Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Express
Anchorage, USA
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Please check in at our new location: 509 W. 3rd Ave, directly across from the Hilton Hotel. Parking is available across the street. Check in at the concierge desk, then wait in our garden or indoor lobby. Please arrive 20 mins before departure. Look for the gray van with a bear! On the way, you’ll get nonstop views of the dramatic Turnagain Arm—one of Alaska’s most-scenic drives—stopping at beautiful Beluga Point before getting dropped off directly at the conservation center. With a mission to save injured and imperiled wildlife, spend an hour visiting with lynx, bears, wolves, bald eagles, and more.
- Hassle-free transfers to and from Anchorage, AK
- Drive past Beluga Point as you journey along the Turnagain Arm
- Direct dropoff and pickup at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- See lynx, muskox, reindeer, and more
What's Included
- Admission to Wildlife Conservation Center
- Tipping is not required but appreciated. Guides enhance your experience with expert knowledge.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Alaskas Finest Tours & Adventures509 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Kuilee_M
Had an amazing time. Great tour guide and very knowledgeable. Took my friends and I to see breathtaking views of the glaciers, rivers, lakes and wildlife. Definitely a must see and experience tour if you are planning a trip to anchorage.
Reviews
4.6
based on 38 reviews
Tiikeritwo, Mar 2026
Fantastic experience! Great to see a place for wild animals to go and be cared for when they no longer can be in their natural habitat.
Melissa_L, Mar 2026
The tour guide Melissa was fabulous, however the owner of the business, verbally abused me on several occasions after the tour by phone when I left my purse in the tour van. He called me at 7:30pm yelling and screaming at me and accussing me of things that had nothing to do with me. I simply tried to ask If they could check the van and hold the purse at the office for me.
I was absolutely horrified by his disgusting treatment of me, has ruined my Alaska vacation.
My tour was booked for 12pm they changed my time to 11am as I was the only one booked for 12pm, I arrived at 10:40 and this horrible man screamed at me later that night that everyone had to wait for me, I had 1 hour notice and still arrived before most others. Not sure what making up lies about me has to do with getting my purse back. Holiday ruined. Thanks Alaska's finest.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify what occurred that afternoon.
First, you were originally booked on the 12:00 PM tour; however, because you were the only guest scheduled for the $99.00 non-stop transfer, we contacted you in advance and offered to move you to the upgraded 11:00 AM wildlife tour at no additional cost. This upgraded tour is a 4.5-hour experience with numerous scenic stops, valued at $149, rather than the original non-stop transfer with no stops that you had booked. At the time, you readily agreed to this change and appeared pleased with the opportunity to take the more comprehensive tour. For that reason, it is difficult to understand why your review now suggests that the adjustment from 12:00 PM to 11:00 AM was an inconvenience when the change was discussed with you and accepted in advance.
I also want to emphasize that everything regarding the situation with your missing item was handled according to our standard procedures and as explained during our conversations. Because of your persistence, our team went well beyond our normal procedures and spent considerable time attempting to locate the item. I am very sorry that your pouch appears to have been misplaced.
We always recommend that guests keep personal items of value with them, especially when the vehicle is full of other passengers, as yours was that day. During our conversation, you stated that the item was a small pouch, approximately the size of a magnetic key card, which you had left on your seat.
Given that it was a small item of personal value, it is difficult to understand why it would have been left unattended on the seat, as you indicated, for the entire tour—including while you were away from the vehicle for approximately 45 minutes at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
In your review, however, you now refer to the item as a purse, which creates some confusion as to whether the item was a small pouch with a string attachment or a larger purse. Regardless, before guests exit the van we remind everyone to check around their seating area for gloves, hats, purses, cell phones, and other personal belongings. In addition, our drivers conduct a walk-through of the vehicle after guests exit to check for any items that may have been left behind.
When you first called to report that you believed your pouch—containing what I understood to be your hotel room key card—had been left in the vehicle, I immediately checked the tour timing and confirmed that the driver had already dropped off the vehicle and finished for the day. I explained that if the item was located, it would be placed in our lost-and-found. You expressed that this was not satisfactory, but I reiterated that the driver had already returned home safely and that I would not allow them to return to the road under the hazardous weather conditions at that time.
I answered your call because I was running late for a scheduled pickup at the Alyeska Resort and initially believed it might be a customer calling to ask about my arrival. My intention was to inform them that there had been a fifteen-car pileup on the roadway and that I was slowly navigating around the accident but was still on my way. Under normal circumstances, I would not answer a phone call while driving in those conditions. However, because I believed it might be a guest waiting for transportation, I made the decision to respond.
