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 our trip in the morning with a short boat ride across Icy Strait to Point Adolphus. The ocean around Point Adolphus is a meeting place of currents flowing around Chichagof Island into the Inside Passage. This nutrient-rich confluence feeds an abundance of marine life from tiny barnacles to giant whales. Otters, seals, porpoise, sea lions and whales swim along the point in noisy groups. Summer is the time for them to stock up on the nutrients that will carry them through the long winter. We respect them and do not crowd them; our greatest pleasure is to share these creatures’ space without disrupting their lives.

Our Whales! day trip includes a kayaking orientation on the beach at Point Adolphus in the morning by one of our highly trained guides. We provide snacks throughout the day and a full lunch including smoked salmon or halibut, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus homemade desserts. Included in the trip price is the round-trip charter boat

This day could be spent exploring the local area or going on hikes in the National Park. Or you could use this day to simply relax at the lodge and take in the surrounding beauty. We are happy to provide ideas of unstructured activities for this day.

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.