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ALASKA
PEAK SEASON: MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER
Wildlife Unlike Anywhere Else.
Wilderness, Glaciers &
Alaska is one of the most awe-inspiring destinations on earth, and one of the most underrated. Towering glaciers, humpback whales, grizzly bears, and landscapes so vast they make you feel wonderfully small. This is the trip that stays with you.
PLAN MY ALASKA TRIP
EXPLORE ALASKA >
WHY ALASKA
There is Nowhere
Quite Like Alaska
Alaska is the last great wilderness. It covers more than twice the area of Texas, contains more coastline than the rest of the United States combined, and is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet — from calving tidewater glaciers to ancient rainforests to the vast tundra of Denali National Park.
"You don't just see Alaska. You feel it, in the cold salt air, the silence of the glaciers, and the sheer scale of everything around you."
Whether you experience it by ship through the Inside Passage, by rail through the Yukon, or by a combination of both — Alaska rewards every style of traveller. It's equally stunning on a seven-night Inside Passage cruise as it is on a two-week land and sea adventure that takes you deep into the interior. The key is knowing how to put it together — and that's exactly where I come in.
ALASKA CRUISE SEASON
When to Go - Month by Month
MAY
Early Season
Fewer crowds, lower pricing, snow still on mountain peaks. Wildlife is active and landscapes are lush and green.
PEAK
JUNE
LONG DAYS
Nearly 19 hours of daylight. Warm temperatures, wildflowers blooming, excellent wildlife viewing. Busiest month.
PEAK
JULY
BEST OVERALL
The most popular month for good reason, warmest temperatures, best weather reliability, peak wildlife activity including whale watching.
PEAK
AUGUST
BEARS & SALMON
Grizzly bears feeding on salmon runs make August spectacular for wildlife. Slightly fewer crowds than July with excellent conditions.
SEPTEMBER
FALL COLOURS
Tundra turns gold and red, crowds thin dramatically, and prices drop. A hidden gem month for those who prefer a quieter experience.
WHAT AWAITS YOU
The Alaska Experience
Glacier Viewing
Alaska has more active glaciers than the rest of the inhabited world combined. Watching a tidewater glacier calve, a wall of ancient ice the size of a skyscraper crashing into the sea, is one of the most viscerally unforgettable experiences in travel. Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier are the crown jewels.
Wildlife Encounters
Humpback whales breaching alongside the ship. Bald eagles circling above rainforest canopy. Grizzly bears on the riverbanks. Sea otters drifting on their backs. Alaska's wildlife density is extraordinary, and seeing it from the deck of a ship or on a guided shore excursion is genuinely humbling.
The Inside Passage
A sheltered waterway winding through thousands of islands, fjords, and rainforest-draped coastline between Vancouver and Juneau. The Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sailing routes on earth, calm waters, dramatic scenery around every bend, and a sense of wilderness completely unlike any ocean voyage.
Shore Excursions
Every Alaska port offers extraordinary excursion options, whale watching in Juneau, floatplane glacier tours in Ketchikan, dog sledding on an ice field, bear viewing by floatplane in Sitka, white water rafting in Skagway. Alaska shore days are genuinely action-packed if you want them to be.
Denali & the Interior
North America's highest peak at 6,190 metres. Denali National Park is one of the world's great wilderness experiences, accessible by train from Anchorage, with opportunities for guided wilderness hiking, wildlife viewing by bus, and flightseeing over the Alaska Range. Best combined with a cruise as a land and sea package.
The Alaska Railroad
One of the great train journeys of North America. The Alaska Railroad connects Seward, Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks through landscapes of extraordinary beauty, glacial valleys, mountain passes, and tundra stretching to the horizon. A perfect addition to any land and sea itinerary.
HOW TO EXPERIENCE ALASKA
Cruise, Land & Sea,
or Both?
The two most popular ways to experience Alaska are quite different. Here's an honest breakdown of each, I'll help you decide which is right for you.
OPTION 1
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise
-
7 nights is the standard — departs from Vancouver or Seattle
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Visits Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Sitka — the iconic ports
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Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising included
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All accommodation, meals, and entertainment included onboard
-
Shore excursions are à la carte — book early for the best options
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Excellent for first-time Alaska visitors and families
-
More affordable entry point — great value for the experience
Best for: First-timers, families, shorter trip windows, those who want the iconic Alaska without the logistics complexity.
