Water Galore: Salmon Trolling and a Coastal Loop Through Southeast Alaska (15 days)

Full of Variety: Alaskan Adventures by the Sea Are Waiting for You!

The tour kicks off with a highlight: experiencing the real life of an Alaskan salmon fisherman! Standing in the »pit« of the Ocean Wave yourself, hauling in the lines and bringing salmon on board one after another. Salmon trolling at its finest! Skipper Geoff and an experienced deckhand introduce you to the world of professional salmon fishing. You join them and lend a hand in their daily work on the fishing boat that earns them their living. How hard you want to work on board is up to you. Keep in mind, though, that you, the »crew«, will spend four days on a commercial fishing boat. You may not set foot on solid ground during that time, but in return you get an unforgettable nature experience out at sea – whales, sea lions and seals will be your constant companions!

The Ocean Wave's home port is Elfin Cove, a small fishing village with around 50 residents. It has no roads, only boardwalks and paths leading to the charming harbor on the Gulf of Alaska. The main dock also serves as a landing for floatplanes, the only means of transport offering a quick connection to civilization. By boat it takes eight to twelve hours to reach the mainland, so given the short length of the trip, floatplanes are planned for you.

In the second week of your trip, you experience Southeast Alaska in all its breadth and vastness. Juneau alone has plenty of activities in store for you: from sightseeing and museums to glacier hikes and kayak tours, there is something for everyone here. And always surrounded by Alaskans, who are simply unbeatable when it comes to zest for life and good spirits. A ferry then takes you to Skagway – and right into the Gold Rush, with a true saloon atmosphere waiting for you. Get ready! In Whitehorse, a kayak tour takes you to the hot springs and to total relaxation at the end of your dream adventure! We are happy to help you with the organization – and, if you like, with putting together the overall costs for the second week.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Whitehorse

You take a direct flight from Frankfurt to Whitehorse, and after landing you first take care of your tents and any other gear you need for the following days. Of course, we at murkl.com provide you with addresses and contacts in advance so you can find your way around right away.

You can spend the rest of the day on a leisurely stroll through town – it has a very charming historic district that you shouldn't miss! We have planned even more time for exploring the town and its surroundings at the end of this trip. 

Day 2: From Whitehorse via Skagway to Juneau

A scenic bus ride to Skagway awaits you. This is where the gold seekers' ships from southern Alaska docked, and the town is also the starting point of the legendary Chilkoot Trail, which you can hike in about four days once you have obtained a permit. But you skip that for now and transfer straight to the state ferry. The trip to Juneau offers you unique views of the fjord landscape, with an ever-changing panorama. And with a little luck, you can watch whales gliding through the water. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, can actually only be reached by ferry or plane – there is no road connection. You spend the night in your tents at a campground; we are happy to help with planning and reservations.

Day 3: Off to the Ocean Wave

From Juneau you continue by floatplane over a fascinating landscape of mountains and islands to the small, remote fishing village of Elfin Cove. With a bit of luck, one of you gets to play copilot – who that will be, you'll have to settle among yourselves :-) You land practically right next to the Ocean Wave, where your skipper Geoff is already waiting for you. After a short briefing on life on board and the safety procedures, it's soon time to »cast off«! Geoff then steers his boat to rich fishing grounds and explains everything you need to know to pitch in on board – if you want to.

Alternative to the Ocean Wave:

If it turns out that one of you can't handle the swell or other problems come up, the Ocean Wave can head back to Elfin Cove that evening. From the Elfin Cove Lodge, where you can then stay, there are great options for hiking, fishing or sea kayaking over the following days. A return trip after this day involves considerable extra costs and is therefore not planned.

Days 4 to 6: Life on the Ocean Wave

If you like, you can help out on the boat for up to 18 hours a day and learn a lot along the way. To keep you going, Geoff prepares the freshest fish you have ever eaten. You can also enjoy it raw as »sushi« – everyone is free to choose here on board. And in the evening, after anchoring in a bay, Geoff mixes your favorite drinks on deck and tells you about salmon fishing and his life as a fisherman – he loves it, and you will be fascinated too!

With all the perks Geoff offers you, don't forget that he is out on his boat for a living, and you can help him to a good – or a modest – day of fishing. For you, it's a unique chance to experience the life of a fisherman up close while being well looked after. This has nothing to do with tourism anymore!

On the evening of the sixth day, the Ocean Wave returns to Elfin Cove – loaded with countless fish and memories! After everything you've experienced, this last night aboard the Ocean Wave in the harbor will be a very special one!

