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Alaska’s Inside Passage by air and ferry

Alaska Inside Passage: Juneau, Glacier Bay & Skagway: 8 Days

Southeast Alaska without a cruise ship: Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching, two nights inside Glacier Bay National Park, Skagway and the ferry back down Lynn Canal, with the White Pass railway and a helicopter icefield landing as optional add-ons.

  • 8 days / 7 nights
  • Starts and ends at Juneau (JNU)
  • Short flights and the state ferry
  • Lodge inside Glacier Bay National Park
Mendenhall Glacier between the mountains above Mendenhall Lake, Juneau

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

6sights on the route
1full-day Glacier Bay boat tour
2nights inside Glacier Bay National Park
1UNESCO World Heritage Site
JuneauGlacier BaySkagwayJuneau
2Day 2

Mendenhall and the whales

A glacier and the whales.

Mendenhall Glacier

Why it is worth itA 13-mile-long glacier that flows from the Juneau Icefield into Mendenhall Lake, about 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Short trails lead to viewpoints and to Nugget Falls beside the ice.

Insider tipBring a rain layer. Juneau is in a rainforest and showers are common, even in summer.

Whale watching in Juneau

Why it is worth itThe waters around Juneau are summer feeding grounds for humpback whales. On a whale-watching cruise you may also see orcas, Steller sea lions and bald eagles.

Insider tipBring binoculars and a warm layer, since it is cooler out on the water.

Optional add-on

Juneau Icefield Helicopter Landing

A helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield with a landing on a glacier, with time to walk on the ice. Weather permitting.

$730 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

Fly to Glacier Bay

Into Glacier Bay National Park.

Bartlett Cove

Why it is worth itThe only developed area of Glacier Bay National Park, with forest trails, a visitor center and a quiet shoreline. It is a peaceful spot to walk among spruce and hemlock trees.

Insider tipPick up a trail map at the visitor center and walk the forest trail along the shore.

4Day 4

A day in Glacier Bay

A full day on the water.

Glacier Bay National Park

Why it is worth itA wilderness of tidewater glaciers, fjords and mountains, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the full-day boat tour a park ranger points out whales, sea otters, bears and mountain goats.

Insider tipDress in warm layers. It is cold near the glaciers, even in summer.

5Day 5

Fly to Skagway

Up to the gold-rush town.

Skagway

Why it is worth itA gold-rush town at the head of Lynn Canal, where prospectors set off for the Klondike in 1897 and 1898. Its historic district on Broadway is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

Insider tipThe town is small and easy to walk, with most sights on or near Broadway.

6Day 6

Skagway, or the White Pass railway

Up the mountains by rail.

Optional add-on

White Pass and Yukon Route Summit Excursion

About 3 hours on the narrow-gauge railway from Skagway to the summit of White Pass, past waterfalls and the old Klondike trail.

$250 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

7Day 7

The ferry to Juneau

Down the fjord by ferry.

Lynn Canal

Why it is worth itOne of the deepest and longest fjords in North America, running north from Juneau to Skagway. Glaciers and waterfalls pour down the mountains on both sides.

Insider tipKeep a camera handy. Glaciers and waterfalls line the mountains on both sides.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

The classic Inside Passage, without a cruise ship. Mendenhall Glacier and a whale-watching cruise in Juneau, two nights at Glacier Bay Lodge, the only lodging inside the national park, with a full day by boat to the tidewater glaciers, then gold-rush Skagway, where you can add the White Pass railway (optional add-on). You come back down Lynn Canal on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, one of the great scenic sailings. Safe, well-rated hotels, and everything is booked for you.

  • Mendenhall and the whalesThe Mendenhall Glacier and a whale-watching cruise from Juneau (booked).
  • Inside Glacier BayTwo nights at Glacier Bay Lodge in the park, and a full-day boat tour up the bay with a park ranger (booked).
  • Skagway and the ferryA day in gold-rush Skagway, then the state ferry back to Juneau down Lynn Canal (booked). The White Pass railway is an optional add-on.

Trip at a glance

Length
8 days / 7 nights
Starts / ends
Juneau Airport (JNU), round trip
Getting around
Short flights to Gustavus and Skagway, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry back, taxis in Juneau
Pace
Moderate: 3 places, 2 nights each
Best time to go
Late May to August, when the Glacier Bay boat and the White Pass train run
Great for
Couples, friends and families who want glaciers and whales without a cruise ship
Accommodations
Comfort Plus (3-star hotels and a national park lodge)
Flights
Not included to Juneau. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Travel style
Adventure, Nature, Culture

Day by day

Day 1 and day 8 are travel days. Small planes fly in good weather, and ferry times change by day of week, so the order of the days can shift.

