In December 2024 I went on one of the most spectacular trips I’ve been on. It was the BC Ferry trip from Port Hardy, Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, located at the top of BC’s mainland. We boarded an evening ferry, and woke up to the most spectacular sunrise and full moon combo.
This trip was one of a lifetime and I hope to share some insights and imagery incase you’re deciding on taking the trip yourself. The ferry itself cost about $500CAD for 2 people and my van, and took roughly 22 hours, it was a very comfortable ride (besides the first 30minutes of rough seas) and the most beautiful views.
Watch the Youtube Video
Itinerary
Day 01. Depart Port Hardy at 5pm
The night before our ferry departed we were camping at Elk Falls Campground in Campbell River, it had been a very rainy few days so we were ready to head north to jump on our ferry scheduled for the evening departure. The ferry asks that you’re at the terminal about 1.5hrs prior to departure so we made sure we were in the queue nice and early, this isn’t a ferry you want to miss given the time it takes and the price. Although when researching The Inside Passage trips, mostly cruises to Antarctica travel up this route and cost a lot of money, so I think $500 is pretty good for the amazing trip we were about to embark on.
The first night was pretty good, it began with a bit of a bumpy crossing across the Straight, this caused a few people to become unwell with the heavy rocking back and forth, lucky for us we didn’t get sick but definitely felt queasy. We were grateful we had ginger beers in the fridge of the van and I could pop down to get them which I think eased the sea sickness. I focused on closing my eyes and rolling with the waves and soon enough we had passed the rocky seas and had begun our journey up the calm inside passage.
We booked the paid seats, these were around $40 to reserve and in my opinion was a great idea. There were only a handful of people in the front area where you need a key card to enter, we chose some lovely seats facing the windows and settled in for a night on the water. We got a bit of sleep, there were plenty of spare seats to stretch out on and I brought a pillow (another good idea) and ended up sleeping on the floor. The main deck was quite crowded and busy with large families so we were really grateful to have a nice quiet space to relax in for the night.
We got some sleep but the hard floor doesn’t make for the most comfortable time. A lot of people brought on inflatable matresses so if you’re hoping to sleep well that would be a good option.
Day 02. The Inside Passage Ferry in Daylight
After a long night on the ferry I woke up at about 5am, not realising the beauty we were about to witness this day. I went up into the cafeteria and got a coffee and then we settled back in to wait for the sun to rise, there was a full moon still ingering so we were lucky enough to witness the full moon sitting along the horizon with the sun rising at the rear of the ferry. And wow! What a sunrise it was! It has got to be the most spectacular sunrise I’ve ever witnessed, it was the combination of the silence out in the passage, the surrounding snow-capped mountains, and beautiful calm water. The image below, just doesn’t even do it justice.
Full moon remains on the horizon
Sunrise from back of ferry
Once the sun had risen we headed inside to get some breakfast, we ate with the stunning scenery on all sides of us and then relaxed for most of the trip. Of course taking many walks out on the deck to watch the scenery pass us by. The meal options were great, full breakfasts, fruit and yoghurt bowls with burgers and a selection of hot meals for lunch or dinner.
The scenery is indescribable, it began with the sunrise and snow capped mountains, occasionally we’d witness a huge waterfall from the side of the mountain. I was surprised how close we were to the shoreline when we began the daylight portion of our journey, it was amazing to be able to witness the mountains from a fairly close distance. We didn’t spot any sea life unfortunately, we did see some bald eagles which was a treat. As the journey progressed the scenery changed, the passage opened up and we could see the breathtaking mountains of the sunshine coast.
On a slightly negative (but practical) note, we experienced a few theft related matters on our trip, including one of our jackets getting stolen and then later retrieved! Keep your belongings near you to ensure they’re safe.
My tips for booking the ferry and the ride;
— Pay $40 additional each for Aurora Lounge Premium Seating.
We loved having the quiet space to retreat to when it got busy in the main area of the boat, it made for a peaceful nights sleep
— Bring a pillow and if feasible a mattress
It is a long trip, with a full night so it’s nice to be able to stretch out and sleep somewhere other than in the chairs. I’m glad a brought a pillow and saw plenty of people with mattresses throughout the ferry.
— Bring snacks and sea sickness remedies like ginger.
— Take plenty of pictures and videos because you won’t regret looking back on the incredible journey! I hope you enjoy watching my Youtube Video of the trip.
Enjoy the journey, it’s one you shouldn’t forget in a while.
Hey there, thanks for stopping by! I’m Lauren, a travel enthusiast, a freelance graphic designer, an adventure lover and a thinker about life.
Thanks for reading
I’m really enjoying recapping my travels and I hope it helps someone to plan their next adventure. I’ve lived in 3 countries and travelled all over the world, most recently Canada and USA and am excited to share some experiences I’ve had. I hope you come back for future articles or subscribe to my newsletter where I will send an email with updates and new locations.
Lauren — A Roaming Mind
