Top Alaska Day Trips - page 4

Make the most of your time in Seward by hiking into the Kenai Fjords National Park during this full-day excursion. Don’t worry about getting lost, as you’ll be accompanied by a professional backcountry wilderness guide throughout, meaning you can instead focus on enjoying your picturesque surroundings, including the Harding Icefield.

Experience Alaska your way on this fully private and customizable tour. Enjoy the freedom to set your own pace, request photo stops, and personalize the day to match your interests. As your local guide and photographer, I’ll capture the highlights—scenic views, wildlife encounters, and candid group moments—then send you a curated gallery of edited photos. When people picture Alaska, they imagine wild animals, towering mountains, and endless glaciers. Turnagain Arm offers all of that—just a short, scenic drive from Anchorage. This breathtaking inlet is famous for its massive tides, rugged mountain backdrops, and the rare bore tide, where a single wave sweeps across the entire inlet. We’ll journey the Seward Highway, one of North America’s most scenic drives. The road hugs the coastline, offering endless views and chances to spot moose, bald eagles, Dall sheep, and potenitally beluga whales. With private transportation and a flexible itinerary, this is about making the most it.

Travel the famous Dalton Highway on this 16-hour Arctic Circle drive. Visit the Yukon River, stop by the Arctic Circle Trading Post, and get views of the tundra landscape. Learn about life in rural Alaska through your guide's commentary; departure from a meeting point in Fairbanks.

You don't have to travel far from Anchorage to see the abundant Alaskan wildlife. On this half-day small-group tour down the Turnagain Arm of the Gulf of Alaska, learn about the local ecosystem while looking out for wild animals as you’re driven along the scenic road. Board a boat to cruise to the Portage Glacier, and visit the animals at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Explore Sitka without the hassle of navigating on your own on a half–day tour to the city’s top landmarks, including the Fortress of Bears, National Historic Park, and Raptor Center. No need to plan logistics: Entrance fees are included for all stops on the itinerary. In addition to round–trip transportation from the Sitka cruise port, your guide provides live commentary about landmarks passed along the way.

Explore the snow-covered wilderness of the Glen Alps in Chugach State Park on this private advanced snowshoe tour. Follow your naturalist guide through alpine meadows and hemlock forests, admire views of Anchorage Bowl, Cook Inlet, and glacial valleys, and watch for wildlife. Snowshoes provided, with gaiters, poles, and daypack available by request.

Immerse yourself in the natural Alaskan world during this full-day cruise to Meares Glacier from Valdez. Your local captain and crew will deftly guide the boat through tranquil Prince William Sound and tell you about the area’s history along the way. Look out for wildlife; common sights are eagles, puffins, harbor seals, sea otters and even whales. When you finally arrive at Meares Glacier you’ll be mesmerized by the intense sight and sound of ice falling off the glacier face. A delicious lunch is included in the tour.

Operated by Heart of Alaska Tours. Fairbanks City Highlight Tour stands out because it's led by passionate locals who know Fairbanks inside and out. Rather than just visiting popular landmarks, you provide an insider's perspective, sharing personal stories, lesser-known facts, and hidden gems that most visitors miss. Your small-group approach creates a personalized experience, making guests feel like they're exploring the city with a friend rather than just following a scripted tour.

The opportunities for adventure in Alaska are endless, so visitors on tight schedules might have difficulty fitting in everything. You'll paddle around icebergs in Spencer Glacier Lake and enjoy views of hanging glaciers, cascading waterfalls, and more on a train ride through Grandview, the most scenic section of the Alaska Railroad.

The Matanuska Glacier is Alaska's largest glacier accessible by road, and offers the most accessible areas to walk on of any glacier in Alaska. If you don't want to tackle the winter drive yourself, this guided tour can take you there and lead you on a trek across the ice.  Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

See the Portage Glacier on a small-group tour from Anchorage. Follow the scenic Seward Parkway through the breathtaking landscape of the Turnagain Arm waterway, stopping at Beluga Point and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge to look for wildlife. Take a cruise on Portage Lake to observe the Portage Glacier up close, then check out wild animals that are being rehabilitated at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Stop for provided light snacks and water in the town of Girdwood near Mt. Alyeska and take in the Chugach Mountains.

Soak. Glow. Dream. Your evening begins with a scenic drive from Fairbanks into Alaska’s wilderness to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Upon arrival, enjoy time at the famous Ice Museum, featuring glowing ice sculptures and frozen artistry. Afterward, guests may choose to dine at the resort restaurant (optional; food and drinks not included) skip dinner to enjoy extended soak time. Guests who bring snacks or choose light options will have more time in the hot springs. Relax in the outdoor mineralrich hot springs under open sky surrounded by steam, forest, and stillness. After your soak, we’ll travel to prime Aurora viewing locations to give you the best chance to witness the Northern Lights. While the aurora cannot be guaranteed, your guide will closely monitor conditions and share local knowledge and stories throughout the night. Pick-up is between 4:30–5:30 PM depending on weather. Return is as late as 2:00 AM, with flexibility to stay out later if the Northern Lights are especially strong.

