Things to do in Alaska
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Seward to Anchorage Airport: Private Transfer & Luggage HandlingYou're picked up at Port of Seward by a professional driver and driven in a private sedan, SUV, or limousine to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The three- to four-hour transfer includes luggage handling, fuel, and taxes; if your ship is delayed, you're refunded. Provide your cruise arrival time, flight number, and pier information at booking, and you'll receive a voucher with driver contact details within 24 hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to avoid taxis and shuttle queues after disembarking in Seward and prefer to reach the airport on your own schedule with luggage already handled — the fixed price and pre-arranged pickup mean you land in Anchorage ready to go, not stressed about transport.
Juneau: Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing & FloatplaneYou fly 25 minutes to a remote bear sanctuary, hike forest and shoreline trails with a certified guide, and watch brown bears fish or rest in their natural habitat. The tour includes floatplane transport, all gear and rain clothing, lunch, and ranger expertise. You'll need moderate fitness for 1–2 miles of hiking and must be at least 12 years old; pregnant travelers and those with certain health conditions aren't able to participate.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see brown bears in their natural habitat without arranging your own floatplane charter or guide—the certified ranger and fixed itinerary handle the logistics and safety. You'll need moderate fitness for hiking and must meet the weight and age requirements; this isn't a casual sightseeing trip, and bear sightings are never guaranteed.
Dog Sledding in Willow Alaska: Summer Ride & Kennel VisitA 2-hour dog sledding activity in Willow, Alaska where you harness a team of Alaskan huskies, meet retired dogs at the kennel, and ride through forest trails and rolling hills. The tour runs May through October and includes rain gear; a live English-speaking guide leads the experience, and children from age 2 can participate. Lunch is available for purchase at the outdoor grill with advance notice.Is it for me?The live guide speaks English, so you'll follow the history and techniques without a language barrier. This works well for families with young children (from age 2 onward) and for anyone who wants to understand the dogs and the sport rather than just ride along.
Ketchikan Bar Tour: 90 Minutes of History and DrinksThis 90-minute guided walking tour visits three historic bars in Ketchikan—including the only dockside bar in town—where you sample a drink at each stop and hear local stories about the town's past, Creek Street's red-light district days, and the fishing culture that shaped Alaska's First City. The tour is wheelchair accessible, suitable for all fitness levels, and includes a local guide who doubles as your photographer.Is it for me?At 90 minutes, this tour leaves your afternoon free for other activities—you're done by early lunch and can explore the rest of Ketchikan or head back to your ship without feeling rushed. The flat, accessible route works for all fitness levels, so you don't need to be an experienced hiker or worry about steep terrain to enjoy the history and the drinks.
Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise from AnchorageThe Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise is an 11-hour tour from Anchorage combining coach transport and a full-day cruise through Prince William Sound, where a dual-hull catamaran carries you close to one of Alaska's largest concentrations of glaciers. The route follows the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, passes through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—North America's longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel—and includes lunch, professional narration, and time to watch for marine wildlife and migratory birds.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see glaciers up close without arranging separate transport and cruise logistics—the coach, tunnel passage, and catamaran are coordinated into one day, and the dual-hull design lets the boat reach glacier faces in narrow fjords that larger vessels cannot navigate.
Anchorage Airport to Seward: Private Transfer & Cruise PickupYou're met at Anchorage airport by a professional driver who takes you directly to the Port of Seward in a private vehicle of your choice. The transfer includes flight tracking, a one-hour wait at arrivals, and a worry-free guarantee that you'll reach your cruise on time if your flight lands as scheduled. Bring your flight number and pier details when you book, and you'll receive a voucher to present to the driver.Is it for me?Book this if you're flying into Anchorage and heading straight to Seward for a cruise — it removes the need to rent a car, navigate the highway yourself, and return the vehicle before boarding. The fixed price and flight tracking mean you know the cost upfront and the driver knows when to expect you.
Seward to Anchorage: Cruise Transfer & Glacier TourYou're picked up at the Seward cruise terminal and driven privately to Anchorage with a local guide, making stops at Exit Glacier, Turnagain Arm viewpoints, and optional wildlife centers along the way. The route covers the scenic Seward Highway and includes hotel or airport drop-off in Anchorage, so you skip the standard shuttle and see the landscape instead.Is it for me?Best for cruise passengers who want to skip the standard shuttle and see the Seward Highway and glaciers on the way to Anchorage—the private guide and flexible stops mean you're not locked into a fixed itinerary, and the drop-off at your hotel or airport saves you arranging ground transport separately.
