Alaska’s Inside Passage

Seward, Alaska, is a captivating port known for its stunning landscapes and rich history as a gold rush supply town. Must-do experiences include visiting Kenai Fjords National Park and sampling local delicacies like halibut tacos and akutaq. The best time to visit is during the summer months when the natural beauty is at its peak and outdoor activities abound.

College Fjord in Prince William Sound contains the world's highest concentration of tidewater glaciers—twenty-six named glaciers visible from its waters, including the advancing Harvard Glacier. Must-dos include watching glacier calving from the ship's deck, spotting harbor seals on ice floes, and listening to the ethereal crackle of dissolving glacial ice. Cruise season runs May–September, with June–July offering the best light and visibility.

Tsaa Fjord is a remote arm of Icy Bay on Alaska's south-central coast, where the Tyndall Glacier calves icebergs against a backdrop of the towering Saint Elias Mountains—the highest coastal range on Earth. Must-dos include Zodiac cruises along the actively calving glacier face, watching harbor seals on ice floes, and taking in the raw wilderness of this rarely visited landscape. July–August offers the best access and most dramatic calving activity.

Saint George Island, Alaska, United States, offers an authentic North American experience where stunning natural landscapes meet communities of genuine character. Visitors should explore the surrounding wilderness and sample the honest, locally sourced cuisine that defines the region. The ideal visiting period is June through September, when long northern days and mild temperatures make exploration a pleasure. Cruise lines including HX Expeditions feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Haines is an authentic Alaskan town on North America's deepest fjord, home to the world's largest bald eagle congregation — up to four thousand birds along the Chilkat River — and a thriving arts community preserving Tlingit cultural traditions. Visit June through August via Cunard or Lindblad for glacier helicopter landings and coastal hikes, or October through February for the extraordinary eagle spectacle that makes Haines Alaska's best-kept secret.

Tracy Arm is a stunning 30-mile fjord in Alaska's Tongass National Forest, celebrated for its dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife. Must-do experiences include cruising through the fjord to view calving glaciers and enjoying local seafood like smoked salmon. The best season to visit is during the summer months when the area is vibrant and accessible.

Chatham Strait, United States is a spectacular maritime passage celebrated for its dramatic natural scenery and wildlife encounters, featured on expedition itineraries by HX Expeditions. Travelers should position themselves on open decks with quality binoculars for the best viewing experience, and take advantage of Zodiac excursions when conditions permit. The optimal season is June through August, when summer months bring the warmest temperatures and longest days.

Klawock is one of Alaska's oldest Tlingit settlements on Prince of Wales Island, where twenty-one totem poles in a community park narrate clan histories predating European contact by centuries. Visit May through September via Regent Seven Seas or Silversea for genuine Tlingit cultural encounters, Alaska's longest cave system, and the intimate experience of a remote island community where wilderness is neighbor, not commodity.

Misty Fjords National Monument is a 930,000-hectare wilderness in Southeast Alaska, where sheer granite cliffs rise from mirror-still fjords through perpetual veils of mist and cloud. Must-dos include kayaking through silent fjord arms, zodiac cruising past waterfalls and the volcanic New Eddystone Rock, and watching for bears, eagles, and orcas in the pristine channels. May through September offers the visiting season, with rain adding to the monument's ethereal atmosphere.

Alert Bay, Canada is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by HX Expeditions. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is June through August, when summer months bring the warmest temperatures and longest days.

Pressed between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is the natural gateway to Alaska's Inside Passage — a city where temperate rainforest meets glass towers and where Dungeness crab and wild sockeye salmon define a Pacific Rim cuisine that rivals any in North America. Walk the 22-kilometre Stanley Park seawall, lose yourself in the Granville Island market, then ferry across to Victoria's Edwardian splendour. Alaska cruise season peaks from May through September, making Vancouver an ideal starting point for one of the world's great ocean journeys.