Things to do in Alaska
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Sitka Sound: Snorkel Tour Magic Island with Gear & PickupYou’ll slip into a thick wetsuit and shuffle across rocky shorelines before plunging into Sitka Sound’s chilly water alongside local guides who know every nook for spotting octopus or sea stars. Expect laughter as you suit up, quiet awe beneath the surface, and hot drinks waiting when you emerge — plus that lingering saltwater feeling long after your snorkel tour ends.
Ketchikan Totem Poles & Wildlife Private Van TourYou’ll meet real locals in Ketchikan, walk among towering totem poles at Totem Bight State Historical Park, spot eagles and maybe even salmon at Herring Cove, and wander Creek Street’s historic boardwalks—all with flexible stops and stories you won’t get anywhere else.
Sitka: Tongass Forest Hike & Eagle Spotting with Local GuideYou hike 90 minutes through America's largest national forest with a local guide who explains Sitka's Russian and Tlingit history, points out bald eagles and edible berries, and adjusts the route to your group's fitness level. The tour includes water, snacks, and a safety briefing, and ends at either the cruise shuttle or the food truck gathering downtown.Is it for me?This works well if you're on a cruise stop and want a real forest walk without arranging transport or timing yourself—the guide handles the route, the pace, and the pickup logistics, which is what makes a full hike possible in a port day.
Sitka Downtown Walking Tour: Russian Cathedral & Gold Rush HistoryYou walk through Sitka's downtown for an hour with a local guide who explains the Russian colonial history, the fishing industry, and the architecture that shaped the town. You see St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral, Crescent Harbor, and Castle Hill, where Alaska changed hands. The tour includes restaurant recommendations and ends near downtown, so you can keep exploring on your own.Is it for me?Book this if you're docked in Sitka for a few hours and want the downtown history and Russian colonial story without arranging your own route—the guide's local knowledge and the fixed one-hour timing mean you see the main sites and still have time to eat before heading back to the ship.
Denali Alaska Range: 5hr Mountain Hike with Naturalist GuideYou’ll hike high into the Alaska Range with a naturalist guide who knows every twist of trail and wildflower name. Expect steep climbs, open tundra views, fresh berries (if you’re lucky), and plenty of stories along the way. Pickup is included so you can focus on the mountain air—and that feeling stays with you long after.
Sitka: Small Group Boat Tour with Wildlife & WaterfallsYou’ll board a small boat in Sitka with a local guide and cruise along Tongass Rain Forest’s wild coast. Watch for whales, sea otters, bald eagles, and maybe brown bears if it’s late summer. Binoculars and drinks are included—and there’s always room for surprise moments you’ll remember long after.
Seward & Kenai Fjords: Exit Glacier, Dog Sled & LunchYou get a guided walk on Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords, a hands-on dog sled ride with Iditarod-trained dogs, salmon viewing at Bear Lake, and a full lunch with 13 choices—all with hotel or port pickup included and a guide who knows the region. The outdoor walking section runs about 90 minutes, and the tour coordinates with train arrivals so you don't lose time between transportation.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Seward and Kenai Fjords highlights—glacier, wildlife, and dog sledding—without arranging transport, park entry, or lunch yourself; the fixed itinerary and included guide are what fit everything into one day and sync with train arrivals.
Hump Island Oyster Farm Tour: Taste Fresh Alaska OystersA tour from Ketchikan to Hump Island Oyster Farm combines a 30-minute coastal drive through Tongass National Forest with a boat cruise through the North Tongass waterways and a guided oyster tasting at the farm's floating bar. You'll sample three fresh Hump Island oysters, learn how the state's largest oyster producer cultivates them, and watch for whales, seals, eagles and deer en route. The boat, the Bottom Time, has heated indoor seating and 360-degree views. Children from age 5 are welcome; a live English-speaking guide leads the tour.Is it for me?The tour picks you up by vehicle from Ketchikan, so you don't need a car or local knowledge to reach the farm—the drive itself is part of the experience, with a guide narrating the forest and the town. If you're arriving by cruise ship or staying without transportation, this handles the logistics and gets you out on the water and to the oysters in one outing.
Ketchikan Salmon & Rockfish Fishing: 5-Hour Adaptable AdventureA 5-hour combination fishing trip from Ketchikan where you and a licensed guide pursue whatever species offers the best action that day—salmon trolling with downriggers, jigging for rockfish in kelp forests, or dropping for bottom fish. The guide's choice of location and technique shifts with seasonal runs and conditions, so you're fishing multiple ways inside one trip. All tackle, rain gear, boots and snacks are provided; children from age 3 are welcome, and an Alaska fishing license is your choice at checkout.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout, so anyone comfortable following instructions and conversation on the water can fish here—no special language skills needed. The five-hour window and flexible technique mean you're not locked into one style of fishing or one location, so if the first approach isn't producing, the day pivots without wasted time.
Fairbanks: Aurora Borealis & Ice Fishing Cabin NightYou’ll wait for the aurora borealis in a warm Fairbanks fishing cabin with a local guide, sipping cocoa as you try ice fishing. When the northern lights appear, step outside for photos before returning to grill your own catch and enjoy reindeer sausage by the fire.
