Whittier to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Whittier, USA
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the best of Alaska’s wildlife and natural treasures in a day during this curated tour from your cruise port in Whittier. Highlights include stopping at a wildlife conservation center, home to hundreds of species, and a hike to Byron Glacier. Side step the long bus lines at the cruise port and instead ride in comfort and style as you wind around scenic valleys and coastal roads.
- Relax and enjoy the scenery while somebody else does the driving
- Enjoy in-depth explanations about the local wildlife and geology
- A maximum of 11 travelers for a more intimate and personal experience
- Enjoy personalized recommendations for dinner in Anchorage after the tour
What's Included
- Snacks & Water
- Local Alaskan Guide
- Clean Vans with Heat & AC
- All Entrance Fees
- Binoculars
- Lunch – guests pay individually
- Guide Gratuity – never expected, always appreciated
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hello! Your guide will arrive in a nice, new vehicle clearly marked with “Welcome Anchorage Tours.” As a DOT-certified company, we’re authorized to pick you up directly at the cruise ship dock. We’ll meet you in the private tours section and send you a text when we arrive at the terminal.
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
1
Portage Glacier
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Byron Glacier Trail
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
3
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Girdwood
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Beluga Point
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Anchorage
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Not wheelchair accessible
- 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
vanessa_r
Corey our tour guide picked us up in Whittier, and gave us a tour on our way to Anchorage. Providing us with snacks and water to help keep us hydrated and entertained us with his knowledge and stories. He was very informative and gave us plenty of time to take pictures along the way. Corey went above and beyond to make sure everyone was having a great time. I would definitely recommend Welcome Anchorage Tours and Corey to everyone!
Reviews
4.8
based on 36 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Adam_K, Jul 2026
We traveled as a family of four on a cruise ending in Whittier. After booking I received immediate response from the company confirming my travel details. Prior to arrival in port I received multiple communications from the company assuring me our guide would be there. The morning of, Riley texted me to let me know she was on her way and what she was driving. We got picked up in a brand new looking Mercedes van, with trailer attached with room for everyone’s luggage. Riley was welcoming, and a friendly and safe driver the entire time. The tour hit all the spots as they advertised. The seven hours went fast as there was so much to see. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to anyone needing transportation, and a tour. Thank you for a wonderful time!
PerriSopp, Jun 2026
We had a great time with Mark our guide and driver. Alaska is beautiful and we got to see a lot of different areas on your trip to Anchorage. Mark was very informative and friendly. I highly suggest this tour. It was a lot of fun!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
A relaxed drive to Anchorage. The driver/guide, Elizabeth, was friendly & knowledgeable. My only complaint is about the Alaska Conservation Center. The signage is very poor. They need posted maps so guests know which trail to take to see the animals they wish to see. That said, it was great to see the black & brown bears, the moose, reindeer & musk ox. Response please- we want to say something like- We're happy to pass that on to the Alaska Conservation Center.Here's a response draft:
Thank you for the kind words about Elizabeth — she's a wonderful guide, and we're glad the drive to Anchorage was a relaxing one. It's great to hear you got to see the black and brown bears, moose, reindeer, and musk ox at the Alaska Conservation Center.
We appreciate the feedback on the signage, too. We're happy to pass that on to the Alaska Conservation Center so future guests have an easier time navigating the trails to find the animals they're most excited to see.
Thanks again for traveling with us, and we hope to see you on another Alaska trip soon!
Warm regards,
Welcome Anchorage Tours
Same question as before: name/title in the sign-off, or company name only?This was a great scenic way to get from our cruise port in Seward to the airport in Anchorage! With the enclosed pull-behind trailer, there was plenty of room for everyone's luggage & the van was clean & comfortable. Our driver, Elizabeth, was very friendly & knowledgeable. We enjoyed our stops at Portage Lake, a restaurant in Whittier (& the ride through the one-way tunnel into town) & the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. It was much more fun that a straight-through drive would have been & I recommend it if you have time for the scenic route!Here's a response draft:
Thank you for such a detailed and generous review! We're so glad the Seward-to-Anchorage route gave you a chance to see more of the Kenai Peninsula rather than just a straight-through drive. The Portage Lake stop, the Whittier tunnel crossing, and the wildlife conservation center are some of our favorite additions to that route, and it's great to hear Elizabeth made the trip even better with her knowledge and friendliness.
