VICTORIA, BC—If you go all the way to Alaska, some say, spend as much time in its grand nature as possible. If that's your philosophy, then eco-expedition cruise operator Maple Leaf Adventures has the trip for you. They've just extended their Alaska Supervoyages for 2023, which are the region's longest expeditions.

Big changes to these small-ship trips – aboard a heritage tugboat with a century of history on the coast – include an extra 24 hours in nature, from extra shore trips and wildlife viewing, plus one more night at anchor in a beautiful cove.

The 13-day itineraries maximize exploration of Alaska's nature, culture and wildlife. Maple Leaf Adventures is a coastal ecotourism company that donates 1% of revenues to conservation, including to the Alaska Whale Foundation, its newest donation recipient. (Some trips visit with AWF researchers, too.)

“It's astonishing to reflect that although millions of people visit Alaska, the tiniest percentage spends their trip in Alaska's natural world,” said Maureen Gordon, one of Maple Leaf Adventures owners. “As a coast-owned and operated ecotourism company, we celebrate the ecosystems that give us such incredible natural abundance, and let people become part of that big natural world for their trip.”

In a world without roads, Maple Leaf guides just twelve guests through the breadth of the Inside Passage, from historic Ketchikan, to glacier-hewn fjords, to Admiralty Island's rugged terrain and brown bears, the waterfall-fed Baranof Island, and the diverse ecology of Chichagof Island and the west-coast world of Sitka.

Typical wildlife sightings include brown bears, humpback whales and sea otters in their natural habitat. Shore trips include rainforest walks, iceberg boat rides, beach exploration, hot springs and wildlife viewing. Guests get exclusive access to Pack Creek, a remote sanctuary for brown bears. On land days in Sitka or Ketchikan, guests meet local guides, and visit cultural and culinary experiences such as Hump Island Oyster & Kelp Farm and locally owned cafes. Indigenous cultural guides also interpret their Tlingit culture that dates back to time immemorial.

Maple Leaf's itineraries also ensure money supports the economies of local communities. Southeast Alaska's vibrant port towns are building back after the pandemic; Maple Leaf proudly re-supplies its ships in these towns, with each trip injecting a large percentage of revenues directly into local organizations.

Guests travel aboard the 88-foot, converted tugboat Swell. With just six cozy cabins, guests are close to the action and even to the life-giving ocean itself. Built in 1912 from Pacific Northwest lumber, she spent her life as an icons of the coastal world, towing steel, log booms, goods, and barges through the channels of the Inside Passage. With a modest 12-foot draft, Swell is able to access areas where the big cruise ships dare not sail, anchor overnight and travel at just nine knots, suitable for slow travel.

Dates and Prices:

Maple Leaf Adventures offers 10-, 11- and 12-day Alaska trips throughout June, July and August, with all-inclusive prices starting at $11,950 USD before taxes, based on cabin category. For more information visit  https://mapleleafadventures.com/ or call our team at +1-250-386-7245

About Maple Leaf Adventures

Selected for Canada's “Signature Experiences Collection” by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Maple Leaf Adventures has provided conservation-focused, big adventures aboard small ships since 1986. With a reputation as one of Canada's top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day excursions give guests one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most beautiful and rare places in the world, often in areas that were once under threat of destruction or in dire need of protection. In 2012, Maple Leaf was awarded the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award, for promoting the appreciation of Canada's natural, cultural and aesthetic heritage, while also protecting them. As a long-time practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered travel in BC's Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island and has made significant contributions to conservation. National Geographic Adventure has rated Maple Leaf Adventures one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”. For more information, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com.

Media Contact

• Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures Maureen@MapleLeafAdventures.com or +1-250-881-6143 (mobile)
• Jordan Lambe, Maple Leaf Adventures, jordan@mapleleafadventures.com or +1-236-979-7632 (mobile)

Photos:

*You may use these photos royalty free with information about Maple Leaf Adventures trips only, as long as photo credit is given as follows: [photographer name] / Maple Leaf Adventures. The photographer name is in the file info. Photos: https://mapleleafadventures.smugmug.com/Public/Presskit