B ig, bold, and wild, Alaska is hands down one of the planet’s most exciting destinations for a family adventure. Join us aboard the small, comfortable Wilderness Adventurer for an unforgettable cruise through the hidden bays and isolated waterways—places few travelers ever get to see—of the magical Inside Passage.

Watch your teen take on a rugged trail hike, returning excitedly with tales of an old abandoned mining town “discovered" along the way. Marvel at your youngster’s wide-eyed wonder as a native Tlingit carver reveals the stories carved into colorful totem poles. And, as you stand on the ship’s deck in the late light of a summer’s evening, give your video camera a workout as magnificent humpback whales breach just off starboard... then document the setting sun as it turns the surrounding snow-capped peaks to violet.

Our Inside Passage cruises—also perfect for grandparents and grandkids traveling together—put you right up front and center to the real Alaska, from the roar of calving glaciers to the ethereal beauty of ancient forests and to so many amazing wildlife encounters you'll probably lose count—all in the company of friendly guides who are supremely passionate about this awe-inspiring “Great Land.”

Extend your stay in Juneau or Ketchikan, or book an extension to explore Denali National Park.

2012 Dates

Price includes: Park entrance fees, accommodations based on two to a room in Trailblazer Cabins, Port fees ($167), airport transfers, area specialists, all meals, Comprehensive Travel Insurance (a $200 - $300 value). 

Disclaimer: Depending on the week, you may be on the M/V Discoverer, which is equally as impressive as the M/V Adventurer.

Alumni Discount: if you are a returning Thomson guest, please subtract $500 per family from these prices

Don't see your travel dates?

Call us, we can personalize any trip to meet your travel needs! 

Day 1 – Flight to Juneau / Embark Wilderness Adventurer

Welcome to Alaska and friendly Juneau—the only U.S. capital with an international border! Your family vacation begins as you step aboard the Wilderness Adventurer, bound for the stunning eastern coves of the lesser-traveled Inside Passage. As we cruise out of Juneau’s bustling harbor, watch for eagles, seals, sea lions, and playful porpoise. And keep your camera ready for the telltale signs of orca and humpback whales that feed in these nutrient-rich waters.

Embark the Wilderness Adventurer  After your arrival in Juneau, board your comfortable ship, and home for the next seven nights—the Wilderness Adventurer. With the simplicity of unpacking only once and everything taken care of onboard, cruising the Inside Passage is an ideal way to enjoy a family reunion, or create an unforgettable grandparent-grandchild vacation! Welcome dinner After meeting your crew and getting acquainted with the ship’s features, enjoy your first onboard evening with a delicious meal and a chance to meet fellow traveling companions.

 Every evening as the sun sets, you will be briefed on the next day's activities and the options available to you.

Day 2 – Tracy Arm Wilderness / Frederick Sound

At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls, hundreds of cascading waterfalls, and some of the largest floating icebergs in all of Alaska, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers – North Sawyer and South Sawyer. The fjord is home to brown and black bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, birds such as arctic terns and pigeon guillemots, and mountain goats, usually spotted high on the cliffs. Later today, move into Frederick Sound – summer feeding ground for the Northern Hemisphere's largest concentration of humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca and Stellar sea lions.  

  Whale watching in Frederick Sound   Scan the waters for telltale movement and thrill as humpbacks, orcas and Steller sea lions feed, breach, splash, roll and dive. It’s the perfect arena for practicing those action shots! As you watch the wildlife show on-deck naturalists present fascinating facts and behavioral theories about the whales.

Day 3 – Thomas Bay / Cascade Creek

Along with its strange tales of Kushtaka—a local Bigfoot-type creature—Thomas Bay is also fabled for its glaciers, gold and quartz deposits, and an incredible variety of wildlife, including moose, brown and black bears, wolves and many species of birds. 

Scenery Cove to Cascade Creek kayak   Paddle six gorgeous miles of Alaskan waters, watching for a variety of birds and animals along the way. You can also add a short hike on the Cascade Creek Trail to your journey. Cascade Creek Hike   Follow the scenic Cascade Creek Trail, a hike that has something for everyone. The relatively easy first stretch offers a close-up look at the forest ecosystem. For a more rigorous adventure, continue through the spruce and hemlock forest to a waterfall; the hike gets challenging (but worth it) alongside Cascade Creek as it runs towards Falls Lake— about three miles from the trailhead. Storytelling  Over dinner hear a reading from “The Strangest Story Ever Told,” a tale about Thomas Bay and its mythical, Bigfoot-like residents called Kushtaka. Native lore is rich with Kushtaka stories and strange encounters have been recorded for many years here.

