Compare Alaska: Glacier Country by Wildland Adventures vs Best of Montana by Intrepid Travel

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN JUNEAU
Welcome aboard! After meeting the crew, settle into your cabin and relax with your fellow adventurers. Within minutes, you will cruise the scenic channels of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Join your fellow travelers in the common room for drinks and a welcome dinner. Please schedule your arrival in Juneau for no later than 2:30 pm. [D]

DAY 2: GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
One of America’s crown jewel national parks is yours to explore and marvel at for the next two days—Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. A National Park Ranger joins you to explore coves and corners of the bay that most visitors miss. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before you in the waters of Glacier Bay.Linger near South Marble Island to spot the many species of rare sea birds that call this area home. Keep your eyes on the water and the island for brightly-colored puffins and Black Oystercatchers. Stop in Bartlett Cove for a visit to the Park Service's Headquarters. [BLD]

DAY 3: GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
Make the best of this day in this majestic national park. Paddle a kayak and be awed at the face of a massive glacier. Go on a boot-sucking trek through sandbars and rainforest.And ride a skiff along shore for an up-close exploration of Glacier Bay. You'll find sea lions, mountain goats, sea otters, bears, moose, eagles, and spectacular scenic backdrops. [BLD]

DAY 4: ICY STRAIT
Set your course for the richest whale waters in Southeast Alaska. Join the Captain on the bridge or the expedition leaders and naturalists out on deck in search of marine mammals, primarily in the Icy Strait/Pt. Adolphus area. Watch for humpback whales, orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, otters and eagles. Ride the skiffs for a closer inspection of the remote coastline to look for brown and black bears. [BLD]

DAY 5: CHICHAGOF ISLAND
In the spirit of expedition un-cruising, marvel at the grand scenery as the crew expertly guides you through unsung, glacier-carved fjords to experience the spectacular waterfall coast of Chichagof Island. Today we will anchor in the remote waters surrounding the island for an opportunity to lower the kayaks and skiffs, or hike in the forest wilderness. Enjoy another delectable dinner onboard and relax in the hot tub before calling it a day. [BLD]

DAY 6: FREDERICK SOUND/STEPHENS PASSAGE
Spend the day exploring in Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage—another excellent chance to view humpback whales and other marine wildlife.Pass by Five Fingers Lighthouse and watch for playful antics at a large sea lion haulout made from dozens of rocky islets. Later, cruise picturesque bays, where evergreen forests crowd the shores. [BLD]

DAY 7: FORDS TERROR / ENDICOTT ARM
Cliff-walled fjords sliced into the mountainous mainland are on tap today as you slowly slip into an area widely acclaimed as the most beautiful in Alaska. With more designated Wilderness Areas than any state in the nation, the finest include Endicott Arm and Fords Terror—a pristine tidal inlet and fjord. Explore this majestic fjord by kayak or skiff, a unique opportunity indeed. View rugged ice-covered mountains gleaming high overhead and a glacier that actively calves into the ice-filled fjord of Endicott Arm. Toast your voyage with a festive Farewell Dinner, and before turning in, your Expedition Leaders will share a “photo journal” of your trip together. [BLD]

DAY 8: JUNEAU
A bon voyage breakfast ends your journey this morning as you cruise into Juneau for disembarkation. A transfer will be provided to the airport or your hotel in Juneau. Please schedule your departure for no earlier than 11:30 am. [B]

Day 1 Bozeman to Helena

Welcome to Montana! Your adventure begins in Bozeman at 10 am with a welcome meeting – this Rocky Mountains town is the perfect starting point for exploring Montana’s history and natural beauty. After your meeting, visit the Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum that’s famous for its world-class dinosaur exhibits. After a bit of culture to get you going, you’ll head to Helena, where you spend the night. When you arrive in the capital of Montana, you might like to head out for dinner with your group.

Day 2 Helena

After breakfast, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the explorers Lewis and Clark and venture to the Gates of the Mountains on a scenic river cruise. You’ll sail alongside limestone cliffs to a set of towering stone walls which appear to open like a gate as your boat approaches. Little has changed since the two explorers first visited this stretch of the Missouri River, and the region’s untouched beauty remains. Your night is free in Helena to rest and recharge or find a good dinner spot – your leader is always on hand with suggestions.

Day 3 Great Falls

After an early breakfast, hit the road and drive to First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park – home to the largest buffalo jump in America, used as a hunting tool by Native American tribes for at least 1000 years. This is a special and unique experience to learn about the history of the land firsthand. Get to know the landscape with a member of the Blackfeet tribe, who will take you on a full day experience including hikes, walks, talks and a cultural exchange on their homelands. Then, sit down and soak up the scenery over an included lunch where you can ask questions and learn more. Spend the night in Great Falls, where you’re free for dinner.

Day 4 Glacier National Park / Whitefish

This morning, you’ll hit the road again after breakfast. Known as the ‘Crown of the Continent’, Glacier National Park offers an impressive array of activities for lovers of nature and the great outdoors. Today, you’ll board a raft and enjoy an exhilarating (and splashy) rafting experience down the Flathead River with an expert local guide – a must-do in this area! Then head into the town of Whitefish, where you’ll spend the night. After an action-packed day, feel free to relax and recharge, or chat with your leader for the best dinner recommendations in town.

Day 5 Glacier National Park / Whitefish

After breakfast this morning, you'll take on a full day locally-guided nature hike in Glacier National Park – a wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. First, we'll drive the iconic Going to the Sun Road to the trailhead where we'll begin our hike. Meander through sun dappled forests to the base of two waterfalls as you hear from your guide about the history of the people who have called Glacier National Park home. Stopping for a homemade picnic lunch with your group, soak up the beauty of your surroundings before making your way back along the trail. Tonight, you may like to drop into one of the local craft breweries or restaurants for dinner.

Day 6 Missoula

Enjoy a morning at leisure before hitting the road to Missoula. When you arrive, enjoy one last meal with your group to celebrate all you’ve done in this jam-packed adventure. Head to a local brewery and taste some local Montana huckleberry beer over an included lunch. Your adventure will end at around 3 pm.