Wild Dawn Alaska Private Yacht Charter
Discover Southeast Alaska by private chartered yacht
Explore tranquil inlets, secluded coves, and mighty glaciers on a private voyage
for 8 to 10 friends or family members in four spacious en-suite staterooms
“The pre trip literature did not do justice to the beauty of the areas we saw. It was a lifetime memorable experience with a great crew!”
Welcome to Southeast Alaska!
Together with captain and crew, chart a course through narrow inlets and secluded bays in search of humpback whales bubble-net feeding. Spot grizzlies and bald eagles. Fish or drop crab and shrimp pots for a succulent feast. Most of all, enjoy the quiet majesty of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, far from the busy cruise-ship lanes.
Daily exploration
One tender, four 2-person kayaks and two paddleboards provide a choice of dailly activities, depending on weather, location and animal sightings.
Each day, you’ll consult with your captain for a choice of possible activities. Depending on your location, you may choose to go ashore and stretch your legs, try your hand at fishing, paddle a kayak or paddleboard in calm waters, or simply sit and enjoy the natural beauty over a cup of fresh coffee or a glass of wine.
WILD DAWN
The perfect vessel for a small group of friends or family.
M/Y WILD DAWN is a safe, quiet, tastefully decorated and very comfortable private yacht. She has large interior spaces with great visibility, covered aft and top decks for watching wildlife when the weather turns bad. More about WILD DAWN »
Sample Itinerary
Wild Dawn operates a circumnavigation around Admiralty Island in the heart of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Below is a sample itinerary. The actual itinerary is left somewhat flexible, dependent on weather, wildlife, and group interests.
Click to enlarge
Day 1 | Embarkation Juneau*
Welcome aboard! You’ll board around noon. After a brief safety meeting, you’re underway for your first anchorage. Lunch is served shortly after departure. As you head north into Stephens Passage and the Lynn Canal, keep watch for the numerous whales that patrol these waters. You’ll arrive in Funter Bay in time to set some crab pots and go for a kayak or just relax and enjoy our first night aboard. Dinner is served in full view of the spectacular scenery.
*Most flights arrive Juneau in the early afternoon. Plan to arrive at least one day early. Please give us a call to discuss accommodations, transfers, and optional activities.
Day 2 | Exploring Chichagof Island
After a great breakfast, pull your crab pots to see if you’ve had any luck before getting underway. Today you’ll cruise south past the intersection of Icy Straight and Chatham Strait. There is an incredible amount of life as you pass through the area. After a lunch underway, you’ll arrive at the anchorage in Tenakee inlet. Options here include hiking, kayaking, fishing or exploring the quaint town of Tenakee and experiencing the hot springs.
Day 3 | Exploring Admiralty Island
Today you’ll say goodbye to Tenakee inlet and head across Chatham Strait to the coast of Admiralty Island. Cruising south, keep your eyes peeled for grizzly bears along the shoreline. Admiralty Island has the densest population of grizzly bears in the world. You’ll arrive in Hood Bay in the early afternoon with time to explore the area which boasts an interesting abandoned mine.
Day 4 | Exploring Baranof Island
You’ll depart Hood Bay for a short trip over to Warm Springs Bay, arriving mid-morning. After the anchor is set, everyone jumps aboard the tender to head over to the Baranof Springs dock. After a leisurely hike up to the top of Baranof Falls, you’ll enjoy the beautiful natural hot springs along the river. You’ll return to Wild Dawn and head out on a short trip south to Red Bluff Bay. On arrival you’ll have an opportunity to set shrimp pots before enjoying dinner at anchorage.
Day 5 | Admiralty Island
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll explore the beauty of Red Bluff Bay and its dozens of waterfalls by kayak or paddle board. Brown bears are often seen at the head of the bay, feeding on salmon or tending to their cubs. After your exploration, you’re back aboard Wild Dawn for your next destination - Pybus Bay. As you cross Chatham Strait and head into Frederick Sound, close to the south shore of Admiralty Island, be on the lookout for pods of orcas. Pods of Dalls porpoises often play in the bow wake. You’ll arrive in Cannery Cove in the late afternoon. Upon arrival, we have time for a pre-dinner hike or kayak.
