Otaru - Vancouver Hokkaido, Aleutian Islands and Alaska’s Inside Passage: powerful pristine beauty

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a real insider tip. A region that, luckily for you, is underestimated by many. This means that you will be one of the few to discover the unspoilt sides of the island nation. Sparsely populated, with dense forests, clear lakes and volcanoes as far as the eye can see. A contemplative contrast to the hectic urban lifestyle in Asia’s megacities.

Off the coast of Hokkaido lie the rocky Okushiri islands, where you can go on nature hikes with your experts. Gain insights here into the lives of the locals – favourite delicacies include sea urchins and abalone mussels. In the midst of idyllic nature, it will be easy for you to understand the Japanese veneration of nature characteristic of Shintoism. The experts on board will provide deeper insights into your experiences with interesting lectures about the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido.

At the south-eastern tip of Japan's second-largest and northernmost main island, Hokkaido, lies the city of Hakodate, dominated by its local mountain at 335 m (1,099 ft) above sea level. From its summit or from the Goryokaku Tower, you can enjoy beautiful views of the city with its famous star-shaped fortress. Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign ships in 1854. This led to the development of the historic Motomachi district, with its 19th-century buildings in the European style. Also of architectural interest is the Future University Hakodate designed by Tokyo architect Riken Yamamoto: with features from 1970s structuralism, the building is a successful example of the high-tech style made famous by Norman Foster.

In the east of Hokkaido, the coastal city of Kushiro welcomes you with its great maritime tradition. This is reflected in the fish market, where you can find fresh Sashimi to take you on a culinary voyage of discovery. The city is also known for its fascinating history, since in the late 19th century it became an important centre of national and international trade. Many of its buildings, including the Kushiro City Archive, the Kushiro City Museum and the Kushiro Arts Centre, offer insights into the city’s history and culture. The surrounding area with its many lakes, mountains and rivers, as well as Japan’s largest marshland, provides the natural superlatives.

Discover one of the remotest regions on our planet, where the Pacific and North American continental plates converge: the Aleutian Islands. On board your expedition ship, you will explore a chain of islands which is otherwise difficult to reach. Beneath the ocean lies the Aleutian Trench, which forms part of the boundary between two tectonic plates, and is 7,800 m (25,590 ft) below the surface at its deepest part. In front of you, behold the diverse creative power of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Experience the islands in the Bering Sea from the many open deck spaces or on exciting shore visits.

Scarce traces of civilisation will awaken your interest when you land with your experts on Adak Island. Alaska's southernmost community was once a US military base with thousands of people. Today there are just 400 or so inhabitants. What is it like living in this remote place, where the locals rely on cargo services to deliver most of their food? See the unique local environment for yourself.

Cruising off Chagulak Island, the focus will once again be on the forces along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The island arc of the Aleutian Islands includes 44 volcanoes. One of the stratovolcanoes is Chagulak Island – steep with sharp edges and over 1,000 m (3,280 ft) high. Cruising off the island might get particularly lively when thousands of petrels accompany the ship. With a little luck, you’ll also spot orcas and humpback whales on the flexible route through the tangled maze of the Aleutian Islands.

Unalaska Island is your gateway to Russian American history. This really comes to life in Dutch Harbor, which has the oldest Russian Orthodox church in North America with its white towers topped with onion domes. The Museum of the Aleutians explains the history of the islands, from the Russian American period to the Second World War and up to the present day. On your independent shore visit, you will also come across abandoned barracks, concrete bunkers and gun emplacements from conflicts in years gone by.

The community of Sand Point on Popof Island owes its name to a special feature of Alaska: several vast sandy beaches are a great place for a walk. Explore the surrounding area on hikes with your experts, with a chance to spot cormorants, kittiwakes and puffins. The island is also home to bison, which were brought here in 1955. The picturesque Russian Orthodox church is testament to the fact that many inhabitants still follow this religion.

Your dreams of exploration will really take shape on Kodiak Island. The largest island in Alaska is known for its unspoilt wilderness. A vast nature reserves stretches over the emerald-green island, with fjord-like bays and mountains up to 1,200 m (3,939 ft) high, lakes and swamps, tundra and spruce forests. It is home to the impressive Kodiak bears, one of the largest species of bear in the world, which can weigh up to 700 kg (1,543 lb) and stand up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall. With luck, you’ll even spot whales off the coast. The main town, also called Kodiak, was the second-largest settlement in Russian America until 1867. Today, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Baranow Museum are reminders of this time. Discover this charming town on your own or with your experts. Your insights into the history and natural wonders of Kodiak will be further enhanced by the expert lectures on board.

In Wrangell, you will discover one of the oldest settlements in Alaska, which was not founded by the Indigenous Tlingit people. It was named after Ferdinand von Wrangel, a researcher, explorer and later governor of Russian America. Wrangell is the only town in Alaska to be ruled by four nations: the Tlingit, Russia, Great Britain and the USA. Learn more about its history in the museum or set out in search of the totem poles, which can be found at various places in the town. The gold rush from the middle to the end of the 19th century led to the growth of the town: thousands of people set out from here across the Stikine River to try their luck in the wilderness. These days, the greatest treasure is nature itself – and Wrangell is the perfect starting point for your discoveries.

Situated on the south-east coast of Alaska, the charming town of Ketchikan is famous for the rich history of its Indigenous people, especially the Tlingit. The town is surrounded by the lush green Tongass National Forest, with its cedars and Sitka spruce, waterfalls and wild animals. Well-signposted walking tours lead you around the town and to sites including the Totem Heritage Center with its important collection of old totem poles. The photos you take around Ketchikan will be just as iconic. They say that whichever way you point your camera, every photo will be picture-perfect.