We'll also be sure to note the positive feedback on the trailer setup and van comfort — glad the luggage logistics were one less thing to worry about after your cruise.
Thanks again for recommending the scenic route, and we hope to welcome you back to Alaska!
Warm regards,
Welcome Anchorage Tours
Same sign-off question as the last two — want me to just apply one standard going forward so I stop asking each time?Six of us were picked up right on time at our cruise ship dock. Elizabeth was knowledgeable, funny and we all had a great time with her. Saw some wildlife, beautiful scenery and had lunch at a wonderful restaurant. She dropped us at our hotel in Anchorage. All that and just a little more expensive than taking the train.Decided to provide response without additional inquiryDecided to provide response without additional inquiryHere's a response draft:
Thank you for sharing this! We're so glad your group of six had a smooth, on-time pickup right at the dock, and that Elizabeth's mix of knowledge and humor made the ride memorable. It's great to hear the wildlife sightings, scenery, and lunch stop all came together for a great day on the way into Anchorage.
We also appreciate you weighing the value against the train — we think the door-to-door service, flexibility, and personal guide experience are worth the difference, and we're glad it felt that way for your group too.
Thanks again for traveling with us, and we hope to see you on another Alaska adventure!
Warm regards,
Welcome Anchorage Tours
Still waiting on your call for the sign-off — happy to lock in a standard (e.g., "Welcome Anchorage Tours" only, or with your name/title added) so I stop flagging it each time.We had a great time with Mark our guide and driver. Alaska is beautiful and we got to see a lot of different areas on your trip to Anchorage. Mark was very informative and friendly. I highly suggest this tour. It was a lot of fun!Acknowledged positive review and prepared to resurface pending inquiryAcknowledged positive review and prepared to resurface pending inquiryHere's a response draft:
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad Mark's knowledge and friendliness made the trip to Anchorage memorable, and that you got to take in so much of Alaska's scenery along the way. It's exactly the kind of experience we aim to deliver.
Thanks again for your recommendation, and we hope to host you on another Alaska adventure soon!
Warm regards,
James and Jen
Cathy_B, Jun 2026
The van was very comfortable and had a trailer so luggage room was not an issue. Our guide was a safe driver and a native of Anchorage so she knew the area well. Leah was great as we were delayed getting off the ship and getting our luggage. We had a good time even in the rain. The cost was much less than the cruise company.
Paula_L, Jun 2026
Our driver Mark was very knowledgeable and made the experience awesome. We really enjoyed all of the sights and scenery.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Paula. Thanks so much for choosing our Tour. So glad you enjoyed the day! We'll definitely pass along the kind words to Mark! Also appreciate your taking the time to share your experience! We hope to see you in Alaska again.
Sydney_J, Jun 2026
This tour really taught us a lot about Alaska. We saw some beautiful areas from Whittier to Anchorage and our tour guide Davis was amazing. I would highly recommend this tour because it is very informative.
Ginger_k, Jun 2026
Not just a ride to Anchorage, but with fun, educational & interesting interactive stops along the way. Davis was great with entertaining commentary the whole way. He took the group to downtown Anchorage & then dropped off some folks at the airport. Then dropped off some other folks back at a downtown restaurant. He was going to pick them back up after their meal & take them to the airport. Then he dropped us off at the residence we were staying at, about 30 miles from Anchorage. Couldn’t believe the personalized service! Would highly recommend & we would definitely use them again.
