landscape on this journey from Bartlett Cove to Reid Glacier is so remarkable that even the kids end up awestruck. Your family can see incredible vistas, bears on the beaches and whales breaching out of the ocean. Just look for the bluest ice you’ve ever seen and you’ll know the Sea Wolf has arrived at Reid Glacier. Kayaking lesson After a safety briefing and introductory class, your family will hop into your kayaks and paddle around exquisite Reid Glacier to make sure you feel comfortable on the calm ocean waters. All our kayaking excursions are first-timer friendly. Hike and explore grounded icebergs Step ashore for an easy walk up the mountain and across a few glacier streams for close-up look at the face of Reid Glacier. We'll hunt for ice worms, learn about glacier geology and walk among the grounded icebergs, where we scoop up glacial silt for a wonderful glacial facial.

Day 3 – Lamplugh Glacier / Johns Hopkins Inlet / Margerie Glacier

Cruise to Lamplugh Glacier As we pull away from Reid Glacier, we'll look for the remnants of a 1930s mine once owned by gold prospectors, and spend the next hour taking in the Alaskan coastline. Don’t be surprised if you look up and see eagles soaring against the backdrop of icy glaciers and 15,000 foot peaks. Hike to scenic overlook of Lamplugh Glacier This light hike up the mountain will bring us to a stunning bird's-eye view of the top of Lamplugh Glacier. Johns Hopkings inlet is another panoramic outlook here you can't miss – it has nine calving glaciers in different stages of decline and growth. Tarr Inlet kayaking We'll pass Bear Knob to look for brown bears roaming the shoreline. Once at Tarr Inlet, where the Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers cascade into the water, it’s time to paddle along a towering cliff. This area is a colony for kittiwakes and puffins, and kids love seeing these unique birds in their natural habitats. Then kayak to Margerie Glacier to watch an active calving glacier from a safe distance.

Day 4 – Tidal Inlet / North Sandy Cove

Cruise to Tidal Inlet On our way to Tidal Inlet, we scan the waters for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions and the high cliffs of Gloomy Knob for mountain goats. Once at the inlet we’ll have a chance to paddle past craggy bluffs and forested hillsides, with impressive shimmering waterfalls cascading on both sides. Explore North Sandy Cove This region is a very rich ecosystem that's home to black bears, moose, coyotes, wolves and plenty of marine wildlife. With any luck, we'll see whales, sea lions, porpoises and seals feeding in the fertile bay. Then we'll kayak around the shores scanning for black bears and moose. Kayak to Puffin Island for marine life viewing Puffin Island offers a truly wondrous look at a low tide vertical intertidal zone. It’s home to hundreds of sponges, periwinkles, whelks, sea stars, sea cucumbers and urchins (just to name a few species), that literally hang here awaiting the return of the high tide. This is a fun place to get some great pictures if the kids have waterproof cameras!

Day 5 – Dundas Bay

Beach at Dundas Bay We'll anchor at the mouth of this special spot for kayaking, beach combing, discovering animal footprints and exploring old growth forests. Wildlife here includes deer, wolves, bears, sea and river otters, marmots, moose, cormorants and cranes. Strawberry picking We'll pick strawberries, learn about and taste native plants and revel in glorious flower strewn meadows. Cow parsley, chocolate lily, yarrow, lupine, wild iris, lily of the valley and Indian paintbrush are among the few plants that brighten the splendid landscape here.

Day 6 – Inner Dundas Bay

Explore the boulder field at Dundas After we skiff out to the boulder field it's time to do some climbing. Children of all ages love scaling these boulders to take in the breathtaking views of the rivers and surrounding meadows. Here there’s a chance to see otters, black bears, wolves and hoary marmots grazing the fields for intertidal snacks. Hike through Sitka Spruce Your family will see the largest spruce trees in the world on this brief adventure through Sitka Spruce. On the mountainside we’ll explore and learn about a mature muskeg and see bog plants such as orchids, an insect eating plant called a sundew, stunted spruce, hemlock, marsh marigolds and violets. Kayak along the Great Brady Ice Field After we discover the rest of the Dundas Bay on the Sea Wolf, we’ll get into our kayaks to paddle in the shadow of the Great Brady Ice Field. This sheet of ice is so extensive it dwarfs everything in sight.

Day 7 – Whale watching / Gustavus / Juneau

Whale watch Our last day on the Sea Wolf is spent watching whales and exploring remote coves with beautiful tidal pools. View Alaska from above We’ll disembark the Sea Wolf, and en route to Juneau your family will enjoy an unbelievable bird’s-eye view of the ice cap on a flightseeing plane ride as we head to Juneau. From this vantage, take a final look at the glaciers of the Inside Passage.

Day 8 – Depart Juneau

Please Note:   Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Alaska?

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the most “wow” place on earth Alaska, our country’s last frontier, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Icy blue glaciers, shimmering waterfalls, old growth forests, glorious flowering meadows — your family will be in heaven as you hike, kayak and cruise among the diverse beauty and splendor of our 49th state. Not to be missed is kayaking around the palatial Reid Glacier, hiking up to a panoramic view of John Hopkins inlet and flying high above the majestic wonder of Alaska. This is one vacation you family will never forget one breathtaking moment of!

