Our final day aboard National Geographic Quest began with a cruise through Tracy Arm - Fords Terror Wilderness Area. Our morning destination was South Sawyer Glacier at the end of the fjord. These glaciers shaped the inside passage as we see it today. In a sense, sailing to the terminus takes us back to the beginning. The glaciers and ice we travel through are reminders of nature’s majesty and strength. Awe is inevitable. The team aboard National Geographic Quest pulled out all the stops for this voyage. We concluded the trip with a surprise visit to Five Finger Lighthouse, a fantastic dinner from chef Paul Cotta, and the guest slideshow. Thank you all for a memorable week here in Southeast Alaska.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 05 Aug 2023
Tracy Arm, 8/5/2023, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Shannon Malone, Naturalist
Growing up along the coastal environment of San Diego, Shannon started her first volunteer job at a local nature center at the age of six. Since then, she has built her personal life and professional career around connecting with nature. She received...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/26/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
We spent the morning cruising through Glacier Bay’s west arm on a drizzly day, approaching Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. The tall sides of the U-shaped valley tell the history of ice movement through the park. The rain and low hanging wisps of fog gave an ethereal mood to the morning. We watched for harbor seals, sea birds, and otters swimming in the water as we saw ice calving off the face of Margerie. We saw mountain goat nanny and kid pairs on Gloomy Knob, followed by puffins and Steller sea lions at South Marble Island. We ended the evening with walks at Bartlett Cove. It was another gorgeous day in Southeast Alaska.
5/25/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Sitka and Rodman Bay
Southeast Alaska, also known as the Alaska Panhandle, is a region characterized by its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and temperate rainforests. Exploring the wilderness of Southeast Alaska provides a chance to witness nature at its most raw and majestic, whether from a Zodiac, forest hike, or from the deck of National Geographic Venture .