Whittier to Anchorage tour: Wildlife, glaciers and Beluga Point

Five hours through glacial lakes, native wildlife and mountain views

A guided tour from Whittier to Anchorage with stops at Portage Lake, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Beluga Point and Earthquake Park. The route includes all entrance fees and water. A live English-speaking guide leads the group through five to seven hours of driving and walking, with hotel drop-off in Anchorage at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Whittier Cruise Shuttle Tour with Stops

• Pick up from Whittier cruise
• Visit Portage Lake overlook
• Explore Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Stop at Beluga Point for whale watching
• Visit birdwatching spot for nature walk
• Tour Earthquake Park in Anchorage
• Drop off at Anchorage hotel

The experience

The tour picks you up from your cruise in Whittier and heads south toward Anchorage, starting at Portage Lake about an hour's drive away. The overlook sits off the Portage Glacier Road and opens onto turquoise water fed by glacial melt, with views of the Chugach Mountains and, on clear days, Portage Glacier itself in the distance. From there the route moves to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre facility where you walk or drive a 1.5-mile loop past bears, moose, bison, musk oxen, elk, caribou, eagles and wolves in naturalistic enclosures.

Beluga Point comes next, a spot famous for two things: in late summer and early fall, beluga whales chase salmon close to shore during the incoming tide, and the cliffs above often hold Dall sheep. Photographers favor the location for its dramatic mountain and water views, especially at sunset. The tour also stops at a birdwatching site ideal for spring and summer viewing, where interpretive signs and a small parking lot make it easy to spot eagles and other species, then finishes at Earthquake Park, a 134-acre wooded site in Anchorage that commemorates the 1964 Good Friday earthquake.

The guide is live and speaks English throughout. All entrance fees and water are included. You'll also get individual professional photos from the stops. The tour ends with drop-off at your Anchorage hotel.

What’s included

• Pickup from your cruise in Whittier.
• entrance fees to all stops.
• water.
• individual professional photos at the scenic locations.
• hotel drop-off in Anchorage.
• live English-speaking guide for the full tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Alaska Custom Tours

Is this one for you?The tour runs five to seven hours with multiple stops that involve short walks and easy viewing, so it suits anyone comfortable with a full day of driving and standing at overlooks. The fixed route and timing work well if you're arriving by cruise and need to reach your Anchorage hotel by evening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 wildlife will I actually see at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?

The center holds bears, moose, bison, musk oxen, elk, caribou, eagles and wolves in naturalistic enclosures. You walk or drive the 1.5-mile loop at your own pace, and the facility often runs feeding sessions and educational talks during the day.

Can I see beluga whales on this tour?

Beluga Point offers the chance to spot them in late summer and early fall when they chase salmon close to shore during the incoming tide. Sightings depend on the season and tide timing, but the location is known for whale activity during those months.

How long does the tour take from Whittier to my Anchorage hotel?

The tour runs five to seven hours total, including the drive from Whittier, stops at each site and the final drop-off at your hotel in Anchorage.

What is Portage Lake like?

Portage Lake is a glacial-fed overlook about an hour south of Anchorage, off the Portage Glacier Road. The water is turquoise and fed by glacial melt. On clear days you can see Portage Glacier in the distance, framed by the Chugach Mountains.