Anchorage: Wildlife Center & Portage Glaciers with Beluga Whales

Beluga whales and five glaciers in one Anchorage day

You get picked up in Anchorage and driven to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see rescued bears, moose, wolves and eagles on 200 acres of habitat, then continue to Portage Valley to see five hanging glaciers and walk through rainforest. The route along Turnagain Arm offers chances to spot beluga whales, Dall sheep and bald eagles. Entry, a professional guide, and bottled water are included, with round-trip transport from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center1h · entry included
2. Portage Glacier1h
3. Chugach State Park10m

Wildlife and Glacier Scenic Tour

• Drive from Anchorage to Beluga Point
• View Turnagain Arm and wildlife
• Drive to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Visit and learn about rescued wildlife
• Drive to Portage Valley
• Stop and view hanging glaciers
• Walk through the rainforest
• Return drive via Chugach State Park

The experience

You're driving along Turnagain Arm and your guide suddenly points. There, in the water, a pale shape moving through the inlet. Beluga whales aren't guaranteed, but they show up often enough in spring and summer that you stop looking at your phone and start looking out the window. The Anchorage wildlife tour follows the coast first, scanning for belugas, Dall sheep, bald eagles, and the occasional bear before heading inland to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. It's a 2 hour 30 minute round trip from Anchorage, which means you're not spending your whole day in a vehicle.

The Wildlife Conservation Center itself sits on 200 acres of habitat designed to let rescued animals move the way they would in the wild. You'll see bears, moose, wolves, and eagles up close: animals that have been injured or orphaned and can't survive on their own anymore. Your guide walks you through the grounds and explains what you're looking at: why a bear is here, how the center works with research and education, what the ecosystem actually needs. It's not a zoo where you feel weird about the animals being trapped. It feels more like a sanctuary that happens to let you watch.

After the center, you drive into Portage Valley, where five hanging glaciers still cling to the mountainsides: Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns, and Shakespeare. Portage Glacier itself has retreated about 2.5 miles from where it used to be, leaving behind a dead glacial lake. The valley stretches 14 miles, and you can see how far back the ice once reached just by looking at the bare rock. Then there's a walk through the rainforest, which feels sudden and green after the glacier views, before the drive back along Turnagain Arm. The whole thing takes about five hours door to door.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup from Anchorage, a scenic drive along Turnagain Arm with wildlife viewing opportunities, entry to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with a professional guide, a stop in Portage Valley to see five hanging glaciers and walk through rainforest, and bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White Raven Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Alaska's rescued wildlife and glaciers without arranging your own transport or paying separate entry fees. The guide handles the route and the timing, leaving you to watch for whales and focus on the landscape.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

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.

Can you see beluga whales on this tour?

Beluga whales appear in Turnagain Arm, especially in spring and summer, but sightings aren't guaranteed. Your guide will watch for them during the drive.

How long is the tour?

The total round-trip from Anchorage is 2 hours 30 minutes of driving, plus time at the Wildlife Conservation Center and Portage Valley. Plan for about 5 hours total.

What's included in the price?

Entry to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a professional guide, bottled water, and round-trip transportation from Anchorage are included.

Is the rainforest walk difficult?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants can ride in a stroller, and the tour accommodates wheelchairs and walkers with advance notice.

What wildlife will I definitely see?

At the Wildlife Conservation Center, you'll see bears, moose, wolves, and eagles in large habitats. Wildlife along Turnagain Arm (whales, sheep, eagles) depends on season and conditions.