Liana_C, May 2026
Night flights out of Anchorage seem to be the norm. What better way to spend the time between early boat departure and your flight! Comfortable, luggage safe, astounding views, loads of local knowledge and moose spottings!!! Geoff was a fantastic tour guide - even squeezing in a few extra spots including the site of the 1964 earthquake.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and for choosing our Whittier to Anchorage tour! We are grateful to have Geoff as one of our guides and will definitely pass along the kind words!
Christy_T, May 2026
Great small group cruise transfer experience. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Outside of the curated tour, we saw a nesting bald eagle, mountain goats, and two moose, in addition to numerous other bird species. Well worth the time and expense!
Response from Host, May 2026
Christy. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We love love the days when it seems like all the wildlife comes out to show off :) Appreciate your taking time to share your experience too. Jen
Robin_M, May 2026
Mark was a wonderful tour guide. He made our day a total success. He added informationthat was pertinent at each stop. An unforgettable day!
Response from Host, May 2026
Robin, Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We'll definitely pass along the nice comments to Mark. Appreciate your taking time to share your experience too. Jen
Sylvia_H, May 2026
This was the best excursion/tour of my 5 week cruise! (Not to mention it transferred me from the cruise port in Whittier to Anchorage for my flight home.) Mark, our driver and tour guide, was amazing! He talked with us sharing information and highlights and listened to our interests. This was so much better than someone who spills their memorized facts. We hiked to a glacier, stopped at a great information center, visited a wildlife conservation center that was amazing, and then had lunch at a local restaurant. Great choice of restaurants. I had my first elk burger and a cup of the best clam chowder. After that we hiked up to a water falls and stopped to see an eagle nest up close. A great day! Mark was an excellent ambassador of the area. He seemed to truly enjoy what he was doing! Many Thanks to Mark!
Response from Host, May 2026
Slyvia. Thank you so much for choosing our tour and taking the time to share you review. It means the world to us. We are truly blessed to have the best guides and the mission behind what we do is 100% to be ambassadors for our state and city. Thank you again so much for sharing your experience. Hope to see you in Alaska again some day! Best, James and Jen
ANNA_N, May 2026
Our guide James went above and beyond expectations in this excursion, stopping in a variety of interesting places and sharing some thrilling facts.
Response from Host, May 2026
Anna. Thank you so much for choosing our tour and sharing your experience! So glad you had a wonderful day. Cheers, Jennifer
Linda_m, May 2026
Davis was knowledgeable & pleasant. He was on time & made our transfer from ship to anchorage stress free. It was an enjoying ride & enjoyed his stories. He took time to explain every stop
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. I'm so glad you had a great day and enjoyed the tour! Hope to see you in Alaska again some day soon. Cheers, James and Jen
MaryEllen_M, May 2026
We had Lara. She was very knowledgeable about the region. The stops were beautiful. The animal conservation sanctuary was my most favorite stop.
Response from Host, May 2026
MaryEllen. Thank you for taking the time to share your review. So glad you had a good day and enjoyed the animals! Hope to see you again in Alaska. Best, James
Sarah_Z, May 2026
Brooks was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He told us a lot of stories about growing up in Alaska.
Response from Host, May 2026
Sarah- So glad you had a great day with Brooks! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review. We'll pass on the kind words to him as well.
Cathy_L, May 2026
I have taken similar tours in other locations. Welcome Anchorage is the best of the best. Our guide altered the tour to fit the weather, added extra stops when unexpected opportunities presented themselves and went out of his way to make sure each of us was comfortable. Also he was incredibly knowledgeable.
Response from Host, May 2026
Cathy, Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We've worked so hard to curate unique and personalized experiences for our guests. So glad you had a great day with James. Thank you also for taking the time to share your review.
