OVERVIEW

Cruise in an open-air Zodiac along the spectacularly scenic Pali sea cliffs and snorkel the lengthy coral reef that lies just offshore. You will zip through the water on the Reef Explorer, a 60-foot custom super-raft with shaded and open-deck seating. Before long, you will arrive at the precipitous heavily vegetated sea cliffs, which will serve as a magnificent backdrop for the snorkeling adventure. Plenty of other natural wonders lie beneath the water’s surface. While there is no telling what you will observe along the reef, it will surely be extraordinary. Red-lip parrotfish, slender needlefish, orange-band surgeonfish and bluefin jacks all inhabit these crystal-clear waters. You may even see white-spotted eagle rays and green sea turtles, the most commonly seen sea turtle in Hawaii. The coral formations are just as eye-catching. Some are named for their odd shapes such as the mushroom, cauliflower and antler corals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race through the waters off Maalaea Harbor in a spacious, custom-built Zodiac boat.
• Enjoy spectacular coastal views, especially upon reaching the Pali sea cliffs.
• Snorkel along coral reefs that are teeming with exotic and colorful marine life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit a temple founded in the 8th century when Nara was the capital of Japan and enjoy a gourmet meal made with ingredients that reflect the city’s inland location. Although earthquakes damaged much of the original Todaiji Temple, the bronze lantern outside the Great Buddha Hall is original. The statue of Buddha inside is the largest in Japan and the hall is considered the world’s largest wooden building. The temple lies within Nara Park, where you may spot some of the hundreds of free-roaming sika deer that are so beloved they have become a symbol of the city. Nara is also renowned for its cuisine, especially dishes that contain persimmon leaves as they naturally preserve fish that once took a long time to be transported from the sea. Besides dining on sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, you can choose from a hearty udon noodle dish or a rice porridge cooked in green tea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dine on a gourmet meal made with seasonal ingredients from the Nara Prefecture.
• Enjoy sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves that were traditionally used to preserve fish.
• See Japan’s largest Buddha statue in a hall that may be the world’s largest wooden building.
• Stroll through Nara Park, a large urban oasis where you will find Todaiji Temple.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the local culture and cuisine through a remarkable variety of experiences, beginning with a scenic drive to Nihondaira Plateau for an extraordinary view of sacred Mt. Fuji. Nearby, you will find Toshogu Shrine, a complex of ornate bright-red buildings constructed in the Shinto style. You will enjoy another perspective of Mt. Fuji from the Nippondaira Hotel, where you will dine on a gourmet meal featuring fresh seafood from neighboring deep-water Suruga Bay. Shizuoka oden – a dark broth fish stew – marinated clams, spicy fried yellowtail tuna and salmon jambalaya only touch on the offerings. Other regional buffet favorites will include a spicy ham steak and corn mousse with prosciutto. Following lunch, you will participate in a hands-on cultural experience by rolling tea leaves at the Tea Museum. One last look at Mt. Fuji awaits from the seaside pine grove Miho no Matsubara. The view is so breathtaking that it has inspired artists for centuries.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dine on a buffet of dishes revered in Shizuoka, many of them made with local seafood.
• Appreciate the variety of dishes, many of them featuring unexpected ingredients.
• Wander through Toshogu Shrine, taking note of its spectacular architecture and artifacts.
• See nearby Mt. Fuji – Japan’s highest mountain – from several perspectives.
• Learn to handroll tea leaves, a traditional practice that enhances their flavor.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Try your luck fishing for halibut, a flatfish that gets massive and feeds voraciously in the summer. You will cruise to the fishing grounds from Auke Bay with no more than five other guests, which will ensure that the crew can provide exceptional personal attention to increase your chances of catching one of these halibut. Once arriving to the back drifting or anchoring location, you will jig with a vertical rigging to reach the bottom of the ocean floor where halibut live. Imagine what a thrill it would be to reel in one of these amazing fish. If you catch one, you will notice that it has a white-colored bottom and a darker top, which acts as a natural camouflage that mimics the hues of the ocean floor and water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for halibut, rockfish, and cod on a private boat with just five other guests’ maximum.
• Follow the crew’s advice and tips to increase your chance of catching a huge halibut.
• Enjoy the comforts of the fishing boat, which includes a heated cabin, and a marine head.
• Ship your catch home (within the USA only) fully processed if you want to eat it later, for additional cost.
• Look for wildlife, especially seabirds, and whales, marine mammals, etc, while cruising through Auke Bay, out around Stephen’s passage, Lynn Canal, Saginaw, or favorite channel!

