The bridge team of National Geographic Quest navigated Chatham Strait from the northern end of the inside passage to Kuiu Island. We made Halleck Harbor our home for the day, where guests enjoyed kayaking and “bushwacking,” our term for exploring the temperate rainforest off trail. That evening we sailed south looking for wildlife and we were rewarded! We saw dozens and dozens of humpback whales in every direction. We even got to see bubble-net feeding and many breaching individuals! What a fantastic and unforgettable day!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 20 Jun 2024
Halleck Harbor, Alaska, 6/20/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Lisa Hornak, Naturalist/Photographer
Lisa Hornak is a visual journalist and filmmaker based in San Diego, CA, who has worked for newspapers, magazines and wire services worldwide since 2004. She focuses her work on women’s issues, human rights and the impacts of climate change. Her awar...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
We started our first full day on board by visiting the Dawes Glacier by Zodiac. As we floated among the growlers and bergy bits, we experienced multiple calving events. We observed many harbor seals with cute, brand-new pups relaxing on the ice. While cruising in the afternoon, we came across a few humpback whales. One humpback hung out close to the ship, lunge feeding and solo bubble netting. Another whale had some fun breaching in the distance, and a third showed off by tail slapping. We ended the day with a great view of Five Finger Lighthouse and look forward to our day in Petersburg tomorrow.
5/31/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Endicott Arm
Our final day here in Southeast Alaska was filled with steep fjords, awe-inspiring glaciers, fierce polar plungers, a number of humpbacks, and a beautiful sunset. As we spent the last day in Zodiacs, driving and adrift amongst the ice in front of Dawes Glacier, we were reminded of how tiny we are on this blue rock that abounds with natural beauty and ecological wonders. As the harbor seals swam by, we celebrated the journey with our shipmates, some partaking in a polar plunge. Then we turned off into the sunset surrounded by the sounds of humpback exhalations. Alaska has been a wonder, and we have been thoughtful visitors in a place fragile yet vast.