Inside Passage Tours

Tour One of Earth’s Best Cruising Routes

Explore the wildlife and spectacular natural world—whales, bears, seabirds, and more—on an Alaska or Canada Inside Passage cruise, with our expert, local naturalists and guides.

View Itineraries
default

The Inside Passage

Along the Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington Coast

The Inside Passage, also called the Inland Passage or the Inner Passage, is a stretch of protected ocean approx. 1,500 km long, that runs from Puget Sound in Washington State, USA, along the British Columbia, Canada coastline, to Skagway, Alaska, USA.

It is a popular route for cruises and marine transportation, due to its absence of open ocean swells and its relatively flat and calm waters.

On a Inside Passage cruise with Maple Leaf, you’ll sail on a 138-foot catamaran, an 88-foot converted tugboat, or a 92-foot classic schooner, with just 8 to 24 guests.

Tour the Inside Passage

This stunning coastline has several distinct areas. Each is worth a separate tour, which is why we have divided it up this way.

wheel-icon

Alaska’s Inside Passage

Tidewater glaciers, lush rainforests, sea otters, brown bears, humpback whales, hot springs, and charming historic towns like Ketchikan and Petersburg.

wheel-icon

Vancouver Island’s Inside Passage

Killer whales and dolphins, island-hopping, rainforests, beaches, warmer weather, and remote coastal communities.

wheel-icon

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Dry rainforests, island-hopping, temperate climate, great sailing, and encounters with marine mammals, easy to access.

wheel-icon

Haida Gwaii

Just west of the Inside Passage, directly along the continental shelf, lies the archipelago of Haida Gwaii. Islands teem with whales, seabirds, intertidal life and rainforests.

Experience the Inside Passage

See what an Inside Passage cruise is like through the eyes of our guests.

Tour Activities

Our small ship tours allow you to experience the best of the Inside Passage.

  • Marine mammal viewing (whales, sea lions)
  • Guided bear viewing in coastal rainforest
  • Rainforest hikes
  • Island-hopping
  • Cultural exploration of coastal communities
  • Hot spring relaxation
  • Optional kayaking and fishing
  • Bird watching
  • Local dining opportunities
  • Sailing
  • Historical site visits
  • Wildlife photography

What People Say

See what our guests have to say about our Inside Passage cruises.

  • “’Wild and wooly’ within a pristine wilderness. Pushing life to the limit. The best of days from sunrise to sunset. Thank you for the opportunity to rejuvenate our spirits. Merci from two Victorians and ex-Montrealers”

    Sheila Madill and Bill Fuller, Victoria, BC

  • “From our first inquiries to the final docking, our trip has been first class all the way”

    F. Shirley, Ontario, Canada

  • “An unbelievable experience with the most dedicated and involved crew I’ve ever experienced. Every day was ‘magical’. The bar for my next adventure now is high! A true way to tick off a bucket list item in such a successful way. Thanks so much to all the fabulous crew”

    Chuck Cole, Washington, USA

  • “Another wonderful trip on the Maple Leaf. Once again, the people, as well as nature, were great! This is always the most difficult part of the trip, saying Goodbye. Already planning the next journey”

    Jim and Judy Colvin, Los Angeles, CA

Highlights of the Inside Passage

Where Mountainous Coast Meets the Pacific Ocean

The combination of the thousands of islands and the upwelling at the continent’s edge creates a rich coastal environment.

Teeming with Marine Life

Spot humpback whales, killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, and other large animals to countless fish, seabirds and invertebrates.

Bears and Wolves Roam the Shores

Coastal rainforest provides habitat for grizzly/brown bears, and black bears including the rare spirit bear, an wolves.

Ancient and Natural Geography

There are some cities and towns along it too, including Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Juneau.

Emerging Expedition Cruise Industry

Led by local Canadian and American companies, allowing visitors to experience the region’s natural wonder by becoming part of it.

History of the Inside Passage

The Inside Passage boasts a rich history. Ice covered much of it during the last ice age, forming navigable fjords as glaciers receded. People have inhabited this region for millennia, attracted by abundant resources and waterways. Due to the fluctuations in sea level over this time, likely much record of human habitation is under water.

Coastal First Nations have skillfully traversed these waters in seagoing canoes for generations. In 2015, footprints dating back 13,200 years were discovered on Calvert Island, which could be the oldest to date in North America.

In Europe’s age of exploration, Russians, Spanish and English explorers sailed into the area and began charting it. In the late 18th century, Captain George Vancouver, extensively mapped the area. The United States’ purchase of Alaska in 1867 spurred exploration and marked the beginning of Alaskan cruises.

34-alaska3-2018
alaska-jeff-reynolds

The Inside Passage Today

Today, the Inside Passage thrives as a marine route for cargo and passenger cruises between Seattle, Alaska, and points in between. It’s also a natural playground for private boaters and commercial cruises.

Recently, as people started to demand high-quality, experiential trips, the diversity of cruise ships has increased. Now, in addition to the large 2,000-passenger ships traditionally associated with cruise tours, you can enjoy active, small-ship cruises like those that we offer at Maple Leaf Adventures.

And while much of the area is in its natural state, citizens are working hard to protect it by law from destruction—protecting the rainforests, the marine life, the bears and whales and remote beaches.

Cruising by Expedition Ship

What’s your style of tour?

Compare Alaskan and Inside Passage cruises here:

Expedition Cruises by Small Ship: These are the trips that we at Maple Leaf Adventures have offered for over 25 years. On these inside passage cruises, you are part of a group of 24 or fewer guests, who experience the wonder of the coastline, its wildlife, its rainforests, beaches and cultures. You’ll go ashore frequently to experience the coastal world, as well as sailing the inside passage.

Inside Passage by Ferry: Both the Alaskan and British Columbian government ferry systems operate a transport network between coastal towns. Some people who wish to see the landscape but not spend time exploring it also choose to travel the inside passage this way.

Big Ship Cruises: These are the cruises most people think of when they hear the words “Alaska Inside Passage Cruise”. The ships are about 950 feet long and carry about 2,000 passengers. Unlike small Alaskan cruise ships, these big ships stop only at port towns. The experience is completely different from expedition cruises by sailing ship and is for people who don’t wish to experience the nature of Alaska as their top priority.

vancouver-island-cascadia-dan-batchelor

Our Inside Passage Tours

Expedition cruises by small ships that explore the scenic routes of the Inside Passage in a way that’s personalized and fun.

Inquire Today

Contact Us for More Information or to Book Your Expedition Adventure!

Learn More
paper-planbe

Emailed Newsletter

Subscribe to our occasional enewsletter and look forward to doses of inspiration including photos, videos, webinars and special offers.

subscribe
email

Printed Newsletter

Sign up to receive our annual print newsletter delivered straight to your mailbox, keeping you up-to-date with new itineraries and special offers.

subscribe
envelope

Request Brochure

Order your free travel guide to the best of our wild west coast, including the Great Bear Rainforest, Haida Gwaii, Alaska, and more.

request brochure