Glaciers & Mountains

Day 1 - Fly UK to Vancouver

Arrive in Vancouver and make your own way to your downtown hotel. (transfer not included)

Day 2 - Discover Vancouver - Stanley Park, English bay & Granville Island

Discover Vancouver and it's sights with a complimentary Hop on Hop off Sightseeing Pass. 

Explore Vancouver onboard clear-top buses and San Francisco-style Trolleys. This flexible Dual Pass combination of the CITY and PARK Routes offers all the highlights of downtown Vancouver, including major attractions, and scenic points of interest. Choose to Hop-Off at any of the 29 stops, and Hop-On again to continue the tour.

This flexible city tour offers up the highlights of downtown Vancouver, including major attractions, and scenic points of interest. Choose to Hop-Off at any of the 29 stops, and Hop-On again to continue the tour. Take an up close and personal look at Vancouver's urban oasis, Stanley Park, have lunch at Granville Island, visit the historical Gastown or the trendy Yaletown, and don't forget Robson Street to do a little shopping! Highlights of the route include English Bay, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, and the Entertainment District. Full commentary on the clear top convertible Hop-On, Hop-Off busses. Enjoy Commentary in English onboard the San Francisco-style Trolleys. Both bus types (clear top and trolley) will be travelling on all routes. There is no designated bus type per route.

Day 3 - Board Cunard's Queen Elizabeth Alaska Cruise

Board Cunard's Queen Elizabeth late morning for your your stunning 10-night Alaska Cruise.  

Day 4 - Cruise the Inside Passage

Spend today at Sea cruising the scenic Inside Passage. Enjoy the endless facilties on board the ship.

Day 5 - Glacier Bay

With snow-capped peaks, abundant wildlife and shimmering glaciers gliding through dynamic fjords, it’s no wonder Glacier Bay is the crowning jewel of Alaska’s Inside Passage.  Glacier Bay National Park Port Guide.

Spanning 3.3 million acres, as part of a 25-million-acre World Heritage Site, a Glacier Bay National Park cruise reveals some of the planet’s most remarkable tidewater glaciers.

Top landmarks and sights in Glacier Bay National Park .

There’s so much to take in on a Glacier Bay National Park cruise, it’s hard to know where to begin. Towering mountains, gargantuan icebergs and majestic glaciers stretch as far as the eye can see, disappearing onto the horizon in every direction. It’s a thrilling sight to experience from the deck of a cruise ship, or snuggled under a blanket in the warmth of your stateroom balcony, as you silently watch the world go by.

The park is home to over 1,000 glaciers, the majority of which nestle in the surrounding mountains, connecting land to sky like nature’s skyscrapers. Soaring to 15,000 feet, Glacier Bay’s ranges are the highest coastal peaks in all the world; their abundant snowfall offering the perfect breeding ground for glaciers to take shape. One of the highlights of visiting Glacier Bay National Park is watching the prolific calving of these shimmering ice giants. Towering hundreds of feet above the water, as well as stretching a hundred feet below, huge jagged pinnacles routinely break off in thunderous explosions, resulting in flotillas of icebergs. It’s an awe-inspiring spectacle. Things to do in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. There’s a reason cruising is considered the best way to explore Glacier Bay National Park. With dense rainforest, minimal trails (and even fewer roads), Glacier Bay’s natural waters offer the greatest access to the National Park’s awaiting treasures.

Besides the tidal glaciers, for which Glacier Bay National Park is renowned, the area is also a vibrant habitat for a rich variety of wildlife. Huge humpback whales are often spotted breaching and slapping their tails, as pods of orcas silently glide by and sea lions bask in the sun on rocky outcrops. As you sail along the endless miles of pristine coastline, you may see brown bears, mountain goats, and moose, while looking up reveals hundreds of bird species, including rare puffins and majestic bald eagles. To enrich your experience of this wilderness sanctuary, National Park Service rangers will join you on board and offer deeper insight into this fascinating region. They will present you with a host of fascinating facts about the spectacular scenery, glaciers, and wildlife you will see, and inform you about some of the conservation efforts that go on behind the scenes. They will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the history of this protected biosphere reserve and its many inhabitants.

Day 6 - Skagway

Gateway to the Klondike, with highlights including White Summit Pass and the cable Yukon Suspension Bridge. The gold rush coastal town of Skagway, Alaska, was previously a lawless Wild West outpost. Skagway port guide.

Skagway is Alaska’s gateway to the Klondike where in the late 1890s more than 100,000 prospectors arrived in search of gold. Even today, frontier-style saloon-style buildings still line the town’s streets, an enduring reminder of this key period in Alaska’s gold rush history.

While feeling as though you’ve somehow fallen through time and into the Wild West is undoubtedly part of Skagway’s appeal, there’s so much more to admire, discover and experience on a port call to this southerly part of the Great Land.

