Watch the Inspirational Video of Alaska’s Inside Passage Photo Tour above
Alaska's Inside Passage Photo Tour
May 15-24, 2027
$8695 (Double Occupancy) $9590 (Single Occupancy)
Whales, Seals, Eagles, Mountains & MORE
We’ll travel via privately chartered catamaran guided by an expert captain and wildlife guide through Alaska’s Inside Passage. From the water we’ll photograph breaching Humpback Whales, Bald Eagles, Orcas, Sea Otters, HUGE mountains, gleaming glaciers, bobbing icebergs and much, much more. We’ll sleep each night at cozy lodges located in various small towns of southeast Alaska. If our group is lucky we may even see Coastal Brown Bears or Black Bears close enough for photography during this tour. Alaska’s Inside Passage is truly the stuff of photographer’s dreams.
Immersive Experience
The wildlife of Alaska’s Inside Passage varies from huge marine mammals to land mammals both big and small, to birds and more. Our expert captain will lead us to as many opportunities as possible and I’ll be with you every step of the way to help with any photography challenges that arise. Besides the incredible wildlife, the scenery of Alaska’s Inside Passage is spectacular beyond what words on a page can describe. Blue glaciers soar into the sky and colorful icebergs float below snowcapped peaks, while untouched forests stand as a testament to the ruggedness and remoteness of this place. Come with me and capture the best of Alaska’s Inside Passage!
May 15, 2027
Arrive at the designated hotel in Sitka, Alaska anytime this afternoon or evening. We have a group meeting and dinner at 6 pm to cover tour logistics, etc. Fly into Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airporto (airport code SIT). The hotel in Sitka is within 5 minutes of the airport and someone will be at the airport to meet you for a transfer.
May 16, 2027
We’ll board our Catamaran boat and travel to Hoonah today through the Inside Passage. Number of hours on the water is flexible due to weather and possible wildlife sightings. Mid-day meal will be taken on the way. Once we arrive in Hoonah we’ll transfer to our lodge rooms, and have dinner. Afterwards, we’ll head out by wheeled vehicle looking for wildlife and landscape photos (time depending on the weather and temperature, group wishes, etc.).
May 17- 22, 2027
Each day will have us spending tons of time on the water aboard our comfortable catamaran looking for the wildlife and scenery of the Inside Passage. We’ll move lodges 3 times during these days and our schedule has us spending 2 nights in Hoonah, 3 nights in Kake and 2 nights in Petersburg. Days will be similar in that we’ll be on the water photographing amazing things, but they’ll also all be different because around each and every bend of the Inside Passage something new is bound to appear. Don will be with you to help out with camera settings and any photography questions. Our expert boat driver and guide will be with us leading us to the endless things to see and photograph in Alaska. Of course we’ll enjoy 3 meals per day at whichever lodge we’re staying at.
May 23, 2027
One more day on the water as we make our way back to Sitka. We’ll check into our familiar lodge again with time to prepare for flights home the next day. Of course we’ll enjoy a last dinner together.
May 24, 2027
Breakfast at our lodge and then take the free airport shuttle from the hotel to the Sitka airport for your flight back home today.
- Tour begins and ends in Sitka, Alaska at the designated hotel.
- Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport uses airport code (SIT). It is about 5 minutes from the airport to our first hotel.
- This is a water-based tour and we’ll spend LOTS of time on our chartered boat.
- Seas are mostly calm, but weather is unpredictable and waves could be present. We’ll be aboard a licensed, insured, and Coast Guard-inspected vessel and traveling with an expert captain who has decades of experience.
- The chartered catamaran has both inside and outside areas and a bathroom (head).
- We sleep in hotels/lodges: 2 nights in Sitka, 2 nights in Hoonah, 3 nights in Kake and 2 nights in Petersburg.
- All lodges are located in the listed towns of southeast Alaska. We DO NOT sleep on the boat.
- All meals are included and may be at our lodge or a restaurant or eaten as a ‘boxed’ lunch while on board the boat.
- Weather could possibly impact our planned number of hours on the boat and could force us to simply travel to the next town rather than sightseeing along the way (this is unlikely but possible).
- Purchase a changeable and refundable flight to and from Sitka in case of delays.
- I will provide all participants with a detailed packing list as some items are specific and necessary for this tour.
- There is very limited internet access from the lobby of the various hotels/lodges. It may or may not work while we are there and if it does work the bandwidth may be limited.
- Cell phone service doesn’t exist from many areas of the Inside Passage.
- Plan ahead to generally be out of touch.
- Low.
- We’ll be mostly aboard the catamaran and walking on level ground in towns.
- There may be some walking on this tour (for example from the boat dock to the hotels) and you should be prepared with proper footwear.
- Drinking plenty of water or energy drinks does help when you are gasping for air after witnessing your first breaching Humpback Whale!
- Bring a refillable water bottle.
- Variable, with daytime temperatures in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s Fahrenheit.
- Nights and early mornings are a bit cooler but not much, perhaps into the 40’s Fahrenheit.
- We might see the sun, we might not.
- IT WILL RAIN!
- Rainstorms might simply be a fine mist that lasts all day or a driving rain that lasts 10 minutes and comes and goes. Or the rain could be anything in-between.
- Biting insects can be bothersome in Alaska during some days or times, but Alaska’s inside passage has relatively few bugs.
- Digital camera body or 2 in order to have a backup.
- Wildlife zoom lens such as a 200-600mm, 100-400mm or similar.
- All-around scenic lens such as a full frame equivalent of 28-200mm or similar.
- Tripod, or monopod is optional if you are used to using these from a boat – most photography is done hand-held however as this gives you the most flexibility to change angles quickly.
- Polarizing filter for your all-around scenic lens.
- Extra batteries and battery charger.
- Plenty of memory cards – you will shoot thousands of images per day.
Includes
- 9 nights accommodations* as follows – 2 nights in a hotel in Sitka, 2 nights at a hotel in Hoonah, 3 nights at a hotel in Kake, 2 nights at a hotel in Petersburg.
- Welcome dinner in Sitka on May 15th.
- Three delicious meals per day .
- Final group dinner in Sitka on May 23rd.
- In-depth photo instruction and leadership from a professional photographer.
- The services of a licensed and trained professional boat captain and wildlife guide who is an expert in Alaska’s Inside Passage.
- All necessary permits and park fees.
- The advantage of traveling with a like-minded, small photo group who doesn’t mind waiting in order to get the best photos.
- True small group (maximum of 6).
- The adventure of a lifetime.
- Tons of fun!
Not Included
- Flights (or ground travel) from your hometown to Sitka, Alaska.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Travel insurance.
- Gratuities to our guide and the lodge or hotel kitchen staff.
- Gifts and items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry etc.
