Portage Glacier Cruise: Glaciers & Wildlife Day Tour from Anchorage

Cruise to Portage Glacier, then watch bears and moose from the van

This 8-hour small-group tour from Anchorage combines a one-hour cruise to Portage Glacier with wildlife viewing at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a scenic overlook in Chugach State Park. A local guide narrates throughout, hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour provides water and snacks on board. Lunch is available for purchase at the Portage Glacier lodge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center2h · entry included
2. Portage Glacier2h · entry included
3. Chugach State Park20m

Glaciers and wildlife day tour

• Hotel pickup in Anchorage
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Portage Glacier one-hour cruise
• Lunch at Portage Glacier lodge
• Hike nature trail behind lodge
• View from Glen Alps overlook
• Hotel drop-off in Anchorage

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a drive into Portage Valley, where you board a boat for a one-hour cruise across a calm lake to the face of Portage Glacier. The glacier fills the view at the end of the water. The boat gets close enough that the scale becomes real. After the cruise, lunch happens at the Portage Glacier lodge. You choose from deli items there, or walk the nature trail behind the lodge for views back across Portage Lake while you eat.

The second half moves to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where bears, moose, caribou, wood bison, musk ox, lynx and wolves live in large natural settings. You can stay in the comfortable Sprinter van as your guide points them out, or step out for a closer look. The choice is yours at each stop. The tour then climbs to the Glen Alps overlook in Chugach State Park, where the 360-degree view opens across Anchorage and the surrounding mountains. Photo stops happen throughout the day. Your guide is a long-time Alaskan and narrates the whole route: the geology, the animals, the land itself. Water refills and snacks travel with you in the van.

The full day runs 8 hours from pickup to drop-off. Small groups mean the van stays manageable and the guide can answer questions as they come. You'll need to be able to climb into and out of the Sprinter van with minimal help. The boat at Portage has standard boarding. Infants need a pre-approved car seat, which parents provide and install.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• live guide narration throughout the day.
• one-hour Portage Glacier cruise.
• entry to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with the option to view from the van or walk closer.
• stop at the Glen Alps overlook in Chugach State Park.
• filtered water refills and snacks on board.
• 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 16 May 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (4 to 12 years) · Child (under 4)

GroupUp to 12 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 44 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by 907 Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see both glaciers and Alaskan wildlife in one day without arranging your own transport or timing. The guide handles the route and the stops, and the van picks you up at your hotel. The small-group size keeps the experience intimate and the guide able to answer questions as they come.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 12 years); Child (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center holds bears, moose, caribou, wood bison, musk ox, lynx and wolves in large natural habitats. You see them from the van or on foot, depending on how close you want to get at each stop.

How close does the boat get to Portage Glacier?

The one-hour cruise crosses a calm lake and approaches the glacier face directly, so the ice and scale are visible without binoculars. The boat operates on a set schedule and the crossing is smooth water.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included, but the tour stops at the Portage Glacier lodge where you can buy deli items, or you can walk the nature trail behind the lodge for views of Portage Lake while you eat food you bring.

Do I have to walk much on this tour?

Walking is optional. You can view the wildlife center from the van, or step out at any stop to walk closer. The overlook at Glen Alps is a short stop for photos. The tour is designed for all fitness levels, though you do need to climb in and out of the van.

What's included in the tour price besides transport?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a live guide, filtered water refills, snacks, and entry to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Portage Glacier cruise. A 100% satisfaction guarantee backs the tour.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs 8 hours total from your hotel pickup to drop-off. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time when you book, based on your hotel location in Anchorage.