John Wayne’s classic motion picture “Into Alaska” was filmed nearby and the area has inspired several novels (see our Alaska cruise book recommendations for some suggested reading).

Then there’s the scenery.

Skagway’s surroundings are nothing short of magnificent. The piercing waters hugging its shores outdone only by the frosted peaks painted on the horizon. It’s a vista best savoured from a vintage passenger car on the area’s famous White Pass and Yukon Route railway.  

Day 7 - Juneau

Beneath an ice field that never melts, on a waterway that never freezes, Juneau is the unusual and disarmingly beautiful capital of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is the not-to-be-missed attraction. Juneau port guide.  

Despite its status as Alaska’s capital, Juneau’s urban area spans just 14 square miles but its appeal far exceeds its city limits. Frequently cited as Alaska’s most scenic city, Juneau is nature’s playground, and what a playground it is. Waters abound with Humpbacks and orcas, forested trails leading to snow-ensconced mountains, and the ever-present majestic eagles circling overhead.

The town that kick-started Alaska’s gold rush is rich with treasures of all varieties, from native Tlingit history and excellent seafood to an abundance of outdoor pursuits. It’s little wonder that most of Juneau’s residents arrived for a short stay and decided never to leave.

Top landmarks and sights in Juneau.

Spending time in Juneau is an experience to savour. The city is home to some of Alaska’s finest museums and galleries, showcasing native art and objects of historical significance. Downtown Juneau is the city’s oldest district, with many buildings dating from the dawn of Alaska’s gold rush. It’s a wonderful area to explore, with helpful signposts to guide your way.

By far, one of the most popular excursions from Juneau is to Mendenhall Glacier. At half a mile wide, the glacier is one of the most accessible in Alaska and a visit here is high on many Juneau visitor’s wish lists. The aptly named Photo Point Trail offers a great vantage point from which to take photos while a longer trek brings you to Nugget Falls.

Admiralty Island, home to the world’s largest concentration of brown bears, is also easily reached from Juneau. The island offers several places from which to observe the bears safely, and is just a short seaplane journey from Juneau. 

Day 8 - Hubbard Glacier

Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history its created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier Port Guide.

The largest tidal glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier is a rarity; an icy abyss, formed over centuries, where nature, not man, is King. Only by cruising alongside it can you appreciate the majesty of its colossal scale. It’s a sight quite unlike anything else, drawing the curiosity of visitors keen to experience one of the natural world’s most humbling creations. 

Top landmarks and sights in Hubbard Glacier.

The top landmark to see in Hubbard Glacier is of course Hubbard Glacier itself. This phenomenal natural wonder is a sight to behold; a gargantuan glacier of ice, 76 miles long and over 2000 feet deep in parts.

It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and yet just 350 feet of its mass is visible above water. The bulk remains hidden beneath the surface, faced with a 400-year wait to breach the tideline; the exact length of time it takes for the ice to traverse the glacier’s body and meet air for the first time.

Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history it’s created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier has dictated local geography and human endeavour over millennia. This is your chance to get close to one of Earth’s majestic giants of slow-moving ice.

Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history its created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier Port Guide.

The largest tidal glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier is a rarity; an icy abyss, formed over centuries, where nature, not man, is King. Only by cruising alongside it can you appreciate the majesty of its colossal scale. It’s a sight quite unlike anything else, drawing the curiosity of visitors keen to experience one of the natural world’s most humbling creations. 

Top landmarks and sights in Hubbard Glacier.

The top landmark to see in Hubbard Glacier is of course Hubbard Glacier itself. This phenomenal natural wonder is a sight to behold; a gargantuan glacier of ice, 76 miles long and over 2000 feet deep in parts.

It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and yet just 350 feet of its mass is visible above water. The bulk remains hidden beneath the surface, faced with a 400-year wait to breach the tideline; the exact length of time it takes for the ice to traverse the glacier’s body and meet air for the first time.

Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history it’s created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier has dictated local geography and human endeavour over millennia. This is your chance to get close to one of Earth’s majestic giants of slow-moving ice.

Day 9 - Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point is a grand idea brought to life in a brilliant hub of Alaskan action and adventure. Look out for whales in the picturesque wilderness or enjoy warm hospitality and hearty food ashore. Icy Strait Point port guide.

Picture Alaska and you’ve more or less conjured Icy Strait Point. This natively owned cruise port on Chichagof Island offers the best of what makes this region unique; piercing blue waters, emerald green forest and myriad ways to enjoy the outdoors.