At the time of your call, I also informed you that I was driving in extremely severe winter conditions that were well above normal. In order to answer your call safely, I had to pull over into a turnout that had over a foot of snow, and I was concerned that my vehicle could become stuck. I stopped only so that I could safely respond to you while navigating those hazardous conditions.
My tone may have sounded louder than normal because you were on speakerphone while I was navigating the snowstorm with vehicles around me. Most drivers on the road do not have studded tires; in fact, rental vehicles typically come equipped only with year-round tires. While year-round tires provide some traction, they are often less effective than studded tires in severe winter conditions. Our company goes the extra mile to equip our vehicles safely, but we cannot control other drivers on the road who choose not to invest in proper winter tires. Additionally, many vehicles were driving without their lights on, making them difficult to see in the blowing snow and creating even more hazardous driving conditions. My priority at that moment was ensuring the safety of myself, my passengers, and everyone else on the road. I explain this so you understand how serious the weather and road conditions were at the time.
Safety for our drivers, our guests, and everyone on the road is always our highest priority. Continuing phone conversations while navigating hazardous winter conditions creates a significant distraction and increases the risk of an accident.
A short time later, you called again while I was still driving in the storm, which had progressed into near whiteout conditions, to confirm whether I had reached the driver. I again explained that the driver was off for the day; however, I did contact her and asked that she check the vehicle and turn in any item found to the office. My responses may have seemed brief because my focus needed to remain on safely operating the vehicle in extremely hazardous conditions. Repeated calls during those conditions created a distraction that could have placed my life, as well as the lives of our guests and other drivers on the road, at risk.
You witnessed the severity of the storm firsthand during your return from the wildlife tour, including the multiple accidents along the roadway while your driver was traveling 15–20 miles below the speed limit in order to prioritize safety for you and the other guests. I hope you can understand the seriousness of those driving conditions. You may also recall that after arriving back at our office, your driver asked the group how her driving was. The guests applauded and thanked her for getting everyone back safely. That moment reflected just how difficult the driving conditions were and how focused our drivers must remain during severe winter storms to ensure the safety of every passenger on board.
Despite the conditions, I immediately contacted the driver and asked her to check the vehicle as soon as possible. She later checked the vehicle with the assistance of a family member and reported that nothing had been located. Later that evening, after returning to Anchorage, I personally checked the vehicle again to ensure nothing had been missed. In total, the vehicle was searched multiple times.
In addition, several members of our team spent time outside of their normal working hours attempting to assist with locating the item. From approximately 3:00 PM until 7:30 PM, our team continued working to try to locate your pouch, coordinating with the driver and conducting additional searches of the vehicle.
After these efforts, I contacted you to report the steps we had taken; however, it appeared that our efforts were still not satisfactory to you. You indicated that retrieving the item the following day was not acceptable, but I reassured you that we would continue to assist once it was safe to do so.
You later demanded the opportunity to search the vehicle yourself before anyone boarded the van the next morning. Although this is outside normal practice for most tour operators, we agreed to accommodate your request and arranged for the driver to meet you so that you could inspect the vehicle.
Because we could not locate your pouch, I also suggested contacting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in case the pouch had been set down during that stop, such as in the gift shop area. This suggestion was made simply to ensure that every possible location had been considered. You responded that you had not removed the item from the vehicle. My intention in raising the possibility was only to help consider every possible scenario after multiple searches of the van had not located the pouch.
The vehicle was again made available the following day so that every opportunity could be provided to locate the pouch. The driver and our staff thoroughly checked the vehicle again, and you were offered the opportunity to search it personally.
We understand how concerning it can be when a personal item goes missing. However, every reasonable effort was made to locate your pouch, even though the outcome was not what anyone hoped for. While we always make every reasonable effort to assist guests in locating items that may have been left behind, personal belongings ultimately remain the responsibility of the guest.
If the pouch is located at any time in the future, we will certainly contact you immediately.
Thank you again for reaching out. We appreciate your understanding that safety must remain our highest priority during hazardous driving conditions, and we wish you the best for the remainder of your travels.
Carriie_N, Sep 2025
The guide made the trip. She is knowledgeable and you can tell she loves what she does. We were lucky to have her
Chloe_J, Sep 2025
Awesome tour , Great guide - Gary was really knowledgeable and awesome sights to see, had a fantastic time
Rachel_L, Sep 2025
Beautiful ride to the animal sanctuary and the animals are awake and easy to spot. It’s incredible. 1
Lexy_L, Sep 2025
Great little trip to the AWCC ! It was a good deal that included a ride to and from with admission. Everyone we interacted with also was very kind.
