Alaska Glaciers, Fjords & Inside Passage - 4250A

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. This beautiful city brims with attractions such as Vancouver's Olympic Village located on the SE side of False Creek, which offers stunning views of the city's downtown skyline and Coastal mountains. 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. Ketchikan’s impressive variety of shops and galleries feature work by many of the island’s resident artists as well as an assortment of souvenir items and unique gifts that make shopping a ‘must-do’. 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. Sitka is one of the oldest and most culturally significant communities in Alaska. Read more about Sitka, 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. These phenomena quickly passed and were followed by short retreats, but the glacier is once again on the move and Russell Fjord is headed for another spell as an inland body of water. Read more about Hubbard Glacier, 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. Twenty kilometres inside the Passage, from the Gulf of Alaska, ships pass through a narrow 3 km wide section of Icy Strait. Read more about Inian Islands, USA

Alaska’s newest cruise port, Icy Strait Point, is located just down the road from Hoonah, and 35 km S.E. of Glacier Bay National Park. It is the result of collaboration between the local communities and cruise corporations, to attract visitors eager to experience America’s ‘last wilderness.’ Millions of dollars have been invested in creating a facility that offers cruise travellers an authentic and refreshing Arctic experience. Visitors can explore secluded beaches, take walks through old-growth forests, experience some of the best whale-watching and bear viewing opportunities, as well as ride the world’s highest zip line. Read more about Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), USA

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. Here you can mingle with locals, chat with a lumberjack at the Pioneer Bar, and maybe even hear about how someone had a bear in their backyard the night before. Read more about Haines, 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. Visitors often take the Mount Roberts Tramway, an aerial tramway, that takes them from the cruise ship docks up to the SW ridge of Mount Roberts, providing great scenic views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel. 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. The highlight of this fjord are the twin glaciers - North Sawyer and South Sawyer - that are arguably the bluest and most beautiful glaciers in Alaska. Read more about Tracy Arm, USA

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. Ketchikan’s impressive variety of shops and galleries feature work by many of the island’s resident artists as well as an assortment of souvenir items and unique gifts that make shopping a ‘must-do’. Read more about Ketchikan, 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. More adventurous travellers choose an overnight charter service or spend days exploring by kayak. 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. The natural landscape provides most of the draw for this locale, but it also has a history as one of the oldest continuously occupied regions in the world, with a First Nations culture that dates back over 10,000 years. 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. The natural landscape provides most of the draw for this locale, but it also has a history as one of the oldest continuously occupied regions in the world, with a First Nations culture that dates back over 10,000 years. 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. The town has all modern facilities and faces a boat harbour with two marinas, fishing fleet, ferry terminal and water airport. 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. This beautiful city brims with attractions such as Vancouver's Olympic Village located on the SE side of False Creek, which offers stunning views of the city's downtown skyline and Coastal mountains. Read more about Vancouver, Canada