NEXT ADVENTURE
3 LEFT!
Board I 5 pm on Saturday, June 8
Checkout, Provision & Orientation I Sunday, June 9
Depart I Monday, June 10
Disembark I 12pm Friday, June 21
Departing Ketchikan, head north as you hug the west coast of Prince of Whales Island, visiting secluded coves and rustic fishing villages. During this leg you will enjoy two lay days for extended exploring in Tokeen Cove and Entrance Cove. Weaving your way through Wrangell Narrows, you will make your way to your final destination in Petersburg.
4 LEFT!
Board I 5 pm on Sunday, June 23
Checkout, Provision & Orientation I Monday, June 24
Depart I Tuesday, June 25
Disembark I 12pm Saturday, July 6
Join us on Leg 2 as we depart Petersburg, heading north into Tracy Arm Cove to experience Sawyer Glacier up close and personal. Continue north, making your way around the west coast of Chicagof Island and down into the Alexander Archipelago. Finish off your epic journey with a visit to Maguon Islands before docking in Sitka.
2 LEFT!
Board I 5 pm on Monday, July 8
Checkout, Provision & Orientation I Tuesday, July 9
Depart I Wednesday, July 10
Disembark I 12pm Monday, July 22
Nearly identical to the previous, Leg 3 runs in the opposite direction, taking you north along the west coast of Chicagof Island. Spend two days exploring Tracy Arm Cove and the world-renowned Sawyer Glacier, before continuing south to your final destination in Petersburg, situated near the summer feeding grounds of hundreds of humpback whales!
1 LEFT!
Board I 5 pm on Wednesday, July 24
Checkout, Provision & Orientation I Thursday, July 25
Depart I Friday, July 26
Disembark I 12pm Tuesday, August 6
Begin your trip with us in Petersburg and head north as we explore Tracy Arm Cove. After experiencing the awe and wonder of Sawyer Glacier, point your bow south for Ketchikan, but not before visiting the petroglyph beach in Wrangell and the amazing Anan Wildlife Observatory where both black and brown bears feast on the hundreds of spawning salmon.
ADVENTURES
MemorableEXPERIENCES
Alaska "Mother Goose" Flotillas
Captain your own private yacht along the breathtaking shores of the Alaskan wilderness with our exclusive flotilla. Witness the towering glaciers of the Inside Passage from a front-row seat, immerse yourself in the distinctive Alaskan culture and wildlife, and most importantly, revel in absolute and unfiltered freedom. The available spots fill up quickly, so seize the opportunity now to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Experience
New Adventures Each Day
Each day, your flotilla adventure will lead you to a new destination. Whether you are taking delight in the natural pools in Hot Springs Cove, learning about indigenous local tribes, exploring abandoned gold mines, or observing humpback whales bubble net feeding, your flotilla provides you with first-hand experiences of some of our planet's most magnificent landscapes and nature.
Connect
With Loved Ones
Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, reconnecting with family and friends. No cellphones, no computers, and no rushing around; the choice is yours. This trip offers peace, laughter, and adventure alongside endless amounts of fresh ocean air. Time and time again we hear our flotillas are one of the most memorable, life-changing experiences guests have had. We couldn’t agree more!
See
Wildlife in its Purest Form
Experience a journey offering an exclusive view of some of the planet's most remarkable and animals. Catch a glimpse of humpback whales and orcas as they embark on their migratory journey. Witness the hunting prowess of black oystercatchers. Behold the sight of colossal Steller Sea Lions basking on the rocky shores. The awe-inspiring presence of Bald Eagles, with wingspans reaching over 6 feet, are just some of the many fascinating animals you will likely encounter on your trip.
