Backcountry Journeys is thrilled to announce one of the most exciting additions we’ve ever made to our lineup of all-inclusive photography workshops:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

This brand-new adventure invites photographers aboard the historic M/V David B for an 8-day small-ship expedition through one of the most remote, protected, and awe-inspiring landscapes in North America.

Glacier Bay is a place of monolithic ice walls, thundering tidewater glaciers, towering 10,000-foot peaks, and wildlife-rich waters—and now you can explore it the way it was meant to be experienced: slowly, intimately, and with expert photographic instruction guiding every day on the water.

If you’ve ever dreamed of photographing Alaska from a perspective only a tiny fraction of travelers ever experience, this is your moment.

Learn more about this epic new adventure!

A Journey Into a Wild, Ice-Carved World

Glacier Bay is unlike any other national park in the United States. There are no roads. No cruise-ship crowds. No casual drive-by overlooks.

To witness its magic, you must go by air or boat—and small boats have all the advantages.

Aboard the David B, you’ll travel through narrow fjords, iceberg-studded inlets, and quiet coves that large vessels can’t reach. With a maximum of just 8 guests, the experience is deeply personal, flexible, and photography-focused. You’ll have unobstructed decks, unlimited shooting space, and endless opportunities to compose images without distraction.

June is a spectacular time to explore Glacier Bay. Precipitation drops, wildlife activity peaks, and wild lupine blooms in vibrant carpets beneath the glaciers—a surreal foreground for wide-angle landscapes.
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This trip isn’t simply “visiting Glacier Bay.”
It’s inhabiting it.

Meet Your Floating Basecamp: The Historic M/V David B

Originally launched in 1929 and lovingly restored by owners and captains Jeffrey and Christine Smith, the M/V David B is part of the adventure itself. With its warm wood interior, vintage charm, and cozy cabins, the boat feels like a floating bed-and-breakfast—complete with homemade pastries, gourmet meals, and a crew that knows Southeast Alaska like the back of their hand.

This is slow travel in the best possible way: peaceful, intimate, immersive.
And it’s the perfect platform for photography.
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Each evening, you’ll enjoy dedicated image review and editing sessions in the salon while the boat gently carries you deeper into the park.

What You’ll Photograph: Wildlife, Glaciers & Wild Fjords

Every day of this journey offers front-row access to Glacier Bay’s thunderous glaciers and thriving wildlife. Some highlights include:

South Marble Island

One of the richest wildlife hotspots in the park—home to Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, and a bustling seabird colony.

Beardslee Islands & McBride Inlet

Quiet, protected waters with chances to photograph black bears, nesting eagles, and surreal icebergs drifting through the inlet.

Reid & Lamplugh Glaciers

Walk right up to the base of Reid Glacier and photograph blue ice patterns up close. Lamplugh’s face is framed by vibrant lupine blooms in June—one of Glacier Bay’s most striking seasonal spectacles.

Johns Hopkins Inlet

A cathedral-like fjord lined with granite walls and towering tidewater glaciers. This is Glacier Bay at its most dramatic.

Margerie & Grand Pacific Glaciers

Calving icefalls, ghostly moraine-covered ice, and incredible wildlife—this is the heart of Tarr Inlet and one of the great photographic destinations of the world.

Shag Cove & Icy Strait

Kayak among sea otters, explore glassy reflective waters, and photograph humpback whales, orcas, and even the rare sperm whale.
This is the full Glacier Bay experience—remote, unhurried, and profoundly wild.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip—With Room For Only 8 Guests

Trips like this are nearly impossible to replicate. Glacier Bay’s access is tightly restricted, the vessel is tiny and boutique, and departures are extremely limited. When we say spots are scarce, we mean it.
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But for a select few photographers, this will be the Alaskan journey that stays with you forever.

If you’ve ever wanted to photograph Glacier Bay the way it truly deserves to be photographed—this is your chance.

Join Us in Alaska for the Photography Adventure of a Lifetime

TRIP INFORMATION:
Start/End: Juneau, Alaska (JNU)
Group Size: Up to 8 guests
Length: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Fitness Level: Level 1

Backcountry Journeys handles everything—from meals to lodging to daily instruction—so you’re free to focus entirely on creativity, exploration, and the joy of photographing one of Earth’s most extraordinary landscapes.

Ready to experience Glacier Bay like never before?
→ Reserve Your Spot Now!