What defines the spirit of an expedition? Exploration, a sense of carpe diem, and a willingness to get stuck! Adventures in the Inian Islands and Mud Bay checked all those boxes, from following humpback whales and tufted puffins by expedition landing craft in the morning, to bushwhacking through lush meadows and forests or surfing kayaks on choppy waters in the afternoon.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 06 Jul 2019
Inian Islands & Mud Bay, 7/6/2019, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Alaska
Lauren Buchholz, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Lauren’s wanderlust has taken her from the Appalachians to the Rockies to the Southern Alps.
Read MoreMark Coger , Videographer
Growing up in a military family, Mark Coger has been traveling most of his life. While living in Japan, he developed his passion for videography. He began his venture in the field of video production by filming numerous events for a local high scho...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands and Tracy Arm Fjord
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/25/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Lion
Haines, Alaska
Immediately upon National Geographic Sea Lion’s arrival in Haines, the low clouds began to lift, and a bald eagle landed on the pilings next to the ship…a welcome sign of things to come. Our morning activities included hiking to the summit of Mount Riley, walking along the beach at Battery Point, cycling along the coastal roads, and fly fishing for Dolly Varden. The afternoon offered many of the same activities and time to explore town, where many guests decided to visit the recently opened cafe at the top of the dock for local Alaskan flavors. Speaking of Alaskan flavors…we now await the evening’s crab feast with great anticipation!
5/24/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Lion
Inian Islands and Fox Creek
We had an amazing day today exploring the Inian Islands and Fox Creek. In the morning, guests left National Geographic Sea Lion to explore the Inian Islands on Zodiacs. This location is known for its currents and the upwelling that happens here. Nutrients rise to the surface, producing a great opportunity to witness the feeding behavior of bald eagles, Steller sea lions, sea otters, gulls, and other marine mammals. After a delicious lunch, guests chose from two exploratory opportunities at Fox Creek. One of the options was a moderate hike with our naturalists interpreting along the way. The second option was an intertidal walk with naturalists, enjoying a bit of tidepool exploration. We concluded this amazing day back onboard listening to the recap, having a wonderful dinner, and planning for another great day tomorrow with our visit to Haines.