Few stretches of coastline on Earth can match the Inside Passage — a 1,500-kilometre marine highway threading through ancient rainforests, glacier-carved fjords, and Indigenous territories that have been inhabited for thousands of years. This is Alaska and British Columbia at their most raw and cinematic. Come ready to be humbled.
Arriving by Ship
The Inside Passage isn’t a single port — it’s a route, with ships calling at key stops including Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll dock at purpose-built cruise terminals (Juneau and Ketchikan both have convenient downtown docks) or anchor offshore and tender ashore in smaller communities like Wrangell.
Distances to town centres are minimal at most stops — Ketchikan’s Creek Street is practically steps from the gangway. The real travel happens aboard, watching the scenery unspool between ports.
Things to Do
The Inside Passage rewards those who get off the ship and into the wilderness — whether that’s hiking to a glacier face or watching a totem-pole carver at work. The range is extraordinary, from high-octane adventure to deeply immersive cultural encounters.
History & Culture
- Totem Bight State Historical Park, Ketchikan — Home to 14 restored totem poles and a clan house; admission is free and the forest setting is haunting.
- Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka — Alaska’s oldest museum holds one of the finest Alaska Native artefact collections in the world; entry around USD 5.
- Skagway Historic District — The entire downtown is a National Historic Landmark, preserving the gritty Gold Rush-era streetscape of 1898; free to walk.
Nature & Adventure
- Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau — Walk the U.S. Forest Service trails right to the glacier face; the visitor centre is free, though guided ice-walk tours run USD 150–200.
- Tracy Arm Fjord — A narrow fjord slicing 45 kilometres inland, flanked by waterfalls and calving glaciers; most ships pass through, but dedicated fjord cruise excursions offer closer access.
- Misty Fjords National Monument, Ketchikan — Accessible by floatplane or boat, these volcanic cliffs rising 900 metres from black water are among the continent’s great wilderness spectacles.
- Whale watching, Juneau — Humpback and orca sightings are common from May to September; guided tours depart frequently and cost around USD 120–160 per person.
- White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, Skagway — A narrow-gauge railway built in 1898 climbs vertiginous mountain passes; round trips from USD 135.
Families
- Ketchikan’s Creek Street — A boardwalk built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek where you can watch salmon run directly beneath your feet in late summer; free.
- Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka — A rehabilitation centre for bald eagles and other birds of prey; tickets around USD 15, and the up-close encounters are unforgettable.
What to Eat
Southeast Alaska’s cuisine is driven by what the sea gives up — and it gives up a lot. Expect exceptional wild-caught seafood at nearly every port, served simply to let the quality speak.
- Dungeness crab, Juneau — Sweet, fresh, and enormous; order a whole cracked crab at Tracy’s King Crab Shack (budget USD 30–45) and eat it on the dock.
- Wild king salmon — Grilled, smoked, or cured, found everywhere; The Rookery Café in Juneau does an outstanding salmon dish for around USD 22.
- Fish and chips, Ketchikan — Halibut battered fresh daily at Alaskan Fish House near the docks; a generous portion runs USD 18–22.
- Reindeer sausage — A distinctly Alaskan street food staple; grab one from a dockside cart in Skagway for around USD 8.
- Smoked salmon chowder — Rich, smoky, and warming after a cold morning ashore; look for it at Skagway’s Sweet Tooth Café for under USD 12.
Shopping
Skip the generic souvenir shops selling mass-produced “Alaska” trinkets — focus instead on authentic Native art from artists you can watch working. Ketchikan and Sitka have reputable Alaska Native galleries where Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian carvings, weavings, and jewellery are sold with certificates of authenticity; prices reflect genuine craftsmanship and start around USD 50 for smaller pieces.
For edibles, wild smoked salmon vacuum-packed for travel is the single best thing to bring home. Many shops near the docks offer tastings before you buy, so you can find your preferred smoke level before committing to a gift box.
Practical Tips
- Currency — U.S. dollars are used throughout Alaskan ports; Canadian dollars in Victoria, BC.
- Tipping — Standard 18–20% at restaurants; tip your guides generously — they’re worth it.
- Weather — Pack waterproofs regardless of forecast; “liquid sunshine” is the local phrase for a reason.
- Go ashore early — Crowds build fast when multiple ships are in port simultaneously; be among the first off the gangway.
- Wildlife etiquette — Keep at least 50 metres from bears and never feed any wildlife; rangers take this seriously.
- Time ashore — Most ports offer 6–8 hours; Juneau and Ketchikan reward a full day, so prioritise accordingly.
- Layering — Temperatures can swing 15°C between morning and afternoon; dress in moisture-wicking, windproof layers.
Pack your waterproofs, charge your camera, and prepare to sail through scenery so dramatic it will ruin every other coastline for you.
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
📍 Getting to Inside Passage, Alaska-Canada
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
Leave a Reply