Whittier to Anchorage post-cruise tour: Wildlife and glaciers

See bears, moose and beluga whales on the drive from ship to city

This seven-hour guided tour departs Whittier Port directly after cruise arrival and follows the scenic route to Anchorage, stopping at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier overlooks, Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, and Earthquake Park. The guide speaks English or Chinese. Pickup from the ship is included, as is entrance to each site, lunch, bottled water, and hotel or airport drop-off in Anchorage. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center1h 30m · entry included
2. Earthquake Park30m · entry included

Scenic transfer from Whittier to Anchorage

• Cruise ship pickup at Whittier Port
• Scenic drive through Chugach Mountains
• View Portage Glacier and Portage Lake
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Lunch stop
• Drive along Turnagain Arm with wildlife viewing
• Visit Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary
• Explore Earthquake Park and learn history
• Drop-off at Anchorage hotels or airport

The experience

Your guide meets you at Whittier Port when the ship docks and drives you through the Chugach Mountains along Turnagain Arm, one of Alaska's most photographed highways. The route itself is the first attraction: you'll pass Portage Glacier and Portage Lake with chances to spot Dall sheep, beluga whales during seasonal migrations, and other wildlife from the vehicle. The drive gives you time to decompress after days at sea and see the landscape that shapes life here.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is the main stop, where you walk among bears, moose, musk oxen, bison, wolves and more in large natural habitats. The center focuses on rehabilitation and education rather than traditional zoo displays, so the animals move freely and the setting feels less confined. You'll have time to photograph and learn about conservation work in the state. A lunch break happens midway through the day, and the guide provides context about Alaska's glaciers, wildlife and history as you move between stops.

Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary puts you on boardwalks overlooking wetlands where you can watch migratory birds, moose, bald eagles, swans and sandhill cranes in their natural habitat. Earthquake Park, the final stop before Anchorage, sits on scenic trails and viewpoints above Cook Inlet. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake permanently reshaped the landscape here, and the park explains that geology while offering panoramic views of the Alaska Range. Your guide drops you at your Anchorage hotel or the airport, ending the day without the need to arrange ground transport yourself.

What’s included

• Cruise ship pickup at Whittier Port.
• scenic drive through the Chugach Mountains with Portage Glacier and Portage Lake views.
• entrance to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
• lunch.
• Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary boardwalk.
• Earthquake Park exploration.
• bottled water and snacks.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel or airport drop-off in Anchorage.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mamba travel

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a live guide, so you travel with other cruise passengers rather than privately. It suits anyone arriving by ship in Whittier who wants to reach Anchorage without renting a car or arranging separate transport, and who prefers a guided experience that explains the landscape and wildlife rather than driving independently.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What wildlife might I see on this tour from Whittier to Anchorage?

Bears, moose, musk oxen, bison, wolves, Dall sheep, bald eagles, beluga whales (seasonal), swans and sandhill cranes appear across the different stops. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center lets you see them up close, while Turnagain Arm, Potter Marsh and Earthquake Park offer chances to spot them in the wild.

Does the tour include the entrance fees to the wildlife center and the parks?

Yes, entrance to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary and Earthquake Park are all included, along with lunch and bottled water throughout the day.

How long is the drive from Whittier Port to Anchorage on this tour?

The full tour is seven hours, which includes the scenic drive through the Chugach Mountains, stops at four main sites, a lunch break, and your final drop-off at an Anchorage hotel or the airport.