Explore interior Alaska and head out in search of the northern lights with this small group tour from Fairbanks. Your guide takes you to a remote location you couldn’t find on your own, and then settles in to view the lights. Get your cameras ready for some incredible shots. While you wait, you can relax in a comfortable, warm lodge.

Go sightseeing in the Yukon on a half-day tour from Skagway. Bring your passport to clear the border crossing in Fraser, then experience the natural beauty of the White Pass and the boreal forest in Canada. You also learn about Klondike Gold Rush history and have time for photo ops at landmarks such as Bridal Veil Falls and the Welcome To Alaska Sign. Includes a driver-guide who shares live commentary and round-trip transportation from Skagway.

Learn more about Fairbanks’ intriguing culture and history on a small-group sightseeing tour. Browse the exhibits at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center and the Museum of the North, where you find contemporary art, natural history, and an intriguing sound room. See the Alyeska Pipeline from the viewing point and pay a visit to Santa Claus at the North Pole. Note that the itinerary may change seasonally.

If you've never been on a hike during the winter, you need to give it a shot. Winter hiking is a blast, and it's great for the mind and body during long periods of dark & cold. This tour holds plenty of opportunity for photos, and a comprehensive variety of the natural elements found in the boreal forests of Alaska, as well as a stop at a local waterfall. Sound like your style? • Hike along Chugach State Park's Eagle River and see ice-covered Barbara Falls! • Perfect for solo travelers and couples. • Enjoy breathtaking views of towering vistas. Amazing landscapes await your camera! • Learn about Alaska's glaciated valleys and boreal forests from an experienced gude. • Opportunity for wildlife sightings, including moose, hare, voles, and porcupine! Join us on a classic Alaskan adventure today!

Go kayaking with humpback whales during this small-group paddling adventure from Juneau. Climb aboard a boat and travel up the Inside Passage to reach rich feeding grounds for humpback whales. Admire views of glaciers, forest, and snow-capped mountains during the journey then set out in kayaks in search of whales and other wildlife.

Catch your lunch during this ice-fishing tour from Fairbanks. Experienced guides take you from your hotel along a scenic drive to a prime fishing location at a frozen lake. Pick up traditional fishing techniques and then cast your luck into the water. Admire the Alaskan wilderness and finish the outing with a warm, cooked lunch of freshly-caught fish.

How many people can say they’ve crossed the Arctic Circle? Experience the landscapes of a lifetime on this full-day guided trip from Fairbanks to search for the northern lights. Journey through Alaskan wilderness aboard comfortable transport, and take a stroll along the Yukon River. On a high plateau of Finger Mountain, spot wildlife such as foxes, moose and bears. On the way back, hope to witness the splendor of aurora borealis.

The Alaskan arctic summer brings 24 hours of daylight in a phenomenon called the Midnight Sun. This tour, led by an experienced guide, takes you from Fairbanks and into the Arctic Circle. You’ll enjoy highlights like an Alaskan Homestead, the Dalton Highway, Arctic tundra, Trans Alaska Pipeline, and the Yukon River.

Get to know Fairbanks, called the ‘Golden Heart City,’ on this small-group guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center for an intro into the city’s history and culture, and admire the architecture at the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North. Feast your eyes on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the world’s largest pipeline, and wrap up your day at the Santa Claus House in the North Pole.

Capture the photos of the northern lights that you have been dreaming of on this guided night trip to the Murphy Dome from Fairbanks. One of the tallest peaks in the region, Murphy Dome provides one of the best vantage points for a chance to witness the aurora borealis. Watch the night sky blaze with color while savoring a hot beverage. Hotel transport included.

Discover the winter sightseeing gems of Fairbanks on this 5.5-hour city tour. If you can, snap a shot with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Santa Claus home, learn about the engineering feat that is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and and visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Museum. At the Museum of the North (Mon-Sat) and the Antique Auto Museum (Sundays only), experience the history, culture and craftsmanship of Fairbanks.

This guided night trip to Chena Hot Springs from Fairbanks gives you a bit of everything: hot, cold and the marvelous. Begin with a tour of the Fairbanks Ice Museum and marvel at its hand-sculpted ice bar and chandeliers. At a charming resort, slip into thermal pools of water that soothe your sore muscles. Relaxed, gear up for a midnight viewing of the surreal Northern Lights at one of the best locations to witness this natural phenomenon.