Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska Coastal Cruise

Begin your trip in Vancouver, a superlivable city packed with natural beauty. Surrounded by mountains and oceans, this high-rise city gives you the best of both worlds—urban vibes mixed with outdoor fun. A lot of places claim to have it all, but Vancouver actually does. You get modern city life, but with a fresh, nature-filled twist. One minute you’re in the middle of downtown, and the next, you’re staring at whales and mountains. For a killer view, head up to the Vancouver Lookout Tower for a 360-degree look at the city and beyond.

Wondering what to do first? If you’re into art, hit up the Vancouver Art Gallery or the Contemporary Art Gallery. For the nature fans, hop on a ferry to Vancouver Island to see grizzly bears, whales, and orcas. If you’re more into culture, check out Canada’s biggest Chinatown. You can grab some dim sum or explore old Chinese apothecaries that go way back to the 19th century.

Stanley Park is a must-see too. It’s a huge park right on the edge of the city with great trails and views. Walk or bike the Seawall, a 20-mile path where joggers, skaters, and walkers hang out. Or bike from Coal Harbor to Kitsilano Beach, where you can chill on the sand and take in awesome views of the mountains and city skyline.

The Inside Passage is a coastal route in British Columbia that runs about 500 miles between Vancouver and Ketchikan. It passes through narrow channels and along forested shorelines, sheltered from the open Pacific Ocean by a chain of islands.

You may see wildlife such as whales, seabirds, and bald eagles along the way, although sightings are not guaranteed. The Johnstone Strait is a known area for orca activity. Near the northern section, Princess Royal Island and Pitt Island are part of regions with strong First Nations cultural and historical connections.

The Salmon Capital of the World is a thrilling introduction to wild and wonderful Alaska, sitting at the southern gateway to the Inside Passage's famed route of larger-than-life scenery. Cruise through the waters or soar just above in a sightseeing plane to take in the full majesty of the magnificent Misty Fjords National Monument. Home to grizzly and black bears, as well as cruising whales and swimming seals, the wildlife spotting opportunities in this majestic corner of the world are nothing short of spectacular. Towered over by steep banks and valley walls, Ketchikan's ocean inlet is peppered with granite stacks, looming from the waters. Surrounded by glorious landscapes, head to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, which is alive with bald eagles, black bears, and remarkable, thick, yellow banana slugs. The squeamish are advised to keep well clear. Visit Ketchikan's Heritage Center, where a collection of intricately carved totem poles rises up, preserving the heritage of the indigenous Tlingit and Haida people of these lands. Ketchikan has the world's largest collection and some of the oldest and most precious totems in existence. This frontier city hasn’t always been so wholesome, however. See the colorful historic street that is built on crooked stilts over Ketchikan Creek, which has a crude history as the main red-light district in the city. The brothels closed in the 1950s, but you can explore this legendarily seedy past at Dolly’s House, a brothel turned museum. See the Married Man Trail, a historical route used to enter Creek Street away from prying eyes.

Extraordinary adventures amid nature's wildest staging await at Juneau. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier sprawls down from Juneau Icefield, which provides an icy cap to the area's rip-roaring scenery. State capitals simply don't get more dramatic than this isolated, remote city lost amid the Alaskan wilds. Even the roads eventually peter out, absorbed by forests and viewpoints, firmly underlining the isolated location, hidden behind an impenetrable wall of rigid mountains. Rise up to Mount Roberts Tramway's viewpoint to see the city swallowed by this most colossal backdrop. This is glacier country, and no fewer than 38 ice flows branch off from the main Juneau Icefield, slowly carving out valleys in their wakes. Taku Glacier cuts deep into the mountain, forming a colossal sculpture that is one of the world's thickest - almost a mile deep. Mendenhall Glacier cascades down, just 12 miles away from downtown, terminating in its own lake and visitor center. With 1,500 square miles of ice field to explore, one of the best ways to take in the magnitude and majesty of this epic ice sculpture is to hold on tight as the propeller whirs, and you soar into the skies on an exhilarating sightseeing flight. Cruising up above the icy world that fills in these serrated mountain peaks is a once-in-a lifetime experience. The animals that inhabit the Southeast Alaskan wilds are just as inspiring as the landscapes – families of bears patrol the riverbanks, bald eagles survey the surroundings watchfully, and Pacific humpbacks migrate from Hawaii's waters to feast on the krill-rich, icy waters. Fish for huge catches, power across the ice in a snowsledge, or kayak just below glaciers. However you choose to immerse yourself in it, Juneau's incredible outdoor adventures never disappoint.

