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Navigation dans les plus beaux glaciers maritimes d'Alaska

Prince William Sound Cruise aboard Qilak sailboat

Sailing through Alaska's finest sea glaciers between the whale waltz and the crash of the seracs

The cruise at a glance

  • Overview :
  • 10 days onboard
  • 3 departure dates
  • 0 $ per person
  • Contact us

Sailing in Prince William Bay: an exceptional playground in the most beautiful sea glaciers in Alaska.Prince William Sound is a huge inland sea well protected by more than 200 islands, where 40 sea glaciers calve millions of tons of icebergs every day. We will discover the coastline at the foot of the glaciers, but for how long, as their retraction is rapid?

In a raw, true nature, left to itself, the south of Prince William Bay offers the astonishing contrast of lush vegetation, under the action of the warm Kuro-Shivo sea current and the opportunity for beautiful hikes in the greatest diversity of wildlife habitat only accessible by boat: 240 species of seabirds, cetaceans (orcas and whales), hundreds of sea lions, around thirty species of land mammals including plantigrades .

 

Get aboard !

When to join us?

10-day cruise in Alaska: 2,930 Euros

Prices :

0 $USD / per person
Based on today exchange rate 1EUR = 0 USD
English is spoken aboard.

June 2023

From 06-21-2023 To 06-30-2023 Boarding : Valdez Landing : Valdez Code : V4

July 2023

From 07-03-2023 To 07-12-2023 Boarding : Valdez Landing : Valdez Code : V5

Why join us ?

  • Slalom icebergs as close as possible to glaciers, amid the crash of serac falls
  • Observation of mythical species evolving in their natural environment: grizzly bears, humpback whales, bald eagles, tufted puffins…
  • Small-group sailing: maximum 6 passengers, top cooking and fishing on board.
  • A skipper ready to introduce you to navigation, beginners welcome!

The indicated price includes: the annual membership to the association QILAK EXPEDITIONS, the navigation port/port in full board, the drinks (water, coffee, tea, and wine at the dinner), the supervision by a bilingual captain on all the route and the services of the crew, the visits of the sites and parks indicated in the program.
The indicated price does not include: airfare and hotels or transport from the airport to the sailboat, alcohol (other than wine at dinners), restaurants (including the last meal on Day 10) and bars.

Participants arrive at the embarkation port the day before Day 1 (D1) and spend one night in a hotel. Boarding takes place on the morning of D1 at 9 a.m. and we set sail shortly after. Disembarkation takes place in the afternoon on D10.

Note: Extend your stay!
This expedition aboard the Qilak sailboat is part of an itinerant journey along the Pacific coast, from Vancouver Island (Canada) to Kodiak Island (Alaska). You therefore have the possibility of extending your trip by registering for several expeditions!

Our itinerary

Day 1: Boarding in Valdez

Boarding on Qilak in Valdez at 9:00 am. Anchorage at Glacier Island.

Day 2: Columbia Glacier

The Columbia Glacier is the largest sea glacier in North America, measuring 40 miles (64 km) and calving millions of tonnes of ice. Approaching the glacier, but it is very rare to be able to pass its moraine which is 6 miles from its frontal zone. Anchorage at Jade Harbor.

Day 3: Maeres Glacier

The Maeres Glacier is the only one in Prince William Bay that has not yet declined! At the foot of the ice front, seals and bald eagles enjoy the sun on large blocks of ice. Anchorage at Miners Bay.

Day 4: Surprise Glacier

We access by Esther passage Surprise Glacier which has very tapered needles at its top and whose ice is so blue! Anchorage at Serpentine Cove, a small, well-sheltered bay.

Day 5: Coghill Lake

We leave the frozen mineral world, to follow the tracks of bears in lush vegetation, on a magnificent hike to Coghill Lake. Anchorage at Coghill Cove.

Day 6: Blackstone Glacier

Heading south to the most popular glacier for photographers: the impressive ice cliffs of Blackstone Glacier. Anchorage Willard Sound.

Day 7: Cochrane Bay

Exploring Cochrane Bay and hike to Shrode Lake. In lush greenery, we access exceptional sites: our most beautiful anchorages in Prince William Sound!

Day 8: Culross Passage

The inland passages of Culross offer magnificent corridors in the middle of an infinity of islands and islets. Approaching a rockery of about a hundred sea lions. Anchorage at Goose Bay.

Day 9: Shoup Bay

Hike at the foot of the glacier in Shoup Bay, located at the entrance to the deep bay of Valdez, a place where humpback whales pass. The anchor plunges into the milky blue water from the Shoup Glacier.

Day 10: Disembarking in Valdez

Return and disembarkation in Valdez.

Our latest reviews

Coucher du soleil en Alaska

Lucien C., Prince William Sound cruise from June 22 to July 1, 2019

Prince William offered us for 10 days the spectacle of his glaciers and an important animal presence: humpback whales by the dozen, Dall's porpoises, us constantly accompanying, murres, seals ... and obviously the bear.
The joyous life aboard Qilak did the rest. In the morning, the smell of coffee, which Captain Didier was preparing, invited us to leave bed for a staggered breakfast. The crew of 6 went about their business, reading, taking pictures on deck, talking ... while Dorian, the golden sailor, always ready to help, prepared the meal. Cocktail hour was approaching and the little hands were setting up a well-stocked table, not forgetting the ice cubes collected in the open sea to accompany the inevitable pastis. It was in Valdez, after a meal of fish and giant crabs, that the difficult time of the separations came.