7 days around Southeast Alaska on a superyacht

No matter how prepared you think you are, your first glimpse of an immense blue-green hulk of a glacier is sure to take your breath away. The feeling only intensifies when your captain nudges the bow of your superyacht against an iceberg so you can chip away some century-old ice to chill your cocktails.

Southeast Alaska is a synonym for outdoor adventure and of the most incredible ice destinations to visit on a suepryacht. From the maze of uninhabited islands, to the towering snow-covered mountains ashore and to the unparalleled solitude this remote corner of the United States offers, you’re guaranteed to see and experience things you’ve never before encountered.

Among the islands of Southeast Alaska, you’re likely to see humpback whales breaching or “bubble net feeding,” seals lounging and wrestling on the rocks or a pod of orcas swimming in the distance. Along the shoreline, you’ll spy American bald eagles wheeling overhead or brown bears hunting for their dinner along the water’s edge. Whether on a private yacht or enjoying a luxury yacht charter in Alaska your itinerary can be tailored to create the experience of a lifetime by adding adventures ranging from helicopter picnics atop a glacier, to sea kayaking, to casting a fly into a stream chock full of salmon. Or, you can just peacefully enjoy a fine bottle of wine and a gourmet dinner aboard your yacht as the sunset paints the mountains and sky with a rosy glow. Whatever you choose, you’ll never forget the breathtaking beauty of Southeast Alaska.

Day 1 - Sitka to Red Bluff

Board your yacht and depart for Peril Strait and Chatham Strait. Stop at Baranof Warm Springs for a soak in intimate geothermal pools next to a 100-foot waterfall. Continue on to Red Bluff, a particularly beautiful and remote anchorage with waterfalls spilling down 5,000-foot mountainsides.

Leave early for Frederick Sound, one of the most likely places to see humpback whales. Shut down the engines and drift as they breach and feed within yards of your yacht. You might see the six-foot fin of a killer whale, too. At the end of the day tuck into a quiet anchorage in The Brothers Islands and watch Steller sea lions.

Tracy Arm is a fjord in wilderness country, where mountain goats dot near-vertical rock faces. At the end of Tracy Arm are the twin Sawyer Glaciers. These massive walls of ice move two feet a day, grinding against each other and calving away huge chunks of their ragged faces into the sea. Launch the kayaks for a closer look. Spend the night in No Name Bay at the fjord entrance.

Turn south for Petersburg, a picturesque fishing village known as “Little Norway” for the cultural origins of its inhabitants. Take the boardwalks to explore the tiny town or relax aboard. Tlingit fishermen were the first inhabitants and their totems highlight the area. The state’s tallest totem, 137 feet, 5 inches, is in nearby Kake.

Your crew has arranged for a helicopter tour of several glaciers with a gourmet picnic atop one of these ancient rivers of ice. Dress warmly, but wear sunglasses — it’s very bright. It’s not all about ice here as there are numerous hiking trails and even golf.

Visit LeConte Glacier, directly east of Petersburg. This fast-moving glacier is known for “shooter” icebergs that calve underwater and then shoot high in the air due to their buoyancy. Explore this fjord before heading for Wrangell.

Disembark to return to the real world, which won’t seem so real after this experience.