Top Alaska Day Trips

Escape the cruise crowds and experience authentic Alaska in one incredible day. On this small-group tour, you’ll journey from Anchorage—in luxury—to witness Byron Glacier's majesty with an easy, guided walk along the river. Then, you’ll get guaranteed wildlife encounters with bears, moose, and wolves at the Conservation Center. Local guides, hotel pickup, and thoughtful touches make this adventure effortless (and effortlessly unforgettable).

Embark on the ultimate northern adventure with our Arctic Circle Day Tour from Fairbanks. Travel deep into Alaska’s untouched wilderness along the famous Dalton Highway, one of the most remote and scenic roads in North America. Your expert guide will share captivating stories about Alaskan history, nature, and culture as you journey across the Arctic Circle. Witness dramatic changes in landscape—from boreal forests to Arctic tundra. Stop to photograph the mighty Yukon River, catch views of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and take in panoramic vistas of untouched wilderness. At the Arctic Circle marker, celebrate with a photo op and receive your official Arctic Circle Certificate, a memorable token of your achievement. In winter, you may be treated to the magical dance of the Aurora Borealis on your return trip, a breathtaking way to end your Arctic adventure.

Immerse yourself in Alaska's stunning wilderness and wildlife on this group tour from Anchorage. Explore wildlife at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Chugash National Forest, admire glacier views, stop at a historic mining town, and more, with an optional glacier cruise in the summer. Along the way, learn more about the area and learn how to take better photos.

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.

Whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier are two of the most popular activities around Juneau — they're essential experiences for any local tourist that you won't want to miss. Check them both off your list on this half-day combo tour that includes flexible departure times and round-trip transportation from Mt. Roberts Tramway, making it ideal for a shore excursion or quick trip.

Explore beyond Fairbanks city limits—and enjoy an exciting but relaxing array of activities at the Chena Hot Springs Resort—on this small-group tour. Admire ice sculptures at the Aurora Ice Museum, unwind in the resort’s hot mineral springs, and upgrade to enjoy drinks or a meal on site. If the conditions are right, you can then cap off the experience with a northern lights viewing before returning to your hotel.

Skip the impersonal, large-group bus tour and explore Sitka on a small-group day trip to the city’s top landmarks, with a range of departure times offered to fit your schedule. Your guide, who navigates for you, brings you to four highly-rated attractions, including Fortress of the Bear, the Alaska Raptor Center, and the Sitka National Historic Park. All entrance fees are included for your convenience.

Immerse yourself in the Alaskan wilderness on a cruise through the Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward. Aboard a warm and spacious vessel, cruise past alpine and tidewater glaciers among the fjords and try your luck spotting wildlife like whales, sea lions, and birds. Enjoy a delicious lunch onboard and visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge for great views of seabird rookeries.

Get out of the city and discover the stunning scenery that surrounds Anchorage. This small-group tour takes you south along the Seward Highway to soak up ocean and mountain views on the way to Alyeska Ski Area where an an aerial tram takes you 2,300 feet (700 meters) above sea level. Afterward, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to learn how sanctuary cares for the Last Frontier’s injured and orphaned animals and see resident wildlife including grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and musk ox.

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.

See glaciers, wildlife, and majestic mountains as you take a cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park and enjoy dinner on board. While many cruises through the fjords are too short to see much of the wildlife and scenery, this dinner cruise includes ample time on board so you have the chance to spot whales, eagles, puffins, and more.

If you’re looking for a unique experience that combines history with the great outdoors, book this Juneau Underground Peterson Gold Mine and Panning Experience. Go with a guide to the old mine and go on one of the only underground tours in all of Alaska—wearing a hardhat for safety. After learning about the mining done there, test your skills at gold panning.

Auke Bay, with its harbor of whale watching vessels, lies about a half-hour’s ride from Juneau. This whale watching trip saves you the trouble of getting to the harbor and back with a round-trip shuttle directly from your cruise ship dock or a designated meeting point.

Experience the best of Alaska’s wildlife and natural treasures in a day during this curated tour from your cruise port in Whittier. Highlights include stopping at a wildlife conservation center, home to hundreds of species, and a hike to Byron Glacier. Side step the long bus lines at the cruise port and instead ride in comfort and style as you wind around scenic valleys and coastal roads.

