When you arrive in Gustavus, a friendly staff member of our team will pick you up at the airport and bring you to the lodge and take your luggage to your room(s). You will arrive in the afternoon and most guests really enjoy this time, they breathe in the fresh air and decompress from the travels while enjoying the afternoon snack time that we offer at the lodge. This afternoon period is great as you unpack, eat a snack, and become familiar with our accommodations and lodge property while you wait for dinner time.

Join us on The Baranof Wind Glacier Tour, an 8 hour cruise aboard a 149 passenger high-speed catamaran. The tour itinerary covers the west arm of Glacier Bay National Park and highlights the natural history, wildlife, geography, and tidewater glaciers of the area. Spend the day on the waters of Glacier Bay and see magnificent tidewater glaciers, towering snow-capped mountains, spectacular wildlife, whales, sea lions, rare birds, black bear, brown bears, seals, eagles, and much more along mile after mile of pristine coastline. A knowledgeable Park Naturalist narrates the tour and answers your questions. This is a wonderful family trip! Lunch is included and served on board with additional snacks and beverages available from the concessionaire.

We start this trip at the Gustavus beach, where we put on our rain gear and boots. While on the beach, your guide will provide an orientation to the kayaks and paddling technique. Crossing Icy Passage, we keep an eye out for sea otters, porpoise, sea lions, minke whales, orcas (killer whales), and seals. Upon reaching the island we are usually greeted by bald eagles. In the shallows along the shore, we can see a multitude of intertidal creatures as we drift along in our kayaks.

While on land, we’ll explore the moist interior of the forest, home to myriad species of ferns, mushrooms and wildflowers. Moss carpets the forest floor and drapes the branches. Unlike the young groves of Gustavus and Bartlett Cove, this forest is truly old growth. Coming to open areas of bog muskeg we soak up the ambiance of this beautifully unique place. There are not many places where one can go through so many interrelated yet distinct eco-systems in such a short distance.

You will embark on a ½ day whale watching excursion aboard the 45′ M/V TAZ, into North America’s most famous Humpback whale feeding grounds – Icy Strait and Point Adolphus. Their unique feeding techniques, acrobatics, and vocalizations make every tour unforgettable. You may also see a variety of other marine mammals, including Minke whales, Orcas (killer whales), Stellar sea lions, sea otters, Dall porpoises, and the elusive Harbor porpoises.

Unfortunately, at some point, the adventure must come to an end. You will be taken to the airport and checked in for your flights by a staff member.  We will help you load your luggage and any fish boxes you may be taking home. The flight from Gustavus to Juneau is scenic and enjoyable.