Anchorage to Seward tour: Exit Glacier and wildlife

Drive the Seward Highway to Exit Glacier and see Turnagain Arm wildlife with a local guide

A private full-day tour from Anchorage to Seward combines your cruise transfer with stops along the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway. Your guide leads you through Anchorage, past Potter Marsh and Beluga Point on Turnagain Arm, to Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park and the Alaska SeaLife Center on Resurrection Bay. The itinerary adjusts to your interests and schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centerpassing by
2. Exit Glacier1h
3. Alaska SeaLife Center1h

Anchorage to Seward scenic tour

• Pickup in Anchorage
• Explore Anchorage city
• Travel Seward Highway
• Visit Potter Marsh boardwalk
• Stop at Beluga Point site
• View wildlife along Turnagain Arm
• Optional Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center visit
• Explore Girdwood resort town
• Visit Exit Glacier
• Tour Alaska SeaLife Center
• Drop-off in Seward

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Anchorage hotel or cruise port and a city overview before heading south on the Seward Highway, one of only 13 U.S. highways designated an "All American Road." The route follows Turnagain Arm, a glacial inlet where Dall sheep, mountain goats, moose, beluga whales and black bears live seasonally. You stop at Potter Marsh, a 1,550-foot wooden boardwalk through the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge where Canada geese, pintails, grebes and northern harriers nest from late April through September, and at Beluga Point, an archaeological site where artifacts 8,000 to 10,000 years old mark some of Alaska's oldest human settlement. In July and August, hundreds of beluga whales feed on salmon in Cook Inlet near this same spot.

Exit Glacier, one of Alaska's most accessible valley glaciers, sits in Kenai Fjords National Park and shows the visible effects of climate change as it recedes year by year. The Alaska SeaLife Center on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward is Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility and opened in 1998 as a public aquarium dedicated to research and conservation of Alaska's marine ecosystem. Your guide can add the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit caring for injured and orphaned animals, for an extra fee.

The full day runs eight hours and ends with drop-off in Seward. Your private guide adjusts the pace, duration and stops to match your interests, and you can customize the start time and direction of travel. Cruise passengers should note the pickup time and location at booking. Those with a late flight can add extra hours at $80 per hour.

What’s included

• Local guide leading the tour.
• private vehicle transport from Anchorage to Seward.
• hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off.
• live commentary throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Greatland Adventures

Is this one for you?Pickup from your Anchorage hotel or cruise port means you don't need a rental car or arrange separate transport to Seward, and the eight-hour private route lets you set the pace and stops to match your schedule and what you want to see.

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Top questions

What wildlife can I see along Turnagain Arm on this tour?

Turnagain Arm is home to Dall sheep, mountain goats, moose, black bears and migratory birds year-round. Beluga whales visit Cook Inlet to feed on salmon from July through August, and you may spot them from Beluga Point if you travel during those months.

Is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center included in the tour?

The center is optional and costs extra. It's a nonprofit facility that rehabilitates injured and orphaned Alaska wildlife in spacious enclosures.

What is Exit Glacier and why is it worth visiting?

Exit Glacier is a valley glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park and one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. It visibly demonstrates glacial recession from climate change, making it a striking example of environmental change over time.

Can I customize the tour schedule or route?

Yes. Your private guide adjusts the itinerary, duration and activities to your interests, and you can choose your start time and direction of travel. Cruise passengers should provide their preferred pickup time and location when booking.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in Seward with drop-off at your hotel or designated location. If you're a cruise passenger, confirm your final drop-off point at booking.