Alaska

In 1942, the Japanese invaded two Aleutian Islands—Kiska and Attu—only six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. What is now known as “The Forgotten Battle” began during the early morning hours of June 6, when 500 Japanese soldiers landed on Kiska, taking the 10-man US Navy Weather Detachment (the island’s only inhabitants) by complete surprise.

It is true that a small-ship adventure turns the enormity of Alaska into an intimate experience. Yet when comparing truly wild experiences in the Great Land, Zegrahm holds the ace.

For 19th-century New England sailors, life aboard whaling ships tended to get rather tedious. Voyages could last years, with weeks or months between sightings; living conditions were lamentable, quarters were cramped.

As you embark on your Alaska immersion, taking in the grandeur and arresting beauty of the Great Land, ponder for a moment the great conservationists who took strides to preserve this majestic landscape. You’ll be visiting the protected lands that make up Denali, Wrangell-St.

We recently completed two wildly successful voyages to Alaska and the far eastern corners of Russia. Not only was the wildlife plentiful, our designated photographer onboard the Caledonian Sky, Mike Moore, was able to capture some beautiful images. Here are the top photos from our Wild Alaska and the Bering Sea, and Best of the Russian Far East expeditions.