Day 6 | Brothers Islands and No Name Harbor
After breakfast you’ll head for No Name Harbor at the entrance to Tracy Arm. Along the way you’ll make an extended stop at the Brothers Islands to observe the stellar sea lions that call the islands home. You’ll be close enough to hear their grunting and enjoy the wonderful aroma that only sea lions can produce. The Wild Dawn arrives in No Name Harbor in the early afternoon with plenty of time to kayak and take the tender to explore the floating ice and small icebergs. One can spend hours looking at the different ice formations and their limitless shades of blue. Some of the icebergs even have rocks embedded in them. After your fill of exploring, you’ll head back for dinner.
Day 7 | Sawyer Glacier
The anchor is weighed early this morning in preparation for a long and exhilarating day of travel. Breakfast is served underway as you travel along the beautiful and narrow Tracy Arm. Vertical walls surround you in this fjord as waterfalls tumble down the sides. The ice bits and bergs get more dense as you approach the Sawyer Glacier. Once we arrive you’ll spend time watching and listening to the glacier calve into the water below. You’ll take a ride in the tender to enjoy the dense ice at water level. After enjoying the glaciers show, it’s time to head out of Tracy Arm and up to Taku Harbor. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon and have time to go ashore and explore the abandoned cannery ruins before your last delicious dinner aboard.
Day 8 | Disembark Juneau*
After breakfast you’ll depart for Juneau Harbor. Everyone can share their photos and videos, memories for a lifetime, aboard the boat’s computer on the trip back. After an incredible week, it’s time to say goodbyes.
* Disembarkation normally takes place at noon. Depending on airline flight schedules, an additional night’s stay may be required in Juneau. Please give us a call to discuss accommodations, transfers, and optional activities.
Wild Dawn - Dates & Prices
2026 Charter price
$75,000 for up to eight guests. Additional guests can be added for $5000 each. Maximum capacity is 10 guests.
| 2026 Dates | Starts/Ends | |
|---|---|---|
| May 27 - Jun 3 | Juneau/Sitka | Western Passages |
| Jun 5 - Jun 12 | Sitka/Juneau | Booked |
| Jun 14 - Jun 21 | Juneau/Sitka | Western Passages |
| Jun 23 - Jun 30 | Sitka/Juneau | Western Passages |
| Jul 2 - Jul 9 | Juneau/Sitka | Western Passages |
| Jul 13 - Jul 20 | Sitka/Petersburg | Eastern Passages |
| Jul 22 - Jul 29 | Petersburg/Sitka | Eastern Passages |
| Jul 31 - Aug 8 | Sitka/Juneau | Booked |
| Aug 9 - Aug 16 | Juneau/Juneau | Booked |
| Aug 18 - Aug 25 | Juneau/Juneau | Around Admiralty Island |
| Aug 27 - Sep 3 | Juneau/Juneau | Around Admiralty Island |
| Sep 5 - Sep 12 | Juneau/Juneau | Around Admiralty Island |
| Sep 14 - Sep 21 | Juneau/Juneau | Around Admiralty Island |
Supplements, inclusions and exclusions
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All meals while aboard the yacht
All non-alcoholic beverages, plus wine and beer while aboard the yacht
All guides, activities, tours, and sightseeing arrangements
Use of kayaks and paddleboards while aboard the yacht
Use of fishing gear, with crew supervision, while aboard the yacht
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Airfare to/from Juneau, Sitka, or Petersburg, Alaska
Overnight accommodations in Juneau, Sitka, or Petersburg
Airport transfers
Highly personalized fly-fishing rods & gear – waders
Fishing licenses - available for purchase on board or online from Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game website
Gratuities to the yacht’s crew
Travel insurance
Child care
Deposit, Payment & Cancellation Schedule
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A non-refundable deposit of 25% is due at time of booking the charter
An additional deposit of 25% is due 180 days prior to departure
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The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to departure
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Cancellation more than 180 days prior to departure: full refund of deposit
Cancellation between 180 and 90 days prior to departure: deposit will be refunded only if the charter is re-sold
Cancellation within 90 days of departure: non-refundable
Cancellation due to force majeure (circumstances outside your control, including medical illness) must be covered by travel insurance. INCA/Inca Floats, Inc. will not be responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Each departure is shaped by your personal interests combined with the great variety of activities available in Southeast Alaska, including hiking, beachcombing, kayaking, fishing, whale watching and wildlife viewing.
