The ferry cruise along British Columbia's Inside Passage combines the best scenic elements of Norway's rocky fiords, Chile's Patagonian range, and Nova Scotia's wild coastline. Less than half a century ago, there was only one way to explore this rugged coastline: by booking the 4-day passage on an Alaska-bound cruise ship or freighter.
Since 1966, BC Ferries (tel. 888/BC-FERRY or 250/386-3431; www.bcferries.com) has operated the Inside Passage ferry between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert (on the mainland, see below), with stops at the small Discovery Coast communities of Bella Coola, Ocean Falls, Shearwater, McLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella), and Klemtu. These stopovers became so popular that in 1994, the company added the Discovery Coast ferry to its schedule, which is dedicated to serving these remote villages. The ferry system also connects Prince Rupert to the remote Queen Charlotte Islands, the ancestral home of the Haida tribe.
For information on the region, contact the Northern BC Tourism Association, 850 River Rd., Prince George (tel. 800/663-8843 or 250/561-0432; www.nbctourism.com).
