Day 1 - Tuesday - Aug 13, 2024
Arrive in Anchorage and fly to Nome, Alaska. Embark National Geographic Resolution in the afternoon.
Day 2 - Wednesday - Aug 14, 2024
| Pribilof Islands, United States |
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A naturalist's paradise, the Pribilof Islands welcome three million seabirds and a million marine mammals each summer during the breeding season. Cruise beneath the cliffs of St. George, rocky outcrops that harbor one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. Watch for horned and tufted puffins, red-legged kittiwakes, crested auklets, and rare Asian vagrant species seldom seen in North America. Go ashore on St. Paul, home to the majority of the Pribilofs' more than half a million northern fur seals.
Day 3 - Thursday - Aug 15, 2024
| Pribilof Islands, United States |
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Day 4 - Friday - Aug 16, 2024
| Baby Islands, United States |
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| Dutch Harbor, United States |
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The westernmost tip of the Alaskan mainland gives way to a 1,100-mile-long string of islands that separate the Bering Sea from the northern Pacific: the Aleutian Islands. Begin our exploration of wildlife-rich archipelago at the Baby Islands, east of Unalaska. Here, dynamic tides offer the chance to look for sea otters and fur seals, as well as rare seabirds. Watch from on deck as the ship navigates Baby Pass, and be on the lookout for the islands' wildlife. Arrive at Dutch Harbor, site of a fierce World War II battle and now one of the world's most important fishing ports.
Day 5 - Saturday - Aug 17, 2024
| Kiska Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States |
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Day 6 - Sunday - Aug 18, 2024
With 69 islands, countless islets, and tens of millions of seabirds, the Aleutians offer much to discover. Spend four days exploring these rugged and remote volcanic islands-some of which still harbor active volcanoes. Learn about the culture of the Aleuts, a fishing and hunting people who have inhabited these islands for millennia. Observe marine mammals such as northern fur seals, Steller sea lions, and a variety of whales, as well as prolific birdlife. When conditions permit, venture out by Zodiac or kayak to explore the wild shores of these islands. Among the islands we visit are Attu and Kiska, both of which were occupied by the Japanese for nearly a year during World War II.
Day 7 - Monday - Aug 19, 2024
| Captain's Choice, United States |
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Day 8 - Tuesday - Aug 20, 2024
| Captain's Choice, United States |
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Day 9 - Wednesday - Aug 21, 2024
As we set a course for Japan, enjoy discussions with onboard naturalists as they set the stage for our time exploring the northern shores of Hokkaido. Join the naturalist guides on deck to identify the seabirds that follow us and the volcanic cones in the distance that make up the "Ring of Fire". There are also an array of shipboard activities to enjoy: attend a photo workshop with a National Geographic photography expert, treat yourself to a massage or a wellness class, or snuggle up in the library and enjoy a good book. As we make our way to Asia, we lose a day crossing the International Date Line.
Day 10 - Thursday - Aug 22, 2024
| Crossing the International Date Line |
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Day 11 - Friday - Aug 23, 2024
Day 12 - Saturday - Aug 24, 2024
Day 13 - Sunday - Aug 25, 2024
| Shiretoko National Park, Japan |
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Day 14 - Monday - Aug 26, 2024
| Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, Japan, Japan |
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| Akan National Park, Japan |
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Early this morning, we arrive in Kushiro, Japan, on the northeastern coast of Japan. After our ship's clearance into Japan, we head overland to Abashiri and visit the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples, dedicated to the cultures of the indigenous tribes of the Earth's subarctic regions. Later, we venture to Shiretoko-the "end of the Earth" in the native Ainu dialect. One of Japan's most spectacular national parks Shiretoko provides a habitat for numerous species of land and marine mammals, such as brown bears, Steller sea lions, and sperm whales. We are also on the lookout for white-tailed eagles, Blakiston's fish owls, and Steller's sea eagles, which spend the winters here. The next day we head inland to explore Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, Japan's largest wetland and home to the endangered red-crowned crane, which was thought to be extinct in the early 20th century. Then, drive to Akan Mashu National Park, known for its ethereal, mist-shrouded lakes, where we delve into forests of Sakhalin spruce and visit a charming Ainu village.
Day 15 - Tuesday - Aug 27, 2024
| Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Japan |
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Dock at Muroran and choose to drive to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, filled with mirror-like lakes and forest-covered hills set against the silhouette of the snowcapped Mount Yotei stratovolcano. Alternatively, drive to the lush town of Shiraoi to visit the newly opened National Ainu Museum and Park, an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture.
Day 16 - Wednesday - Aug 28, 2024
Day 17 - Thursday - Aug 29, 2024
Our first call on the northern coast of Japan's main island of Honshu is Aomori City. With the Hakkoda mountains in the distance, this bountiful countryside is famous for apple orchards, world famous seafood, local treasures of Tsugaru lacquerware and painted kites, and one of the four Japanese UNESCO World Heritage Sites-Shirakami-Sanchi and its primeval beech trees. We will explore this magical blend of historic temples, fresh cuisine, and natural wonder.
Day 18 - Friday - Aug 30, 2024
Nestled between mountains and sea, Sendai's lush greenery earned it the nickname of "Forest City". As we tour this beautiful city, we wind our way to the hills above town to the site of Sendai Castle. Built in 1600 by the powerful feudal lord, Date Masamune, the castle has survived anti-feudal warfare, bombings of World War II, and the powerful earthquake of 2011. Continue on to Zuihoden, the mausoleum of the Date clan, whose spectacular grounds and intricate design pay tribute to the powerful Masamune and his descendants. Just outside of the city, explore the secluded bay on the shores of Matsushima. Known as one of Japan's three most scenic views, this gorgeous bay is dotted with pine-clad islets.
Day 19 - Saturday - Aug 31, 2024
Today long stretches of white-sand beaches welcome us to the seaside city of Oarai. Heading inland we visit Mito, a power base during the Edo period and best known today for Kairakuen Garden, considered one of Japan's three finest landscape gardens. Originally created in 1841 for the ruling lord, the park was also intended for the enjoyment of all. Paths wind through 3,000 plum trees, cedar woods, and a bamboo grove. Learn about the treasures of the samurai that went beyond swords and armor. The Tokugawa Museum houses exhibits chronicling the life of the powerful Tokugawa family, as well as those who lived under their rule.
Day 20 - Sunday - Sep 1, 2024
Today, we disembark in the vibrant city of Tokyo. For the next two days we'll explore both the ultra-modern and storied past of this amazing city. Visit the serene Meiji Jingu shrine, dedicated to the spirit of Emperor Meiji, who ruled over Japan from 1867 to 1912 and helped transform the country into a modern power. At the Edo-Tokyo Museum, learn about the Tokugawa shogunate, the powerful military government that preceded the Meiji era. Delve into the bustling lanes of the Asakusa district and visit the iconic Sensoji temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple.
Day 21 - Monday - Sep 2, 2024
Day 22 - Tuesday - Sep 3, 2024
After breakfast, depart for the airport to connect to your flight home.
