Trip Highlights
Kayak and bushwhack in Thomas Bay, home to Cascade Creek's waterfalls and one of the only maintained trail systems in this stretch of Southeast Alaska.
Glide into LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and a place large cruise ships cannot reach.
Search for the densest population of black bears on Earth along the west side of Kuiu Island, alongside sea otters and bubble-net-feeding humpback whales.
About This Trip
This trip is built for travelers who want to get into the backcountry rather than view it from a deck chair. This expedition is operated by our partner, UnCruise Adventures, and offered to Oceanic Society travelers with an exclusive discount and a portion of proceeds supporting our ocean conservation work. Over seven nights aboard the Wilderness Legacy, small-group days are shaped around bushwhacking through Tongass National Forest, full-day "yak-and-whack" combinations of kayaking and hiking, and skiff exploration of waterways too narrow and shallow for larger vessels. The itinerary threads together Southeast Alaska's most wildlife-dense corners: Thomas Bay's waterfalls and calm paddling water, the black bear stronghold of Kuiu Island, and the coastal brown bear territory of Chichagof Island, before finishing in a section of Glacier Bay National Park that 99 percent of park visitors never see.
Wildlife sightings anchor nearly every day of this route. Guests should expect regular encounters with humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, sea otters, and both black and brown bears, along with the geological centerpiece of the week: the remote, rarely visited LeConte Glacier, a tidewater glacier held sacred by the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. Because this itinerary favors physically active days, it's best suited to guests who want maximum time in kayaks, on skiffs, and on foot rather than a more relaxed pace.
Conservation Impact
As America’s oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation, Oceanic Society designs each expedition to deepen connections between people and nature while empowering travelers to play a direct role in preserving marine ecosystems. Through the Expedition Impact Program, your participation supports local ocean conservation projects in visited destinations, coral restoration, and plastic pollution offset initiatives.
Dates & Prices
Weekly Saturday Departures: May–Sep, 2027
Inquire NowWhat's Included
All activities listed in the itinerary, meals onboard, port fees and taxes, kayaking, hiking, skiff excursions, and other scheduled expedition activities, as well as a $250 onboard credit.
What's Not Included
Airfare, travel insurance, gratuities, and personal expenses.
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
Board the Wilderness Legacy in Juneau for a welcome toast and crew introductions before departing for the week ahead.
A historic logging area offering bushwhacking, full-day kayak-and-hike combinations, skiff tours, and forest walks among old-growth trees and remnants of early logging camps.
The ship threads a narrow, cliff-lined waterway to reach LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Guests can skiff among icebergs or simply take in the silence of a place few visitors ever reach.
Anchor in Thomas Bay to hike toward Cascade Creek’s waterfalls on one of the few maintained trail systems in the region, or paddle the bay’s calm, glassy water by kayak or paddleboard.
Kuiu Island holds the densest population of black bears on Earth. Expect sea otters in calm bays, bubble-net feeding humpback whales, and options ranging from snorkeling (wetsuits provided) to bushwhack hikes and all-day paddles.
A day dedicated to tracking coastal brown bears along Chichagof’s wild shoreline via shoreline walks, kayaking, and skiff-based wildlife viewing.
Access a section of the park’s 3.3 million acres that most visitors never see, with opportunities to hike, kayak, or skiff among Steller sea lions and otters.
Ship
Wilderness Legacy
The Wilderness Legacy is UnCruise’s largest vessel and flagship for its most active Alaska itineraries, designed for kayaking, hiking, skiff excursions, and exploring remote wilderness. The ship features four guest decks, spacious viewing areas, three…
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
