26 Glacier Cruise & Wildlife Conservation Center
Travel by motorcoach along the beautiful coast of the Turnagain Arm to Portage with a quick stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the way. From there, guests will journey through the Whittier Tunnel, the longest tunnel in North America, for a wildlife and glacier cruise in scenic Prince William Sound.
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through public education. The AWCC is also a rehabilitation center for orphaned or injured wildlife, providing spacious enclosures, much needed quality animal care, and a permanent home for animals that cannot be released back into the wild. Recently, the AWCC successfully reintroduced the wood bison back into the Alaskan wild after more than 100 years of extirpation throughout the state. Some of the wildlife guests will have the opportunity to view during the visit to the center include: Brown Bears, Black Bears, Bald Eagles, Sitka Black Tail Deer, Elk, Arctic Musk Ox, and more! Guests will begin with a narrated drive through tour of the campus. A trained and knowledgeable naturalist will provide intimate details of the wildlife they dedicate their lives to caring for and also, answer any questions visitors may have. After idling through the center, guests will be given free time to walk around, take additional photos, get closer looks at any of the wildlife, and/or explore the log cabin gift shop.
Next stop: Whittier! Pass through the Chugach Mountain Range and emerge in the small harbor town of Whittier, the gateway to Prince William Sound. Board a high-speed catamaran for a spectacular sightseeing glacier cruise. In addition to viewing glaciers, participants will have the opportunity to spot sea otters, bald eagles, fur seals, Dall porpoise, sea lions, and whales during the cruise. The most common whales in Prince William Sound are Humpback and Orca or Killer Whales. Passengers may also spot wildlife such as bears or mountain goats. Of the 200 species of birds inhabiting this area, bald eagles are very prominent. Stop at a bird rookery which is home to thousands of Kittiwakes. This cruise will travel to Barry Arm to view Cascade, Barry, and Cox Glaciers and then to Harriman Fjords before heading to Surprise Glacier. Travel over 135 miles into Prince William Sound and come face to face with towering masses of ice to gaze at their brilliant blue hues, and "hear" the glaciers move. During the cruise, guests will see several types of glaciers, including Alpine (hanging), Piedmont, and Tidewater. Ice calving (when broken pieces of ice fall into the water and become icebergs) is very common on the cruise. The calm protected waters of Prince William Sound offer a rare no seasickness policy. Lunch is provided during the cruise.
Dates Available
Tuesday, June 13th
Time
8:30AM to 7:30PM
Adult: $249.00
Child: $ 199.00
Minimum: 40
Includes: roundtrip motorcoach transportation, 4.5 hour wildlife and glacier cruise, taxes and port fees, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center admission and narrated campus tour, trip escort.