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring camera, ID, and fishing license.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes. Waterproof shoes and clothing are recommended but not required.

Try your luck fishing in crystal-clear waters teeming with salmon, while enjoying a stunning backdrop of glacier-carved bays and fjords and the natural beauty of Tongass National Forest. Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, so there is no better place to catch these highly prized sportfish. Once you reach the prime fishing grounds, a captain will supply you with fishing gear and you will troll for salmon using a downrigger. There will be 4 rods in the water at one time. Anglers will rotate from rod to rod after a fish is caught so that everyone has the same amount of time on each one. Five species of salmon live in these waters, including king salmon, which are also called Chinook salmon. Pink salmon are the most abundant species and they are vigorous fighters. If you want to keep what you catch, it can be processed and shipped anywhere in the United States..

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for hard-fighting, highly prized salmon.
• Enjoy a stunningly beautiful, natural backdrop.
• Ship your catch home if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Private car service - Indiana Jones Style! This tour begins on the Ketchikan dock and is fully customizable to your wishes. Tour Ketchikan in rugged luxury. in a Hummer H2, a plush vehicle modeled after the military HumVee, and an an extremely knowledgeable tour guide at your service! You choose your destination and tour itinerary based on your group’s interests and input from your guide. Among the many options available, that are sure to please the history buff, native arts & culture enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, and nature lover are several totem pole parks, including Potlach Park, Totem Bight State Park, and Totem Heritage Center; walk through the magnificent rainforest and along pristine beaches, a stop at Herring Cove to look for wildlife in season, waterfall viewing, cultural centers, and diverse hiking options. All entrance fees to attractions listed above are included in the price. Hiking trails range from easy to complex and are accessible by road across the island. Lunch Creek Trail is a moderate to more challenging 4-mile hike that begins by winding through mature cedar and spruce forest, transitioning into natural tread interspersed with boardwalk climbing through spruce stands and muskeg meadows and ending in a subalpine forest at Emery Tobin Lake. Scenic views include a trailside waterfall. Custom stops can include but are not limited to: shopping, dining or exploring almost anything on the island. Wildlife stops can be made at any time the opportunity arises.

OVERVIEW

This 2-hour glacier trekking adventure, led by our knowledgeable interpretive guides, offers an amazing blend of scientific discovery, ice trekking and exploration, and stunning views of the Mendenhall Glacier’s most breathtaking features. Soar over the beautiful wilderness on the outskirts of Juneau in a helicopter and land near an ancient glacier, where you can hike across its ever-changing icescape. Following a picturesque flight inland, you will enjoy an orientation briefing on how to maximize your experience. All the necessary mountaineering gear for your adventure will be provided, including an ice ax, crampons, and harness, allowing you to reach even remote areas of the glacial landscape. As you negotiate the rugged terrain and take in the extraordinary scenery, you will learn about the formation of glaciers, the rate at which they are retreating and why parts of the ice have a bluish hue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a helicopter over the pristine wilderness that borders Juneau.
• Hike over the icy terrain of a glacier with a mountaineering expert.
• Gain a firsthand understanding of glaciers and how they creep across the landscape.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

An all you can eat mouthwatering assortment of warm and cold dishes awaits your arrival in Skagway. Feast on wild Alaskan caught salmon grilled over an open alder wood fire as part of this feast in the forest. Enjoy Chilkoot Chicken, Panners Pasta, Prospector Pete’s Reindeer Beans, Liarsville Rice Medley, Sluice Box Slaw and other fresh salads, plus cornbread and blueberry cake for dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase.

