Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Anchorage, USA
- 6 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
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.
- Full-day tour of Portage Glacier and Turnagain Arm
- Take a boat cruise to Portage Glacier
- Get photo ops of Turnagain Arm from Beluga Point, Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, and the Chugach Mountains
- Observe the animals at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Learn about Alaska's history and wildlife from the informative guide
What's Included
- Professional Local Guide
- Professional photographer guide (when available)
- Bottled water
- Light snacks
- Spanish-speaking guide (when available)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Pickups from private homes, apartments or B&B's. If this is your case, please contact the supplier for the nearest pick up location
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center555 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
After morning pickup at your Anchorage hotel, soak in the scenery as you head towards the Portage Glacier.
Along the way, stop at the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and Beluga Point for photo ops of the Turnagain Arm, a narrow waterway that is part of the Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska. Keep an eye out for native wildlife such as caribou, moose, and eagles that live in the Chugach National Forest.
Continue to the US Forest Service visitor center near Portage Glacier. The glacier is no longer visible from the visitor center due to its retreat, however, your cruise across Portage Lake takes you within 300 yards (100 meters) of the glacier, where you can snap photos and watch for chunks of ice crashing into the water.
Once you have seen the glacier, drive to the nearby Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a large nature reserve situated at the entrance to Portage Valley. The center rehabilitates injured and orphaned wild animals, including some of Alaska's largest land animals such as elk, moose, deer, caribou, bison, bears, musk ox, and birds of prey. Learn about these amazing creatures.
In the afternoon, wind up the road into the Chugach Mountains for panoramic views of the Turnagain Arm and beyond.
At the end of your tour, your guide returns you to your hotel in Anchorage.
Along the way, stop at the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and Beluga Point for photo ops of the Turnagain Arm, a narrow waterway that is part of the Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska. Keep an eye out for native wildlife such as caribou, moose, and eagles that live in the Chugach National Forest.
Continue to the US Forest Service visitor center near Portage Glacier. The glacier is no longer visible from the visitor center due to its retreat, however, your cruise across Portage Lake takes you within 300 yards (100 meters) of the glacier, where you can snap photos and watch for chunks of ice crashing into the water.
Once you have seen the glacier, drive to the nearby Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a large nature reserve situated at the entrance to Portage Valley. The center rehabilitates injured and orphaned wild animals, including some of Alaska's largest land animals such as elk, moose, deer, caribou, bison, bears, musk ox, and birds of prey. Learn about these amazing creatures.
In the afternoon, wind up the road into the Chugach Mountains for panoramic views of the Turnagain Arm and beyond.
At the end of your tour, your guide returns you to your hotel in Anchorage.
1
Beluga Point
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Seward Highway
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Portage Glacier
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Chugach State Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- A minimum number of people per booking is required for this tour to operate.
- Glacier Cruise portion of the tour is subject to weather conditions.
- Stroller accessible
- Activity level: EASY.
- Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trail surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance. We strongly recommend that guests requiring assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing assistance. Neither Planet Earth Adventures nor our suppliers may physically lift or assist guests onto transportation vehicles or otherwise.
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- We have limited number of infant/child seats. These must be requested in advance if you have a child. If it is NOT requested at the time of booking, we will NOT have them on the day of the tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Staci_J
Our guide was very friendly, knowledgeable about the landscape, and able to answer questions. The glaciers were the highlight as there were no belugas to see on our trip. The ride was broken up with many stops for amazing picturesque views.
Reviews
4.9
based on 144 reviews
FRANCESCA_M, Nov 2025
I booked this small group tour instead of the large group excursions offered during our cruise. There were just 4 of us (we traveled with 2 friends). Christina was incredibly flexible with the itinerary. We had tickets on the first glacier boat trip of the day. Only 12 people on board compared with 120 who were booked for the 11.30 departure. We stopped off at a salmon run, had plenty of time at the Alaskan Conservation Center & made several side stops for photos & to enjoy the scenery. It was a really wonderful day. For a virtually private trip lasting almost 7 hours, we paid half the price of the cruise Hubbard Glacier trip - lasting 2 hours with 200 people on board.
Judy_A, Jul 2025
The tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable about the area. I would highly recommend this company for any tours in the Anchorage area.
Polly_P, Jul 2025
Saw a lot of Anchorage and surrounding areas. Appreciated the glacier boat ride and animal wildlife center in particular. Eli was a fabulous tour guide!
Teresa_S, Jul 2025
Worth the money . Awesome views. Great guide. Recommend warmer clothes had two sweatshirts still cold on the boat
Staci_J, Jun 2025
Our guide was very friendly, knowledgeable about the landscape, and able to answer questions. The glaciers were the highlight as there were no belugas to see on our trip. The ride was broken up with many stops for amazing picturesque views.
Tina_R, Jun 2025
My daughters and I really enjoyed our tour. Christina was a great tour guide, very knowledgable, and able to add so much detail. We weren't able to go out to the glacier and was not the tour's fault at all but very disappointing.
Jennifer_R, Jun 2025
Beautiful scenery, our guide Eli was very knowledgeable and fun, definitely ask for him. Glacier cruise and overlook were great!
MARIETTA_W, Jun 2025
Christina was the most energic guide I have. ever see. Excellent and knowledgeable. Very accommodating.
Craig_L, Sep 2024
Christina was fantastic, we were blessed with the weather, the pictures we had taken of the glaciers and the wildlife were incredible.
