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. Local trawlers bring delicacies like king crab, octopus, shark, prawn and rockfish to Ketchikan, known as Alaska’s First City for its location and its figurehead status for outstanding natural beauty.

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. Look for orca and humpback whales as we sail into Juneau. There’s plenty to entertain and intrigue in the city. If you’re feeling fit, explore the glaciers by kayak or trek with crampons and an axe.

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 previoulsy a lawless Wild West outpost. It’s now a national historic park, so the town’s restored boardwalk, shops and streets provide the perfect setting for actors to bring the town’s colourful past to life.

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. Built around a restored 1912 salmon cannery, its shops are wholly Alaskan-owned, and it features restaurants, nature trails, a museum and even a beach. Bears outnumber humans on Chichagof Island.

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. Notable landmarks include Craigdarroch Castle and the elegant Empress Hotel, which contrast with the shops and restaurants. There’s ample opportunity for whale watching and wildlife viewing, too.