Fjords of Alaska: Luxury Inside Passage cruise

You have the morning at leisure to explore Vancouver. To experience its more natural side, we recommend hiring bikes and cycling along the coastal path and through Stanley Park, passing Beaver Lake and the totem poles on your way. In the afternoon, you have a private food tour in Gastown, Vancouver's 'foodie' district, where you can taste the local foods paired with alcoholic drinks (or non-alcoholic if you prefer). If you're not full from the tour, we recommend visiting one of the restaurants here for dinner.

You have a relaxed morning to finish sightseeing in Vancouver before making your own way to Vancouver's cruise ship terminal in the early afternoon. After checking in and settling into your suite, you set sail this evening, heading toward the spectacular scenery of the Canadian and Alaskan Inside Passage. All meals and drinks are included onboard (except premium alcohol) and daily shore excursions.

On the first full day of your cruise, you will travel along the rugged coastline of British Columbia, navigating the many islands on the way. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife along the way, as humpback whales and orca are often seen in this region. Along the shoreline, you pass the soaring mountains and creaking glaciers as you pass into Alaska.

Today's highlight will be a visit to Ketchikan, the gateway to Alaska. Once known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World', the town's impressive totem pole collection is a 'must see' for visitors interested in First Nations art and culture. Ketchikan is also home to both grizzly and black bears on land, and whales and seals in the water to satisfy any wildlife watcher.

Named after the Québecois gold prospector Joe Juneau, Alaska's state capital sits nestled between Mount Juneau and Douglas Island and, despite its importance, is only accessible by sea or air. This is glacier country with 38 ice floes branching off the main Juneau Icefield, and you have the option to join a guided tour to see Mendenhall Glacier from a variety of viewpoints, either hiking or by boat, along with several other tour options including flightseeing or visiting the Iditarod Dog’s summer camp.

Sitting at the northern end of Lynn Canal, the northernmost fjord on the Inside Passage, Skagway is an attractive town with Goldrush-style buildings surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. It is connected to Canada's Yukon Territory by the famous White Pass railroad, constructed in the late 1800s to open the goldfields of the Yukon's Klondike region. While here, you have the option to take the train along part of this route alongside thundering waterfalls, or visit one of the mighty rivers to spot brown bears catching salmon.

This morning, you will continue cruising Alaska's Inside Passage before reaching Sitka: the former center of Russia's Alaskan empire and, today, a curious mix of Russian and First Nations heritage. The day's included tour options include an ocean raft adventure, sea kayaking through the wilderness, rainforest hikes, and boat excursions to view sea otters, brown bears, deer, sea lions and whales. Sitka is also famous for its artisan community and was once known as the 'Paris of the Pacific' — you may wish to take a tour of the town's art galleries and see local craftsmen at work.

The enormous Hubbard Glacier is over nine km wide and over 120m high where it meets the sea. At over 121 km long, it is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, regularly calving icebergs of three or four stories in height into the ice-strewn waters of Disenchantment Bay. You will spend the day admiring the glacier, learning the geology of the formation, and watching for the creak and crash of calving icebergs before continuing north.

You arrive in Seward this morning, home to Kenai Fjords National Park, where the scenery is full of towering mountains, glaciers tumbling into the ocean and marine life playing near the boats. On arrival in Seward, you will be transferred by shared coach to downtown Anchorage. If you prefer, there is the option to upgrade to take the train to Anchorage instead. On arrival, settle into your hotel and explore the city.

One of the best ways to see Mount Denali, the tallest mountain peak in North America, is from the air. Today you have a scenic flight taking you over the mountains to Denali National Park. As you approach, you'll see the snow-capped mountain looming over the rest of the park and marvel at its size. A landing is included either on a lake or in Talkeetna to capture the best photos before returning to Anchorage. You have the rest of the day at leisure.

Enjoy last-minute sightseeing this morning before you are met by a private driver to be taken to Anchorage International Airport for your onward flight.