Northern Lights Tour from Anchorage: Expert-Led SearchA northern lights tour from Anchorage led by guides who use Kp indexing and weather tracking to position your group at the best vantage points for viewing the aurora. The tour runs about three hours and includes private transportation and bottled water. There's no guarantee of sightings—the aurora is unpredictable—but your reservation covers multiple evenings, so you can rebook if conditions don't align on your first night.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want guides actively tracking solar activity and weather to chase the aurora, rather than staying at a fixed location. The flexible multi-evening reservation means you can return on a night with a stronger forecast if conditions don't align on your first attempt—a practical advantage when the aurora itself is unpredictable.
Fairbanks city tour: Morris Thompson, Museum & PipelineA guided city tour of Fairbanks takes you through the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and Museum of the North, then to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint and Santa Claus House, with museum admission and hotel pickup included. The tour runs four to five hours with a live English-speaking guide; children are welcome from age 10. The itinerary moves between interactive displays of local heritage, in-depth cultural artifacts, and the pipeline's role in Alaska's growth.Is it for me?This is a shared, guided tour with a set itinerary and fixed stops, so it suits travelers who want structure and don't want to navigate Fairbanks' attractions on their own. If you prefer to move at your own pace or skip a stop, a self-guided option would work better.
Mendenhall Lake Kayaking: Paddle past icebergs to a salmon bakeKayak across Mendenhall Lake in two-person stable kayaks, navigating icebergs while your guide points out native wildlife and the history of Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. The activity includes full raingear, life jackets, instruction before launch, pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points, and an all-you-can-eat salmon bake at Gold Creek with sides, salads, beverages and blueberry cake. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent; those 13 to 17 need a signed parental consent form. The tour runs 5 hours and is weather dependent.Is it for me?At 5 hours total, this activity fills most of a day but leaves room for other stops in Juneau before or after. The paddling itself takes roughly two hours of active upper body work, so you need moderate fitness and the ability to handle a kayak; it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries. The weather-dependent schedule means you'll want to confirm conditions the day before.
Dog Sled Ride in Alaska: Drive Your Own TeamA 2-hour dog sled activity at Susuitna Sled Dog Adventures where you ride and drive a team through the woods, with a midway stop for photos of Mt. Denali if conditions allow. You'll meet the dogs beforehand, take turns at the reins with a musher on hand, and finish with hot cocoa and time with retired sled dogs. Available as a day or night ride.Is it for me?Choose the day ride if you want to see the landscape clearly and experience the dogs' energy in daylight; the night option suits travelers who prefer riding under the stars or have daytime conflicts. Either way, you're driving the sled yourself rather than watching, so the experience depends on your comfort holding the reins and your fitness level for standing and balancing on a moving sled.
ATV Riding and Dog Sledding in Willow AlaskaA combined dog sledding and ATV riding experience in Willow, Alaska lets you spend a morning mushing a sled dog team through woodland trails, then an afternoon driving your own ATV up Hatcher Pass. The day runs six hours total, includes all gear and lunch between activities, and suits anyone 18 or older with a valid driver's license; a live English-speaking guide leads both halves.Is it for me?Book this if you want to operate both activities yourself rather than watch from a seat—you're mushing the dogs and piloting the ATV, not riding as a passenger. The six-hour format fits a full day without requiring an overnight, and the lunch break between activities gives you time to recover between the two very different kinds of riding.
Sitka Bears & Totems Historical TourA two-hour historical and wildlife tour of Sitka by passenger van with a live English-speaking guide. You visit Fortress of the Bear to see rehabilitated bears, then Sitka National Historical Park to walk among Tlingit and Haida totem poles and the restored Russian Bishop's House, learning about the battle between Russian traders and indigenous Kiks.ádi Tlingit that shaped the city. Admission fees and live commentary are included; the tour departs from Old Sitka Dock.Is it for me?The live English guide delivers commentary as you travel, so you follow the history and wildlife without needing to read a map or plan stops yourself. This works well if you're visiting Sitka for a short time and want to see both the Russian colonial sites and the bears in one morning or afternoon.
