Photography and Scenic Tours
Birding, marine mammals, scenic wonders, wildlife viewing and photography, all in a single day! Doug Ogilvy will explain the human and natural history of the area, while you enjoy your boat trip past the mouth of Glacier Bay to Cross Sound, at the northern outlet of the Inside Passage. We'll take in a different view of the majestic Fairweather Range on the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park, then do a “mug up”, and walk around the quaint board-walk village of Elfin Cove. Back aboard the boat, we'll set out to see a beautiful natural stone arch reaching nearly a hundred feet out of the ocean, visit bird rookeries, and observe sea lion haul outs.
Six clients is the maximum on Whisper Marine's photography tours. And on most days we'll see very few visitors in the area — other than whales, bears and eagles. If we do encounter another group, we can quickly move to a different part of Icy Strait. “Combat photography” is not in the works! Novice or experienced — we'll make the day work for you. We have great flexibility in our ability to choose from several prime wildlife viewing locations.
Trip Details
Price: $350 per person (two person minimum)
Departure Point: Gustavus or Bartlett Cove
Birding, marine mammals, scenic wonders, wildlife viewing and photography, all in a single day! Doug Ogilvy will explain much of the human and natural history of the area, while doing a boat trip past the mouth of Glacier Bay to Cross Sound, at the northern outlet of the Inside Passage.
We will take in a different view of the majestic Fairweather Range on the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park, then do a "mug up", and walk around the quaint board-walk village of Elfin Cove. Back aboard the boat, we'll set out to see a beautiful natural stone arch reaching nearly a hundred feet out of the ocean, visit bird rookeries, and observe sea lion haul outs.
Six clients is the maximum on most Whisper Marine photography tours. And on most days we'll see very few visitors in the area — other than whales, bears and eagles. If we do encounter another group, we can quickly move to a different part of Icy Strait. "Combat photography" is not in the works!
Novice or experienced — we'll make the day work for you. We have great flexibility in our ability to choose from several prime wildlife viewing locations.
Wildlife Viewing
Our adventure begins at the heart of a highly productive food web. We'll observe humpback whales, harbor seals, sea lions, orcas, and sea otters, as we cruise quietly along the shoreline.
After an unforgettable encounter with humpback whales, we'll begin our exploration of Alaska's legendary Inside Passage, an intricate network of pristine waterways, granite fjords, and islands of astonishing beauty. Be sure to bring your binoculars — the wilderness areas we explore are stunningly beautiful, and we often see bears strolling along the shoreline, looking for an easy meal.
We may get a chance to observe commercial salmon fishing operators, or halibut long-liners working their gear. The large tides in this region create some of the most dynamic ocean currents in Southeast Alaska, and we'll see the "feeding frenzy" they create for bald eagles and sea lions.
If your party has specific interests, we can tailor the day to your desires. Several locations are within (day trip) range of the boat for hikes into unique and secluded locations. We can also arrange kayak trips to areas few people get to.
Check with us about multi-day tours, which can include a wide range of the beauty of Southeast Alaska. If you come with your own boat, and need a guide, we have extensive knowledge of the inside and outside waters of northern Southeast Alaska.
What You Need To Bring
We'll provide boat transportation to several different locations in Icy Strait. Most Gustavus Lodges provide a lunch for their clients who have booked a day outing. If yours does not, you'll need to have a lunch, snacks, and enough beverages for a full day.
Between the sunny days in Southeast Alaska, it can be cool and damp. You'll need to bring rain gear, rubber boots, and some warm clothing. The air is often chilly. We will be wearing long pants, possibly with long underwear bottoms under them — they can be a nice thing.
A small day pack is handy for your binoculars, camera (be sure to store it in a zip-lock bag) and some extra clothing. Check with your lodge before you pack everything for your trip — some of the lodges supply day packs and rubber boots.