This delicious meal also includes a visit to an 1898 replica campsite located in the historic Liarsville region. During your visit, take time to reflect on how the prospectors of yesteryear survived. Chat with the colorful characters and gold-digging madams as you enjoy a glimpse back at life during the Klondike gold rush. Visit the Fancy Goods Gift Shop to find that special souvenir.

Join this bear-viewing opportunity, which is accessible by road. You'll begin with a narrated eight-mile coastal drive to the forested area of Herring Cove located within the Alaska Rain Forest Sanctuary. Meet your guide and set out on a walking expedition to locate some of the black bears that call this area home. You will pass through tall stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar as you explore the sanctuary. An elevated boardwalk trail leads you to private viewing platforms overlooking Herring Creek, where bears often come to fish for salmon in the stream. The nearby Whitman Hatchery ensures that the river is teeming with salmon every summer. Typically, large numbers of black bears gather here to feed on these huge runs of salmon that are returning to spawn in the stream. Bald eagles perch in the trees, waiting patiently for scraps left by the bears. Mink and marten often frequent the area, and seals often hang out near the mouth of the stream feeding on the bountiful fish runs. You will have ample time to observe the wildlife activity. Walk through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill established by legendary pioneer Ben Fleenor. Transportation to and from the sanctuary is by motorcoach.

OVERVIEW

Discover the diversity of the southeast Alaska landscape via helicopter as you fly over temperate rainforests and granite peaks that surround Alaska’s capital city. After your flightseeing tour, your pilot will land at our trekking site on the Mendenhall Glacier. Your guide will teach you how to use trekking poles and crampons for balance and traction, enabling you to travel easily on gently rolling glacial terrain. During this non-strenuous, one-hour interpretive walk, your guide will point out and explain the glacier features and allow you ample time for photos.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Non-strenuous, one-hour interpretive walk on gently rolling glacial terrain.
• Fly over temperate rainforests and granite peaks surrounding Alaska’s capital city.
• Guide points out and explains glacier features with time for photos.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Drive a specially designed off-road adventure kart through a private rainforest preserve in the rugged Alaskan wilderness. After an orientation briefing, you will gear up for a 90-minute guided trek along winding mountain trails and off road. With the guide leading the way, your caravan of adventure karts will set off into the rainforest. A comfortable pace will be maintained as you thread your way around steep curves, climbing to a height that will present unparalleled views of the Tongass National Forest, Behm Canal and the Inside Passage. Stops will be made along the way to soak up the grandeur and natural beauty. Drivers and passengers will have the opportunity to switch positions. Be sure to watch for wildlife the entire time, as eagles, deer and bears are frequently sighted.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive an off-road Polaris RZR through a private rainforest preserve.
• Pause at overlooks to marvel at the incredible scenery.
• Watch for wildlife such as eagles and deer.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour is available for prebooking’s only. Soar high above the gorgeous northern shore of Maui in a helicopter and land in a rainforest for a closer look at the tropical landscape. You will fly over thundering waterfalls, the famed windsurfing setting at Ho’okipa Beach, and the mega-surf break at Pe’ahi, a spot with such monstrous swells that it is nicknamed “Jaws.” Many of the locations are so remote that they can only be observed from the air, as there are no roads, only dense jungle and precipitous cliffs. One such site is Keopuka Rock, a steep sliver of an island known as Jurassic Rock because it was featured in the opening sequence of the movie “Jurassic Park.” In time, you will land in a rainforest clearing and toast the experience with a glass of champagne. The landscape there is blanketed with banana trees, papayas, pineapples and lilkoi, a colorful passion flower that grows on a vine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Maui’s gorgeous northern shore while flying in a helicopter with wraparound windows.
• View famed surfing and windsurfing beaches, roaring waterfalls and remote sea cliffs.
• Touch down in a rainforest (landing is dependent on the current weather conditions at flight time) and celebrate the experience with a champagne toast.
• Total airtime approximately 20 minutes, each way. Landing approximately 30 minutes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
• Helicopter tour requires guest weight. Guests are asked to provide this information to the Destination Manager once onboard.