Hokkaido, Aleutian Islands And Alaska: Pristine Appeal

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a real insider tip. A region that, luckily for you, is underestimated by many. This means that you will be one of the few to discover the unspoilt sides of the island nation. Sparsely populated, with dense forests, clear lakes and volcanoes as far as the eye can see. A contemplative contrast to the hectic urban lifestyle in Asia’s megacities.Off the coast of Hokkaido lie the rocky Okushiri islands, where you can go on nature hikes with your experts. Gain insights here into the lives of the locals – favourite delicacies include sea urchins and abalone mussels. In the midst of idyllic nature, it will be easy for you to understand the Japanese veneration of nature characteristic of Shintoism. Your experts on board will provide deeper insights into your experiences with interesting lectures about the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido.At the south-eastern tip of Japan's second largest and northernmost main island, Hokkaido, lies the city of Hakodate – dominated by its local mountain at 335 m (1,099 ft) above sea level. From its summit or from the Goryokaku Tower, you can enjoy beautiful views of the city with its famous star-shaped fortress. Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign ships in 1854. This led to the development of the historic Motomachi district, with its 19th century buildings in the European style. Also of architectural interest is the Future University Hakodate designed by Tokyo architect Riken Yamamoto: with features from 1970s structuralism, the building is a successful example of the high-tech style made famous by Norman Foster.In the east of Hokkaido, the coastal city of Kushiro welcomes you with its great maritime tradition. This is reflected in the fish market, where you can find fresh Sashimi to take you on a culinary voyage of discovery. The city is also known for its fascinating history, since in the late 19th century it became an important centre of national and international trade. Many of its buildings, including the Kushiro City Archive, the Kushiro City Museum and the Kushiro Arts Centre, offer insights into the city’s history and culture. The surrounding area with its many lakes, mountains and rivers, as well as Japan’s largest marshland, provides the natural superlatives.

Okushiri is a district consisting of Okushiri Island, administered as part of Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 3,708 and a density of 25.93 persons per km². The total area is 142.98 km²

Discover one of the remotest regions on our planet, where the Pacific and North American continental plates converge: the Aleutian Islands. On board your expedition ship, you will explore a chain of islands which is otherwise difficult to reach. Beneath the ocean lies the Aleutian Trench, which forms part of the boundary between two tectonic plates, and is 7,800 m (25,590 ft) below the surface at its deepest part. In front of you, behold the diverse creative power of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Experience the islands in the Bering Sea from the many open deck spaces or on exciting shore visits.Scarce traces of civilisation will awaken your interest when you land with your experts on Adak Island. Alaska's southernmost community was once a US military base with thousands of people. Today there are just 400 or so inhabitants. What is it like living in this remote place, where the locals rely on cargo services to deliver most of their food? Find out for yourself on the island.Cruising off Chagulak Island, the focus will once again be on the forces along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The island arc of the Aleutian Islands includes 44 volcanoes. One of the stratovolcanoes is Chagulak Island – steep with sharp edges and over 1,000 m (3,280 ft) high. Cruising off the island might get particularly lively when thousands of petrels accompany the ship. With a little luck you might also see orcas and humpback whales on your flexible route through the tangled maze of the islands.Unalaska Island is your gateway to Russian American history. This really comes to life in Dutch Harbor, which has the oldest Russian Orthodox church in North America with its white towers topped with onion domes. The Museum of the Aleutians explains the history of the islands, from the Russian American period to the Second World War and up to the present day. On your independent shore visit, you will also come across abandoned barracks, concrete bunkers and gun emplacements from conflicts in years gone by.The community of Sand Point on Popof Island owes its name to a special feature of Alaska: several vast sandy beaches are a great place for a walk. Explore the surrounding area on hikes with your experts, with a chance to spot cormorants, kittiwakes and puffins. The island is also home to bison, which were brought here in 1955. The picturesque Russian Orthodox church is testament to the fact that many inhabitants still follow this religion.

The Aleutian Islands feature remote, rugged ports like Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, which serves as one of the busiest and most vital commercial fishing hubs in the United States. These ports are defined by their industrial character and dramatic volcanic backdrops, often requiring vessels to navigate challenging North Pacific weather and narrow, deep-water passages. While primarily working harbors, they offer intrepid travelers a unique glimpse into a frontier maritime culture surrounded by vast, treeless tundras and rich marine ecosystems.

Some impressive chapters of your expedition lie ahead on the coast of Alaska. Land and sea, humankind and nature join together in an abundance of unspoilt scenery. Where the coasts are undisturbed, the animal kingdom untamed and the culture mysterious, your small expedition ship will take you to some truly exciting experiences.Once you arrive on the Alaska peninsula, you will be able to gain some insights into the lives of the local inhabitants in the small fishing town of Chignik. The name of the town means “strong wind” in the Alutiiq language – and yet there’s a certain serenity in the air here. You will feel the close bond between the Alutiiqs and the land and sea when you encounter this little community. The volcanic island chain of the Aleutian Islands stretches into the Pacific like a great arc. At the southern edge of the Bering Sea, it is lonely, vast and unspoilt. A side of nature that is rarely seen.The cliffs teeming with sea birds when cruising off Kak Island will stir up your anticipation of what lies ahead. Your gaze will be drawn back to the sky time and again as millions of sea birds, including auks, guillemots, kittiwakes and horned puffins, nest and breed on the coastline of Alaska. You will be able to identify the different species together with your experts.