I would recommend this tour for anyone visiting anchorage
John_B, Aug 2024
The Portage Glacier boat ride. Phil was a very knowledgeable and amiable guide. Took us to many hidden gems.
Juan_R, Jul 2024
leaving from Anchorage took us about 1 1/2 - 2 hours driving, our tour guide stops on the most incredible views trough out the road to the Portage Glacier while there a boat took us right in front of the glacier while you there you can walk around and or go to the top deck of the boat that was a great tour if you got chance is 100% recommended.
Vanessa_P, Jul 2024
This was a great excursion made even better by our tour guide Christina! She was fun, full of energy, very knowledgeable about the area end so personable telling great stories! Seeing the glaciers up close and on the boat was incredible and the views along
turnigan arm were epic!! A great experience and would book it again!!
Lisa_Y, Jul 2024
Even though we don’t see any wildlife, the glaciers were fascinating. Highlight was wading in the glacial waters 🥶 Christine was a hoot - great guide.
Kimberly_S, Jul 2024
Our guide was terrific and very friendly. It is perfect day trip from Anchorage. Make sure you have a snack or 2 in your day pack — no lunch and a long day.
Katharine_K, Jun 2024
Christina, our guide, was wonderful, upbeat and gave us a wonderful day. We loved the Glacier and the wildlife - a good combination and introduction to Alaska!
Nichelle_P, Jun 2024
Christina was very knowledgeable about the area and was constantly on the lookout for wildlife. She made the experience so much fun! The scenery is so spectacular and she took us to a couple extra spots to get some additional lakeside photos and allowed my kids to skip stones on the lake. The Wildlife Conservation Center is incredible! The young black bear that is in front when you park is so much fun to watch! We also got to see a brown bear playing and swimming in its pond. Thanks for helping make our trip incredible!
Frederick_P, Jun 2024
Enjoyed being able to relax and enjoy the views. Our driver was very attentive to our needs. I’m horrible with names but I think it was Kristen. Oh and we got to see a Moose and her babies!
hmnbrd1, May 2024
Christina was very considerate of the group and their wishes. She manifested lots of great photo ops and critters for us! Turned us on to some great pizza!! An excellent day, the glacier lake is somethin to write home about❣️
Kimberly_A, Sep 2023
We took a train ride, and the Glacier Cruise/Wildlife Tour with Phil. I regret neither tour, as they were both informative, but Phil really took the time to point out things that we had not been able to see previously. He was excellent, and the tour is well worth the money!
Godand_R, Sep 2023
Am amazing day spent touring the glaciers and the wildlife around Anchorage. And it was made so much more enjoyable and informative thanks to our wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly guide Phil.
Phil was the kind of perfect tour guide you would wish for; he shared so much information and went out of his way to make the experience enjoyable and informative for us.
Thank you Phil.
James_O, Aug 2023
Matt the driver/guide was awesome. Great knowledge of wildlife and living in Alaska. Great pit stop at the microbrewery with nearby food trucks for lunch.
Lori_B, Jul 2023
Phil was our tour guy for the day. He was fabulous! He shared wonderful insight about the local area as we drove to the various stops on our tour. And loved it was a small group…total of 5!
Tour was a total 7+ hours and definitely felt like we got our money’s worth with the many stops. Highly recommend.
SusanJ_C, Jul 2023
Wow! What a trip! We saw so many wonderful sites. Phillip was so knowledgeable and friendly and made the trip extra special. We highly recommend this tour! :)
Susan_R, Jul 2023
Scott was a great guide. He gave us an informative and fun tour even with the rain. Didn’t see a moose - but was still fun
Maryanne_F, Jun 2023
Can’t imagine a better way to start a trip in Alaska. Philip our guide was excellent. His knowledge of terrain, glaciers, plants, animal habitat and habits was impressive. Very thoughtful and careful too. Pace and itinerary was really good. He explains things very clearly. We’d do again!
Donald_P, Jun 2023
My wife and I were only members on tour. Matt was a great guide and his personality fit perfect with ours. Drizzly weather made the experience even better. We recommend giving this group a try!
Philip_C, Jul 2022
Bad weather so couldn’t do the boat but Matt adapted our trip nicely. The ride was good but again Mother Nature wasn’t helping. We went to Whittier for a while had good lunch.
Eileen_G, Jul 2022
This was an outstanding daytrip. From the drive, to stops like reflection pond, to the glacier, to the conservation center and finally flat top trail, our guide (Phillip) jam packed out day with the best anchorage has to offer nestled into a 45 mile radius. Defiantly the highlight of our trip. Ask for your guide to be Philip you won’t regret. Thanks from Florida.
Anthony_E, Jun 2022
Our tour guide, Matt the Musher, was fantastic. VERY knowledgeable about everything Alaska. Very attentive as a tour guide and very open to changes to the itinerary. With my group, we decided to go to the top of Mt. Alyeska for lunch and it was amazing!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Anthony,
Thank you for the review. I am glad you had a great time with Matt. Thank you for choosing us and for visiting Alaska!
David_B, May 2022
Phillip was great, very thorough, soo flexible. Provided great insights. Our entire group of 10 had a great time. Very glad we picked this tour.
Response from Host, May 2022
David,
Thank you for taking the time to review us. I am happy that Phillip delivered a great experience for you today. I will pass your comments to Phillip. Thank you for visiting Alaska and also for choosing us!!
From $249.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour
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