The AlaskaN TRIP you were actually dreaming about
Alaskan marketing sells you calving glaciers, bears on empty beaches. Whales breaching at arm's length. Kayaking through mist with mountains in every direction.
Then you arrive. And for most visitors, Alaska is experienced at a distance. A bear seen as a speck across the bay. A whale's blow on the horizon. Hours between the moments that make it into the photo album.
We built Wonder Journeys for those who want a deeper connection to Alaska, and who would rather go deep into wild heart of one place than skim the surface of hundreds.
What Wonder journeys feel like
Cold spray off the bow at first light
The smell of old growth forest after a light rain
A whale's breath flooding over the deck
Smoked salmon dip on sourdough at a remote island lunch
First footsteps on a beach where the only tracks are bears
Loons calling in the fog
Moss so deep your boots sink with every step
The calls of whale echoing through the cabin from our hydrophone
Fresh berries picked trailside on a rainy hike
Coming home different than you left
How a Wonder Journey works
You're based in Sitka for the entire trip. Every morning you head out into the wild. Every evening you come home to a comfortable bed.
You stay in downtown Sitka for the duration of your trip. Walk to restaurants for dinner, sleep in a comfortable bed, and wake up 20 minutes from wilderness by boat each morning. No packing and unpacking. No connecting flights mid-trip. We help find the right housing for your group and can book it for you at cost with no markup. Sitka fills quickly, so we recommend securing housing as early as possible.
Each morning you meet your team at the harbor and head out. Some days take you north toward Chichagof Island and brown bear country. Others head south along the waterfall coast or out to volcanic islands teeming with seabirds. Lunches are on us, served on the boat or a remote beach with local food: smoked salmon dip on sourdough, pickled kelp, fresh berries, salmon roe, hot coffee while eagles circle overhead. You return to town each evening for dinner on your own. We'll point you to the best spots.
Every day includes time with someone who knows this place at a deeper level. Whale researchers from the University of Alaska. Marine biologists at the Sitka Sound Science Center. Conservation practitioners working to protect the Tongass. Local fishermen and artists who call Sitka home. These conversations change how you see the coast and stay with you long after the trip ends.
There are no other guests. No fixed schedule. No buffet. No port stops. It's your group, your guide, your boat, your captain, and the wildest coastline in North America. Every day is shaped by what the coast offers and what your group is curious about. We recommend 5 to 7 days to truly connect with this place. Shorter trips are possible, but the deeper you go, the more the coast reveals.
There’s nowhere in the world quite like Sitka, Alaska. Four-thousand-foot mountains rising straight out of the sea. Whales, eagles, and brown bears sharing the same shoreline. Wild, alive, and deeply connected.
I fell in love with this coast nearly twenty years ago while filming here. After all that time — after thousands of hours on the water, in the rainforest, watching wildlife in places most people never reach — I wanted to create a way to share it. Not through a screen, but in person, at the pace this place deserves.
Wonder Journeys are about giving you the chance to connect to the real Alaska. 3 to 7 days, 1 to 6 people, fully private, shaped around your pace. Your own expedition craft. On the water at first light, reaching places most visitors will never see. Time to witness wildlife and time to experience true exploration with your group.
I’d love the chance to share this coast with you.
You leave the harbor before the town wakes. Coffee in the heated cabin as the mountains sharpen against a pale sky. The water is glass. The day is entirely yours.
A blow in the distance. We cut the engines. Through the hydrophone, you hear the whales before you see them — low, resonant, impossibly close. Then a humpback surfaces forty yards from the bow.
The bow drops onto a gravel beach. No dock, no trail, no footprints but yours. Lunch on driftwood while eagles circle overhead and tidepools reveal their hidden world.
As we head back to town, we spot a brown bear mother and cubs working a salmon stream sixty yards away. We slow down, stop the boat. No time limit. No zodiac to catch. No one asking you to move along. You stay as long as the moment holds.
Back in Sitka we meet up with a local researcher and take a 30 minute walk through the woods as we learn about their work, changes in the environment and the history of Sitka.
We bid farewell for the day as you head to dinner downtown at one of Sitka’s excellent restaurants. Your own bed. Rest, relaxation, and then tomorrow, somewhere entirely new to explore.