Day 4 – Thomas Bay / Baird Glacier / Wrangell Narrows

In an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz, take on the otherworldly boot-sucking Baird Glacier until you stand atop the mile-wide glacier. Adventure and natural beauty are sure to please whether you choose kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff riding, or hiking today. An abundance of bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows this evening.

Baird Glacier Hike  Navigate Baird Glacier Trail's varied terrain –  including sandy conditions, mud, stream crossings and uneven bowling ball-sized boulders – and be rewarded with the views atop the mile-wide Baird Glacier. Level of difficulty can vary based on personal preference and experience. Expect a variety of birds along the way. OPTIONAL Wilderness kayaking, hiking, and overnight camping   For those who wish to experience Southeast Alaska's raw outdoors, and perfect for those vacationing with teens, spend a night away from the ship in the wilderness to hike, camp and kayak. An expert guide from your ship will accompany you on this unique adventure.

Day 5 – Wrangell

Today, this friendly town proudly showcases its native Tlingit culture, and you’ll have the chance to hear native stories and photograph an amazing collection of totem poles. During dinner we cruise to Canoe Pass to enjoy some of the most scenic kayaking of the trip. End the day with a soak in the hot tub as the Wilderness Adventurer cruises toward Yes Bay on the northern end of Behm Canal.

Chief Shakes Island  Kids will love the chance to learn about native Tlingit culture from some people who really live it when they come aboard for a demonstration. Then disembark and visit the Kiksetti Totem Park – the forest of carved totem poles gives everyone’s imagination a workout as you try to interpret the symbolic birds, animals, and “human” masks. Canoe Pass kayaking  This smooth, narrow, five-mile stretch of pristine Alaskan water lies within the South Etolin Wilderness area. As you paddle keep an eye on the shores for both black and brown bear, elk and Sitka black-tailed deer.

Day 6 – Yes Bay

It’s tough to say “no” to Yes Bay (you know we had to say it!). Wildlife abounds here and in the surrounding Tongass National Forest—from black and brown bears, mink, marten, and eagles to humpback whales, orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, and otters.  

Swimming race and platform diving Who will be the first one around the boat?  Do you have superior diving style?  Only one way to tell—and the crew know just what to look for! If you so choose, you can also opt to snorkel in these crisp Alaskan waters (at additional expense); not many people can say they've done that! Wolverine Creek trail hike Take a leisurely hike on this trail that leads to streams full of trout, salmon and steelheads.

Day 7 – Misty Fjords National Monument

This magical, mysterious landscape is a haven for ducks, brown and black bear, mountain goats, Sitka deer, mink, river otters, and, in a few places, moose. Humpbacks and orca, porpoise, sea lions, and seals ply the waters of Behm Canal and its many inlets.

Walker Cove kayaking  Seldom visited by floatplanes or other boats, Walker Cove is a peacefully gorgeous spot. Paddle the still waters of the Cove (close-in or long-distance), surrounded by soaring cliffs and spectacular waterfalls, and stretch your legs on wild shoreline beaches. Paddling near the Behm Canal offers good chances to spot whales and porpoises. Walker Cove skiff tours  Misty Fjords National Monument preserves nearly 2.2 million acres that represent nearly every ecosystem found in southeast Alaska. You can choose to explore Walker Cove by skiff, taking in the splendor of this utterly wild, and largely undiscovered, corner of the world.  

Day 8 – Ketchikan / Disembark / Transfer to Airport

Join your new friends on deck one last time this morning as we arrive in Ketchikan—“Salmon Capital of the World.” After breakfast, disembark the Wilderness Adventurer. 

Farewell breakfast  Your memorable family journey ends with a Bon Voyage breakfast. Disembark and head for the Ketchikan airport, or continue on an extended Alaska adventure.

Due to the nature of our explorations, itineraries are guidelines and will change in order to maximize wildlife and natural encounters. Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur.

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 glaciers and hiking for panoramic views of the majestic wonders 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 McKinley/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 overhead 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! Denali National Park 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. Denali is not to be missed and can be booked as an 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! 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 Wilderness Adventurer, a small boat that accommodates just 49 passengers. The size of the Adventurer 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. Limited group sizes By touring on a small boat with limited capacity, 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. Kayak around Dawes Glacier This mammoth chunk of clean, cobalt blue ice will leave the whole family speechless. Kayak, guided by a knowledgeable local, around the glacier and keep a lookout for seals lounging on partially submerged chunks of solid ice. It is incredible to witness already striking icebergs and imagine that the vast majority of their mass is hidden deep beneath the surface of the frigid water!