Top Alaska Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises - page 4

If you don't have the time, or the expertise required, to go on a glacier expedition on foot, a helicopter tour is a great way to see the glaciers surrounding Anchorage. This tour takes you over spectacular scenery and makes three landings—one alpine, one on an ice wall, and one in the middle of Knik Glacier—where you can get out and explore with your guide. You also have the possibility of seeing mountain goats, Dall sheep, moose, and, in the summer months, bears and wolves. Note: in winter, the helicopter lands next to the glacier.

Be awed by supersized glaciers and the hardy wildlife of the tundra on this full-day tour through the rugged Alaskan wilderness. Departing from Anchorage, drive along a scenic byway to the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, framed by the dramatic Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges. Cruise on the lake that laps against the ancient blue ice of Portage Glacier, stop for lunch at a cozy lodge, and get an up-close look at Alaskan wildlife such as caribou, musk ox, and lynk at a conservation center.

Spend three hours exploring the scenic and remote Chichagod Island on this small group tour that showcases life on the tiny island. Learn from your local guide about the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife while you explore this island that's home to the largest concentration of bears on earth. With just 750 residents, you'll feel far off the beaten path on this tour that's perfect for nature lovers.

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.

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.

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.

Focus on spotting native Alaskan wildlife on this half-day shore excursion on Icy Strait. Once your cruise ship docks in Hoonah, transfer to a boat and embark on a whale-spotting tour in Icy Strait. Listen to in-depth guided commentary on local Alaskan flora and fauna while keeping an eye out for whales, geese, coastal ducks, deer, and bears.

While in Seward, embark on one of Alaska’s most popular wildlife and glacier cruises during a pre- or post-cruise shore excursion through Kenai Fjords National Park. Stay warm as you sail past alpine and tidewater glaciers among the fjords, and heighten your chance of spotting whales, sea lions, and birds with the help of your captain, who puts the sights into context.

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.

Experience Alaska’s forests and tundra from the only zipline course in the Denali National Park region. Soar over the trees during a half-day ziplining experience just outside the national park. Guides lead you along a course with six suspension bridges and seven ziplines. Remember to pause and admire the landscape on this memorable tour that promises exhilarating thrills, incredible scenery, and a fun challenge.

Hike with an experienced, naturalist guide and small group through the wilderness trails of Denali National Park. The 5-hour experience showcases the tundra, taiga and boreal forest that has made Denali a mecca for wilderness adventurers the world over. Listen to narration to understand the parks botany, geology and history as you focus on the nature all around you — not the logistics or your map.

Soar above the glacier-carved granite cliffs and waterfall-studded forests of Misty Fjords National Monument on an unforgettable flight tour from Ketchikan. With guaranteed window seating for all passengers in a fixed-wing Alaskan bush plane, you won't miss a thing as you coast over lush mountaintops and hillsides where wild goats and black bears roam. Learn about the ancient geologic history and wildlife of this spectacular landscape through live narration from the pilot during the flight.

A stroll along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a great Anchorage outdoors activity, but you can cover much more ground on a bicycle. This small-group guided bicycle tour begins at Kincaid Park and shows you the beauty of the Cook Inlet, with views of Denali and, possibly, moose along the way.

Get a quick introduction to the Alaskan tradition of ice fishing in the Chena Lakes Recreation Area. Your guides provide all the necessary equipment—rod, bait, heated shelters, underwater cameras—and serve a grilled fish dinner once the fishing is done. You can fish from the heated cabins and shelters, or move outside to try your hand in the open elements.

Journey to the remote, glacier-carved Northwestern Fjord in the Kenai Fjords National Park on a full-day cruise from Seward. Whether you’re a birder or whale-watching enthusiast, get the chance to snap plenty of photos of humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, seabirds, and more. Watch for glacial calving, where giant chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the water. A light lunch of sandwiches is served midday.

Soar over glacial waterfalls and stunning Alaska scenery on this ziplining excursion. Meet your guide at the dock and enjoy an entertaining trip through historic Skagway on your way to Dyea. There enjoy a ziplining orientation before strapping in and taking off.  The course features multiple ziplines and suspension bridges to give you views of the surrounding Tongass National Forest and allow you to soar over glacial waterfalls.

See Punchbowl Glacier on both land and from the air with this exciting tour. A helicopter ride offers scenic overhead views, and you'll learn about the mushing lifestyle and the history of the legendary Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from your guide. Take in the scenery as a team of sled dogs pulls you across an alpine snowfield. You even get a chance to drive the sled.

Explore Alaska's wilderness during the winter with this small-group sightseeing tour. Set out from Anchorage on an itinerary that offers many stops for photographs such as the Alaska Wildlife Conversation Center, the Seward Highway along the shores of Turnagain Arm, and Beluga Point. Skip the hassle of a rental car; round-trip transportation from Anchorage is included with this tour.

Start your day rumbling through Alaska’s countryside on this 32-mile (51-kilometer) morning all-terrain-vehicle adventure, perfect for both experienced and first-time off-road drivers. Settle aboard a rugged 2020 Can-Am Maverick Trail side-by-side vehicle with your companion; and bump along unmade trails that wind high and low through ever-changing landscapes—all with a guide to share tales about the region and point out sights as you go.

In early summer, orcas frequent the Kenai Fjords in search of food. This half-day whale-watching cruise—the only orca-focused cruise in Seward—takes you into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Rather than following a set route, your captain navigates to orca hot spots of the day. Hear the whale's haunting calls through a hydrophone, and learn about orcas and their behavior from the captain and crew.

Immerse yourself in the Arctic Circle and Dalton Highway on this tour from Fairbanks. Beat vacation planning overwhelm, and leave the organization and logistics to your guide. Cover plenty of ground in a vehicle, resting your feet between stops at Finger Mountain, the Arctic Circle Monument Sign, and more. Perfect for travelers wanting to visit the Arctic Tundra on their trip to Alaska.

Get a closer look at Alaska’s majestic Denali from the comfortable window seat of a small aircraft. Slip on your provided headset to hear commentary from your guide as you fly over the snow-covered peaks, jagged ridgelines, and glacier carved valleys of Denali National Park, and get within half a mile of the mountain peak. Plus, choose from multiple times to easily fit this sightseeing flight tour into your schedule.

Discover Sitka–and make efficient use of your time in Alaska–on this small-group tour led by a local guide. Take in the ocean and mountain landscape as you explore the coastline and visit many landmarks, including Sitka National Historical Park and Alaska Raptor Center. Come face-to-face with rescued brown bears, walk on forest trails, and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities. Refuel with drinks and snacks conveniently included, too.

Hiking on glaciers can be intimidating, but by booking a guided tour you can explore the Exit Glacier with the security of a guide to lead the way. A trip for fit and adventurous hikers, this tour begins with a steep hike that gets you off-the-beaten-path and away from the hoards of tourists that flock to more accessible glaciers.