By
Alex Smith |
HX Expeditions has finalised its 2026 Alaska programme, with shore excursion details confirmed for two new itineraries, including inaugural calls in Klawock and Valdez.
The nine-night ‘Alaska’s Inside Passage: Fjords of the Great Land’ voyage and the 12-night ‘Alaska’s Inside Passage: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea’ itinerary will operate during the 2026 season. The programme includes shore excursions developed in collaboration with local partners.
“HX’s Alaska programme includes two new itineraries and first-time visits to additional ports,” said Sam Imes, Alaska product planner for HX Expeditions. “Excursions have been developed in cooperation with local communities and Alaska Native corporations.”
The ‘Alaska’s Inside Passage: Fjords of the Great Land’ itinerary operates between Vancouver and Whittier, transiting Southeast Alaska and Misty Fjords with expedition landings and wildlife viewing. Klawock, located on Prince of Wales Island, is featured on selected departures within the Southeast Alaska portion of this voyage. The port serves as a gateway to regional coastal ecosystems and indigenous Łingít cultural heritage.
Cruise guests will be able to kayak on Klawock Lake as part of a range of shore excursions (Photo: HX)
Cruise guests to Klawock will be able to take part in a variety of excursions including guided visits to the nearby totem park and cultural sites, marine wildlife tours across surrounding inlets, forest walks within Tongass National Forest and kayaking on Klawock Lake, with tours focused on ecological systems and local history.
The ‘Alaska’s Inside Passage: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea’ itinerary operates between Whittier and Vancouver, including Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska and ports in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia. Valdez is included on selected departures during the Prince William Sound segment of the voyage, prior to the crossing of the Gulf of Alaska. Situated within the Chugach Mountains, Valdez combines alpine and maritime environments.
Shore experiences in Valdez will include hiking in Thompson Pass, kayaking on Valdez Glacier Lake, and guided visits addressing the area’s Gold Rush history and environmental recovery following the 1989 oil spill, as well as tours covering Port Valdez and local museums documenting regional heritage and seismic history.
All 2026 Alaska sailings will operate onboard Roald Amundsen, a hybrid battery-powered expedition vessel.