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Woman on boat tour in Glacier Bay National Park

Nine Days Inside the Inside Passage

Nine Days Inside the Inside Passage

Take on some of the Inside Passage’s best adventures on this nine-day itinerary that includes zipliningwhale watchingbear viewing, glacier dog sledding, visits to wildlife rehabilitation and rescue facilities, and a chance to learn about the Alaska Native cultures of Southeast Alaska.

Day 1: Ketchikan

Arrive in Ketchikan, Alaska’s first port of call, via air or Alaska Marine Highway state ferry. Pick up a walking tour map and explore downtown attractions including historical Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, the Totem Heritage Center, and unique local art galleries and shops. If you have time, head to Totem Bight State Historical Park and/or Saxman Native Village. Spend the night in Ketchikan.

Day 2: Ketchikan

In the morning, choose a half-day guided sportfishing trip, day cruise, or flightseeing excursion to the 2.3-million-acre Misty Fjords National Monument. As the name implies, Misty Fjords is filled with majestic, steep-walled glacier fjords. In the evening, take a commercial flight to Sitka.

Day 3: Sitka

You have three incredible wildlife viewing options today: Go whale watching on a day cruise, have up-close encounters with bald eagles and other large birds at the Alaska Raptor Center, or pay a visit to the Fortress of the Bear. The latter is an educational wildlife rescue center, where you can watch orphaned brown bears and black bears in a large natural habitat. Overnight in Sitka.

Day 4: Sitka

Tour historical St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Russian Bishop’s House in what was once the Russian capital of Alaska, then book a van tour with local guides to see the sites where Tlingit tribes successfully resisted the Russian occupation. Other must-see attractions include the collection of late-1800s Alaska Native artifacts at the Sheldon Jackson Museum and the totem poles nestled among the forest at Sitka National Historical Park. Overnight again in Sitka.

Day 5: Juneau

Take a morning commercial or regional flight to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city. Don’t miss the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier and its visitor center; you can easily spend a full afternoon here. Other popular attractions include the recently renovated Alaska State Museum and the Wickersham State Historic Site, which offers a glimpse into Alaska’s territorial days and the life of a swashbuckling, mountain-climbing judge. Overnight in Juneau for the next 3 nights.

Day 6: Juneau

Pick from dozens of adventure tours including sea kayakingraftingzipliningwhale watching, and glacier trekking, or hike one of Juneau’s numerous trails. Make sure you leave time to wander the many locally owned shops and museums in the historical downtown area, just a few blocks from the cruise ship docks. Juneau’s pretty downtown area also makes a great photo op, with the buildings and orderly streets rising to meet a backdrop of dramatic green mountains.

Day 7: Juneau

Take to the air today on one of two spectacular adventures. Take a guided floatplane tour to Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area in Admiralty Island National Monument, home to the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. After several hours spent on the ground viewing the bears, you’ll fly back to Juneau. Or, join a helicopter trip to a nearby glacier, where you’ll enjoy the thrill of dog mushing on snow, even in the middle of the Alaska summer. Enjoy your last evening in Juneau.

Day 8: Glacier Bay National Park

Take a quick commercial flight or air taxi from Juneau to Gustavus, the gateway community to 3.3-million-acre Glacier Bay National Park. Here, you’ll board a fast, stable vessel to explore the magnificent glaciers and abundant wildlife of this unforgettable destination. Calving glaciers, breaching humpback whales, curious sea otters, and lively seabirds are all part of the experience of Glacier Bay National Park. Spend the night in the charming town of Gustavus.

Day 9: Glacier Bay National Park

Squeeze in one last adventure by taking to Glacier Bay’s immense, wild waters in a guided kayaking tour. Once the tour’s over, it’s time to catch your jet or air taxi back to Juneau, and from there make your way home.

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