Jasper_C, Sep 2025
The driver/guide Davis did excellent job explaining all of the attractions on the way including the history.
vanessa_r, Sep 2025
Corey our tour guide picked us up in Whittier, and gave us a tour on our way to Anchorage. Providing us with snacks and water to help keep us hydrated and entertained us with his knowledge and stories. He was very informative and gave us plenty of time to take pictures along the way. Corey went above and beyond to make sure everyone was having a great time. I would definitely recommend Welcome Anchorage Tours and Corey to everyone!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Vanessa- Thank you so much for choosing Welcome Anchorage Tours for your Whittier to Anchorage Tour. So grateful you had a wonderful experience with Corey
Deborah_M, Aug 2025
It was a nice mix of short hikes and driving to scenic places. Our guide gave interesting commentary about the things we were seeing.
Laura_L, May 2025
Stops were not as advertised; tour guide's commentary wasn't always accurate. On the upside, the lunch stop and unscheduled airport side-visit were great. Charged more than advertised price.
Response from Host, May 2025
Laura. I will reach out directly. Very disappointed you had a less than stellar experience. Talk soon, James, Owner, Welcome Anchorage
Cheryl_S, May 2025
The guy who picked us up was disappointing. Our tour was supposed to be from 9am to 3pm and it felt like he was rushing us the whole time. He was also rude and condescending with the questions we asked. In addition, some of the things he was telling us seemed off so we looked some different things up and what he was telling us wasn't true. I'm sure the company might be fine, but our particular person (I can't remember his name, but he had just finished his master's last week) was not good. We would ask normal questions and he would respond with "Nobody just hits their head and ends up in Alaska. If you don't understand that I don't know what else to tell you" and then would eventually get back to the questions. Our group was not impressed!
Response from Host, May 2025
Cheryl, This is the owner of Welcome Anchorage Tours. I am horrified to read that you had this experience with one of our guides. It's extremely uncommon for us to ever get this type of feedback and we take it so seriously. Thank you for sharing this so that we have the opportunity to fix this internally with the guide ( we are aware who it is) It's our strongest desire to provide exceptional experiences always! P.S. We do offer a 100% money back guarantee for all our tours. I will reach out to you today to settle that portion as well. Warm Regards, James
Brenda_B, May 2025
Our driver Corey picked us up at the cruise terminal right on time, then treated us to a full day tour from Whittier to Anchorage. We saw glaciers, visited an animal rehab center, stopped at a great place in Girdwood for lunch, with a cool coffee/gift shop nearby. A short hike to see a waterfall was next, then we saw a moose walk right by our van! The entire time, Corey regaled us with info & stories about Anchorage. Great guide & a fun group. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2025
Brenda, Thanks so much for sharing your review of our Whittier to Anchorage Tour. We will pass on the nice words to Corey as well :) Appreciate you taking the time and choosing Welcome Anchorage :) Best, James
Kari_K, Sep 2024
Teresa was great! Very informative and patient! She gave us a tour of Anchorage and dropped us off right in front of our hotel! Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Kari- Thanks so much for spending the day with us! We feel so blessed to have Teresa as part of our team :) Thank you for taking the time to share your review as well! Warm Regards, James
Hutchly2_R, Jun 2024
Fantastic tour and gave us an opportunity to see a few more sights after disembarking from a cruise. We were drawn to this excursion because we could be dropped off at the Anchoarge Airport at the end of the tour. Parker, our tour guide, is personable
knowledgeable and provided recommendations for local activities.The transit van was clean and comfortable. This is a private tour which is convient for a small group. The cost was comparable to a regular whittier to anchorage bus transfer but included extra time to take in scenic glaciers, wildlife conservation center, beluga point and the Ulu factory.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much for spending the day with us and taking the time to share your review! Best, James
Petra_N, May 2026
Great ride with Mark. We saw a lot of nature and wildlife. His recommendation for lunch was excellent.
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Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for choosing our tour and sharing your experience with Mark. We are blessed to have Mark with us. We will
pass along the kind words his way :) P.S. We only hire local Alaskans. Cheers, Jen
From $197.00
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