Day 7: Back on Solid Ground in Elfin Cove

The little fishing village is well worth a closer look, as it holds quite a few Alaskan peculiarities you shouldn't miss! That's why we plan a full day here for you. And if you get the urge to hike, there is plenty to explore in the surrounding area.

Since camping isn't possible in Elfin Cove, we have included one night at the Elfin Cove Lodge in your trip, with a fantastic view over the bay, the offshore islands and the glaciers on the horizon.

Options in Elfin Cove:

• Sea kayaking: You can rent sea kayaks to explore the offshore island
• For passionate anglers: You can head out on one of the Elfin Cove Lodge's fast boats to fish for halibut, red snapper, Irish lords, yelloweye, black sea bass or lingcod. Your trip is then extended by one day or more. As always, murkl.com is happy to help you with the organization.

Day 8: Farewell to the Sea

In the morning, the floatplane takes you back to Juneau, so you can spend the rest of the day however you like. A visit to the Alaska State Museum, for example, gives you an excellent impression of the history of Alaska, its people and its culture. For the first time since the boat trip, you spend the night in your tent again.

Days 9 and 10: In Juneau – Deep in Southeast Alaska

There is a lot to discover in Juneau, so we definitely plan two days here for you. Whether you paddle a canoe across Mendenhall Lake, surrounded by icebergs, all the way to the glacier's calving face, tour Alaska's largest brewery or ride the tram up Mount Roberts to a breathtaking panorama restaurant – the choice is yours, and we guarantee that murkl.com has the right arrangements and partner contacts for every idea! You already know where you'll be sleeping these days – and there will surely be a chance for a nice campfire under the starry sky.

Options in Juneau:

• A guided fly-out trip to a fly-fishing paradise
• Guided deep-sea fishing
• A rafting trip on the Mendenhall River
• A guided glacier hike

Day 11: Stopover in Skagway

Today the ferry takes you through the fascinating fjord-like straits back to Skagway, the former Gold Rush town. You can spend the whole afternoon strolling along the wooden boardwalks and soaking up the Gold Rush era, as the entire town seems like one big museum of those days. An insider tip is the grave of the outlaw Soapy Smith in the little town's cemetery. You spend the night in your tent at a campground again.

Options in Skagway:

• If you want to spend the night in this town in truly authentic style, we recommend a saloon from the days of the adventurers. We at murkl.com are happy to point you to the best place!

Day 12: Train Ride from Skagway to Fraser and on to Whitehorse

Your day starts in legendary and breathtaking fashion: aboard the historic train over the White Pass to Fraser, you follow in the footsteps of the Gold Rush – mostly right along steep drop-offs, through narrow tunnels and over daring bridge constructions, bringing you close to the glaciers and the wilderness! Along the way, the conductor tells you about the history of this railroad, which was built under the harshest conditions.

In Fraser you switch from the train to the bus that takes you to Whitehorse. You pass the Carcross Desert, the smallest desert in the world, and Emerald Lake with its spectacular water color, which is why it is also called Rainbow Lake.

Alternative tour:

As mentioned under Day 2, you can set out from Skagway to the Chilkoot Trail. With your tent, you then hike 53 kilometers (33 miles) over the pass to the abandoned gold-rush town of Bennett. The trail, which takes about four days in total, is a spectacular, long open-air museum within the »Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site«. All along the trail you find relics from the Gold Rush days: rusty shovels and pans, wrecked stoves riddled with holes, cookstoves, bones and even steam engines. To protect the fragile environment, camping is only allowed at designated sites. From Bennett you then continue on to Whitehorse.

Days 13 and 14: Enjoying Whitehorse

If you have planned the trip as we suggested, without options, you now have two days in Whitehorse at your leisure to get to know the capital of adventurers. The Yukon invites you for a swim, and lots of day trips are waiting for you! Enjoy the time and the tranquility of the North!

Options in Whitehorse:

• Kayak tour on the Yukon with or without a guide. murkl.com is happy to arrange kayaks etc. for you!
• A visit to the Takhini Hot Springs, about a 40-minute drive from Whitehorse

Day 15: The Final Day of Your Adventure

Your adventure is coming to an end, and departure day has arrived. Unlike on your outbound flight, you won't arrive in Germany on the same day but on the next – with a time difference of ten hours. But what is time compared to all the unforgettable memories you're bringing home! Have fun telling your stories and reliving them again and again!

Until next time – in Alaska, the land of wide open spaces and freedom!

A note from murkl.com

Depending on visibility and weather conditions, the floatplane's flight times to and from Elfin Cove may shift, so you should definitely plan a few buffer days.