21-DAY ALASKA IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION & SUMMER SOLSTICE - 7835A

Vancouver is a sophisticated coastal city located to the south of British Columbia, Canada. The city is linguistically and ethnically diverse as reflected in the fact that 52 percent of its inhabitants do not speak English as their first language. Ranked highly in worldwide ‘liveable city’ rankings for many years and being surrounded by nature’s scenery at its best, makes tourism its second largest industry. Read more about Vancouver, Canada

Alaska’s ‘first city’ Ketchikan is situated along the shores of Alaska's Inside Passage within the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Evergreen mountains rise out of the water, the lush green landscape nurtured by the abundant rainfall of the temperate rainforest environment. Visitors are presented with a remarkable array of activities and attractions that highlight the town's history, industry and culture, and bring them up close to resident wildlife. Read more about Ketchikan, USA

Sitka, the fourth largest city by population in Alaska, is nestled on the west side of Baranof Island, and is thought to be the most beautiful of SE Alaska cities. The flora and fauna of Sitka and its surrounding area are notable attractions. Residents and visitors alike enjoy fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and simply experiencing all this dynamic town has to offer. Read more about Sitka, USA

Stephens Passage is a channel off the coast of Alaska, Cruise ships heading for Juneau, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm will pass along Stephens Passage. Off the west coast of the Alaskan panhandle are over 1000 islands of the Alexander Archipelago. Between one of these islands, Admiralty Island, and the Alaskan mainland, is Stephens Passage. Read more about Stephens Passage, Canada

Standing out is the scenic beauty of Haines, probably the best of any Alaskan town. It is in the northern part of the Alaska Panhandle, near Glacier Bay National Park. Skagway is 25 km away further along the fjord. Read more about Haines, USA

The Inside Passage is a sea route along the NW coast of North America. Ships use this heavily trafficked route to avoid bad weather in the open ocean, and access isolated communities along the fjord-lined coast. At the northern end of the 800 km Alaskan portion of the Inside Passage, access is gained to the popular sites of Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Icy Strait Point. Read more about Inian Islands, USA

Hubbard Glacier enters Disenchantment Bay near the top end of the Alaska panhandle. Marching to the beat of a different drum, Hubbard Glacier is advancing while the rest of Alaska's ice rivers are receding rapidly. In 1986 and again in 2002 the glacier protruded forward, blocking off Russell Fjord to create an entirely new lake. Read more about Hubbard Glacier, USA

Valdez is an important ice-free port (pop. 4000) in Alaska, at the head of a fjord 24 km from its mouth at Prince William Sound. It was at the mouth of the sound that Exxon Valdez hit Bligh Reef and spilled 40-120 thousand tonnes of oi in 1989. Read more about Valdez, USA

College Fjord is located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound, in the US State of Alaska. It is surrounded by over a dozen glaciers, and some of these glaciers have spruce forests growing right up to the edge of the ice, giving a sense of grandeur that is rarely seen. Also causing wonderment, is the fact that glacier after glacier have a perfectly mirrored reflection on the water. Read more about College Fjord, USA

Ships call at the ports of Seward and Whittier on the SE coast of Alaska as gateways to Anchorage, which is home to almost half the population of Alaska. What better way to see Alaska than taking the impressive train ride from Seward to Anchorage. You'll see wild animals, beautiful scenery, and enjoy a great meal in the diner car. Read more about Anchorage (Whittier), USA

College Fjord is located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound, in the US State of Alaska. It is surrounded by over a dozen glaciers, and some of these glaciers have spruce forests growing right up to the edge of the ice, giving a sense of grandeur that is rarely seen. Also causing wonderment, is the fact that glacier after glacier have a perfectly mirrored reflection on the water. Read more about College Fjord, USA

Hubbard Glacier enters Disenchantment Bay near the top end of the Alaska panhandle. Marching to the beat of a different drum, Hubbard Glacier is advancing while the rest of Alaska's ice rivers are receding rapidly. In 1986 and again in 2002 the glacier protruded forward, blocking off Russell Fjord to create an entirely new lake. Read more about Hubbard Glacier, USA

Built on a narrow shelf between Mt. Juneau and the deep waters of Gastineau Channel, Juneau is Alaska's state capital and a rewarding destination for glacier viewing. Juneau is a blend of fishermen and teachers, legislators and artists, homemakers and lawyers, union workers and frontier entrepreneurs, students and Native elders, all sharing an active port city within an inspiring wilderness setting. Read more about Juneau, USA

Tracy Arm is an enormous fjord located 72 km south of Juneau, and lies inside the largest temperate rain forest in the world - the Tongass National Forest of Alaska, USA. Tracy Arm is comprised of Yosemite-like granite rocks, countless waterfalls, glass-smooth water, and mountain peaks rising over 2000m. The ‘arm’ itself penetrates about 40 km into the Alaskan wilderness, bending between near-vertical mountain chasms with numerous waterfalls cascading from spruce and hemlock-forested valleys. Read more about Tracy Arm, USA

Stephens Passage is a channel off the coast of Alaska, Cruise ships heading for Juneau, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm will pass along Stephens Passage. Off the west coast of the Alaskan panhandle are over 1000 islands of the Alexander Archipelago. Between one of these islands, Admiralty Island, and the Alaskan mainland, is Stephens Passage. Read more about Stephens Passage, Canada

Wrangell (pop. 2400) is located on the northern tip of Wrangell Island, an island in the Alaska Panhandle. It lies just south of the estuary of the 610 km Stikine River that empties into the Eastern Passage separating Wrangell Island from the mainland. Read more about Wrangell, USA

Misty Fjords National Monument is a region of 928,000 ha along the Inside Passage coast in extreme southeastern Alaska. It lies about 60 km east of Ketchikan, Alaska. Because of the remoteness of the area, most visitors arrive by cruise ship or fly over the monument in tourist aircraft from Ketchikan or Juneau. Read more about Misty Fjords, USA

Canada's northernmost coastal city and gateway to Alaska, Prince Rupert boasts one of the world's largest natural harbours, ice-free year round. Arriving into port by ship is breathtaking, as you pass hundreds of islands and make your way through narrow, mist-shrouded passageways. Because of its moderate climate and mists, it is not unusual to see several rainbows a day, including double and triple rainbows that span the entire horizon. Read more about Prince Rupert, Canada

Canada's northernmost coastal city and gateway to Alaska, Prince Rupert boasts one of the world's largest natural harbours, ice-free year round. Arriving into port by ship is breathtaking, as you pass hundreds of islands and make your way through narrow, mist-shrouded passageways. Because of its moderate climate and mists, it is not unusual to see several rainbows a day, including double and triple rainbows that span the entire horizon. Read more about Prince Rupert, Canada

Alert Bay is a small fishing village on Cormorant Island, British Columbia, Canada. The island, 4km long and only 700m at its narrowest, lies just off the north coast of Vancouver Island. It is home to some 1,600 residents, half being of the indigenous Kwakiutl people who have been there for several thousand years. Read more about Alert Bay, Canada

Vancouver is a sophisticated coastal city located to the south of British Columbia, Canada. The city is linguistically and ethnically diverse as reflected in the fact that 52 percent of its inhabitants do not speak English as their first language. Ranked highly in worldwide ‘liveable city’ rankings for many years and being surrounded by nature’s scenery at its best, makes tourism its second largest industry. Read more about Vancouver, Canada