You may decide to spend the afternoon whale watching, join a fishing expedition or take in the scenery on a guided kayaking experience. Then there are the nature hikes, offering the chance to spot native brown bears and eagles in their natural habitat. For the truly brave, Icy Strait Point is also home to the world’s largest zip rider, which propels you over 5000 feet from a 1,300 vertical drop. It is an adrenaline-fuelled experience, perhaps not one for everyone, but definitely something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Of course, there’s much for the leisurely paced visitor to enjoy on shore too. Icy Strait Point is situated just outside Hoonah, the largest Tlingit village in the world. Near to the cruise port, you’ll also find quaint shops selling local artefacts and insightful museums expanding on local history. While along the waterfront a smattering of restaurants are ready to treat you to the freshest crab plucked from Icy Strait bay, an Alaskan delicacy you won’t want to miss.

Top landmarks and sights in Icy Strait Point.

A port call to Icy Strait Point means a choice between whether to spend your time on land, sea or in the air. The island is a natural playground; its waters as dense with whales as its forest is with brown bears.

If you harbour a desire to see either, now’s your chance. So abundant is the population here that tour guides as good as guarantee a sighting. In fact, Icy Strait Point even has its own resident whale who bucks the migration trend to stay put year-round. Nicknamed Freddy by locals, the sight of his colossal tail rising from the water or spray shooting skyward is a common sight on a port call here.

Icy Strait Point’s other claim to fame is its ZipRider, hailed as the largest zip line in the world. The descent takes you from Mount Hoonah’s summit at speeds of 60 miles per hour as the rainforest rushes by below. If you can keep your eyes open for the experience you’ll be treated to stunning views out to the bay as you descend from the mountaintop towards your beach landing.

Day 10 - Ketchikan

Tiny Ketchikan is just three miles long and three blocks wide, but here you can be sure to find Alaska’s busiest waterfront buzzing with boat planes, fishing boats, pleasure craft, and busy fishermen. Ketchikan port guide.

Once colonised by Tlingit and Haida tribes, Ketchikan is a thriving fishing town with colourful stilted houses, a rich Alaskan culture and a throng of trawlers hauling in fresh crab and salmon.

Arts thrive here and museums celebrating the town’s history are abundant. Some of the best seafood you’ll sample in the Great Land will have been plucked directly from Ketchikan’s waters and served in its restaurants just hours later. A detail that only magnifies the appeal of this enchanting port call on your Alaska cruise.

While other towns have their origins firmly rooted in the region’s gold rush years, Ketchikan’s connection with its native population is still at the heart of its community. You’ll find Alaska’s largest collection of totem poles among its many welcoming attractions, along with heritage experiences expanding on the beliefs, customs and pastimes of Alaska’s earliest settlers.

Top landmarks and sights in Ketchikan.

Nestled among some of Alaska’s most arresting scenery, Ketchikan’s location is one to both admire and leverage. Hikers will love the trails that seem to venture out in all directions, while those who enjoy the thrill of fishing will find the waters here bountifully stocked.

Many visitors to Ketchikan use the city as a base from which to visit Misty Fjords National Monument, just 22 miles east of the city. Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is one of Southern Alaska’s most beautiful natural wonders, combining sheer sea cliffs, towering rock faces and expansive fjords. Seaplane offers one of the best ways to take in this magnificent scene, and is sure to provide a memorable highlight of your Alaska holiday.

Further top Ketchikan landmarks include the Deer Mountain trail (although the 2.5-mile ascent is not for the inexperienced), while the city’s infamous Creek Street, which operated as red-light district until the 1950s, is a Ketchikan institution not to be missed.

Day 11 - At Sea

At sea cruising.

Day 12 - Victoria

The capital of British Columbia, Victoria, possesses a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary charisma. It offers a wide variety of exquisite sights that draw visitors from around the world. Victoria port guide.

Nestled on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria, is an intoxicating blend of historic streets, Victorian architecture and dramatic craggy coastlines. Here you’ll find a perfect balancing act between old and new, where the legacies left by indigenous populations are imprinted alongside fairy-tale castles and gardens that stay in bloom year-round.

Hop in a seaplane and take in the breathtaking scenery from up high, step back through time at the Royal BC museum or simply absorb the magic of meandering streets and atmospheric squares. Victoria’s character and history is sure to enchant you, while its burgeoning culinary scene offers everything from farm-to-table bistros and vegan-friendly cafés, to traditional teahouses and colourful microbreweries.

Day 13 - Arrive Vancouver, transfer to Whistler, afternoon at leisure

Arrive into Vancouver this morning, dismebark and get your coach transfer to Whistler. 

Day 14 - Explore Whistler on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Day at leisure to explore Whistler, we have include the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride to help you take in the best of the scenery from Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Day 15 - Enjoy Whistler and its lakes

Spend the day at leisure exploring Whistler and it's lakes, for the more adventurous Whistler has endless activities on offer. Alternatively why not pre-book an excursion, Bear Viewing tours are very popular, speak to one of our Canada Experts for options.

Day 16 - Transfer to Vancouver, fly to UK

Coach transfer to Vancouver Airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.