Discover Southeast Alaska
Main Tour: July 5–12, 2026
Optional Denali Post-Tour: July 12–17, 2026
Tour Operator: Orbridge
Price per person begins at $5,995 for the main tour
Optional Denali pre-tour begins at $3,995
If you are interested in sharing a double occupancy room, please email pll@principia.edu for assistance in finding a roommate.
Enjoy the agility and flexibility of small-ship travel on this expedition cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage. With expert naturalists, Principia trip scholars, and knowledgeable crew, we’ll navigate narrow channels and remote waterways that larger vessels cannot access. As you journey through some of nature’s more secluded landscapes, encounter Alaska's abundant wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and ice-blue glaciers of unfathomable proportions.
Activity Level: Moderate
Tour days tend to be long, flow at a consistent pace, and may include long periods of travel. Guests should be prepared to walk longer distances, climb stairs, and tolerate periods of standing, for example on city walks, sightseeing stops or excursions, on sometimes uneven surfaces including cobblestones or unpaved pathways and trails. Some destinations may have variations in altitude and/or temperature. Daily pace and timing may vary significantly between longer and shorter travel days, with additional activities possibly occurring in the early morning or evening. Guests are expected to board transportation without assistance. Elevators are not always available at accommodations or sites visited.
- Skiffs are the mode of transportation for much of the exploration on this tour. Guests are expected to be sure-footed and able to board and disembark small craft with little trouble.
- Excursions include skiff rides, walking, hiking and kayaking.
- Guests with no previous experience can easily handle double kayaks.
- Guests must go up and down stairs easily without assistance.
Trip Includes
Main Program
- 7 nights aboard the Wilderness Discoverer
- Guided kayaking, hiking, walking, skiff excursions and wildlife viewing where whales, bears, eagles, mink, seals, otters, sea lions, sea birds and other populations are frequently spotted
- Lectures, activities, and discussions with Principia trip scholar
- An onboard lecture program and educational guidance of two naturalists plus an Orbridge expedition leader
- All onboard hand-crafted meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners—including a special Captain’s Farewell Dinner
Optional Denali National Park Pre-Tour:
- 1 night lodging in Fairbanks, 3 nights at Grande Denali Lodge, and 1 night lodging in Anchorage
- Rail transport to Denali National Park along the distinguished Alaska Railroad with reserved seating in the upper-level glass-dome car and priority seating in the dining room for breakfast
- A wilderness bus tour into Denali National Park
- Services of an Orbridge expedition leader
- 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners (including a dinner voucher for Grande Denali Lodge’s Alpenglow Restaurant), and 1 reception
Meet Your Trip Scholar: Lynne Scott
Lynne Scott (C’01) has taught science at Principia Upper School for the past 16 years and is passionate about engaging students in authentic, real-world learning. She brings the outdoors into her curriculum whenever possible and has led field research trips to Yellowstone National Park and Teton Science School for more than a decade. She has also joined students on Outward Bound adventures for over ten years, deepening their connection to the natural world through hands-on exploration.
In addition to teaching, Lynne serves as the School’s Director of Stewardship, Partnership, and Impact, where she works to integrate sustainability throughout the EC–12 curriculum and broader school systems. She has presented at numerous local and national conferences and led Principia in becoming a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.
A natural collaborator, Lynne partners with community organizations to create meaningful learning experiences. She facilitates the annual Impact Challenge sustainability conference, bringing together St. Louis professionals, faculty, and staff to support students as change agents aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She also helps to organize an annual BioBlitz that brings regional EC-12 students together with local experts from Missouri Department of Conservation, the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Audubon Society and more. Each year, she leads a turtle-tracking team in collaboration with the St. Louis Zoo, guiding students in using radio telemetry to monitor tagged turtles on campus.
We are fortunate to have Lynne bringing her expertise in ecology, sustainability, and outdoor education to enrich our experience in Alaska.
REGISTER NOW
To register, call Orbridge Guest Services at 206-855-6929 or email info@orbridge.com
Itinerary
Day 1 – Ketchikan, Alaska Embarkation
Day 2 – Misty Fjords
Day 3 – Behm Canal
Day 4 – Blashke Islands
Day 5 – Thomas Bay / Wrangell Narrows
Day 6 – Frederick Sound
Day 7 – Endicott Arm Fjord & Dawes Glacier Wilderness Area
Day 8 – Juneau, Alaska Disembarkation
NOTE: Itinerary may change due to local conditions.
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