Stephen_P, Sep 2025
Advertised as 1 hour Express Excursion but was 1 hour drive each way. 90 minutes spent at Animal Park
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re sorry that the time at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was longer than the one-hour Express Excursion advertised. On beautiful summer days, it’s sometimes hard not to give guests a little extra time to enjoy the animals and take in the scenery. We appreciate your understanding and hope you enjoyed the visit and the drive through Alaska’s stunning landscapes.
Connie_M, Sep 2025
Ben was a fantastic guide. Really enjoyed the information he imparted. Learned how to say thank you in Tlingit (sounds like "gouda cheese"). The animals in the conservatory were great.
CraigA_H, Aug 2025
This is a great opportunity to see Alaskan wildlife up close. They have an impressive variety of animals and our guide, Melissa was terrific!
She’s very knowledgeable and enjoyable.
Diane_C, Aug 2025
Our guide took us to numerous viewing points that was not on tour. He shared his love for his state. He was very knowledgeable. The time at conservatory was an hour as advertised but not sufficient to see entire property.
Kuilee_M, Aug 2025
Had an amazing time. Great tour guide and very knowledgeable. Took my friends and I to see breathtaking views of the glaciers, rivers, lakes and wildlife. Definitely a must see and experience tour if you are planning a trip to anchorage.
Kendall_C, Aug 2025
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the animals. We had a wonderful time. Would recommend to everyone.
Lindsay_E, Aug 2025
Our guide was knowledgeable and fun. Great trip and such a great overall experience. Well worth the 5 hours!
Scott_S, Jul 2025
Conservation park was 4 stars, the transportation experience 1 star. Write up explicitly states they do not pick up at hotels yet we make a stop at the Alyeska resort for 2 guests who changed pick up location requiring bus to back track - added over 30 minutes to commute. Tour advertised as “express” which we selected to go before our flight. Fortunately made it in time and the beautiful landscape made up for the unnecessary stress
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the Wildlife Conservation Center and Alaska’s stunning landscapes — and that you ultimately made your flight on time.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the additional stop at Alyeska Resort. While our Wildlife Express tour does state that we do not offer hotel pickups in Anchorage, our vehicles — clearly marked as Turnagain Arm Tours and Shuttle — also service the Girdwood area. We have a standing agreement with Alyeska Resort to offer transportation for their guests, and the Wildlife Express is advertised both on our website and through promotional materials at the resort.
We understand how the unexpected stop may have added stress with your time-sensitive schedule. That said, our drivers are seasoned professionals who prioritize staying on schedule while still ensuring guests receive their full experience at the Wildlife Conservation Center — we never cut the visit short.
We also want to address the review title of "poor transportation," which doesn’t reflect the quality of the transportation provided. All of our vehicles are high-top, walk-in style with panoramic windows, individual captain chairs, and are selected for comfort and visibility. In your case, the tour was operated in a Mercedes vehicle with leather seating — part of our effort to provide a top-notch and comfortable experience for every guest.
While most visitors enjoy the added scenery and charm of a brief stop in Girdwood, we understand your concerns and appreciate your honest feedback. It helps us continually improve communication and consistency across our tours.
Thank you again for choosing Alaska’s Finest Tours. We hope to welcome you again under smoother and more relaxed circumstances.
Susan_R, Jul 2025
It’s everything it promotes it to be. Jerry is an excellent tour guide, his knowledge of the area kept me entertained and engaged.
Seamus_S, Jul 2025
Minor quibble would be to have a little longer there before the return trip bit it was a great way to drive along the inlet and see the wildlife conservation centre.
Irene_A, Jul 2025
There was confusion about the meeting point between what was in the confirmation ticket vs the text message and website. However, other than this, the visit to the AWCC more than made up for the little inconvenience. The bear encounters were simply amazing, we also saw the bisons, reindeers, lynx, coyote, and more. Our guide is also awesome by ensuring we stop at the Beluga Point as per the tour description as we have other travellers rushing to make it back to city for their evening flight. I highly recommend for people with limited time in Anchorage making it memorable.
Dan_L, Jul 2025
Very cool park for the animals to roam around. Saw all kinds of wildlife. The drive going there and back was very scenic.
Jamie_H, May 2022
Dan was a great guide, very knowledgeable. He even turned around so I could get a pic of the moose! We had a wonderful time! Thank you Dan!!
From $99.00
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Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Express
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