Every day is shaped by weather, tides, and wildlife. No two are the same — and that’s the point.
Named after the guests she carries, MV Wonder Seeker is our purpose-built wilderness access platform designed to comfortably and safely deliver guests of all ages and abilities to the most remarkable locations around Sitka, Alaska. She's stable, rugged, built for beach landings and wildlife watching — and is the key to making Wonder Journeys possible.
Pick any window from June through early September, 3 to 7 days. We shape the itinerary around your group, the wildlife calendar, and the conditions. No fixed route. No set schedule.
1 to 6 guests. Your group, your guide, your boat. No strangers. No shared excursions. The pace is entirely yours.
6 to 8 hours out every day. On the water, on remote beaches, in places most visitors never reach. While a cruise ship gives you a few hours ashore per port, you get the whole day, every day.
Walk to the dock in the morning, head out for a full day, return to Sitka’s restaurants and your own bed each evening. We help you find the right accommodation for your group and help ensure your time outside of tours is relaxed and incredible.
All Wonder Journeys are fully private. Your group, your guide, your vessel. Pricing is per person, per day and includes all guided time on the water, lunches, snacks and drinks, local transportation, and permits. Housing, breakfast, and dinner are not included. You stay in downtown Sitka each night and we help you find the right accommodation.
Groups smaller than four are welcome. The minimum trip rate is based on four guests regardless of party size. Couples and solo travelers are some of our favorite groups to host.
A 30% non-refundable deposit secures your dates. Balance is due 90 days before departure.
Available Departures
Tell us about your group and Ben will be in touch within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk first?
Reach out to us directly at (907) 738-8381 or
info@sitkawonders.com
Alaska Airlines offers daily flights to Sitka (SIT) from Juneau, Anchorage, and Seattle. Most guests connect through Seattle or Juneau. Flight availability increases during summer. We recommend booking early.
We help every group find the right accommodation in downtown Sitka, within walking distance of the harbor. Options range from vacation rentals to hotels. Most guests prefer a house or apartment they can call home for the week.
Southeast Alaska is a temperate rainforest — rain is part of the experience. Our boat is fully heated with an enclosed cabin and marine head. Most days the temperature ranges from 50-65 *F with light rain so we always suggest layering. We adjust each day’s itinerary based on conditions, always prioritizing safety and comfort. If weather is truly unsafe and we can't operate, we refund those days or allow you to apply them towards a trip at a later date.
Humpback whales are present throughout the season. Bald eagles are a constant companion in the sky. Brown bears are most active on salmon streams from mid-July through September but can be seen grazing along beaches and esturaries in the early summer. Sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and dozens of seabird species are common throughout the summer. It's a thriving ecosytem and we never quite know what each day will hold, but that's part of the magic!
Our landing craft is extremely stable — the wide beam and aluminum hull handle Southeast Alaska waters well. Most of our time is spent in protected waters between islands. Over-the-counter seasickness remedies work well for most guests.
Can I bring children?
Absolutely. These trips are wonderful for families. We adjust the pace and activities to your group's needs. Some of our most rewarding days have been with kids discovering tidepools and watching bears for the first time. We recommend children be comfortable on a boat for extended periods.
What is the cancellation policy?
A 30% non-refundable deposit secures your dates. The remaining balance is due 90 days before departure. If you cancel more than 90 days out, your deposit may be applied to a future trip at our discretion. We strongly recommend travel insurance.
When is the best time to come?
Every window from June through early September is extraordinary. June brings the longest days, incredible bird life, early bears, and returning whales. July has peak diversity with bears, birds, and marine life. August and early September bring the warmest weather and salmon runs and intense bear activity. There is no bad time.
Is this trip physically demanding?
It can be, but only if you want it to be! This is a fully custom tour built around your groups interests and abilities. Our guides can hike and explore with you for hours a day or we can spend most of the time on the water searching for wildlife and exploring remote coves and beaches. No hiking is required unless you want to. We shape each day to your group's comfort level. Guests of all ages and fitness levels are welcome.
Call, text, or email. If we don't answer, we're out on the water, lost in a little wonder ourselves. We'll call back as soon as we're back in signal range.
Call or Text Us
(907) 759-5034Or email us at info@sitkawonders.com
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