Things to do in Alaska
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Juneau: Helicopter & Glacier Walk Shore ExcursionYou board a helicopter at Juneau airport, fly 25–30 minutes over the Juneau Icefield with a pilot-guide, land on Herbert Glacier for a 20–25 minute walk on the ice, drink fresh glacier melt, and return by air. Transport from your hotel or airport area is included, as are boots and raincoats. The whole excursion fits the ship's port window, and weather cancellations come with a full refund.Is it for me?Right for cruise passengers with a few hours in Juneau who want to see the Icefield without arranging their own transport or timing. The 25–30 minute flight plus 20–25 minute glacier walk fits the ship's port window, and weather cancellations come with a full refund, so the risk is on the operator, not you.
Skagway & White Pass Summit Tour with Photo StopsYou’ll ride from Skagway’s quirky main street up through wild mountain passes to White Pass Summit, stopping for photos at roaring falls and border signs along the way. With a local guide sharing stories (and jokes), plus pickup right at your cruise ship, you’ll feel both welcome and awed by these rugged landscapes.
ATV riding in Ketchikan: George Inlet Fjords & Mahoney LakeATV riding in Ketchikan takes you behind the wheel of a UTV on off-road trails through the George Inlet Fjords and Tongass National Forest, ending at Mahoney Lake with several stops for scenery and wildlife along the way. The activity runs roughly four hours and includes a guide, lunch (smokin' reindeer link or vegan chili), and the chance to trade off driving with your group. Children from age 8 are welcome, and you'll need moderate fitness for the terrain and the physical demands of operating the vehicle.Is it for me?Book this if you want to drive the UTV yourself rather than ride as a passenger—you'll take turns at the wheel with your group.
Juneau: Whale Watching & Sentinel Lighthouse Tower TourYou board in downtown Juneau, spend three hours whale watching in Lynn Canal with binoculars and heated cabins, climb the Sentinel Island lighthouse tower and inspect the beacon, then pass Mendenhall Glacier at Brotherhood Bridge on the way back. Local snacks and drinks are included throughout. The whole day takes 4 hours and 15 minutes from pickup to drop-off.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see whales and actually climb a lighthouse in the same morning without arranging separate tours — the boat's route puts you in the feeding zone, and the lighthouse is right there in the middle of it.
Denali Zipline Tour in Talkeetna: 9 lines and 2 bridgesA 3-hour guided zipline adventure in Talkeetna, Alaska, where you progress from short tree-to-tree zips into longer, faster rides with views of Denali and the Alaska Range. The tour includes a certified guide, all safety equipment, helmet, water, and a ground school orientation; minimum age is 10, and participants must weigh between 80 and 270 pounds.Is it for me?You'll see the full south-side panorama of Denali and the Alaska Range from multiple platforms while moving through the largest ecosystem on earth with a professional guide and small group.
Fairbanks: Northern Lights Aurora Tour with Free PhotographyYou’ll chase the northern lights from Fairbanks with a guide who knows all the best spots (and backroads). There’s plenty of warmth in the van, snacks to keep you going, and free professional photos so you don’t have to stress about missing anything. Expect some waiting, laughter, maybe a bit of cold — but also those sudden bursts of color that stick in your memory.
Alaska Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled Tour AnchorageYou fly by helicopter over glaciers and wildlife, land on a snowfield, then drive your own sled-dog team pulled by Iditarod champions for about 30 minutes while the mushers share stories. The whole experience takes 1.5 hours and includes the helicopter flight, dogsled ride, waterproof boots, and time with the dogs afterward. Arrive 45 minutes early, dress warm, and leave bags behind.Is it for me?Book this if you want to experience both helicopter flightseeing and dog mushing in one short tour without arranging separate activities — the fixed 1.5-hour schedule fits into a single morning or afternoon, and the lodge handles all the logistics and gear.
Nenana River Rafting: Class 2 & 3 waves at Denali's boundaryRafting on the Nenana River puts you on 11 miles of whitewater that runs along Denali National Park's natural boundary, letting you see the park's raw landscape without entering it. A professional guide leads the trip, which includes a drysuit, helmet, PFD and all paddling gear; pickup and return transport are arranged. The outing takes three hours and welcomes children from age 5 onward.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and leads the whole group together, so families and mixed-experience paddlers stay comfortable. If you want to paddle actively, you paddle; if you'd rather float and watch the landscape, the guide can handle more of the work — the trip adjusts to what your group wants from three hours on the river.
Fairbanks & North Pole: Heritage Sights, Museum & Santa StopYou’ll trace Fairbanks’ story from the mighty Trans-Alaska Pipeline to hands-on culture at Museum of the North and Morris Thompson Center—then finish with fudge and real reindeer in North Pole. With hotel pickup and a local guide sharing family stories, every stop feels personal. It’s not just sightseeing; it’s getting under Alaska’s skin for half a day.
Fairbanks: Northern Lights Chasing & Free Photography PickupYou’ll ride out from Fairbanks with a local guide chasing the northern lights across dark Alaskan roads. There’s no fixed stop—just you, real-time aurora hunting, and free photography so you can actually remember what you saw (even if your hands are shaking). Expect cold air, laughter in the dark, and maybe a little wonder you weren’t expecting.
