Things to do in Anchorage
The unmissables
Most booked
Anchorage: Wilderness, Wildlife & Portage Glacier Day Trip★ 4.89 (3,352) · 6h
Top rated
Anchorage Trolley Tour: Earthquake Park, Lake Hood & Ship Creek★ 4.76 (1,768) · 1h 30m
Best value
Anchorage Trolley: 1-Hour City Tour & Seaplane Views★ 4.65 (2,816) · 1h
Recommended (7)
Anchorage: City Tour with Salmon Tasting & Reindeer Sausage★ 4.54 (936) · 3h 30mUS$ 69View ›
Anchorage wildlife and glaciers tour: Bears and moose★ 4.68 (751) · 4h 30mUS$ 149View ›
Anchorage: Matanuska Glacier Hike & Ice Walk from Downtown★ 4.93 (452) · 10hUS$ 329View ›
Willow Alaska: Dog Sledding with Iditarod Huskies & Denali Views★ 4.98 (442) · 1h 30mUS$ 175View ›
Anchorage: Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour & 3 Landings★ 4.94 (430) · 2hUS$ 762View ›
Glacier View Wildlife Tour Anchorage: Bears & Glaciers★ 4.87 (430) · 7hUS$ 177View ›
Alaska Glacier Day Tours: Portage Glacier Cruise & Wildlife★ 4.75 (413) · 5h 30mUS$ 239View ›Top rated (10)
Willow, Alaska: Summer Dog Sledding & Iditarod Training TrailsYou ride a two-person cart pulled by a trained dog team across private Iditarod training trails near Willow for 1–2 miles, then meet the dogs in an open yard, tour the kennel, and walk to a pavilion overlooking Denali for a hands-on look at winter racing gear and sleds. Snacks and rain gear are provided, and the whole experience is built around questions — there's no script, just a family operation that knows their dogs and their trails.Is it for me?Book this if you want to experience sled dogs in their working environment without the winter travel logistics — the family operation handles everything, and the two-person cart keeps the experience intimate and real.
Anchorage: Mount Alyeska Tram & Wildlife Center TourYou ride an aerial tram 2,300 feet up Mount Alyeska, spend free time at the summit, then visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see rescued grizzlies, moose, and caribou with a guided introduction and self-paced exploration. Transport from Anchorage, snacks, water, and all entry fees are included; the 5.5–6 hour tour handles logistics so you focus on the views and the animals.Is it for me?Pick this if you want the main Anchorage-area highlights — mountain views, a tram ride, and rescued wildlife — without arranging separate transport and tickets; the fixed itinerary handles the logistics so you just show up and move through the day.
Matanuska Glacier: Guided Winter Hike & Scenic Drive with LunchYou’ll walk across Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier with a local guide who knows every crack and story in the ice. Feel your boots grip blue glacial fields, stop for photos you’ll keep forever, then thaw out over lunch with mountain views before heading back to Anchorage — and maybe find yourself thinking about that silence long after.
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Bike Tour: Anchorage Moose DenaliA guided bike ride along Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail starting at Kincaid Park, with a local guide, high-quality bike, helmet and rain jacket. You'll pass through wooded hills, watch for moose and Denali views, stop at Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, and finish at Westchester Lagoon where salmon spawn seasonally. Small groups of up to eight, three hours total, suitable for all fitness levels from age ten.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided bike ride on the coastal trail with a local narrator—the small group means real conversation, and the van pickup from downtown saves you from figuring out how to reach the trailhead yourself.
Anchorage City Highlights Tour: Earthquake Park, Lake Hood & Scenic OverlookYou’ll trace Anchorage’s wild edges—from salmon fishermen at Ship Creek to floatplanes buzzing Lake Hood—with stories from a local guide. Walk through Earthquake Park where history left its mark, then look out over Cook Inlet from Glen Alps overlook. Even with pickup included and everything wrapped up in two hours, you’ll leave feeling like you actually met Anchorage.
Anchorage Helicopter Tour: Glacier Landing & Chugach MountainsYou fly from Girdwood airport over the Chugach Mountains, land on a glacier for thirty minutes of walking and exploring with your pilot, and return with views of meltwater pools and backcountry wildlife. The flight is weather-dependent, small groups only, and includes all fees and taxes—just arrange your own transport from Anchorage or add their shuttle service when you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want to land on a real glacier without arranging your own transport logistics or worrying about timing—the fixed schedule and small-group format mean you show up, fly, and the rest is handled. The weather dependency is the only catch, but that's also what keeps the ice safe and the views genuine.
Turnagain Arm: Wildlife Center, Glaciers & Girdwood LunchYou’ll travel from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm with a local guide, stopping first at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, and more up close. Glaciers fill your view as you explore Portage Valley before sitting down for lunch in Girdwood’s rainforest setting. Expect animal encounters, glacier air, and small surprises you’ll remember long after.
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.
Portage Glacier Cruise: Glaciers & Wildlife Day Tour from AnchorageThis 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.Is it for me?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.
