Alaska's Inside Passage – Wilderness & Culture (Northbound)

Set sail from Vancouver

Your adventure begins in Vancouver, a Pacific seaport framed by steep mountains and dense coastal forest. Wander the Victorian streets of Gastown, or walk the seawall past the towering cedar groves of Stanley Park, a first taste of the wilderness ahead. The seafood and farm-to-table dining here is exceptional. We'd recommend arriving a day early to give yourself time to explore the city.

Come evening, your ship awaits. Settle into your cabin, meet the Expedition Team, and attend the safety briefing. Tomorrow, we sail north.

Marine wildlife along the Pacific coast

The Inside Passage is one of the great coastal routes of the world, with over 900 miles of sheltered Pacific waterway, carved by glaciers and fringed by ancient forest. Today we venture beyond its shelter into the open waters of Queen Charlotte Sound and Hecate Strait, where the island of Haida Gwaii lies to the west.

These are productive seas. Keep watch for humpback and fin whales, orcas, minke whales, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. This is a voyage that rewards those who keep their eyes on the horizon.

Towering cliffs, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks

Misty Fjords is a pristine wilderness of immense scale and stillness, where glacier-carved fjords cut deep into the Tongass National Forest and sheer granite cliffs rise up to 3,000 feet straight from the water. Waterfalls cascade from hanging valleys, often veiled in drifting mist that gives the region its name. John Muir once described this as one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen – and little has changed since.

Weather permitting, explore this dramatic landscape alongside your Expedition Team by Zodiac or kayak, experiencing it from water level where its true grandeur unfolds. In these quiet, wildlife-rich waters, you may encounter sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas, and Dall’s porpoises, while mountain goats cling to steep ledges above and bald eagles soar overhead.

Discover native heritage in a landscape of wild beauty

Over these days, we venture deeper into the wild, island-strewn waterways of Southeast Alaska, including the remote coasts of Prince of Wales Island and Kupreanof Island, where each day is shaped by nature and guided by opportunity.

At times you'll land in small coastal communities where dense forests meet sheltered bays and culture and nature are closely intertwined. Between landings, the true spirit of expedition comes alive on the water: navigating intricate shorelines and hidden coves, searching for bears along the beaches, sea otters in kelp beds, and whales in the nutrient-rich salmon waters below.

This balance of exploration ashore and flexible, wildlife-focused cruising brings you closer to the landscapes and rhythms that define an Alaskan expedition.

See the lesser-known gems of Holkham Bay

Holkham Bay is home to two beautiful fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Our aim is to visit either of the two, depending on the changing ice conditions. The Captain will decide which offers better exploration options on the day, but in either case, we can expect jaw-dropping scenery and bountiful opportunities for spotting wildlife.

At the end of each fjord, fresh icebergs calve from the glaciers against a stunning backdrop of rocky cliffs. This area is a breeding ground for harbour seals, who are often seen on the floating ice. You might also see whales, bears, and even mountain goats, so keep your camera at the ready.

A rare and privileged tribal landing

Along the remote shores of Baranof Island, your expedition may offer the rare opportunity to step onto ancestral land belonging to the Sheet’ká Ḵwáan, an Indigenous clan whose deep connection to this place continues to shape its meaning today.

Accessible only by water and protected through generations of stewardship, these lands hold profound cultural and historical significance. Visits are possible by invitation only, made in close partnership with Alaska Native organisations – an extraordinary privilege granted to very few.

Weather and conditions permitting, you’ll be greeted ashore by members of the community, who share personal perspectives on their heritage, traditions, and enduring relationship with the land. As always in expedition travel, each landing is guided by respect, flexibility, and the unique opportunities the day presents.

A fitting end to your expedition

As the dormant cone of Mount Edgecumbe rises into view, we reach Sitka, set in the heart of Tongass National Forest. This has been the ancestral homeland of the Łingít people for 10,000 years. Russian explorers settled here at the turn of the 19th century, and Russia, weakened by the Crimean War, sold the territory to the United States in 1867.

Today, those layers of history remain visible: at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Russian Bishop's House, and in the Łingít and Haida totem poles at Sitka National Historical Park.

From here, you fly back to Vancouver, or, if the coastline has its hold on you, join an expedition heading south.