The crew meet with guests each morning to discuss the day’s opportunities. Yet there are no required activities. You may happily spend your entire trip curled up in the salon with a good book—or watch it all go by from a chair up on the skiff deck while sipping coffee or a chilled glass of wine.
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There are no wildlife “guarantees,” however you will see a variety of species each day. Brown and black bear are present on shore throughout the summer and can be spotted stream fishing in fall. Dolphins and whales, especially humpbacks, abound. Orca and sea otter are less common but also present. We’ll pass Harbor seals with new pups resting on ice floes in Tracy Arm fjord. We usually visit a sea lion rookery each trip. Deer and different kinds of birds—notably bald eagles, hawks and other raptors—may be observed on hikes or along the shores. Tide pools reveal a plethora of smaller creatures. Juneau hosts impressive museums of native history, culture and art, which should not be missed.
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The season is between May and September, with July the most popular month. When you choose to go depends on your schedule and your interests.
Humpback and Minke Whales, Orcas, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Dall's and Harbor Porpoises can all be seen in Alaska's waters generally between June and early September. Spring is an excellent time to see wildflowers in bloom and the fall is known for its colorful fall foliage. The warmest and longest days of the year are in June and July.
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Alaska’s Inside Passage is a temperate rain forest. Rainfall averages about 3½“ during May and June, trending upward to 7½“ in September. Rainfall is usually intermittent and it is rare to have an entire week of blue skies. Temperatures average in the mid-60s during the day and mid-40s at night, but range from 80s to 30s—layers are the key to comfort!
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You’ll be traveling on the sheltered, often mirror-calm waters of the Inside Passage. Each night will be at anchor in a sheltered cove. If you are prone to motion sickness, it’s best to consult your physician beforehand and choose either a prescription or OTC remedy.
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Biting insects are not as prevalent in the Inside Passage—the famous “Alaskan State Bird” mosquitoes are very rare—and they peak in July. Pack your preferred brand of insect repellent, and we will also have head nets and a variety of sprays, lotions, and creams aboard.
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Yes. The crew are happy to help novices. They’ll get you started in any fishing excursion; however, their primary job while ashore in bear country is to ensure group safety, so fishing excursions do not allow for prolonged one-on-one individual attention.
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Yes! The crew will clean, fillet, and vacuum-seal your fish before stowing it on board. At the end of your trip, they will pack your catch in an insulated, easy-to-carry box for your flight home.
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Yes. Complimentary laundry is available for guests during your trip.
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Yes. The chef is very flexible and can accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions or food allergies as long as she is notified in advance of the trip.
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Alaska Airlines operates multiple daily flights to Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg via Seattle. Most flights arrive mid-afternoon, so you will need to plan on arriving at least one day prior to embarkation. There are plenty of activities in Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg worth the extra time. Following your charter, you may need an additional night depending on flight schedules to your home city. We would be happy to arrange hotel accommodations, transfers and activities. Please give us a call.
| Best fishing times in the Sitka-Juneau area | |
|---|---|
| Species | Peak Season |
| King Salmon | May through July |
| Sockeye Salmon | July |
| Coho Salmon | Mid july through August |
| Pink Salmon | Mid July through August |
| Chum Salmon | June through August |
| Dolly Vardon | June through Mid July |
| Cutthroat Trout | June |
| Halibut | June through August |
| Rockfish | June through August |
| Lingcod | Year Round |