call our experts
800-728-2875

business hours
M-F: 8-5 PST

north america: alaska

z-Gold Rush Inside Passage

Cruise the original gold-rush route from Seattle to Juneau and save a bundle in the process! These special nine-night Gold Rush Inside Passage cruises feature the beautiful coastlines of both Alaska’s and Canada’s Inside Passages plus Washington’s Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. Along the way we stop at colorful ports like Ketchikan and San Juan Island’s Friday Harbor. These cruises allow you to travel over 1,200 miles along one of the world’s most scenic cruise routes at a phenomenal price.

Our small ships accommodate between 78 and 138 persons. These small ships show you what others simply can't. Discover whales, eagles and glaciers up close. Experience the grandeur of Tracy Arm, Glacier Bay National Park, Frederick Sound and Misty Fjords. Your small ships will share with you the secrets of this natural wonder. Cruise aboard the Spirit of Endeavour, Spirit of Alaska, Spirit of Yorktown, Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery.

PLAY VIDEO

Day 1 - Arrive in Seattle

Transfer to your ship to begin your cruise following the path of the Gold Rush. Join your Exploration Leader on deck as you sail through the Hiram Chittenden Locks. While you are having dinner you can view the Seattle skyline before you depart this "gateway to the north."

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Cruising the San Juan Islands

Explore the charming resort village of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, once an important whaling center. Located on the second largest island, it is the commercial center and county seat of the San Juan Islands. Take an included tour and have time on your own to stroll around the art galleries and boutiques. This afternoon your Exploration Leader will be on deck to help spot wildlife you may see cruising around these islands.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Strait of Georgia

Cruise among pristine islands nestled between Vancouver Island and the mountainous mainland of British Columbia, home to harbor seals, bald eagles, and orcas. Cruise into Johnstone Strait and be on the lookout for birds and wildlife, commercial fishing boats, pleasure boats, and tugs hauling goods or huge rafts of logs.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Cruising northern British Columbia

Along this remote coastline, you will enjoy pristine and quiet reaches past ancient glacially carved fjords. Cruise by old growth forests, quiet coves, and nutrient-rich waters that support many mammals and seabirds in the Great Bear Rainforest. This special place is one of the earth's largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforest. Keep a quiet, watchful eye for the Kermode Bear. Known locally as the "Spirit Bear," this rare and elusive subspecies of black bear is a sight to behold with its white fur. Meanwhile eagles and seabirds soar and spotting harbor seals and sea lions is always a possibility while you casually cruise past the vast wilderness.
" The birds and harbor seals of Marble Island, where you'll find life teeming off what appears to be barren rocks.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Misty Fjords and Metlakatla

The dramatic granite cliffs of Misty Fiords National Monument welcome you to Alaska’s grandeur. Explore spectacular Behm Canal, a glacially carved fjord where 6 inlets converge. U.S. Forest Service Kayak Rangers join you onboard to offer local information. The Tsimshians of the Metlakatla community perform a traditional dance in their tribal long house.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Petersburg

Transit Wrangell Narrows, a waterway that separates Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands through 22 miles of snake-like path with 46 course changes. This is a great time to look for Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears and seabirds. Accept a warm welcome at the Norwegian-heritage fishing village of Petersburg, where no large cruise ships visit. The Leikarring Dancers, local children in colorful and authentic dress will perform traditional Norwegian dances and you can sample homemade Norwegian pastries. You'll have time to explore this tiny community before boarding your ship for lunch. Cruiseinto iceberg-filled LeConte Bay or nearby wilderness waterways such as the mysterious Thomas Bay.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Frederick Sound and Tracy Arm Fjord

Travel through Holkham Bay, the mouth of two spectacular, glacier-fed fjords. Travel up Tracy Arm, a deep fjord with sheer 1,500-foot-high vertical cliffs that twists and turns for 25 miles leading to the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Exit Holkham Bay and enter Frederick Sound the body of water that hosts a world-renowned humpback whale population. Spend the afternoon looking for these huge, gentle creatures that are the size of a motorcoach. Also look for the massive Steller's sea lions and their relatives, the harbor seals.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Sitka

En route to Sitka cruise through a zigzag of beautiful, narrow passageways between Baranof and Chichagof Islands. Only small ships can negotiate Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows, the “inside” route to Sitka, the oldest non-Native settlement in Southeast Alaska. A guided walk through Sitka’s National Historic Park offers towering totems and thriving wildlife in the forest. Return to your ship for lunch and cruise the scenic, narrow passageways of Olga, Neva and Peril Straits into Chatham Strait.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Glacier Bay National Park