Skipper
Your Own Charter Yacht
Upon arrival at the docks, your checkout and orientation introduces you to your own private yacht; reserved for you and your guests. Our fleet of well-maintained vessels are regarded as some of the best in the business. Each day, you are the skipper in charge. Let our crew and lead boat do all the heavy lifting for you (itinerary, moorage arrangements, maintenance), so you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
Take Advantage of
Your Personal Crew
Whether you're an experienced captain or newer to boating, our crew is here to help every step of the way. The lead vessel accompanies you throughout the entire voyage, providing advice, instruction, and maintaining your schedule. Our team assists with all your requirements, from discovering local restaurants to ensuring your boat is running smoothly – we're here to make your time on the water enjoyable. Lastly, our naturalist will describe points of interest, delve into the backstory of native cultures and tribes, and help with wildlife sightings.
QUOTATIONS
Having chartered both power and sailboats over the past 30 years in the Bahamas, the canals of France, the Virgin Islands, and the French West Indies, I wish to tell you how your staff exceeded all of our expectations and then some.
I can say without exception we have never had an experience that came close to matching our adventure. You and your staff were accommodating and gracious at every step of our arrangements.
What’s the difference between a vacation and an adventure? Having the experience of the NW Explorations flotilla team surely helps. Explorations has unmatched expertise in elevating ‘ordinary’ boating into an adventure.
Gallery
MAGAZINE REVIEWS
The days pass in an almost dream-like state. Through a lay day stopover in the charming town of Prince Rupert and a marathon of off-the-hook remote paradise anchorages – Newcombe Harbour, Patterson Inlet, Bishop Bay Hot Springs, Culpepper Lagoon, Rescue Bay – the flotilla life becomes familiar to the point we forget the worlds we left behind.
It really is the perfect way to see unfamiliar waters, especially in the spectacularly natural and isolated state of Alaska. Being guided by the NW Explorations crew makes the trip a very relaxing vacation and, because of their intimate knowledge of the area, all locations are pre-arranged, tides and currents considered, they assist with docking and anchorage, collect your rubbish, fill your water tanks and take all the stress and effort out of travelling in unknown waters. Socially, the Mother Goose Flotilla is the perfect balance of togetherness and solitude.
QUESTIONS
Especially for some of the longer legs we offer, guests often fly in and out to join our charter clients for portions of their trip. There are certainly locations along the way where scheduled flights facilitate this happening. In other cases, we must employ the assistance of chartered float planes. There is always a way to make “crew changes” happen along the way!
Each of our legs has a detailed itinerary which will specify areas that have cellular and/or Internet service to help our clients plan ahead if they will need to check in with family or business while away.
The flotilla price includes the rental of the vessel, insurance, moorage fees, and the support of the lead vessel, Deception. The lead vessel has a USCG licensed captain, a marine technician, and a naturalist. Our crew will be there to catch your lines, assist with any maneuvering needs, communicate over VHF on wildlife sightings/important sites, and even collect your garbage & recycling at the end of each day! Fuel and provisions are at the expense of the client as well as transportation costs getting to and from the specific port of call in which your vessel is moored.
Each leg has a detailed itinerary which will specify locations where provisioning opportunities will be available. We do recommend for those legs that originate in Washington or Alaska and cross into Canada shortly thereafter to wait and purchase their fruits and vegetables until they have crossed into Canada. Certain restrictions apply and can change regarding these items.
CANCELLATION FEES: (1) All cancellations must be received in writing. (2) Final payment is due 120 days prior to your departure date. If you must cancel your charter, the following terms shall apply:
Greater than 365 days: Cancellation fee of $500 per week, no proration
- 120 – 365 days: 50% of reservation deposit
- 119 – 90 days: Entire reservation deposit
- 89 – 0 days: Entire charter fee
Each flotilla participant is asked to fill out a Medical & Emergency Form. The purpose of this form is to provide the crew on the lead boat with valuable information to use in the case of an emergency. To the extent that the crew is able to assist, they will make every effort to do so. For those situations that are outside our level of training, we have VHF radios and a satellite phone that allow us to be in constant communication with the US Coast Guard. Although it is not a situation that we anticipate or hope for our clients to have, we are prepared to make arrangements to have guests flown out to receive medical treatment if needed.
