Planning Your Trip To Alaska In The Winter

Congratulations! For years you’ve been dreaming about a trip to Alaska, and now it’s time to make that dream a reality. You’ve done your homework and researched the best Alaska tour packages – now what? It’s time to put your plan into action and decide which of the many Alaskan adventure tours is right for you!

If you’ve decided to take advantage of Alaska winter tour packages, stay tuned – we have the information you need to make your trip to this winter wonderland a memorable one. Keep reading for our favorite tips to make your visit to the Last Frontier fantastic.

Finding The Best Alaska Tour Packages

Planning a trip to Alaska can be daunting. Unlike the rest of the United States, many of the top spots to visit are difficult to access and require more than a simple car ride. If you’re unfamiliar with the state, scheduling reservations for buses, ferries, or floatplanes can become overwhelming. That’s why it’s a good idea to sign up for one of the many popular Alaskan adventure tours that reputable travel agencies and tour operators offer.

Winter in Alaska is a great time to enjoy outdoor sports and activities. The snow brings plenty of opportunities for dog sledding, ice fishing, ice climbing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, skiing, and Northern Lights viewing. But getting to the places that offer these activities can be tricky! Some of the best Alaska tour packages offer trips to the Interior of Alaska or the State’s Far North region, where visitors can participate in winter activities or see the Northern Lights in the night sky. But if you’re looking to get off the beaten path and experience a true backcountry wonderland, a guided tour may be right for you.

A tour operator like Gondwana Ecotours offers visitors a chance to relax and enjoy their Alaskan adventure without worrying about logistics like food, travel, or lodging. Gondwana offers several Alaska winter tour packages, including a specialized Northern Lights tour that features experienced guides and wake-up calls when the aurora borealis is active. Other operators offer Alaskan adventure tours that feature glacier trekking above the arctic circle or a chance to watch the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race and visit with a mushing team. Of course, winter is a great time to take a break from the cold and warm up with a visit to one of Alaska’s many museums or cultural facilities. Tour operators that offer the best Alaska tour packages are sure to create a robust schedule of activities that will please everyone in your group!

Packing For Your Alaska Adventure

Of course, one of the trickiest things to do when planning your trip to Alaska is figuring out what you need to bring! Winter or summer, Alaska is a state with very different temperatures in different regions. You’ll need to research to understand what the temperature will be in the part of the state you’ll be visiting and the time of year.

The most important thing about deciding what to pack for Alaskan adventure tours in winter is determining if you’re going to a place that’s predominantly wet (like southeast Alaska) or predominantly cold (including Anchorage and Fairbanks). In Southeast Alaska, winter temperatures often hover around freezing to a bit above or below. You may also encounter plenty of snow or rain during the winter months. In Fairbanks and the Interior (including Denali National Park), the temperature stays below zero for many months. Anchorage and southcentral Alaska are somewhere in between. It frequently gets below zero in these locations, but more often is in the single digits and teens.

Hopefully, the tour guide in charge of your Alaska winter tour package will include a sheet listing important items to pack, but if they do not we’ve included some essential items to pack for your Alaska adventure tour below:

• Underwear and socks – light wool socks are best because they will stay warm if they get wet.
• Rain pants – these pants are great for hiking in wet weather or keeping dry on a ferry.
• Rain jacket – an Alaska essential that will keep you dry during outdoor activities.
• Long sleeve, lightweight shirt – these shirts are perfect for layering under warmer gear.
• Long sleeve base layer – on days when the weather calls for more than a thin shirt, a base layer will keep you warm under a rain jacket!
• Warm layer – either a sturdy fleece or a synthetic puffer jacket will keep you warm and dry any time of year and is perfect for days when you need to layer.
• Hiking boots – a good, sturdy pair of hiking boots is essential for outdoor adventures in Alaska. Waterproof ones are even better!
• Wool hat – a warm hat is necessary for winter in Alaska. Wool is a good choice because it stays dry when it gets wet!
• Gloves and/or mittens – again, Alaska in the winter is cold! You’ll want to protect your extremities. Bring two pairs, so one can dry if the other is wet!
• A buff – protecting your face during cold weather is a must, and even if you don’t need that much gear a buff is an excellent option for keeping your neck warm.
• Snow pants - make sure to have really warm snow pants for Southcentral and Interior Alaska (Anchorage and Fairbanks) in winter. They will help keep you comfortable and warm during your outdoor adventures.
• Swimsuit – it sounds crazy, but if you’re traveling with one of the many Alaska adventure tours that visit Alaska’s hot springs, you’ll want your swimsuit.

Alaska: A Trip Of A Lifetime!

There are so many Alaska winter tour packages to choose from that you can’t go wrong. From Anchorage to Fairbanks to the Turnagain Arm, Alaska offers so much for visitors to choose from. Taking the railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks to see the stunning countryside in the winter is one of the best Alaska tour packages available, but with so many options to choose from it really comes down to your personal preferences. No matter where you go or what tour package you choose, your trip to the frozen North is sure to inspire winter wonderland memories for all.