Navigate the magnificent waterways of Alaska’s Inside Passage on a seven-night luxury cruise, encountering fishing towns and a host of wildlife, and bookend your journey with stays in the vibrant cities of Vancouver and Anchorage.
Alaska: A Tailor-Made Journey featuring an Inside Passage Cruise
12 days from $8,180
Navigate the magnificent waterways of Alaska’s Inside Passage on a seven-night luxury cruise, encountering fishing towns and a host of wildlife, and bookend your journey with stays in the vibrant cities of Vancouver and Anchorage.
Overview
The following itinerary is a sampling of the experiences that we offer on a tailor-made journey to Alaska. Working with our country specialists, you can customize your itinerary to fit your timing, your budget, and your interests, including accommodations, activities, and the places you visit.
Surround yourself with natural splendor on a custom journey that includes a seven-night luxury cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage and aerial views of mighty Denali. Begin with two nights in Vancouver, a city where rich culture and stunning scenery coincide, then sail north along the rugged coast of British Columbia. Navigate the islands and fjords of the Inside Passage, exploring immense glaciers, seeking out wildlife, and visiting remote fishing ports where Alaska’s pioneer spirit still prevails. End your adventure in Anchorage with a scenic flight to view Denali up close.
Highlights:
- Taste the local flavors of Vancouver on a private gastronomic tour of the Gastown district.
- Set sail on a luxury cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage, visiting towns such as Ketchikan and Sitka and spotting whales, bears, and more on guided excursions.
- Ride a narrow-gauge White Pass Railway through spectacular scenery from Skagway toward the gold rush region of Klondike.
- Soar over majestic Denali on a scenic flight, taking in incomparable views of the highest peak in North America.
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 — Vancouver, Canada
Arrive in Vancouver and meet your private driver for the transfer to your hotel. You'll have the rest of the day to relax and begin exploring this vibrant, cosmopolitan city. We recommend visiting English Bay for sunset if the weather allows. (B)
Day 2 — Vancouver, Canada
During a leisurely morning, consider renting a bike for a ride through Stanley Park, a leafy peninsula with lovely coastal paths. In the afternoon, set out on a private food tour of the gastronomic district of Gastown, sampling local foods paired with wines and beers from the region. (B)
Day 3 — Vancouver, Canada
After a final free morning to explore Vancouver’s wonderful museums and gardens, make your way to the waterfront to board your luxury cruise ship. Settle into your suite and take in views for Vancouver as the ship sets sail toward Alaska this evening. All meals and non-premium drinks are included on board and on daily shore excursions (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Cruising British Columbia’s Coast
Follow the rugged coast of British Columbia, navigating lush, forested islands along the way. Keep an eye out for marine life—humpback whales and orca are often seen in these waters. As you approach Alaska, watch the shoreline transform into soaring mountains and creaking glaciers. (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage: Ketchikan
Enter the narrow waterways of the Inside Passage and go ashore at the quaint fishing town of Ketchikan, once considered the “salmon capital of the world.” At the Totem Heritage Center, see a fascinating collection of Haida and Tlingit totem poles and learn about Alaska’s Indigenous cultures. In the wilderness surrounding Ketchikan, look for brown and black bears on shore and whales and seals in the water. (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage: Juneau
Venture further into an extraordinary landscape of narrow fjords and wild islands and arrive in Juneau. Alaska’s isolated state capital is nestled between the sea and a crest of rocky peaks and surrounded by the expansive glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. Choose from a wide range of guided excursions, including a hike to Mendenhall Glacier, a whale-watching cruise by local boat, or a visit to a summer camp for Iditarod dogs. (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage: Skagway
Glide between snowcapped mountains on Lynn Canal on your way to the colorful gold rush town of Skagway. The narrow-gauge White Pass railroad was constructed here in the 1890s to allow prospectors access to the goldfields of the Yukon's Klondike region. Board the train to ride a section of the fabled route past thundering waterfalls and rugged peaks, or opt for a wildlife excursion to a river near town where brown bears come to fish for salmon. (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage: Sitka
Sail on to the former Russian outpost of Sitka, where a curious mix of Russian and Indigenous cultures endures. Set out on a rafting or sea kayaking adventure; go hiking in the rainforest; or seek out sea otters, brown bears, sea lions and whales on a wildlife cruise. If you wish, take a tour of Sitka’s art galleries and see local craftsmen at work. (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage: Hubbard Glacier
On the final day of your cruise, encounter Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America, spanning six miles where it meets the sea. Learn about this active glacier’s geology and watch for enormous icebergs calving into Disenchantment Bay. Take in beautiful scenery as you sail toward Chugach National Forest this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 10 — Seward/Anchorage
Disembark in Seward, set at the end of an inlet on the Kenai Peninsula and surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers. Transfer by shared coach to downtown Anchorage, or upgrade your experience by traveling by train. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day to explore the city as you wish. (B)
Day 11 — Anchorage
Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, rises 20,310 feet, yet North America’s tallest peak is often hard to see from the ground. You’ll have the chance to take in unforgettable aerial views on a scenic flight over Denali National Park and Preserve, and land on a lake or in Talkeetna to photograph the mountain looming over the landscape. During free time in Anchorage this afternoon, consider a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center or the Anchorage Museum, home to the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. (B)
Day 12 – Anchorage / Return Home
Make your way from your hotel to Anchorage Airport in time for your onward flight. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)