Planning A Tour From Anchorage

Whether planning your first trip to Alaska or returning to the Last Frontier for a new adventure, Anchorage is a great home base for your vacation. The city is a jumping-off point for many day tours and has easy access to various longer excursions and outdoor activities.

Anchorage is Alaska's largest city. Surrounded by mountains and wilderness, its trademark slogan “Big Wild Life” offers a glimpse of the adventure that awaits visitors. From museums to restaurants to 120 miles of recreational trails and an urban salmon fishing river, this city on the edge of a spectacular mountain wilderness has it all.

One of the most popular activities for visitors is Alaska tours from Anchorage. Many types of tours are available to guests, and they run from the more family-friendly to the extremely adventurous for outdoor thrill-seekers. These tours include guided day trips, longer excursions into the backcountry, and self-directed adventures for the more daring tourists. There is a tour for almost anything you’d like to do in Alaska, so read on for more information!

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #1: Wildlife Viewing

Anchorage is one of the best places in Alaska to see the state’s varied wildlife. Visitors often find themselves immersed in Alaska's natural beauty, surrounded by stunning landscapes and many opportunities to witness the state's diverse wildlife up close. From the moose who wander through the city center to the native species housed in the Alaska Zoo or at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, wildlife viewing is one of the easiest tours to arrange!

Tour operators offer daily flights to:

• Watch bears fishing at Katmai National Park & Preserve’s Brooks Falls. Enjoy the mesmerizing sight as these powerful creatures skillfully catch salmon mid-air with lightning speed.
• Observe brown bears in their native habitat at one of Lake Clark National Park’s bear-viewing hot spots. You can witness these magnificent creatures fishing for salmon or playing in the meadows during the summer months.

Cruise operators offer day cruises from Anchorage to:

• View the annual migration of birds as they arrive on Alaska's shore after their annual journey across many continents.
• Whale watch! Enjoy a day on the water, scanning the vast expanse of the ocean for signs of the majestic creatures.
• Spot puffins, mink, sea lions, seals, and otters as they splash and play in the crystal-clear waters along Alaska's coastline, creating a mesmerizing scene for onlookers.

If you’re not sure where to start, experienced guides can help you plan a trip to wildlife hotspots! Bear viewing at the legendary Brooks Falls is a must, and a day cruise through the waters of the Turnagain Arm will most likely result in the sighting of beluga whales. Moose (when not roaming the city streets) can be found in Kincaid Park, Potter March, and the nearby Chugach Mountains. hales, puffins, sea lions, and seals.

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #2: Glacier Cruises

If you want to get up close to a towering glacier and hear the thunderous roar as shards of ice crash into the water below, a day cruise from Anchorage is the perfect way to check this off your bucket list. The most popular cruises out of Anchorage for glacier viewing circumnavigate Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Portage Lake.

You’ll see whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, otters, and other animals along the way, making your trip a veritable adventure in and of itself and well worth the price of Alaska tours from Anchorage. As you cruise along the stunning coastline, keep your camera ready to capture these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #3: Alaska Railroad Day

All aboard! Anchorage has always been at the heart of Alaska rail travel and today’s rail system links Anchorage to Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and  Fairbanks. For the intrepid traveler, organizing a day trip (or longer) to one of these locations means an amazing opportunity to travel through the Alaskan wilderness by rail. Or, you can always book an organized tour by rail that includes plenty of outdoor activities, including a trip along the shoreline to Spencer Lake, where you can float among the icebergs in the lake and down the Placer River or kayak across the lake and rope up for a hike atop the glacier itself. Many other tour options for train lovers exist, and all can be booked with operators in Anchorage.

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #4: Bicycle Tours

Anchorage has been called a bike utopia by Bicycling Magazine and ranked among America’s Best Bike Cities by that same magazine. Vendors rent bikes of all types so visitors can explore the city’s growing network of paved and unpaved trails. Visitors can choose from mountain bikes, road bikes, or even electric bikes to suit their preferred trail and riding style.

• Mountain bikers can test the city’s trails at Kincaid, where 39 miles of looping roller-coaster trails include nine miles of single-track or on the inclines of the Hillside trail system.
• The more sedate cyclist can bike along the Coastal Trail, Ship Creek Trail, Chester Creek Trail, or the trail system at the Westchester Lagoon to take in the sites.

For those who visit in the winter, Anchorage even has winter biking! The first winter bike race took place in 1987 along the Iditarod Trail, and the sport has since taken off with backcountry explorers. Year-round rentals are available for anyone who wants to give this extreme option a try. The city maintains 130 miles along 40 different trails within metro limits for winter biking, and Chugach State Park keeps several trails open for those who venture out into the snow.

Local guides such as Alaska Bike Adventures, Alaska Trail Guides, and Greatland Adventures will book a tour for you for those who prefer a guided tour!

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #5: Northern Lights Viewing

If seeing the Northern Lights is part of your Alaskan itinerary, Anchorage is one of the best places to see the auroras! Many prime locations are easily accessible from the city, and plenty of expert guides with a knack for spotting auroras are happy to lead you on a magical adventure. Anchorage’s mild winter temperatures make aurora watching comfortable for most visitors and the city’s expert Northern Lights spotters can help increase your odds of seeing this phenomenon. They know the best viewing spots and can provide valuable tips on how to capture the mesmerizing dance of the aurora borealis on camera.

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #6: Alaska Mushing School

If you’re all about dog life, plan a trip from Anchorage to a winning Iditarod kennel to meet their friendly sled dogs! The visit includes a sled ride through the snow, with a team of experienced dogs and a skilled musher at the helm. Play with sled dog puppies while you learn about Alaska’s state sport. The kennel even offers night dog sledding rides, perfect for those who want to traverse the countryside by moonlight. The exhilarating experience includes gliding through snow-covered forests with the loyal pack of huskies leading the way, adding an unforgettable touch to the adventure.

Alaska Tours From Anchorage #7: Hiking and Ice Climbing

Anchorage boasts an impressive number of hiking trails and 155 peaks within Chugach State Park for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. If the trail system seems daunting and you are not sure where to start, various guided tours leave the city daily. Local guides can help you pick the best trails, show you the best routes, and share the hidden beauty of the vast, open parklands that surround Anchorage.

For those who want to try ice climbing, Anchorage is a great place to start. Gear up, grab an ice axe, and get ready to climb. Anchorage’s frozen waterfalls make it a perfect place to experience an ice-climbing adventure. Tour guides can help you get started and show you the ropes. Many operate excursions to the Matanuska Glacier, a massive 26-mile-long advancing valley glacier located in the Chugach Mountains. The glacier is easily accessible with shallow vertical ice cliffs and is a perfect place for beginners to give ice climbing a try.

Explore Alaska’s Great Outdoors

One of the best ways to discover Alaska is through an outdoor adventure. Anchorage is a great jumping-off point for your adventure because it is home to many tour operators and expert guides who can help make your trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They offer a wide range of excursions and activities tailored to suit every traveler's interests and preferences. Whether you want to bike, hike, ice climb, watch native wildlife, ride the rails, spot auroras, or cruise around a glacier, Alaska tours from Anchorage offer something for everyone. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get outside!