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| There comes a moment each year when the Pacific coast changes. The summer crowds disappear. The air cools. Salmon begin their journey home. Bears return to the rivers. Humpback whales gather to feed before their own migrations. Vineyards celebrate harvest. Across the coast, wildlife becomes more active, landscapes more dramatic, and every day feels a little more alive. For many of us, autumn is the finest season to travel. Whether your perfect safari involves watching grizzlies quietly from a tender boat ride, sailing beneath towering glaciers in Alaska, wandering quiet Gulf Islands vineyards, or exploring rainforest fjords wrapped in morning mist, there’s still time to join us this season. |
| Some places deserve more time. Our 11-day Alaska SuperVoyage aboard the historic sailing ship Maple Leaf lingers in the glacier-carved waterways of Southeast Alaska, allowing time to follow whales through Frederick Sound, watch glaciers calve into icy fjords, and explore quiet anchorages few visitors ever experience. Our August 19–29 departure is especially meaningful, hosted by Maple Leaf Adventures owner Kevin Smith as part of our 40th anniversary season. |
| Alaska Sailing Ship Tour (11-Days) Highlights Include: Glacial fjords alive with calving ice and shifting lightWhale feeding corridors in Frederick Sound and beyondBear country reactivating along tidal estuariesLong, uninterrupted days at sea where weather and wildlife set the agenda  Departing aboard Maple Leaf on August 8–18 & August 19–29, 2026, starting at $11,200. (Four spaces remaining) |
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| Every autumn, the Great Bear Rainforest becomes one of North America’s richest wildlife spectacles. Millions of salmon return to coastal rivers, drawing grizzly bears to estuaries and streams while humpback whales feed in nearby channels. Sea otters, wolves, eagles and countless seabirds all respond to the abundance, creating remarkable opportunities to witness an ecosystem working exactly as it has for thousands of years. Our small ships allow us to spend time where wildlife is active, adapting each day to the conditions rather than following a fixed schedule. |
| Great Bear Rainforest in Fall (Multiple Lengths) Highlights Can Include: Grizzly bears feeding in estuaries and river mouthsCoastal wolves, sea otters, and humpbacks in overlapping feeding zonesMist-filled fjords where visibility and encounter become part of the same momentWildlife patterns at their most compressed and active  Departing aboard Maple Leaf on Sep 9–16 (two spaces remaining) and Oct 10–15 (six spaces remaining), starting at $6,300 and Cascadia on Oct 4–9 (one cabin remaining) and 10–15 (one cabin remaining), starting at $8,890. |
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| By October, Desolation Sound has become wonderfully peaceful. Warm ocean waters, crisp mornings and dramatic mountain scenery make this one of British Columbia’s most underrated seasons to explore. Waterfalls are reawakening, wildlife remains active, and secluded anchorages feel even more remote. Further south, the Gulf Islands offer a gentler expression of the season. Golden fall colours line the islands, summer crowds have faded, and migrating birds, spawning salmon, sea lions and orcas bring the sheltered waters of the Salish Sea to life. Sail between tiny islands beyond the ferry routes, walk through rainforest and along rocky bluffs, and explore quiet beaches and historic island communities. |
| Desolation Sound & the Fjords of BC (5-Days) Snowcapped mountains, glacier-fed fjords, calm and scenic cruising are the backdrop to our journey through the nature and wildlife of the west coast. From backwaters to wildlife hotspots to cultural sites, this journey among the islands and fjords of the storied B.C. coast includes Desolation Sound and the Broughton Archipelago as well as neighbouring inlets. Off the edge of Vancouver Island, a place most people never see.  Jul 20-Aug 3 aboard Cascadia starting at $11,990 (two spaces remaining) |
| Gulf Islands in Fall (6-Days) Sail through the intricate waterways of the Salish Sea aboard the historic schooner Maple Leaf, island hopping through the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and visiting remote beaches, wildlife colonies and tiny islands not reached by ferries. Ashore, explore rainforest trails, rocky bluffs, historic homesteads and shorelines brightened by autumn colour. On the water, watch for migrating birds, spawning salmon, seals, sea lions, porpoises and orcas gathering amid the seasonal abundance. |  October 27–31 aboard Maple Leaf starting at $3,650 (six spaces remaining) |