Denali: Flightseeing Tour with Window Seats & Hotel PickupYou’ll fly within half a mile of Denali’s summit with a local pilot narrating every glacier and ridge below your window seat. Includes hotel pickup near Denali, a pre-flight map briefing, all taxes and fees, plus time after landing to chat with your pilot or snap photos by the plane. It’s an experience that stays with you long after you’re back on solid ground.
Sitka Scenic Tour: Three Top Sites in a 10-Passenger VanA 2.5-hour guided tour of Sitka's three most-visited sites — Alaska Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear, and Sitka National Historical Park — in a 10-passenger air-conditioned van with a local guide equipped with a wireless microphone. The tour departs from Harrigan Centennial Hall downtown and is timed to avoid the larger cruise ship groups. Free downtown shuttles run from the cruise terminals to the meeting point.Is it for me?This tour works for cruise passengers who want the three most-visited Sitka sites without joining a 40-plus-person bus — the small van and timed departure mean you move through each stop without the crowds that larger groups create, and the wireless microphone keeps you connected to your guide whether you're outside or in the vehicle.
Alaska: Icy Strait Whale Watching & Drone Footage TourYou’ll ride out into Alaska’s wild Icy Strait on a small-group whale watching trip led by Captain Josh himself. Listen for humpbacks surfacing nearby, spot orcas or sea lions up close, and watch live drone footage capturing their world from above. Includes snacks onboard and your own USB video to take home — plus moments you might find yourself replaying long after.
Alaska: Mush Your Own Sled Dog Team & Iditarod Champion KennelYou mush your own team of sled dogs for 45 minutes on a dryland rig through private forest trails, stop halfway for a water break and photos, then return to the kennel for a tour and puppy time. Pickup from downtown Talkeetna is included, and groups stay under six people with a dedicated guide.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to actually drive sled dogs rather than just watch them, and who's fit enough to stand and manage lines while a team pulls you through the forest. The small group size and dedicated guide mean you get real instruction and personal attention, not a cattle-pen experience.
3hr Private Custom Excursion in Ketchikan: Your ItineraryA three-hour private guided tour in Ketchikan for up to 14 people, built around what you want to do—not a fixed itinerary. Your guide drives you to totem poles, museums, the rainforest, wildlife viewing spots, or local shops, and shares the history and ecology of the northern coastal landscape as you go. Hotel pickup and a local English-speaking guide are included; water, snacks, coffee and tea come along.Is it for me?Book this one if your group wants to steer the day instead of following a fixed route—the guide handles the driving and the local knowledge while you decide whether to chase eagles, hunt for wild plants, or spend the afternoon in galleries.
White Pass Deluxe Tour: Gold Rush Cemetery & Alpine ValleyThe White Pass Deluxe Tour is a 3-hour guided highlights tour of Skagway that visits Gold Rush Cemetery, Tormented Valley and the summit overlook. You travel in a 24-passenger mini-bus with large windows and bucket seats, and port pickup is included. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.Is it for me?The fixed three-hour loop and included port pickup mean cruise passengers can book without calculating drive times or negotiating a return—the guide handles the timing to your ship's departure. The large windows and bucket seats let you photograph without jostling across other travelers, and the guide's stories at each stop replace the work of researching the Gold Rush on your own.
Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise: Humpback Whales & WildlifeA small-group, 3-hour whale-watching tour from Hoonah, Alaska boards a heated custom vessel at the Icy Strait Excursions Hub and heads into Glacier Bay to watch humpback whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, sea otters and birds. The tour includes pickup from the port, a local English-speaking guide, snacks and all fees; humpback whales arrive in May and stay through September. Cruise ship passengers must allow 6–8 minutes walking time from the dock and check in 15 minutes early.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving by cruise ship and need a tour that departs and returns on a fixed schedule timed to ship arrivals—the 3-hour window and included shuttle eliminate guesswork about timing.
Fairbanks: Ice Fishing Cabin Cookout & Fresh Fish GrillingYou’ll settle into a heated cabin over a frozen lake near Fairbanks for real Alaskan ice fishing with a local guide. Try your luck through holes in the floor while sipping cocoa, then grill your own fresh catch alongside reindeer sausage. There’s laughter, warmth, and that feeling of doing something you never thought you’d try—right out on the ice.
Skagway to Yukon tour with Emerald Lake and wildlife museumA guided van tour from Skagway crosses into Canada's Yukon Territory, stopping at Emerald Lake, the Carcross Desert, and multiple photo points along the Klondike Highway. The tour includes entry to Wild Adventure Yukon wildlife museum in Carcross, a family-style BBQ lunch, and pickup from the cruise ship docks. A valid passport is required, as the route leaves the US and re-enters it.Is it for me?Book this if you want to reach Emerald Lake, Carcross Desert, and the Yukon interior—the route goes well beyond Skagway's downtown and White Pass, with multiple photo stops and wildlife viewing along the way.
Wilderness Picnics Ketchikan: Catch & Cook Your MealYou fish a remote Ketchikan inlet in a stable open-air skiff, catch salmon or rockfish with professional gear, then cook your catch over a campfire in the rainforest. All gear, a gourmet meal with your fish, and a guide who moves you to where the fish are running—no waiting, no filler. Plan for a half-day of active fishing and eating outdoors.Is it for me?Right for anglers and food lovers who want to fish hard and eat what they catch, not spend a day waiting for bites. The fast pace and small group size mean you're always moving toward active fish, which is what makes a half-day feel complete.