Twice the size of Texas Twice the size of Texas, Alaska has 33,000 miles of coastline, contains one-half of the world’s glaciers and is home to Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. Explore the timeless beauty of ancient forests, remote bays, fjords and wildlife-rich coastlines. Keep on the lookout for spectacular sights all around you — you might spot giant Humpback whales breaching or witness the powerful roar of calving glaciers.

Eagles, bears, sea lions, humpback whales, wolves, puffins, kittiwakes, marmots… oh my! Alaska is home to incredibly rich and diverse habitats for hundreds of species of plant and wildlife, including the largest populations of bald eagles and brown and black bears in the world. Imagine eagles soaring high above against the backdrop of 15,000 foot peaks, or brown bears ambling along the shoreline. Throughout your journey, as you cruise to areas that are only accessible by small boat, you might see whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals and sea otters feeding, swimming and frolicking in the seas. Stay on the lookout for moose, sheep and caribou, too!

Juneau and Glacier Bay National Park Stunningly beautiful Juneau, named after gold prospector Joe Juneau, is best viewed from everywhere — on land, air and sea! Fly high above spectacular Juneau Ice field. Whisk through icy blue waters, where you’ll encounter Reid Glacier, the fastest moving glacier. Hike through mountaintop alpine meadows and temperate rain forests. Enjoy the solitude of Glacier Bay National Park, where dynamic glacial movements have shaped one of the largest internationally-protected biosphere reserves in the world.

Kenai Peninsula and Denali National Park Known as Alaska’s Playground, Kenai Peninsula is 15,000 square miles of remote, unspoiled natural beauty and adventure! From ice fields to four active volcanoes to a stunning array of wildlife that includes whales, sea otters, puffins and bears, there is never a dull moment on the Kenai Peninsula. Or experience Denali National Park, six million acres of wildlands crowned by North America’s highest peak, 20,320 foot Mount McKinley. Denali National Park is surrounded by the Alaska Range, which creates a stunning backdrop of countless spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. What’s more, Denali encompasses a complete sub-arctic eco-system, home to large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, caribou and moose. Kenai or Denali, either is not to be missed and can be booked as extension to your Alaska adventure!

Why Alaska with Thomson?

Your kids will be amazed by the majesty and grandeur of Alaska’s untamed wilderness. From the dramatic, truly breathtaking glaciers to the highest mountain in North America to the pristine seas — all home to some of the world’s most wondrous creatures — this is a vacation that won’t soon be forgotten. Picture your children’s delight as curious sea otters swim beside their kayak, staring in wonder at the rare humans who have entered their habitat! Or their excitement when they see giant icebergs, some as large as a house, slough off Margerie Glacier’s 200 foot high face, one of the most active ice flows in Glacier Bay.

The adventure of a lifetime! On this vacation, your family will explore remote, untouched parts of Alaska that few people have the opportunity to see. This is one destination where it truly isn’t about how you get there, it’s all about where you are going — to one of the most “wow” places on earth!

Explore remote wilderness up close and personal on a small private ship Your family will see Alaska aboard the Sea Wolf, a small private boat that accommodates just 12 passengers. The intimate size of the Sea Wolf allows your family to travel deep into the Alaskan wilds, with the comfort of clean, soft beds and private baths. You and your family will be lulled by the cool, crisp evening twilight as you nestle into cozy beds your first night on board. Awaken to see bears on the beaches and incredible vistas of snow-capped mountains.

Kayaking around the palatial Reid Glacier After a safety briefing and introductory class, your family will hop into your kayaks and paddle around exquisite Reid Glacier to make sure you feel comfortable on the calm ocean waters. Once you get your sea legs, look for the bluest ice you’ve ever seen and incredible vistas. All our kayaking excursions are first-timer friendly.

Limited Group Sizes With a capacity of just twelve guests, your family is assured an intimate experience in America’s last true wilderness. Generally we have three to four families on each departure, which is large enough for your kids to make new friends, but small enough that you can be sure of having a unique, once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

Captain Kimber Owen and crew are fantastic guides Captain Kimber Owen and her crew are amazing! Her pride of ownership and love of Alaska will make you feel welcome and her capable crew will make your voyage comfortable and enjoyable. Their knowledge of the area’s geography, ecology, flora, fauna, and history will astound you, and we can just about guarantee that their passion is contagious.

Learn about Alaska’s fragile ecosystems Your family will learn about Alaska’s fragile ecosystems and the plant and wildlife they support. At Dundas Bay, while exploring old growth forest, you may spot deer, wolves, bears, sea otters, marmots, moose, cormorants and cranes – or at least their footprints! On Puffin Island, you’ll have a wonderful opportunity to see a low-tide vertical intertidal zone – home to hundreds of sponges, periwinkles, whelks, sea stars, urchins and other amazing creatures. Be sure to bring a waterproof camera!
You and your kids will explore the rich ecosystem of North Sand Cove, kayak to Puffin Island and see hundreds of species of marine life. Beachcombing and amazing old growth forests await discovery, followed by strawberry picking in a field filled with chocolate lily, lupine, wild iris and Indian paintbrush. The Sea Wolf continues to Inner Dundas Bay, where you’ll see the largest spruce trees in the world and paddle in the Great Brady Ice Field with its massive sheet of ice.