Sitka, Alaska - Nature and History at Their Finest

Swan Lake, Sitka

Alaska is quite the place. An enormous, mostly unpopulated, wild and remote area, part dangerous, part stunningly beautiful, it's a region of North America that not many want to see, but when they see it, they are so glad they did.

Shorn of some of the trappings of North American life (giant malls, skyscrapers, noise and pollution), what you find in Sitka are beautiful traditional architecture, wildlife, nature, relative peace and quiet and fresh air - not to mention a plentiful supply of totem polls from the Native Americans who live there. You also find a friendliness and neighbourliness that more urban life has sadly lost.

This town was originally populated by Native Americans, before colonising Russians massacred the tribesmen in 1802. Sitka was the site of the Alaska Purchase in 1867, when Russia sold the state to the USA. Traces of the Russian colonisation still exist, particularly in St Michael's Orthodox Church.

But in this remote place, it's the nature that captivates above all.

And it is beautiful.

How to get there

Bald Eagle in the Alaska Raptor Center

Situated on Baranof island and facing the Pacific Ocean, the best way to reach Sitka is by sea on an Alaska cruise. There are multiple lines that provide cruises in the Alaskan Inside Passage. Our suggestion is to choose your line by price, date, ports of call and the facilities you will need.

Alaskan cruises mostly leave from Vancouver, Canada or Seattle, USA. Vancouver appears to have the cheaper flights from the UK, but these are still pretty expensive.

Once in Sitka, there is no need to take an expensive cruise tour. Even if your ship docks far from the centre at Halibut Point, a free transfer will be provided to the centre of Sitka.

Sitka Marina

How we did it

We flew from Reykjavik, Iceland with IcelandAir to Vancouver, and back via Toronto with WestJet. They are budget carriers, so don't expect luxury.

We cruised with Royal Caribbean on the Brilliance of the Seas. It was a family-oriented ship and a little on the old side, but the crew were fantastic.

Our Top Tips

• We were blessed with warmth, sunlight and no rain for most of our cruise. This is not normal for Alaska cruises. Make sure you have a waterproof jacket and shoes. Rain is likely and can come with little notice.

• Every port on this cruise is both rural and remote. Be prepared for that.

• One of the tours offered on this cruise is to Fortress of the Bear. While it is a great experience, if you are leaving from Vancouver and go to Grouse Mountain (the bus is free from Canada Place), you will still see bears in their natural habitat, but will also see a lumberjack show, a birds of prey show and will have more time than if you go to Fortress of the Bear.