Viking Cruises

12 | Alaska Destination Guide WITNESS MAJESTIC GLACIERS Few experiences compare to the moment you first see a glacier rising out of the water. Blue, luminous and impossibly vast. Alaska's glaciers are living landscapes, constantly shifting and reshaping themselves. The state is home to more than 100,000 glaciers, many of them millions of years old and continually sculpting the landscape as they advance and retreat. Sailing near Hubbard Glacier you may witness the thunderous crash of calving ice, as sheets as tall as buildings break away and plunge into the sea. In Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vast rivers of ice flow from the mountains to the ocean, offering an unforgettable window into Earth's ancient past. INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS Summer is Alaska's peak wildlife season and from May to September (when Viking sails) the region comes alive with animals drawn to its rich feeding grounds. Humpback whales migrate here in their thousands, and Alaska is one of the few places you can witness orcas hunting in family pods. Sea otters float on their backs in sheltered bays, Steller sea lions gather noisily on rocky coves and bald eagles are a common sight, soaring overhead or perched along the treelines. In coastal regions it's also possible to see black bears and brown bears, especially during the salmon runs when they feed along streams and forest edges. Should you choose to extend your journey to Denali National Park, the wildlife opportunities extend even further. Here, Alaska's famed "Big Five" – grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves – can be spotted roaming the tundra. 4 5

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