Portage Glacier cruise from Anchorage: 3.5-hour van & boat tourThe Portage Glacier Express is a 3.5-hour tour from Anchorage combining van transport and a one-hour boat cruise on Portage Lake to the face of Portage Glacier. You travel 50 miles south along the Seward Highway and Turnagain Arm, then board the MV Ptarmigan—the only boat on the lake—for a narrated passage through iceberg-dotted waters with views of cascading waterfalls and surrounding peaks. The van includes a live English-speaking guide; the boat crew provides onboard narration about glacial history, local wildlife, and the area's cultural significance. Round-trip pickup from downtown Anchorage and the glacier cruise ticket are included.Is it for me?Book this if you want glacier views without leaving Anchorage for a full day—the van, cruise, and return happen back-to-back in 3.5 hours, so you can fit it around other plans.
Ice Climbing in Juneau: Helicopter & Mendenhall GlacierAn ice climbing class on the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, reached by helicopter from the airport. You learn climbing fundamentals from an expert guide over roughly four hours, including the flight, a trek across the glacier, and the climb itself. Jackets, pants, crampons, helmet, harness and ice tools are provided; you must be at least 12 years old and in moderate physical fitness, and your departure time should be at least one hour after your cruise ship arrives.Is it for me?The van pickup from the airport and return to the dock means you don't need a rental car or a way to get from the cruise terminal to the heliport—the logistics are handled, so you can focus on the climbing itself. Book this if you're staying in Juneau without a car or arriving by ship and want to climb the same day you land.
Dog Sledding Alaska: Iditarod Training Trails with HuskiesDog sledding in Alaska with an experienced guide takes you 6 miles across frozen lakes and through spruce forests on actual Iditarod training trails, with views of Denali and the surrounding mountains. The activity includes an informative video at the visitor center, all winter gear if needed, and time to pet and photograph the Alaskan Huskies after your ride. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the entire facility is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?You ride the sled while the guide drives it, so you experience the speed and the landscape without managing the team — a good fit if you want the sensation of mushing without the learning curve. The shared-team format keeps the cost down compared to private sledding, and the 6-mile route gives you enough trail time to feel the rhythm of the dogs without a full-day commitment.
Anchorage Helicopter Tour: Chugach Mountains & GlaciersA 30-minute helicopter tour from Girdwood Airport near Anchorage takes you over Chugach State Park's ice-fields, glaciers and mountain peaks, with a live pilot narrating the flight. The tour departs from the hangar at Girdwood Airport after a brief safety briefing; arrive 15 minutes early. Weather can cancel the flight, in which case you get an alternative date or full refund.Is it for me?The pilot speaks English throughout the flight, so you follow the narration and the geography without translation. Book this if you want the glacier views without committing a full day to backcountry hiking or a longer expedition.
Helicopter Glacier Swim & Hike: Anchorage AreaA two-hour helicopter tour from Anchorage that lands you on an Alaska glacier for a swim in the lake and a guided hike across the ice. You get a dry suit, flotation gear and a live English-speaking guide; the helicopter handles the approach and the landing. Open to anyone 18 and older, regardless of prior glacier experience.Is it for me?The helicopter pickup from Anchorage means you don't need a car or a long drive to reach the glacier—the flight is the journey itself. Book this if you want the glacier experience without spending a full day on logistics.
Whittier to Anchorage private tour: Cruise transfer includedA private full-day tour from Whittier to Anchorage that combines your cruise ship transfer with guided sightseeing through Portage Valley, Turnagain Arm, and the city itself. Your guide picks you up at the port or hotel and drives a group of up to 12 guests through the region's key stops—the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (the longest highway tunnel in North America), the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Beluga Point, and Potter Marsh—with live commentary throughout the 7 to 8 hours. The price is per tour, not per person, so it scales with your group size.Is it for me?At 7 to 8 hours, this tour fills most of a day but leaves room for an early dinner or evening in Anchorage if your flight departs late—or you can add paid hours if you want to explore the city further. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange a separate transfer from the port, so the logistics of getting from ship to hotel or onward destination are already solved.
Anchorage to Whittier Private Tour: Turnagain Arm & WildlifeA private full-day guided tour from Anchorage to Whittier that covers Turnagain Arm, Portage Valley and the Anchorage area with a local guide and hotel or port pickup included. The guide adjusts the route, timing and stops to match your interests and schedule. Groups run from one to twelve guests, and the price is per tour, not per person—a single booking covers your whole party.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're traveling as a group of up to twelve and want the route and pace shaped around your schedule and interests rather than locked into a set itinerary. The private guide adjusts stops, timing and activities on the day, so a late cruise arrival, an early departure or a detour to a viewpoint doesn't throw off the plan.
