Things to do in Alaska
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Seward: Helicopter & Dog Sledding on Godwin GlacierYou fly by helicopter from Seward to Godwin Glacier, ride a dog sled pulled by racing huskies for about 25 minutes, and spend time with the musher and puppies before flying back. The package includes the helicopter flight both ways, all gear, and a professional guide who knows the glacier intimately. Book directly with the family-run operator to confirm your departure time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Alaskan interior and experience dog sledding without arranging multiple outfitters or spending days in the backcountry—the helicopter gets you onto the glacier and back to Seward in one morning or afternoon, and the small family operation means you're not competing with large tour groups for the musher's attention.
Alaska Helicopter & Dogsled Tour: Glacier Landing & Melt PoolsYou fly over glaciers and icebergs, land on a snow field to dogsled (driving the team yourself if you want), then helicopter down to the lower glacier to walk among crevasses and blue melt pools. The whole experience runs two hours, includes all entry fees and waterproof boots, and requires you to dress for high-altitude snow. You'll need to arrange your own transport to the departure point near Anchorage.Is it for me?Book this if you want multiple Alaska experiences — helicopter flightseeing, hands-on dogsledding, and glacier exploration — in a single morning without arranging each piece separately or spending the whole day traveling.
Whittier to Anchorage: Cruise Transfer & Wildlife TourYou leave the ship and spend your last five-plus hours in Alaska actually seeing it instead of just driving past it. The guide takes you through Portage Valley's glaciers, the Wildlife Conservation Center's bears and moose, Beluga Point on Turnagain Arm, Potter Marsh, and Earthquake Park in Anchorage. Your luggage stays safe in the vehicle the whole time, and you arrive at the airport or hotel with the day still in your head instead of behind you.Is it for me?Book this if you're flying out of Anchorage after a cruise to Whittier and don't want to waste the drive — it turns a three-hour transfer into a real last look at Alaska's glaciers, wildlife, and landscape, with the logistics already handled so you just show up at the ship and get in the car.
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Tour & IcebergsYou paddle a traditional Tlingit canoe across Mendenhall Lake to within safe distance of the glacier face, navigating past icebergs and watching for eagles, bears, and salmon. The trip includes all gear, a snack of Alaskan fare with hot beverage, and transport. Forest Service permits keep groups small, and the whole experience runs three to four hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Mendenhall Glacier up close without arranging your own boat or navigating the lake yourself—the Forest Service permit and small group size are what make the close approach possible and keep the experience quiet.
Anchorage Food & Sightseeing Tour: Lake Hood & Earthquake ParkThis 4.5-hour Anchorage food and sightseeing tour pairs tastings from the city's restaurants and cafes with stops at Lake Hood, Earthquake Park, and Point Woronzof. A certified local guide shares Alaska's history and survival stories while you move between food stops in an air-conditioned van. All food, drinks, and server gratuities are included.Is it for me?This is a shared group tour led by a guide, so the pace and stops are set — you're not choosing the route or the restaurants. It works best for travelers who want to taste Anchorage's food scene without researching restaurants themselves, and who are curious about the city's history and Alaska's role in it. If you prefer to pick your own food stops or need a private vehicle, a different tour would suit you better.
Ketchikan rainforest walk: Lunch Creek Falls & wildlifeA 3-hour small-group rainforest walk in Ketchikan takes you by van to Lunch Creek Falls Trailhead, then through a mile of Tongass National Rainforest to a coastal cove where marine wildlife congregates. The tour stays under 10 guests, includes a local guide, van transport, ponchos, hiking poles, water and snacks, and picks you up at your cruise dock. Children from age 5 are welcome.Is it for me?Cruise passengers with a few hours between dock time and departure get picked up at the ship, driven straight to the trailhead, and returned on schedule—no rental car, no navigation, no guessing whether you'll make it back in time.
Ketchikan Rainforest & Totem Park: Guided walkA 2.75-hour walking tour of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary near Ketchikan, led by a naturalist guide through mountain forest and marine estuary habitat, followed by a visit to the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the country with 17 poles and a 40-foot centerpiece carved by one carver. The tour operates in all weather and includes an air-conditioned vehicle for transport; moderate fitness is needed for the forest sections.Is it for me?Most rainforest tours in Ketchikan skip the totem poles or rush through them as an afterthought. This one builds the whole day around both—you get the forest and the wildlife, then you spend real time among 17 poles carved by one artist, so the carving itself becomes part of what you understand, not just a photo stop on the way out.
Seward to Anchorage tour: Wildlife, glaciers & Turnagain ArmThis small-group tour travels from Seward to Anchorage over seven hours in a fully equipped van with your own Alaskan driver-guide, stopping at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, elk, muskox and wolves up close; a guided walk along Byron Glacier Trail; Portage Glacier overlooks; and Beluga Point for Dall Sheep and seasonal whale sightings. Pickup in Seward is included, snacks and binoculars are provided, and you choose your own drop-off in Anchorage at the end.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want wildlife viewing and glacier scenery without driving yourself or arranging multiple transfers—the same guide handles the route, the timing and the stops, so you stay focused on what's outside the window. The small group size (up to twelve) keeps the pace flexible and the van positioned for animal sightings.
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Hike AdventureYou’ll paddle across chilly Mendenhall Lake in Juneau with a local guide, passing noisy arctic terns and waterfalls before hiking right up to the face of Mendenhall Glacier. Expect cold air on your cheeks, blue ice shining in crevasses, and real stories from guides who know these waters by heart.