OPTION 2 - MOST POPULAR
Land & Sea Package
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Combines an Inside Passage cruise with pre or post land touring
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Typically adds Anchorage, Denali, and the Alaska Railroad
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10–14 nights total — a more complete Alaska experience
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Wilderness lodges and premium rail travel included in packages
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Takes you beyond the coast into the dramatic Alaskan interior
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Denali National Park wildlife viewing is a highlight for most
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More complex to plan — this is where I add serious value
Best for: Repeat Alaska visitors, those with more time, anyone who wants to see Denali, and travellers who want the full picture.
KEY ALASKA PORTS
Ports of Call - What to Expect
Juneau
ALASKA'S CAPITAL - MOST VISITED PORT
The only US state capital inaccessible by road, Juneau is a highlight of any Inside Passage cruise. The Mendenhall Glacier is a short drive from downtown. Whale watching excursions here are exceptional, humpback sightings are nearly guaranteed in summer. Don't miss the Tracy Arm Fjord excursion if available.
Ketchikan
CREEK STREET * TOTEM POLES * RAINFOREST
Alaska's southernmost port and the rainiest, pack a layer. Ketchikan is famous for its historic Creek Street, the world's largest collection of standing totem poles at Totem Bight, and some of the best floatplane excursion options in Alaska. Misty Fjords flightseeing is extraordinary.
Skagway
GOLD RUSH HISTORY * WHITE PASS RAILWAY
A living Gold Rush town with a perfectly preserved historic district. The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway, a narrow-gauge line climbing through mountain passes to the Yukon border, is one of the great short rail journeys in North America. Book it as a shore excursion before you board.
Sitka
RUSSIAN HERITAGE * SEA OTTERS * RAPTORS
Alaska's most beautiful port town. Sitka blends Russian Orthodox heritage with stunning natural scenery, the Sitka National Historical Park, sea otter watching in the harbour, and the Alaska Raptor Center are all within easy reach. Less visited than Juneau but deeply rewarding.
Glacier Bay
NATIONAL PARK * SCENIC CRUISING DAY
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most spectacular scenic cruising experiences in the world. Ships spend a full day navigating the bay while park rangers come aboard to narrate the geology, ecology, and wildlife. Calving glaciers, orcas, and eagles, all before lunch.
Seward & Anchorage
EMBARKATION * GATEWAY TO DENALI
The starting or ending point for most Alaska cruises. Seward sits on Resurrection Bay and is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Anchorage, a 2.5 hour drive north, is the hub for land and sea packages continuing to Denali, Fairbanks, and beyond.
ALASKA WILDLIFE
What You Might Encounter
Alaska's wildlife density is extraordinary. These are the species you're most likely to encounter on a cruise or land and sea package — most of them in the wild, from the ship or on shore excursions.
Humpback Whales
The star of any Alaska cruise. Humpbacks are frequently spotted from the ship — breaching, bubble-net feeding, and surfacing alongside the vessel. June through August is peak season.
Sea Otters
Often spotted floating on their backs in protected harbours and bays, cracking shells on their chests. Sitka and Seward are particularly reliable spots. Genuinely delightful to watch.
Dall Sheep & Mountain Goats
Often visible on the cliffsides above Skagway and along the White Pass Railway route. Mountain goats are particularly bold — frequently spotted at close range on rocky outcroppings above the ship.
Brown & Black Bears
Grizzly and black bears are commonly spotted on shore excursions, particularly in August when they gather at salmon streams. Floatplane bear-viewing tours offer exceptional close encounters.
Orcas
Killer whales are regularly spotted in Alaska waters, particularly around Glacier Bay and Frederick Sound. Seeing an orca pod from the ship deck is one of the great Alaska moments.
Harbour Seals
One of Alaska's most commonly spotted marine mammals — harbour seals are found throughout the Inside Passage, often hauled out on rocks, ice floes near glaciers, and floating logs. Glacier Bay is particularly known for large seal populations resting on calved ice.
Bald Eagles
A sheltered waterway winding through thousands of islands, fjords, and rainforest-draped coastline between Vancouver and Juneau. The Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sailing routes on earth, calm waters, dramatic scenery around every bend, and a sense of wilderness completely unlike any ocean voyage.
