Top Anchorage Day Trips

Alaska is famous for its stunning wilderness and wildlife, but it can be difficult to know where to go if you're traveling on your own. Join this group tour from Anchorage to discover wildlife at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Chugach National Forest, admire glacier views, stop at a historic mining town, and more. Along the way, learn more about the area from your guide and learn how to take better photos.

We make it easy to see it all in one day! Relax on the coach as you enjoy the beauty of Turnagain Arm. On the cruise get ready to view one of the largest concentration of glaciers in Alaska. Weather, ice conditions and wildlife activity changes daily and our captains may adjust the route to provide the best cruise experience while keeping your safety and comfort a top priority. We take pride in ensuring that your time with us is an enjoyable memory that becomes a favorite highlight of your Alaska vacation. We operate first-class catamarans. Due to their dual hull design, these powerful high-speed catamarans are extremely stable and able to smoothly navigate through the narrow fjords and passages that lead us to the face of massive glaciers. By operating safely and efficiently, Phillips Cruises & Tours provides a comfortable cruise and our No Seasickness Guarantee assures nervous cruisers the confidence that they will enjoy our cruise without any unpleasant effects.

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.

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.

Learn about Anchorage’s history while cruising around town in a bus outfitted to look like a vintage trolley. Gain unique into the local history and culture of Alaska's most populous city from guides with generational ties to the region. You may even get to spot moose crossing the road and seaplanes descending on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard.

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.

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.

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.

The Turnagain Arm in the Gulf of Alaska boasts abundant Alaskan wildlife within easy access of Anchorage. Learn about the local ecosystem from a guide with extensive knowledge of the area as you drive down the peninsula, with opportunities to spot wild animals in their natural environment as you go. Includes a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a drive past the glaciers on Portage Glacier Road.

A fully narrated tour by a local guide along Turnagain Arm offers stunning views of rugged mountains, glaciers, and Alaska flora and fauna (i.e., wildflowers, bald eagles, Dall sheep, beluga whales). We will stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), where visitors can get up-close viewings and pictures of Alaska's most iconic animals, including brown bears, moose, caribou, and muskox. From there, the tour will continue down the scenic Portage Valley, where visitors can take in spectacular views of towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, the beautiful Portage Lake, and numerous glaciers, including the Explorer and Byron Glaciers. On the return trip, visitors will enjoy a provided lunch in Girdwood, a quaint town surrounded by the northernmost temperate rainforest. Overall, a tour of Turnagain Arm, the AWCC, and Portage Valley is a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Alaska and to learn about the history and culture of this incredible state.

Busy travelers with only one day to spare can see the best of the Alaskan wilderness on a tour that combines a scenic train ride, river float, glacial lake paddle, and a visit to a wildlife conservation center. From taking photos with icebergs to seeing bears at the wildlife center, the mix of activities fulfills visitors’ Alaskan adventure dreams.

Set out on a nocturnal adventure in search of the elusive northern lights with this photography-focused tour departing from Anchorage. Get picked up at your hotel and go in search of the aurora borealis with a small group. Learn new photography skills and try your hand at capturing the dazzling light show of the northern lights with your camera.

Explore the rugged wilderness around Anchorage, Alaska with the help of your expert guide on this private tour. Sit back and relax as you go straight from your hotel to a short tour of Anchorage then onto the scenic Glenn Highway. Visit a reindeer farm before heading up into the mountains to the stunning Hatcher Pass. Your day includes a stop in Palmer and a scenic nature stroll before returning to your hotel.

Immerse yourself in Alaska's icy beauty—without the hassle of organizing logistics—with this small-group guided hike on Matanuska Glacier. Departing from Anchorage, enjoy the views en route to the glacier where your guide leads you across the frozen expanse, unraveling the glacier's secrets and geological marvels while you marvel at towering ice formations and navigate crevasses.

Experience the breathtaking landscape of the Turnagain Arm on a half-day tour with an informative guide. Ride along the scenic Seward Parkway to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and Beluga Point, stopping for photo ops and wildlife observation. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a large nature preserve where injured animals are rehabilitated. Continue to the town of Girdwood, then travel up into the Chugach Mountains for another great vantage point on the Turnagain Arm. Includes round-trip transportation from Anchorage.

Explore Alaska's Matanuska Glacier without the hassle of navigating unfamiliar roads or finding a mandatory guide. This small-group tour from Anchorage includes a guided hike across the surface of the glacier to see its otherworldly formations up close while learning about its history, size, and scope.

This exclusive, small-group hike on the Matanuska Glacier is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which will leave you with a greater appreciation for one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena. Discover your inner glaciologist as you traverse across ice fields, hearing the cracking sounds of the glacier moving, and learn about the makings of the glacier in detail from your expert guide. Round off the adventure with local honey and wine tasting.

Discover Alaska’s majestic scenery and encounter the state’s Big Five with ease during a small-group tour from Anchorage to a premier conservation center. Relax and soak up the scenery during a smooth drive along Turnagain Arm while somebody else keeps their eyes on the road and shares little nuggets about the area and wildlife. Plus, delve into the local culture at a small town brewery for beer tasting.

Experience the natural wonder of Alaska's Matanuska Glacier with our full-day guided tour. Beginning with a convenient pickup from downtown Anchorage, you'll embark on a scenic two-hour journey, driving through landscapes of towering mountains. Along the way, we'll stop at local eateries, offering you the chance to purchase lunch. Upon reaching the glacier, a seasoned guide will equip you with crampons, making glacier navigation safe and manageable. Then, an all-terrain vehicle will transport you to the glacier's base. Here, you'll set off on foot to explore the glacier's icy expanse, discovering fascinating ice formations and gaining insight into the glacier's natural history from your knowledgeable guide. After this unforgettable experience, we'll journey back to Anchorage, ensuring a comfortable drop-off in downtown. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, education, and scenic beauty, offering an in-depth encounter with one of Alaska's most impressive glaciers.

Explore Chugach State Park's Eagle River trail system without the risk of getting lost when you hike on a small-group guided tour. Lovers of the outdoors won't want to miss the opportunity to hike through boreal forests and glaciated valleys, to see where salmon spawn, and to spot wildlife like bears, moose, and birds. Meet your guide at a designated spot and enjoy a moderate five-hour hike.

Travel north from Anchorage through the MatSu Valley to the mushing capital of the world and go for a sled dog ride! Take in the sights while you let us do the driving en route to Willow, AK where you’ll experience a real Iditarod musher’s home kennel and witness their enthusiastic canine athletes. Go for an exhilarating overland sled dog ride powered by a team of authentic Alaska Huskies, and learn all about the sport of mushing and the world famous 1000-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You’ll go for a dog-powered ride in a specially designed 2-person cart with your own personal musher and the chance to pet some friendly fluffy Alaska huskies! This 5.5 hour round-trip adventure will be one you won’t forget. Approximately 1.5 hour drive each way with 1.5+ hours at the kennel. Wheeled carts are used in summer (June-Sept.) & sleds in winter when there is sufficient snow on the ground. HOTEL PICKUP AVAILABLE IN WINTER ONLY; CONTACT TO ARRANGE. GROUPS OF 6< CONTACT FRONTIER TOURS TO BOOK.

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.

Alaska's largest glacier accessible by car is located just outside Anchorage, so don't miss the chance to visit during your stay. You'll head to Matanuska Glacier Park to explore this natural wonder with provided ice cleats and a guide.