Kachemak Bay Wildlife Tour: Small Group, Customized SightingsA customized wildlife tour of Kachemak Bay with Coldwater Alaska carries up to six passengers on a 2-hour (or longer) boat trip led by a live English-speaking guide. You pick the time of day and what you want to see—humpback and orca whales, sea otters, birds, or the landscape itself—and the route adjusts to match. The small group size and flexible itinerary mean the tour shapes itself around your interests instead of a fixed schedule.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Homer without a car or prefer not to drive—public transportation reaches the dock, and the small group size means the guide can work around your interests instead of a preset schedule. The 2-hour window (or longer if you choose) fits a half-day without eating your whole itinerary.
Juneau: 5-Glacier Seaplane Tour & Taku Glacier ViewsYou board a floatplane in downtown Juneau and spend 40 minutes flying over five glaciers, including the massive Taku, with a guaranteed window seat and narration included. The flight departs from the water, saving you travel time, and the small group size keeps the cabin from feeling crowded. You return to downtown with the afternoon still ahead of you.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see Alaska's largest glaciers without spending hours on the ground or arranging your own transportation — the 40-minute flight and downtown departure mean you keep the rest of your day free. The small group size and guaranteed window seats make it worth booking ahead, especially during peak season.
Resurrection Bay wildlife cruise: Bear Glacier & sea lionsA half-day wildlife and glacier cruise departing from Seward through Resurrection Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park, led by an expert guide who narrates the route. You navigate past jagged cliffs, alpine glaciers and Bear Glacier while spotting seabirds, Steller sea lions and harbor seals; hot lunch is served onboard. The tour runs 4.5 hours and operates in all weather.Is it for me?A half-day cruise suits travelers with limited time who want glaciers and wildlife without a full-day commitment. The fixed schedule and included lunch mean you don't arrange meals or timing—the boat handles both, so your morning or afternoon stays intact.
Seward: Northwestern Glacier & Whale Cruise, 8 HoursYou board in Seward and spend eight hours cruising Kenai Fjords National Park to Northwestern Glacier, three tidewater glaciers, and the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge. Light breakfast and lunch are included, along with a wildlife guide narrating the route. The boat has a restroom and operates in all weather, so you come prepared for cold and wind. You return to Seward in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in or visiting Seward who want a full-day glacier and wildlife experience without arranging their own boat—the eight-hour commitment is what makes reaching Northwestern Glacier and the remote fjords possible in one day.
Alaska Wildlife Day Tour: Brown Bears, Moose & Seward HighwayA four-hour guided tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Seward takes you through habitats where brown bears, black bears, moose, caribou, wolves, musk ox, lynx and wood bison live in natural settings. The route includes the Turnagain Arm drive along the Seward Highway with photo stops, and pickup and drop-off at most Anchorage hotels are included. A live English-speaking guide leads the whole tour.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided afternoon tour with English commentary and hotel pickup included, so you can focus on wildlife and scenery rather than logistics.
Hoonah: Icy Strait Whale Watching Tour with Small GroupYou’ll feel Alaska’s wild side up close on this small group whale watching tour from Hoonah—watching humpbacks breach in Icy Strait, spotting eagles overhead, sipping hot coffee as sea otters drift past. Expect real local stories from your guide and plenty of quiet moments with just ocean and sky around you.
Fairbanks City Tour: Pipeline, Museum & Santa Claus HouseYou visit four distinct Fairbanks landmarks in one day: the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint for the engineering story, the Morris Thompson Cultural Center for local history, the Museum of the North for Alaska's cultures and wildlife, and the Santa Claus House in North Pole. Hotel pickup and guide commentary are included, so you don't arrange transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want Fairbanks' main landmarks covered in one day without arranging your own transport or timing between stops — the fixed itinerary and included pickup mean you show up and the rest is handled.
Dogsled ride in Fairbanks: Sled through boreal forestA dogsled tour in Fairbanks takes you on a 45-minute ride through snow-covered boreal forest with a guide from Howling Bay Kennel, a small family operation that runs only two departures daily. You'll meet the dogs before and after the run, pet the puppies, and finish with hot chocolate in a heated dome. Small groups and solo travelers are welcome; the kennel accommodates families and can arrange double bookings for guests over the weight limit.Is it for me?Book the 11am departure if you're arriving in Fairbanks in the morning and want to spend your first afternoon on the runners rather than adjusting to the cold from inside. The small group size and owner-led format mean you get the dogs' full attention and the kennel's own knowledge of the forest and the history behind it, not a scripted route.
Kachemak Bay: Wildlife Boat Tour & Kenai Mountain ViewsYou’ll set out from Homer into Kachemak Bay with a local captain who knows every cove and rock ledge. Watch sea otters float by, spot puffins darting along jagged cliffs, and catch glimpses of eagles above the Kenai Mountains. Expect laughter, salty air, and moments when everything goes quiet except for the water lapping at the boat.
Juneau: Shore Fishing Class & Gear Included with Local GuideYou’ll slip into waders on the Juneau shoreline, learning both fly fishing and spinning reels from a local guide who keeps things easygoing. All gear is provided—including your license—so you can focus on casting lines, swapping stories, or just listening to the water. Expect some laughs, salty air, and maybe even an eagle overhead.
Private tour Ketchikan: Just your group in the vanYou ride in a private van with just your group, stopping at a wildlife viewing field, a rainforest waterfall, tide pools along the coast, and the Native Totem Park and blacksmith shop at Herring Bay Village. The guide adjusts the pace to what interests you, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed but the scenery is constant, and entry fees to Herring Bay are paid on arrival.Is it for me?Book this if your group wants to explore Ketchikan's rainforest, coast and wildlife without sharing a van with strangers or following a fixed itinerary — the private vehicle and flexible pace let you spend time on what matters to you instead of keeping to a schedule.
