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| Islands and Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest
A 7-Day tour starting from $3,480
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The island-studded waters of the Pacific Northwest are an often overlooked place of tranquil beauty and surprising diversity - so near to home, yet far away from the trappings of everyday life. It's a place of channels, straits and inlets, with unspoiled forested shorelines punctuated by picturesque small towns and fishing villages. |
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Costs Include
All accommodations aboard ships or in hotels per itinerary or similar, all meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship, meals on land as indicated, air transportation where indicated as included, shore excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees, special access permits, transfers to and from group flights, use of snorkeling equipment and wet suits, use of kayaks (where available), tips (except to Egyptologists and ship’s crew), taxes and service charges, services of a ship physician on most voyages, and services of our expedition staff. Not Included Air transportation (except where shown as included), extensions, passport, visa, immigration fees, scuba diving (where available), meals not indicated, baggage/accident/travel protection plan, items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, e-mail, laundry. Gratuities to Egyptologists and ship’s crew at your discretion.
DAY 1 — Seattle, Washington/Embark
This afternoon embark the Sea Bird, docked in the heart of Seattle’s bustling waterfront. Sail into Puget Sound, with the Olympic Mountains to the west, majestic Mount Rainier to the south, and the skyline of Seattle and the Cascade Mountains to the east. (D) DAY 2 — San Juan Islands Tucked away in the northwest corner of the United States is a cluster of idyllic, forested islands known for their tranquil beauty and abundant wildlife. More than 80 of the 172 islands of the San Juans have been set aside as part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, for the protection of seals, sea lions, river otters and many species of pelagic birds. More bald eagles nest here than anywhere else in the continental United States, and the waters are home to three separate pods of orcas. There are countless places to choose from for our “elbow height” explorations of the islands. The Sea Bird gives us easy access to the more remote and seldom visited islands, where intriguing shorelines beckon. We’ll also visit the charming little town of Friday Harbor, with its galleries featuring the work of local artists, and its renowned whale museum. (B,L,D) DAY 3 — Victoria, British Columbia Today we are in Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, this lovely city is decidedly English in appearance and personality. Double-decker buses trundle along streets named Broughton and Balmoral, pubs and teahouses occupy every other corner, and statues of the Queen stand in neatly manicured parks. We visit the glorious Butchart Gardens and the Royal British Columbia Museum, known for its outstanding recreations of Pacific Northwest habitats. In the afternoon, there is time to explore this charming city on your own. (B,L,D) DAY 4 — Princess Louisa Inlet One of the most beautiful fjords along the entire coast of Alaska and British Columbia is Princess Louisa Inlet. With our nimble vessel we are able to navigate through the narrowest parts of the fjord to reach Chatterbox Falls at the very head of the inlet. From there, with kayaks or Zodiacs we can drift along beneath the spectacular sheer granite face of the fjord, and along shorelines of big-leaf maple and western red cedar. (B,L,D) DAY 5 — Johnstone Strait/Alert Bay This morning, we stop at the small community of Alert Bay to visit the U'Mista Cultural Center, which house a stunning collection of Native American potlatch masks. Near Alert Bay, the narrow channel of Johnstone Strait is recognized as one of the major areas for orcas in the entire Northern Hemisphere. We devote the afternoon to searching for one of the may pods that are known to spend at least part of the year in this area.(B,L,D) DAY 6 — Exploring British Columbia Today we explore the almost endless possibilities that exist among these beautiful protected waterways. In the strait between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland is an archipelago of more than 250 islands, and they provide the perfect setting for kayaking. The rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains to the southwest means significantly less rainfall for this particular area, and subsequently a more diverse plant community. Kayaking close along the shoreline of one of the many islands one might spot nesting cormorants on the cliffs above, harbor seals hauled out on a gravelly beach and, just inches below, bright purple sea stars and red urchins. (B,L,D) DAY 7 — Vancouver/Disembark Vancouver is British Columbia’s largest city and the major port for all of western Canada. It lies in a stunning setting, surrounded almost completely by water, with snowcapped mountains rising vertically from its very backyard. We dock near the heart of this thriving city and, after breakfast, disembark the ship. (B)
Sightseeing as noted under itinerary.
All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.
Single Occupancy from $5,220 Above pricing reflects category 01, please call for all other categories available. *September 23rd, 2008 departure operates in reverse. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||