Moose & Caribou
More common on land and sea packages through the interior. Moose are frequently spotted along the Alaska Railroad route and around Denali. Caribou herds roam the tundra in vast numbers.
Chinook Salmon
The largest of the Pacific salmon species and a cornerstone of the Alaskan ecosystem. Chinook runs draw bears, eagles, and orcas to Alaska's rivers and streams from July through September. Watching a salmon run — thousands of fish pushing upstream — is one of nature's great spectacles.
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SAMPLE ITINERARY
A Classic Alaska
Land & Sea Journey
This is a popular structure for a 12–14 night Alaska land and sea package, combining the best of the Inside Passage with the dramatic interior. Every element is customisable depending on your travel dates, budget, and interests.
I'll build your itinerary around your specific travel style, more wilderness, more wildlife, more history, or a balance of everything.
No two Alaska trips I plan look exactly the same.
PLAN MY ALASKA TRIP
1
Arrive Vancouver or Seattle
Pre-cruise hotel night. Explore the city before embarking — both are excellent embarkation cities worth a day or two.
2
7-Night Inside Passage Cruise
Ketchikan · Juneau · Skagway · Sitka · Glacier Bay scenic cruising. The heart of the Alaska cruise experience.
3
Disembark Seward - Kenai Fjords
Spend a day exploring Kenai Fjords National Park by water taxi or charter — sea otters, puffins, and calving glaciers.
4
Alaska Railroad to Anchorage
The scenic coastal rail route between Seward and Anchorage — one of the most beautiful short rail journeys in North America.
5
Anchorage - Talkeetna
Flightseeing over Denali from Talkeetna — the most dramatic way to experience North America's highest peak.
6
Denali National Park
2 nights at a wilderness lodge. Full day wildlife bus tour into the park — bears, moose, caribou, and Denali views.
7
Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks (Optional)
Extend north to Fairbanks for the midnight sun, gold panning, and summer aurora viewing. Or fly home from Anchorage.
WHAT TO PACK
Alaska Packing Essentials
Alaska weather is unpredictable, even in summer. Here's what I recommend every Alaska traveller brings.
Layering System
a waterproof outer shell, a warm mid-layer (fleece or down), and moisture-wicking base layers. Temperatures can swing 15°C in a single day.
Camera with Zoom Lens
you'll want reach for wildlife. A 300mm+ zoom will capture moments a phone simply cannot. Binoculars are also a worthwhile addition.
Waterproof Footwear
waterproof hiking boots or trail runners are essential. Many shore excursions involve wet terrain, docks, and uneven paths.
Sunscreen & Sunglasses
Alaska gets intense summer sun, especially near the glaciers where light reflects off ice and water from every direction.
Day Pack
a small waterproof daypack for shore excursions to carry layers, water, snacks, and your camera gear.
Insect Repellant
essential for Denali and any interior land touring. Mosquitoes are significant in the Alaskan interior from late June onward.
INSIDER TIPS
Things to Know Before You Go
Book Shore Excursions Early
the best whale watching, floatplane tours, and bear viewing experiences sell out months in advance. Don't leave this to the ship.
1
Embrace the Weather
Ketchikan averages 160 inches of rain per year. A bit of mist is part of the Alaska experience. The scenery is extraordinary regardless.
2
Smaller Ships Get Closer
if glacier access is important to you, a smaller or mid-size ship can navigate deeper into fjords and bays that larger vessels cannot reach.
3
Spend Time On Deck
4
the most memorable Alaska moments happen when you least expect them. Keep a layer nearby and spend as much time on deck as possible.
Denali Views Aren't Guaranteed
5
North America's highest peak is cloud-covered about 70% of the time. If seeing Denali is important to you, budget for a flightseeing tour from Talkeetna.
Travel Insurance is Non-Negotiable
6
Alaska weather can disrupt excursions, flights, and transfers. Comprehensive coverage protects your investment. I'll help you find the right policy.
LET'S START PLANNING
Ready to Plan Your
Alaska Adventure?
Tell me a little about what you're dreaming of, cruise only, land and sea, specific ports, wildlife priorities, and I'll come back within 24 hours with a plan tailored to you.
Not sure where to start? That's completely fine. Just tell me when you'd like to travel and roughly how many people, and we'll figure out the rest together.
No fees, no pressure — just a conversation.