Matanuska Glacier Hike: Alaska Honey & Wine Tasting TourYou’ll step onto Matanuska Glacier with a local guide who knows every crack and echo underfoot. Feel ancient ice beneath your boots, learn its secrets, then warm up with Alaskan honey and wine tasting in Palmer. This tour includes safety gear, snacks, and stories you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Lowest price (10)
Anchorage: Alaska Native Heritage Center Ticket & Village WalkYou’ll walk Anchorage’s Alaska Native Heritage Center with local guides who share real stories—not just facts—and see traditional dwellings by Lake Tiulana. Watch live dancing and games, then browse genuine native art in Ch’k’iqadi Gallery. It’s more than exhibits; you’ll feel part of something living.
Anchorage to Girdwood: 45-Min Airport & Hotel TransferYou're picked up at Anchorage airport or downtown, grouped with other travelers heading south, and dropped at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood after forty-five minutes. The shuttle tracks your flight, includes all fees and taxes, and arrives at the resort main entrance—no rental car, no parking, no winter driving to manage. Book in advance and reconfirm the night before.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving at Anchorage airport or staying downtown and want to reach Girdwood without renting a car or driving the Seward Highway yourself—the shared shuttle removes the logistics and the fatigue, and forty-five minutes of scenery is part of the trip, not a chore to get through.
Portage Glacier Cruise from Anchorage: 1-hour glacier viewingA one-hour glacier cruise on Portage Lake near Anchorage boards the M/V Ptarmigan, a heated vessel with an open-air viewing deck, and travels to the face of Portage Glacier while a Forest Service ranger explains the area's geology, wildlife and history. The cruise runs daily mid-May through mid-September with five departures each day; transportation from Anchorage to the glacier is not included in the ticket price.Is it for me?The cruise is a short, seated experience—no hiking, no water entry, and no early start required—which makes it a natural fit for a free afternoon in Anchorage or a first-time glacier visit when you want the landmark without the logistics of a full-day expedition.
Anchorage Winter City Tour: 25 miles, wildlife, and SnowEllaAnchorage's Winter City Tour is a three-hour guided route through the city covering 25 miles of landmarks, wildlife viewing, and cultural stops. You'll meet SnowElla, the 25-foot snow lady; visit Lake Hood to photograph seaplanes; stop at Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 quake; taste reindeer sausage and smoked salmon; and sit down with an Alaskan pilot for coffee at Rust's Flying Service. A live English-speaking guide leads the group through each stop, handling the driving while you take photos and ask questions.Is it for me?At three hours, the tour fits into a morning or early afternoon without eating the whole day, leaving you time to explore on your own or visit museums afterward. If you want to see Anchorage's winter character and its aviation heritage without renting a car or building an itinerary, the fixed route and included guide handle both.
Anchorage City Tour: Chocolate Factory & Lake Hood FloatplanesYou'll watch floatplanes at Lake Hood, stand in Earthquake Park where the 1964 quake dropped the land twenty feet, sample smoked salmon and reindeer sausage at a sixty-year-old shop, and taste free chocolate from the world's largest chocolate waterfall. A local guide handles all the stops and timing across 3.5 hours, with bottled water included.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see what makes Anchorage different—floatplanes, earthquake geology, and real local food—without arranging transport or timing between stops yourself. The fixed 3.5-hour schedule fits the whole experience into one morning or afternoon.
Anchorage All Around City Tour: Winter Sightseeing by CarThe Anchorage All Around City Tour is a 3.5-hour guided sightseeing tour by private vehicle that reaches the hardest-to-access attractions scattered across Alaska's largest city. The tour includes the Ulu Factory, Earthquake Park, Lake Hood, Alaska Wild Berry Products with its 3,000-pound chocolate waterfall, and the Alaska Native Medical Center's collection of Native art from over 227 federally recognized tribes. A live English-speaking guide drives you to each stop, leaving the city center walkable on your own afterward.Is it for me?Book this if you're without a car—it reaches the far corners of Anchorage that are hard to access on foot, leaving your afternoon free for downtown's walkable attractions.
Turnagain Arm to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center shuttleThe Turnagain Arm Shuttle is a guided drive from Anchorage to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, combining a scenic route along one of Alaska's most dramatic highways with a one-hour visit to a 200-acre sanctuary for orphaned and injured wildlife. The shuttle departs on a fixed schedule from the gift shop and returns the same way, making it a direct option for travelers without a car. Dall sheep and Beluga whales are visible from the road; the center itself holds bears, moose, bison, wolves and other native species in enclosures designed to replicate their natural habitats.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Anchorage without a car—the shuttle runs on a fixed schedule from the gift shop and includes a scenic drive along Turnagain Arm, giving you wildlife viewing plus landscape time in one outing.
Anchorage to Whittier Wildlife Tour with Cruise TransferThis 3-hour guided tour departs Anchorage and travels the scenic Seward Highway to the Whittier Cruise Terminal, with a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see resident wildlife in open habitats. The driver narrates the history of Turnagain Arm, Portage Pass, and Whittier—from Indigenous settlement through English exploration to the gold rush and the town's unusual origins. Pickup is available from Downtown Anchorage or Anchorage Airport, and the tour ends at the cruise terminal so you board directly.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're flying into Anchorage and need to reach the Whittier Cruise Terminal—it combines the transfer with a stop at the wildlife center so you see resident animals and learn the region's history instead of sitting in a car for three hours with nothing to do.
Anchorage: Wildlife Center & Portage Glaciers with Beluga WhalesYou 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.Is it for me?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.
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.
