Waking up to whales in the distance is always a great start to a day onboard National Geographic Quest. Bundled up on the bow, we enjoyed watching two humpback whales apparently having their breakfast before retreating indoors for our own nutritious meal to prepare for a day of exploring Sitkoh Bay. As we dropped anchor, the down jackets were swapped for lighter layers and we anxiously awaited the opportunity to hike and kayak in the rare Southeast Alaskan sunshine. From bear scat to banana slugs to Dungeness crabs taking cover in the intertidal, we discovered many of the little things that make Southeast Alaska the wild, interconnected landscape that surpasses any expectations and never disappoints!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 21 Jun 2019
Sitkoh Bay & Chatham Strait, 6/21/2019, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Chelsea Korbulic, Naturalist
Chelsea Korbulic is based on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state where she works as a NOAA Affiliate for the Northwest Fisheries Science Center supporting participatory science and community engagement in salmon habitat restoration monitoring. ...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/29/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Chatham Strait and Kennel Creek
We awoke aboard National Geographic Quest as we sailed south through Chatham Strait. Some lovely weather graced us as we sipped coffee on the bow, looking for wildlife. After breakfast we found a beautiful coastal brown bear on the shore; we were able to get a nice look at it, before Cherese gave a presentation all about bears. After lunch we went ashore at Kennel Creek, and many guests went for hikes in the rainforest, looking at birds and enjoying the scenery. As we returned from the hike, we spotted a brown bear grazing on the beach — and on the Zodiac ride back to the ship, we were able to get a great view!
5/29/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Petersburg, Alaska
Early in the morning, National Geographic Venture slowly entered the north entrance of Wrangell Narrows on our approach to Petersburg, Alaska. This small town of around 3,200 residents has a very strong Norwegian connection and is called “The Town that Fish Built!” It is a true Alaskan fishing village with a great heritage. Throughout the day, different activities were offered, including hikes, biking, Zodiac dock tours, and exploring this lovely town on foot.