Southeast Alaska with Wendy Shattil

The calm waters of southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage teem with captivating wildlife and breathtaking scenery. At this time of year humpback whales congregate in large numbers and indulge in impressive bubble-net feeding, breaching, tail lobbing and other dramatic behaviors. We’ll travel between Juneau and Sitka aboard the historic wooden boat, the M/V Westward, exploring the land and waters for whales, bears and other wildlife as well as landscapes ancient glaciers with giant icebergs calving off its face. We’ll search for brown bears catching salmon, walk through serene rainforests, explore the diversity of creatures in tide pools and skiff or kayak through the gentle waters, drifting quietly past hanging gardens and waterfalls.

Benefit from Wendy Shattil’s 30+ years of field experience as a professional wildlife and conservation photographer and the 30+ tours she has guided in Southeast Alaska. The remote wilderness seen from our comfortable wandering home evokes a tranquility of the soul. Expect to be stimulated by the quiet solitude and reminded of our place in nature. We do our best to capture these feelings and experiences with our eyes and cameras and learn the power of our own storytelling through compelling imagery. With or without cameras, guests equally enjoy the adventure immersed in all that Alaska has to offer.

Photographers pick up tips, techniques and strategies to create memorable images and in the comfort of Westward’s salon we project our images and review the day’s experiences in a friendly group setting. Rather than snapping pictures and hurrying to find the next encounter, we savor each moment. Scenes constantly change, each animal is an individual and their every behavior has a purpose.

Built in 1924 and thoughtfully restored to comfortably accommodate eight passengers in four staterooms with private bathrooms, M/V Westward was the first craft built specifically for Alaskan tourism. Early travelers included George Eastman, Walt Disney, E.F. Hutton, John Wayne and other notable adventurers.
The historic wooden boat features a wood paneled salon, mahogany trim, cozy fireplace and several outdoor viewing areas. Meals and snacks are sumptuous and delicious, prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, many locally sourced.