Inside Passage Region
Shaped by the staggering force of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage stretches 500 miles along the Pacific Ocean and boasts wildlife-filled fjords, tidewater glaciers, and lush island scenery. The Tongass National Forest — the largest national forest in the United States and the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world — covers the vast majority of the Inside Passage.
The Inside Passage is home to Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Alaska Native peoples whose history is reflected in towering totem poles and whose vibrant culture can be seen today through art, song, and dance. Russian settlers left their legacy through onion-domed churches gleaming with icons.
Today, the Inside Passage is the most popular route for large and small cruise ships departing from the Seattle, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, B.C. from May through September. For those that want to travel at their own pace, the Inside Passage is also accessible on the state ferry along the Alaska Marine Highway System, which stops in 35 ports of call from Bellingham, WA to Dutch Harbor in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
Both cruisers and independent travelers are awed by the lush beauty of top Inside Passage destinations including Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Wrangell, and Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. There’s no shortage of adventures to be had, including kayaking, hiking, fishing, experiencing Alaska Native culture, glacier viewing, and searching for wildlife including whales, bears, and eagles.
Map of Inside Passage Alaska
Plan Your Trip
Discovery Voyages is Alaska's original small ship cruise. We offer the finest guided small group sea and land tours, featuring photography...
Join us for our 3-hour Lighthouse, Totems, & Eagles tour! Hop aboard a bus to our rustic Ward Cove location where you will board a 60 ft...
The best of Alaska's glaciers and ports are yours on the ultimate Alaska cruise, with perfectly sized ships that get you closer to all the wonder...
Built in 1898 to open the Klondike to gold seekers, this narrow gauge railway, originally stretching from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon...
"Welcome to Alaska Charters and Adventures, your gateway to the pristine wilderness of the Inside Passage, Alaska. We specialize in bear viewing...
Get more from your tour experience on this small group, fully guided citizen science adventure. Play an active role in ongoing data collection...
Experience a better way to stay! Forget typical hotels & crowded spaces. Instead, imagine returning each evening to your own beautiful home...
NorthStar Helicopters offers a diverse range of personalized flightseeing and glacier experiences tailored to each guest's abilities and...
Talon Lodge and Spa is No Ordinary Alaska Fishing Lodge Located on an exclusive private island, Talon Lodge & Spa is a haven for those seeking...
Put on your hiking boots, fill your lungs with fresh air, and experience a day of world-class hiking in the Tongass National Rainforest. The pace...
Salmon Falls Resort is an intimate full-service resort in Ketchikan, Alaska, situated at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s iconic Inside...
Step into Alaska with a small-group, fully-guided Photo Safari adventure. Your certified Naturalist Photography guide will lead you to local...
The Inn sits nestled in the middle of downtown amidst the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. Conveniently located near all attractions...
A smaller group makes for a larger wilderness experience! Gastineau Guiding offers travelers fully guided, small group tours to one or more of...
Nestled along the Tongass Narrows, minutes from downtown, The Ketch embodies the spirit of Ketchikan - where fishing is a way of life, the food...
Discovery Voyages is Alaska's original small ship cruise. We offer the finest guided small group sea and land tours, featuring photography...
Alaska Wildland Adventures operates vacation packages and wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula and in Denali National Park. Our Alaska...
Adventure Sitka is Alaskan owned and operated with headquarters in Sitka, Alaska. We offer a variety of activities to visiting guests including...
Above & Beyond Alaska (ABAK) has been organizing small group adventures in the Juneau area for over 21 years. Our commitment is unwavering — we...
Join us on a sweeping exploration of southeast Alaska, from Sitka's outer coast in the northwest, to Ketchikan in the southeast. Discover worlds...
Local Climate & Weather
For Alaska's day-to-day weather, it’s best to plan for a bit of everything. Learn more about weather in this area.
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