Alaska

It's taken just 24 hours for America's most northern state to deliver two once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Having departed Alaska's popular port, Seward, the evening before, we sailed along the striking snow-capped coastline before tucking into anchor on a branching fjord off Aialik Bay, 40 nautical miles away. There, against the silky blue crystal-like mass of ice of Holgate Glacier, we enjoyed sundowners.

Now, I'm watching a 15-metre, 30-tonne humpback whale feeding at the water's surface just a few metres away. And when we think the scene could not get any more astonishing, nature unleashes something special. The humpback opens its mouth to guzzle down thousands of herring, but as it does so, a tufted puffin appears inside – cheekily attempting to steal a fishy dinner. As the humpback slowly closes its mouth, saltwater starts to pour out like a waterfall from all sides. There's an audible gasp from the boat passengers as the puffin escapes into flight in the blink of an eye.