Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike will relish each sensory experience that this five-hour adventure provides so get your camera poised for the dazzling panorama of the creatures that rule the water, earth and sky.

To thoroughly enjoy your day, be sure to dress warmly and bring a rainproof jacket to wear on the boat's observation deck. And don't forget to bring the camera to show the folks back home what they're missing.

Your adventure begins as you board an Alaskan-built expedition vessel. Feel the cool sea breeze on your face as your skilled captain maneuvers his way out onto the waters of Sitka Sound or take a comfortable seat inside. Enjoy snacks and beverages as an onboard naturalist explains the workings of Alaska's remarkable ecosystem (wine, beer, water and sodas are available for purchase).

When the marine critters that call these frigid waters their home make an appearance your captain will slow down for exceptional viewing and photo opportunities. Have your camera ready as you get up close to these gentle creatures in their natural habitat - you may see sea otters, whales, Steller sea lions, porpoise, harbor seals, and a variety of marine birds or even a bear along the shore. (The family-owned and Alaska Native tour operator has offered excursions in the area for over 50 years and boasts a 99.9% marine wildlife viewing success rate.)

After you return to shore you'll take a short coach ride to the renowned Alaska Raptor Center, a raptor rehab and education center on 17 acres on the edge of Tongass National Forest. Once you arrive, a wildlife interpreter will guide you through the Bald Eagle Flight Center and introduce you to some of the raptors in residence perched in outdoor habitats. Enjoy some free time to explore the river trail and use the interactive exhibits.

Then, you'll rejoin your coach and journey to your third and final stop of the day. Known to the native Tlingit people as "Kootznoowoo," Fortress of the Bear is a rescue facility for once-orphaned bears. Here, you can view and photograph bears up-close from a raised platform and learn about an Alaskan family's dream -- offering a life-saving alternative for bears caught in conflict with their human neighbors.

At the end of the day you'll climb back aboard your coach and, with this remarkable experience scratched off your "bucket list," you'll return to Sitka.