The Inside Passage threads between forested islands to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, with a day of scenic cruising past tidewater glaciers and a last evening in Victoria. The season runs May to September; June and July are the longest days, August the best for salmon and bears.
Month by month
Best: May, June, July, August, September
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
Worth avoiding: January, February, March, April, October, November, December.
Shoulder season: June, September, good weather with typically fewer crowds and lower prices.
Weather and crowds
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Wet days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 47°F | 3°C / 37°F | 16 | Quiet |
| February | 8°C / 47°F | 3°C / 37°F | 15 | Quiet |
| March | 12°C / 53°F | 4°C / 40°F | 15 | Quiet |
| April | 14°C / 58°F | 6°C / 42°F | 14 | Quiet |
| May | 18°C / 65°F | 9°C / 48°F | 11 | Moderate |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 54°F | 7 | Moderate |
| July | 26°C / 79°F | 15°C / 58°F | 2 | Busy |
| August | 26°C / 78°F | 15°C / 60°F | 5 | Busy |
| September | 22°C / 71°F | 13°C / 56°F | 7 | Moderate |
| October | 16°C / 61°F | 9°C / 49°F | 14 | Quiet |
| November | 11°C / 51°F | 6°C / 42°F | 17 | Quiet |
| December | 8°C / 47°F | 4°C / 39°F | 21 | Quiet |
Weather: averages of recent years from Open-Meteo historical data (CC BY 4.0). Crowds: estimated from the seasons and holiday periods, not measured.
How long to stay
9–12 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 5.5h from the US East Coast, 9h from Europe, 18h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Pack layers and a waterproof jacket even in July; it's often 10–15°C and drizzly in port.
- Whale-watching and glacier flightseeing sell out; book them when you book the cruise.
- The stop in Victoria, Canada, means everyone needs a passport or other approved document.
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