Portage Glacier Cruise from Anchorage: 1-hour glacier viewingA one-hour glacier cruise on Portage Lake near Anchorage boards the M/V Ptarmigan, a heated vessel with an open-air viewing deck, and travels to the face of Portage Glacier while a Forest Service ranger explains the area's geology, wildlife and history. The cruise runs daily mid-May through mid-September with five departures each day; transportation from Anchorage to the glacier is not included in the ticket price.Is it for me?The cruise is a short, seated experience—no hiking, no water entry, and no early start required—which makes it a natural fit for a free afternoon in Anchorage or a first-time glacier visit when you want the landmark without the logistics of a full-day expedition.
Private Ketchikan tour: Customize your own itineraryA private guided tour in Ketchikan designed around your interests, with a local guide who knows the special places and a 4-hour itinerary you shape together. The tour includes a walk through rainforest to Totem Bight State Historical Park, where you see a clan house and totem poles, plus wildlife viewing for black bears, harbor seals, salmon and bald eagles depending on what shows up. Hotel pickup is included; bottled water comes along.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to steer the day toward what actually interests you instead of following a set itinerary—the guide builds the route around your priorities, so you're not paying for stops you don't care about or rushing past the ones that matter.
Fairbanks Northern Lights: Private Lodge & Aurora ChaseYou spend the full night in a private wilderness lodge with a fireplace and panoramic windows, watching the aurora from a dark-sky location in Alaska's interior. If clouds move in, your guide chases clear skies by van instead of staying at one spot and hoping. Hotel pickup, hot drinks, camera help, and group portraits are all included, and the group never exceeds ten people.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the aurora without the roadside-pullout crowds and without losing the night to clouds that settle over one spot—the lodge and the van give you both comfort and the flexibility to chase clear skies.
Fairbanks Northern Lights & Dog Sledding with DinnerYou get picked up from your hotel, driven to the sled dogs, and taken out onto the frozen trails of Fairbanks while the guide positions you for Northern Lights viewing. After the ride, you warm up in a cabin with a home-cooked salmon dinner before returning to your hotel. The sled run and the aurora viewing happen in the same outing, so you're not managing two separate trips.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Northern Lights and experience dog sledding in one outing without arranging your own transport or timing — the guide handles the logistics and positions you where the aurora is most likely to appear, while the sled and cabin dinner make the evening feel like a single experience instead of two separate activities.
Ketchikan: Zodiac Boat Tour & Wildlife Spotting, Small GroupYou captain a four-person Zodiac through Southeast Alaska's bays and inlets, spotting whales, eagles and bears with a professional guide. The tour includes all gear, a beach snack break, and a boatman certificate. Small groups and hands-on control make this different from a standard wildlife cruise.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually pilot a boat through Alaskan wilderness instead of watching from a passenger seat—the hands-on control and four-person limit are what make the wildlife spotting feel immediate and personal rather than distant.
Ketchikan Salmon Fishing: Private Charter & All GearYou fish for four salmon species on a private boat with no other anglers, all gear and tackle included. The crew adjusts the day to your schedule and skill level, and the boat has a cabin, marine toilet, and snacks on board. You're fishing in Ketchikan's productive waters with experienced crew who know where the salmon are running.Is it for me?Book this if you want to fish Ketchikan's salmon without coordinating gear, timing, or sharing the boat—the private charter format is what makes a flexible, focused day on the water possible.
Ketchikan: Jeep Safari & Canoe Lake Tour with GuideYou’ll drive your own Jeep through Tongass National Forest’s winding trails before paddling a traditional canoe across Lake Harriet Hunt. Share laughs (and snacks) at camp by the water, then follow your guide into deep green forest for a short nature walk. Expect surprises—sometimes small ones stay with you longer than you’d think.
Halibut Fishing & Wildlife Viewing in Ketchikan: Private CharterA private halibut fishing excursion in Ketchikan includes a professionally guided 4-hour fishing adventure with pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship docks downtown. You fish for halibut, cod, rockfish and sharks in calm scenic waters while watching for breaching whales, feeding eagles and harbor seals. All tackle, bait, fishing equipment and snacks are provided; a fishing license is optional at checkout.Is it for me?Four hours is long enough to fish the productive waters and watch the wildlife cycle through, but short enough to fit a port call without cutting other plans. The fixed return time means you do not have to calculate the buffer back to your ship.
Matanuska Glacier Hike: Alaska Honey & Wine Tasting TourYou’ll step onto Matanuska Glacier with a local guide who knows every crack and echo underfoot. Feel ancient ice beneath your boots, learn its secrets, then warm up with Alaskan honey and wine tasting in Palmer. This tour includes safety gear, snacks, and stories you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Skagway: Electric Bike Tour, Gold Panning & CemeteryYou’ll ride an electric bike through Skagway’s historic streets with a local guide who knows all the best stories, visit the Gold Rush Cemetery and hear about Soapy Smith’s wild days, hike up to Lower Reid Falls for fresh mountain air, and try your hand at real gold panning—muddy fingers included. Expect laughter, fresh pine smells, and moments that stick with you long after.