Feel the same rush of excitement as the gold rush chasers did when they first arrived in Skagway, intent on finding their fortune. While the gold may now be gone, a treasure trove of natural glory waits to be discovered here. The adrenaline of America’s legendary gold rush still pulses along Skagway's streets, especially in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the historic downtown area, which sprang up during the heady heights of the 1890s goldrush. The jagged mountain ridges, with peaks of white snow above a treeline of soaring pine forests, provide a reward for the ages. Recapture the evocative sense of adventure as you ride one of the world’s most spectacular railroads. Your engine can puff steam below the precipitous, colossal scenery while the vintage carriages curve around the White Pass and Yukon Route, alongside tumbling waterfalls and spanning deeply etched gorges. Wander historic trails like the Chilkoot Trail Hike to walk in the well-trodden footsteps of the gold seekers. Set on the northern tip of the Inside Passage, Skagway luxuriates in a remarkably beautiful and dramatic landscape. Explore mighty rivers teeming with thick salmon leaping over rapids and see brown bears edging from the shelter of the trees. Endless forests spread as far as the eye can see, while bald eagles perch on treetops, surveying the surroundings from above. Whales roam offshore, and glaciers creak and calve nearby in this magical natural kingdom.

Hubbard Glacier, off the coast of Yakutat, Alaska, is the largest glacier in North America, with a calving front that is more than six miles wide. One of the main sources for Hubbard Glacier originates 76 mi inland. It has been a very active glacier, experiencing two major surges in the past 30 years. This glacier was named after Gardiner Greene Hubbard, a U.S. lawyer, financier, and philanthropist. He was the first president of the National Geographic Society.

Enjoy unparalleled Alaskan beauty with glacier-carved landscapes, towering mountains, and the astonishing Prince William Sound. Home to diverse wildlife, Valdez is a unique destination for both adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. The town’s historical significance during the Klondike Gold Rush is also on display at the Valdez Museum. The open scenery is one of unspoiled wilderness, majestic mountains, tidewater glaciers, and deep green rainforests. Take the chance to admire this landscape and become a part of it.

Columbia Glacier is one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world, renowned for its dramatic carving, leaving colossal chunks of ice in the water. Get up close to this icy phenomenon by boat or by helicopter. Flightseeing tours having the advantage of offering exceptional aerial views of the glacier and the surrounding Chugach mountains. Sea kayaking is popular and navigating the vast landscape in a small kayak immerses you in nature like nothing else, visit forgotten glaciers, strange ice formations, and icy sea caves. Valdez holds some of the oldest fish derbies in Alaska with big prize money, a testament to the superb fishing opportunities available. Try your luck to land a prize salmon or big halibut by shore or sea. If not, watch the experts, from mid-June to August when the salmon are spawning and the waters are silver and pink with fish, sea lions, and brown and black bears come to take their catch of the day. Hike trails of all levels of difficulty are well maintained and offer awesome views, including dramatic waterfalls and lots of wildlife. With eagles, seabirds, bears, seals, sea lions, and sea otters all commonly seen, and whales and porpoises frequent visitors it can be hard to know where to look next.

Monumental scenery surrounds you in this remote corner of the world, where glaciers calve and whales cruise through inky waters against an immense mountain backdrop. Almost totally submerged by the colossal landscapes around it, Seward and the wonders of Kenai Fjords National Park offer some of Alaska's most astonishing and thrilling scenery. Located in a deep gash in the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is a place to immerse yourself in nature's majesty. Fjords carve into the landscape, while the Harding Icefield, which caps Kenai Fjords National Park, reaches out its icy fingers, with glaciers spilling down between mountain peaks. Head to Holgate Glacier to come face-to-face with a breathtaking stack of intense blue and white ice. Get up close in a kayak or boat ride to slalom through the discarded confetti of ice chunks and perhaps even witness the powerful spectacle of an ice ledge creaking and groaning before plunging to the waters below. The city of Anchorage is easily within reach from here, offering an incongruous contrast to the wild wonders of Alaska. A place where deep-sea fishermen bump shoulders with businesspeople on the 9-5, it's a fascinating, remote city. Anchorage is home to almost half of the Alaskan population, and its humble skyline is dwarfed by the snowy peaks of the wilderness beyond. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique culture, traditions, and heritage of the First Nation people of these lands too.