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime, family friendly experience as we guide you inside Castner Ice Cave in the heart of one of Alaska's famed glaciers! We will drive from Fairbanks, passing open tundra with herds of caribou, the Trans-Alaskan pipeline, and on clear days see the stunning Alaska Range. Once we arrive at the glacier area we will gear up with snowshoes or ice cleats for your boots before heading out on a guided 1.5 mile hike to the Ice Cave! Please note that the hike itself is rather flat and easy-going, however extreme cold temperatures can make things difficult. Please come prepared! We will learn about the history of glaciers in Alaska, geology, local history, and much more as we embark to the glacier. This will no doubt be an adventure to bring home and tell your friends and family about! Licensed by Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior permit #2025-00551. Current photos from 24/25 winter season

View Denali from the air on this small-group flight over the Alaskan wilderness, and see the rugged landscape from a whole new perspective that most tourists miss. Soar over rivers, valleys, and glaciers, and experience landing on and walking atop a glacier. Pickup, drop-off, headset, and live commentary are all included for an even more seamless experience.

Calling all independently-minded travelers for a DIY Jeep tour into the Yukon. This tour, which includes a full-day Jeep rental and a narrated mile-by-mile audio guide, is a great way to venture along the Klondike Highway into the Yukon Territory. Pick up your Jeep at your convenience and travel at your own pace to Emerald Lake and back.

Nature lovers can spend the day exploring the Matanuska Glacier on a hiking tour that traverses the glacier’s picturesque terrain. Along the way, your guide teaches you about the dynamic glacial features including seracs, moulons, and crevasses. While it is easy to get views of the glacier on your own, a guided hike on the glacier itself provides a completely different perspective of the otherworldly landscape.

Explore the bays and islands of Alaska on a whale- and wildlife-watching excursion off the coast of Ketchikan. Locally owned and family-run, this company prides itself on knowing the best up-to-date whale watching locations in the area. This ensures the greatest chances of spotting whales on your outing (though sightings are not always guaranteed), as well as other wildlife like bald eagles, harbor seals, and a wide variety of seabirds.

Enjoy the amazing views of the mountains and keep an eye out for wildlife such as Moose and Caribou which are often seen crossing the road on the way to Castner Glacier. Once you arrive at the starting point of the trail the hike is 3 miles (round trip) to the Ice Cave and back.PLEASE DRESS ACCORDINGLY FOR COLD WEATHER.Enjoy the epic views of the Delta Range, an eastern section of the Alaska Range. Ice caves are exceptional because they are not only scarce, but they are located far outside zones of permafrost—at low elevations (near sea level) and low latitudes (between around 30° and 70°), where they maintain a much lower average annual temperature than that of the air above. After you return from your hike we will head back to North Pole where you are going to have some free time to explore the world famous Santa Clause House. Drop Off at your hotel or AirBnB around 5:30 pm. Licensed by Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior permit #2025-00197

Don’t miss the only daily tour that visits the majestic Northwestern Fjord, home to three amazing tidewater glaciers and numerous alpine glaciers, part of Kenai Fjords National Park. This cruise from Seward takes you through Alaska’s crystal blue waters and gives you jaw-dropping scenery of glaciers and an array of marine life. Gain insight into the area’s geological history from a wildlife guide, and enjoy lunch onboard.

Embark on an adventure through the stunning Misty Fjords, one of Alaska’s most beautiful natural wonders. Set out from Ketchikan onboard a purpose-built vessel, equipped with comfortable inside cabin seating, panoramic windows, heated cabin, onboard restrooms, outside viewing deck and an onboard galley gift shop.

This eco-friendly tour of Skagway is like no other experience around! Your tour starts at Klondike Electric Bicycles where you will join us for a self-guided ride to some of Skagway's best sites! You will visit a waterfall, scenic vistas, the Gold Rush Cemetery, the Skagway overlook, and Nakhu Bay. Your E-Bike Tour will end at the Small Boat Harbor, where you’ll meet Capt. Brendan, then board the 50’ sailing sloop Hopscotch! You will have a charcuterie box waiting for you to enjoy during your sail. Explore the longest deepest Fjord in North America sailing past waterfalls and hanging glaciers…AND if you are lucky, we may even see eagles, whales, and seals.