Cruises from Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is the coastal route along the panhandle in Southeast Alaska. The northern portion of the passage is in the US with a shoreline of 15,000 miles and covers hundreds of islands, inlets and bays. The southern portion has a similar landscape and is in the British Columbia region of Canada.
The Inside Passage encompasses world-famous national parks, cities, glaciers, fjords and towns making it the most popular tourist destination in Alaska. The route is also heavily trafficked by cruise liners, freighters, fishing vessels, tugs and other commercial ships.

It is often said that the variety offered by tourist destinations along the Inside Passage is what has made Alaska cruising so popular around the world. Now let’s have a look at what makes the Inside Passage so popular.

Most of the passage is dominated by the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in North America. Two parts of the forest, the Misty Fjords and the Admiralty Island are preserved as national monuments. As expected this massive rain forest offers a wide array of outdoor activities. Visitors can go kayaking, camping, hiking or fishing and they shouldn’t be surprised if a bear is your hiking companion or you wake up to early mornings visits outside your tent from a deer or a porcupine or even a wolf. Fair weather is rare along this portion of the Inside Passage and so it is always better to be prepared with rain gear while touring the wilderness of the Tongass National Forest.

The Inside Passage also includes two large national parks, the Glacier Bay National Park and the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The former is home to unique flora and fauna and wildlife making it a favourite destination of scientists and environmentalists. It is also a haven for kayakers, hikers, fishing enthusiasts, and bird and whale watchers. The latter is home to the Hubbard, one of the most active glaciers in Alaska, which has its calving (shedding of icebergs) on display almost regularly.

The coastal towns and communities of the Inside Passage offer a unique perspective into the cultural mix of this unique region. The Russian presence is preserved in churches and historical monuments. The native cultures of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian dominate the communities with the presence of ancient totem poles, dance and music. The major cities of the Inside Passage are Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines, Skagway and Gustavus. Ketchikan is noted for its native India presence. Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and offers a delightful mix of the modern commercial presence and the tradition. If you want to see thousands of bald eagles congregate, you don’t have a choice but to go to Haines. Skagway reminds one of the Gold Rush and Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park.

A trip to Alaska is incomplete without a tour of all the marvels that the Inside Passage has to offer.