First established as a National Monument by presidential proclamation in 1925, Glacier Bay has since enjoyed the honored and highly protected status of National Park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Over 65 miles of pristine terrain and habitat have been revealed in Glacier Bay since its giant rivers of ice have dramatically retreated over the past 200 years. Glide through this awesome wonderland, closely approaching the “rivers of ice.” A National Park Service Ranger and a Native Cultural Interpreter offer insightful narration and help you spot wildlife such as harbor seals, mountain goats, and brown and black bears, in one of the rare regions the two types of bears share territory.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Skagway and Haines

Cruise the waters of Lynn Canal to Skagway, gateway to the Chilkoot Trail, one of the original routes of the Klondike Gold Rush. Take a tour of the town in a signature 1920s-style bus. Wooden boardwalks line the outer edges of historic buildings. Return to your ship for lunch and depart for Haines, an area that thrived for years as an important and integral trade center to the Chilkat band of Tlingit natives, famous for their intricately designed blankets woven with mountain goat hair and cedar bark. Haines is also the home of the world's largest autumnal congregation of bald eagles. Your tour includes a visit through Fort William H. Seward.

Accommodations: Spirit of Endeavour or Spirit of Yorktown or Spirit of Columbia or Spirit of Discovery
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Arrive Juneau

Travel through impressive Gastineau Channel to Juneau. Transfer to the airport or choose to spend a few days exploring Alaska’s capital city and the activities available there.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Extend your Alaska small ship cruise:

Denali National Park pre cruise extension:
The Denali National Park extension occurs after the cruise for Spring departures and before the cruise for late summer departures. The basic day by day itineraries are shown below.

Spring:

Day 1 - Finish cruise in Juneau
Day 2 - Fly Juneau to Anchorage
Days 3 - Anchorage to Denali by motorcoach and rail
Day 4-5 - Denali National Park exploration
Day 6 - Denali to Fairbanks
Day 7 - Fly home from Fairbanks

Late Summer:

Day 1 - Arrive Fairbanks, Alaska
Day 2 - Fairbanks to Denali National Park
Days 3-4 - Explore Denali National Park
Day 5 - Alaska Railroad to Anchorage
Day 6 - Fly Anchorage to Juneau
Day 7 - Board Cruise in Juneau

You may also wish to consider one of our more affordable independent tours Denali Backcountry Explorer or Brown Bears of Katmai. These extensions can be arranged for either pre or post cruise. Our Alaska experts will help you customize your Alaska adventure, call today.

Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be spontaneous makes our style of cruising unique.

Reverse Itinerary: This itinerary runs in two directions. Northbound: Seattle to Juneau and ;Southbound: Juneau to Seattle.

Single Travelers: Single cabins are available. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, our Roommate Share Program guarantee double occupancy rates in Categories AA and AAA.

Land Cost Includes: $595 per person which covers all taxes, port charges, fees and on board services. On board gratuities are neither required nor expected; all airport/ hotel transfers; Alaska cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced naturalist guides.

Not Included: Airfare to Alaska; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, and insurance of any kind.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A deposit of 20% of the cruise-tour is required to confirm a reservation, with final payment due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations received prior to departure are subject to the following cancellation penalties per person.

Anytime 120+ days prior to departure $200 pp*
Between 119-90 days prior to departure, full deposit (20%)
Between 89-61 days prior to departure, 50% of cruise fare
Between 60-31 days prior to departure, 75% of cruise fare
Between 30-0 days prior to departure, No refund
*A future cruise credit will be made available, to be applied to future bookings.

Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Accommodations Aboard: Your comfortable home-base throughout Alaska will be aboard a small ship. These vessels accommodate between 78 and 138 guests. Well-appointed staterooms feature comfortable beds, large view windows and private bathroom. Deluxe staterooms also have queen bed, TV/VCR, desk, chair and a refrigerator. The vessels also have a dining room, lounge, sun deck, viewing platforms and more. The vessels are casual - the food delicious - and the staff friendly and helpful.

Qualifications: These trips will be enjoyed by anyone with a love for nature and the outdoors.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to Denali National Park and more.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith ExplorationsTerms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com