The first evening and full day of our voyage were full of learning, adventure, and exploration. We began with time on the bow to watch for wildlife, and we discovered our first coastal brown bear just before sunset. Our morning viewings revealed many birds and misty scenery all around. After breakfast and safety briefings, our photo instructor presented tips for photographing with smartphones and photography overall. Immediately after, we were treated to a humpback whale not far from the ship. After a delicious lunch, we made a wet landing on shore near Lake Eva, where we spent the afternoon kayaking and hiking in the rainforest. A fun start to our trip!
5/7/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Lion
Inian Islands, Port Althorp
The Inian Islands invoke sheer joy and excitement among the naturalists, which in turn, is transferred to the guests. We set out in Zodiacs, traversing in nearly unprecedented calm conditions through the narrow Mosquito Pass, then around North Inian Island. We observed over a dozen bald eagles and sea lions waiting for the inrushing tide to bring fish to the surface for easy pickings. We also saw a couple of male sea otters peacefully lying on the surface while fluffing up their fur to introduce air for insulation (they don’t have blubber). The weather was classic Alaska…sun grading to rain…then to partly cloudy. In the afternoon, we traveled to Port Althorp for kayaking and hikes. Again, very calm conditions with intermittent sun and rain. The hikes were beautiful, winding across the mud flats and into the thick rainforest painted with several shades of green. Bear trails were observed and used by us as convenient paths to follow. Kayakers slowly paddled across glassy water to enjoy the peace and solitude. The day ended with soft sun.