Chignik is a fishing village on the Alaskan Peninsula and home for just under 100 year-round inhabitants. Most of the houses in the community are connected by a boardwalk that fringes a local stream and neighborhood kids can be seen riding their bicycles back and forth on its length. In the summer months the population doubles, as the fishing gets better and the town supports a couple of fish-processing plants. Chignik is a remote outpost at the doorstep of the Aleutian Island chain and offers up a true taste of Alaskan outback life.

Alaska will satisfy your longing for great adventures in the vast wilderness. Dreams of discovery come true in an impressive way when cruising in the bays of the sprawling Katmai National Park. The region is characterised by dramatic volcanoes, dense forests, wild rivers and active glaciers. This is one of the wildest and most unspoilt places on earth – perfect for your small expedition ship, as there are no roads into this remote natural wilderness. There are said to be more than 2,000 brown bears in this region, which can often be found in the vegetation near the coast here. Together with your experts, you can keep a lookout from the many open deck spaces.

Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska is world-famous for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and the incredible sight of brown bears fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls. Beyond bear-watching, the park offers rugged wilderness, vast tundra, and more than a dozen volcanoes, including the active Novarupta. Its combination of wildlife spectacle and raw natural beauty makes Katmai one of Alaska’s most iconic and unforgettable destinations.

Your dreams of exploration will really take shape on Kodiak Island. The largest island in Alaska is known for its unspoilt wilderness. A vast nature reserves stretches over the emerald-green island, with fjord-like bays and mountains up to 1,200 m (3,939 ft) high, lakes and swamps, tundra and spruce forests. It is home to the impressive Kodiak bears, one of the largest species of bear in the world, which can weigh up to 700 kg (1,543 lb) and stand up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall. With luck, you’ll even spot whales off the coast. The main town, also called Kodiak, was the second largest settlement in Russian America until 1867. Today, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Baranow Museum are reminders of this time. Discover this charming town on your own or with your experts. Your insights into the history and natural wonders of Kodiak will be further enhanced by the expert lectures on board.

Today, commercial fishing is king in Kodiak. Despite its small population—about 6,475 people scattered among the several islands in the Kodiak group—the city is among the busiest fishing ports in the United States. The harbor is also an important supply point for small communities on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula.Visitors to the island tend to follow one of two agendas: either immediately fly out to a remote lodge for fishing, kayaking, or bear viewing; or stay in town and access whatever pursuits they can reach from the limited road system. If the former is too pricey an option, consider combining the two: drive the road system to see what can be seen inexpensively, then add a fly-out or charter-boat excursion to a remote lodge or wilderness access point.Floatplane and boat charters are available from Kodiak to many remote attractions, chief among them the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge , which covers four islands in the Gulf of Alaska: Kodiak, Afognak, Ban, and Uganik.

Homer, in its picturesque location in the south of the Kenai Peninsula, is your gateway to Alaska’s wilderness and wildlife. The town is the halibut capital of the world and is also known as an artists’ colony, attracting painters, sculptors and jewellery designers. The greatest works of art, however, are those created by nature, with Kachemak Bay as the centrepiece. It offers a unique coastal landscape with deep fjords, tidal zones and unspoilt coves. The waters here are known for their populations of grey whales, humpback whales, orcas and various seal species. The area is also a breeding ground for many sea birds, including puffins, cormorants and bald eagles. One of the great adventures is watching brown bears in the wild, often fishing for salmon. You will be enthralled by this fascinating mix of natural beauty and vibrant life.

At the southern end of the Sterling Highway lies the city of Homer, at the base of a narrow spit that juts 4 miles into beautiful Kachemak Bay. Glaciers and snowcapped mountains form a dramatic backdrop across the water. Founded in the late 1800s as a gold-prospecting camp, this community was later used as coal-mining headquarters. Chunks of coal are still common along local beaches; they wash into the bay from nearby slopes where the coal seams are exposed. Today the town of Homer is an eclectic community with most of the tacky tourist paraphernalia relegated to the Spit (though do note the Spit has plenty else to recommend it, not the least of which is the 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains); the rest of the town is full of local merchants and artisans. The community is an interesting mix of fishermen, actors, artists, and writers. Much of the commercial fishing centers on halibut, and the popular Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby is often won by enormous fish weighing more than 300 pounds. The local architecture includes everything from dwellings that are little more than assemblages of driftwood to steel commercial buildings and magnificent homes on the hillside overlooking the surrounding bay, mountains, forests, and glaciers.

Cruising at Aialik Glacier is just as breathtaking, with the deck tour at the bow serving as your observation platform for spectacular shows of nature. The glacier flows from the Harding Icefield in the small Kenai Fjord National Park, a protected area for the landscape of ice and deep fjords, as well as the rich wildlife. Your captain and crew will choose a course through this Alaskan gem with respect for the sensitive natural environment. Perhaps the scene will be rounded off with some impressive glacier calving, when mighty chunks of ice break off into the sea. With luck, you might also spot whales and seals in the water. If the legendary and powerful bald eagle soars overhead, your American Dream for explorers will be fulfilled in the most impressive way.

It is hard to believe that a place as beautiful as Seward exists. Surrounded on all sides by Kenai Fjords National Park, Chugach National Forest, and Resurrection Bay, Seward offers all the quaint realities of a small railroad town with the bonus of jaw-dropping scenery. This little town of about 2,750 citizens was founded in 1903, when survey crews arrived at the ice-free port and began planning a railroad to the Interior. Since its inception, Seward has relied heavily on tourism and commercial fishing. It is also the launching point for excursions into Kenai Fjords National Park, where it is quite common to see marine life and calving glaciers.