Day 1Welcome to Juneau
A taxi from Juneau Airport to your downtown hotel, about 20 minutes (booked). An easy evening on the waterfront.
Stay: Baranof Downtown, a historic hotel in central Juneau (night 1 of 7).
Day 2Mendenhall and the whales
The Mendenhall Glacier, then a whale-watching cruise in search of humpbacks and orcas (booked, with pickup downtown).
Stay: Baranof Downtown, a historic hotel in central Juneau (night 2 of 7).
Day 3Fly to Glacier Bay
A short flight from Juneau to Gustavus, about 30 minutes (booked), and the lodge shuttle to Bartlett Cove (paid on the spot). Free afternoon on the forest trails and the shore; the lodge has a restaurant.
Stay: Glacier Bay Lodge, deluxe room in Glacier Bay National Park (night 3 of 7).
Day 4A day in Glacier Bay
The full-day Glacier Bay boat tour, about 8 hours, from the lodge dock to the tidewater glaciers with a park ranger on board, for whales, sea otters, bears and mountain goats, with lunch (booked).
Stay: Glacier Bay Lodge, deluxe room in Glacier Bay National Park (night 4 of 7).
Day 5Fly to Skagway
Fly back to Juneau and on to Skagway on Alaska Seaplanes, about 45 minutes up Lynn Canal (both booked). Evening in the gold-rush town.
Stay: Holland America Skagway Inn, in the center of town (night 5 of 7).
Day 6Skagway, or the White Pass railway
A free day in gold-rush Skagway: Broadway, the Klondike Gold Rush park visitor center and the trails above town. Or add the White Pass and Yukon Route Summit Excursion, about 3 hours on the narrow-gauge line to the summit of White Pass (optional add-on).
Stay: Holland America Skagway Inn, in the center of town (night 6 of 7).
Day 7The ferry to Juneau
The Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Skagway to Juneau, about 4 to 6 hours down Lynn Canal past glaciers and waterfalls (booked), then a taxi to your hotel.
Stay: Baranof Downtown, a historic hotel in central Juneau (night 7 of 7).
Day 8Home
A taxi to Juneau Airport, timed to your flight (booked).

Map

Your route at a glance.

Expand map
By roadFlight / Boat / Train / Ferry
  1. 1Juneau
  2. 2Mendenhall Glacier
  3. 3Bartlett Cove
  4. 4Tidewater glaciers
  5. 5Skagway
  6. 6White Pass summit

What’s included

Included

  • 7 nights in 3 places: Baranof Downtown in Juneau (3 nights), Glacier Bay Lodge in the national park (2) and the Holland America Skagway Inn (2), with taxes
  • Flights Juneau to Gustavus and back, and Juneau to Skagway
  • The Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Skagway to Juneau
  • Taxis in Juneau to and from the airport and the ferry terminal
  • Mendenhall Glacier and a whale-watching cruise
  • The full-day Glacier Bay boat tour with lunch
  • A day-by-day plan, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • Flights to and from Juneau
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals and drinks, except lunch on the Glacier Bay boat
  • The Gustavus lodge shuttle
  • Tips
  • Personal spending

Optional add-ons: White Pass and Yukon Route Summit Excursion ($250 per person), Juneau Icefield Helicopter Landing ($730 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Getting around: no roads link Juneau, Gustavus and Skagway, so short flights and the state ferry do the work, and you never drive. The lodge shuttle meets your Gustavus flight (paid on the spot), and Skagway is small enough to walk.

Which accommodations? Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable. Superior hotels are 4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area, and a few days change (see Day by day). See the difference

Choose your accommodations

The same trip at two accommodation levels. Superior adds better hotels and a few special days; the price changes with it.

AccommodationsComfort PlusFrom$5,249per person, 2 sharingSuperiorFrom$10,889per person, 2 sharing
Where you stay3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area
Hotels7 nights in 3 places: Baranof Downtown in Juneau (3 nights), Glacier Bay Lodge in the national park (2) and the Holland America Skagway Inn (2), with taxes7 nights in 3 places: Four Points by Sheraton Juneau (3 nights), the Bear Track Inn at Gustavus with all meals (2) and the Historic Skagway Inn with breakfast (2), with taxes
Getting aroundShort flights to Gustavus and Skagway, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry back, taxis in JuneauSmall-plane flights between towns (no roads connect them), private transfers in Juneau, and walking in Skagway
HighlightsMendenhall and the whales; Inside Glacier Bay; Skagway, by rail and ferryMendenhall and the whales; Glacier Bay, all inclusive; Gold-rush Skagway
PaceModerate: 3 places, 2 nights eachModerate: 3 places, 2 nights each, short flights
Choose Comfort PlusChoose Superior

Questions

What’s the difference between Comfort Plus and Superior?
Where you stay, and a few days of the trip. Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable, but not luxury. Superior hotels are always 4-star or 5-star, or the finest in the area. Superior also changes a few days: two all-inclusive nights at Bear Track Inn by Glacier Bay instead of Glacier Bay Lodge, small-plane flights both ways to Skagway instead of the ferry back, and private transfers in Juneau. Choose either one under Accommodations in the booking box; the price, the day-by-day plan and the inclusions update right away.
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Rooms on this trip hold 1 to 3 people. The booking box offers own room, 2 per room or 3 per room. A group of 4 is booked into 2 shared rooms, all on one booking. The booking box shows the price per person for your group. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
What if a flight is cancelled for weather?
Small planes fly only in safe weather. If a flight cannot go, the next flight is rebooked, and on the Skagway leg the ferry is the backup.
Where do I eat at Glacier Bay?
Glacier Bay Lodge has the only restaurant in the park, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in season; meals there are paid on the spot. Lunch on the boat tour is included.
Do I need a car?
No. No roads connect the towns on this trip, so flights, the ferry and taxis are booked, and Skagway is walkable.
Are flights included?
Flights to Juneau are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips. Juneau has direct flights from Seattle and Anchorage. On day 8 you can be at the airport any time.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip, pick your hotels (Comfort Plus or Superior), and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road, ferry and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, delay or cancel ferries, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$10,498
2 travelers · 8 days / 7 nights
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