Top Alaska How to Get Around

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.

If you’re a fan of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV show 'Deadliest Catch,' you saw the Aleutian Ballad, a commercial fishing boat, escape a rogue wave in the Bering Sea. On this fisherman’s tour from Ketchikan, hop aboard the Aleutian Ballad and navigate through the waterways of the Inside Passage with a seasoned fishing crew. Touch some of the catch, take photos, and listen to entertaining sea lore.

The area surrounding White Pass is an ideal location to see Yukon’s famous scenery, but it’s nearly impossible to reach from Skagway without a car. This tour picks you up from your ship or hotel, saving you the hassle of navigation, and takes you to White Pass Summit and the Yukon Suspension Bridge. Afterward, you’re driven back to your port of call or hotel.

Get acquainted with Ketchikan on a tour on a state-of-the-art amphibious vehicle that goes on land and water. This excursion combines a vehicle and boat tour to reveal the city from two perspectives. Take a tour of Ketchikan's rustic streets before splashing into the harbor for a different perspective of "Alaska's First City." Stop often to marvel at the beauty of it all, including the many gorgeous totem poles.

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.

Alaska boasts astonishing biodiversity, and Ketchikan is a popular gateway to its rainforests, beaches, and wildlife—but with limited time on land, it can be tough to venture off the beaten track. Designed for cruise ship passengers, this private half-day tour takes you deep into Tongass National Forest—the largest national forest in the United States and home to salmon, bald eagles, and black and brown bears.

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.

Get away from the crowds and experience Alaska’s grandest marine life from an intimate, 20-person vessel. Less disruptive to wildlife, you’ll get a front-row seat to the 49th State’s most beloved creatures—including whales, sea lions, eagles, and more. You’ll also get to scope out ice-blue glaciers, rocky shorelines, and hidden inlets from the comfort of the heated cabin or right from the catamaran's bow.

Spend an incredible night on the hunt for the elusive northern lights with guides passionate about helping you make the most of your Fairbanks trip. Travel in a comfortable vehicle with included hotel pickup on this flexible journey and get complimentary photography if you finally see the aurora borealis to help make sure these are memories that will last a lifetime.

While most visitors only see the Mendenhall Glacier from crowded viewpoints, this tour takes adventurous travelers on a canoe trip to the base of the glacier for a completely different perspective of the majestic ice. With canoe lessons and a guide, the tour is open to first-time paddlers and the mellow water means you can take along a camera and capture the arctic cliffs, icebergs, and pristine blue ice.

Discover the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier with the Glacier “Blue Bus” Express, direct and scenic transportation from the cruise ship terminal in downtown Juneau. Ideal for travelers looking to explore on their own, this immersive experience provides the perfect blend of convenience and adventure. You will enjoy captivating commentary and scenery on your way to the Mendenhall Glacier that brings to life the rich history and vibrant culture of the region. Arriving at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, you’ll have two hours to explore this stunning natural wonder. Here you can choose to wander trails, photograph the glacier from the distance, or explore the Visitor’s Center. With various walking trails available, visitors of all fitness levels can enjoy spectacular views of the glacier, Mendenhall Lake, and the untouched wilderness. Entry to the Visitor’s Center is included where you can enjoy interactive exhibits and educational presentations.

Paddle across Mendenhall Lake, past icebergs and waterfalls, on this guided Alaskan adventure. Explore the Tongass National Forest and hike near Mendenhall Glacier with expert guides. Enjoy breathtaking views and experience wildlife up close. This small-group tour offers a unique and unforgettable wilderness experience.

Discover the highlights of the Yukon and British Columbia and learn more about its history, nature and local culture. Visit key landmarks such as the Yukon Suspension Bridge and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities at cascading waterfalls, valleys and glaciers. Then, prepare for a big dose of cuteness at a dog sled camp where playful husky puppies await your cuddles.

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.

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.

Experience Alaska’s wildlife and landscapes without planning a complex route from Anchorage on your own. This group tour combines glacier views, mountain scenery, wildlife encounters, and historic stops into one well-rounded day through Chugach National Forest and beyond. Along the way, your guide shares local insight and photography tips to help you get more out of the experience and your photos.

Six hours, one unforgettable road. This small-group tour (14 guests max) trades the big motorcoach for a Mercedes Sprinter and a born-and-raised Alaskan guide who's driven Turnagain Arm his whole life. Heading south from Anchorage, the Seward Highway squeezes between the Chugach Mountains and the sea. At Beluga Point we glass the water for belugas and the cliffs for Dall sheep and eagles. At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, rescued bears, moose, bison, caribou, and muskox roam big natural enclosures — your best shot at photographing Alaska's icons in one visit. Then Portage Valley: Explorer and Byron Glaciers and a short walk through mossy rainforest. Lunch happens like a local on the way home: Girdwood Brewing Company, in a mountain ski town, with rotating Alaska food trucks (lunch is at your expense). A lifelong local behind the wheel, 14 seats instead of 50, and no rush when the wildlife shows up. See Alaska between the postcards.

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.

Venture to three nature spots around Ketchikan in just a couple hours to search for wildlife with a local guide and small group. This easy tour requires only the ability to take about 30 steps and includes visits to Herring Cove, a roadside waterfall, and Rotary Beach Park tide pools. Leave all the driving to someone else as you look for animals ranging from bears to eagles to salmon.

Brand-new for 2025, the Aurora Glass House sits atop Cleary Summit in Fairbanks, Alaska. With floor-to-ceiling windows and over 270° panoramic views, this modern cabin offers a warm, cozy space to enjoy the Northern Lights. Relax in plush lounge chairs, sip hot drinks, and hear stories from your friendly local host while the aurora dances across the sky. Highlights • Brand-new Aurora Glass House for 2025 on Cleary Summit • Over 270° panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows • Stay warm with cozy seating and complimentary hot drinks • Perfect for couples, families, and photographers

Enjoy an experience most tourists miss and step off your cruise ship into a floatplane to admire the glassy blue lakes, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks of Misty Fjords National Monument on this shore excursion from Ketchikan. Capture bird’s-eye views of varied landscapes and try your luck spotting eagles, bears, and plenty of other wildlife during the flight that includes a guaranteed window seat. It’s an ideal experience for nature-lovers.

Don’t let Alaska’s best scenery pass you by from your car window. On this small-group tour, follow your guide on an e-bike, traveling the ultra-scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the nation. Taking it easy on your pedal-assisted cruiser, nab views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Mountains, downtown Anchorage, and so much more—including all the wildlife Alaska is known for.

Discover the glaciers and wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park on this full-day catamaran cruise. Enjoy jaw-dropping scenery as an experienced naturalist provides engaging commentary. In Aialik Bay, watch for the calving of tidewater glaciers, when chunks of ice break off and crash into the water. From the comfort of a heated cabin, spot Steller sea lions, orcas, humpbacks and puffins that call these waters home. Enjoy a complimentary deli lunch onboard.

Both the US and Canada have a rich history of logging and lumberjacking. Cheer on your favorite team as you watch Alaskan and British Columbian woodsmen chop, saw, roll logs, and throw axes as they compete in the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Then, join in the fun as you learn how to throw a double-bit axe for yourself, trying to best your fellow attendees.