Alaska’s Inside Passage
Details
PhotoBy: Frank Flavin
A cruise ship departs Ketchikan by twilight
Destinations featured: Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Sitka, Haines, Skagway
Day 1 » Ketchikan
Arrive in Ketchikan, Alaska's first port of call, via air or Alaska Marine Highway. Pick up a walking tour map and explore downtown attractions including historic Creek Street, Tongass Historical Museum, Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and unique local art galleries and shops. Learn about Ketchikan’s historic lumberjack history at the fun Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show or spend the afternoon on a kayak trip, amphibious Duck Tour. Take an excursion boat or plane to the 2.3 million acre Misty Fjords National Monument with its majestic fjords or choose a half-day guided sport fishing trip. Stay overnight in Ketchikan.
Day 2 » Ketchikan – Wrangell-Petersburg
Take the Alaska Marine Highway to Wrangell take an exhilarating run up the Stikine River by jet boat, visit Petroglyph Beach to view prehistoric rock carvings or take a guided bear viewing trip. Or stay on the ferry and continue on to the community of Petersburg also known as “Little Norway.” Enjoy the hospitality of this community and see traditional Norwegian painted buildings, take an excursion to LeConte Glacier or enjoy an afternoon of kayaking or fishing. Overnight in Wrangell or Petersburg.
Day 3 » Juneau
Fly to Juneau, Alaska’s modern day capital city. Explore the city and its colorful waterfront. Take the tram to the top of Mt. Roberts for an eagle’s eye view of the surrounding area. A visit to the Alaska State Museum, the City Museum, McCauley Salmon Hatchery, a tour of the historic AJ/Gastineau Mill and Gold Mine, one of the several whale watching tours and visits to many of the galleries in the city are some of the activities to enjoy on your first day in Juneau. The Mendenhall Glacier is located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Take a helicopter flightseeing tour to the Juneau Ice field, go glacier trekking, have a flightseeing tour with a glacier landing or take a dog sled ride on the ice field. In the evening have a relaxing dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in the city, or enjoy an outdoor Salmon Bake. Stay overnight in Juneau.
Day 4 » Gustavus
Depart this morning via the Auk Nu ferry or via air taxi to Glacier Bay National Park. You will have the option of taking the whale watching tour to Pt. Adolfus or disembark early in Bartlett Cove. Explore the area via mountain bike or on a guided hiking tour or enjoy some sea kayaking in the surrounding waters. Go fishing or wildlife viewing. All these services are available in Gustavus. Overnight Glacier Bay National Park or Gustavus (there are many fine Lodges and bed and breakfasts in the area)
Day 5 » Glacier Bay
In the morning transfer to Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett-Cove and take a full day cruise up Glacier Bay aboard the Spirit of Adventure. Visit the many glaciers and watch for the different species of wildlife along the way. You should look for whales, seals, sea lions, and sea otters in the Bay. On land look for mountain goats, black bear, brown bear, moose and abundant bird life. On the water, you just might find a puffin! Upon your return to the dock, you will be transferred to Gustavus for your flight back to Juneau. Stay overnight in Juneau.
Day 6 » Sitka
Board your flight on Alaska Airlines for a quick trip to Sitka. The historic seaside capital of Russian America, founded in 1804. Spend the day sightseeing in once the largest city on the entire west coast. Sitka today remains a center of Russian culture. Visit St. Michaels Cathedral, the Russian cemetery, blockhouse and the Russian Bishops house. The Sheldon Jackson Museum has one of the world’s finest collections of Eskimo, Aleut and Indian artifacts. Visit the Alaskan Raptor Center and learn all about the stately American Bald Eagle. You will also find a dramatic display of totem poles in the Sitka National Historical Park within easy access. Stay overnight Sitka.
Day 7 » Haines
Depart Sitka via Juneau and take the “fast ferry” to Haines. Travel northbound on the Lynn Canal to the beautiful fishing port of Haines, at the head of the Dalton Trail. Take a float trip or a jet boat through the Bald Eagle Preserve or rent a bicycle or kayak. Take the walking tour of Fort William H. Seward, now a thriving native arts center, and see a thrilling performance of the Chilkat Indian Dancers, and be sure to visit the Hammer Museum, a museum highlighting all the varieties of hammers! Stay overnight in Haines.
Day 8 » Skagway
Today take the local water taxi or Alaska Marine Highway on to Skagway. Historic wooden storefronts are perfectly preserved in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, testimony to the 20,000 gold-seekers who braved the Chilkoot and White Pass trails in 1898. A visit to Skagway is not complete without taking the tour on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, re-live the adventure of ascending the pass on a narrow gauge railroad, and view the pass as the gold seekers did from the comfort of your seat on the train. You have the option of continuing into the interior of the Yukon and Alaska via the road system or flying to Juneau to depart Alaska.