Anchorage is the gateway to the incredible landscapes of Alaska and many tours of the region start and finish in this alluring city. One of the most popular destinations to visit from Anchorage is Denali National Park, where the highest mountain peak in North America towers over the rugged wilderness below and plentiful wildlife flits between the trees. Tours incorporating Denali National Park offer a plethora of activities, from hiking and white water rafting to scenic helicopter flights and dogsled demonstrations. You’ll be greeted by experts who will share their knowledge of the region and take visitors out wildlife spotting for caribou, moose, grizzly bears and other species that call this stunning environment home.
Between Anchorage and Denali many itineraries include the spectacular Alaskan Railroad that winds through the countryside with breathtaking views unfolding through the panoramic windows. Some tours like the Grand Alaskan Adventure with Cosmos enjoy this famous railway between Anchorage and Talkeetna, and others including Insight Vacations’ Jewels of Alaska join the network at Talkeetna for the voyage by train to Denali. Most tours that loop back from Denali to Anchorage do so along the scenic Denali Highway and take in sights such as Tangle Lakes, Worthington Glacier, and Thompson Pass along the way. They usually make a stop at Valdez and Prince William Sound before returning to Anchorage, and some add in the Kenai Peninsula before wrapping up the tour. Tours that do this loop as a round trip from Anchorage range from seven to 15 days, so you can choose the one that suits your time frame as well as your interests.
Follow in the footsteps of prospectors from the Gold Rush days on a tour that incorporates time in the Yukon Territory as well as Alaska. Itineraries that include the Yukon travel beyond Denali northeast where Fairbanks awaits with an eclectic character before crossing the border to showcase the landscapes, history, and character of the Yukon. Visit Dawson City and Whitehorse, as well as Skagway on some tours, to get an insight into the Gold Rush era and the challenges prospectors faced in this stunning yet challenging wilderness. Trafalgar’s Alaska & the Yukon itinerary enjoys three-night stays in the Yukon, which means plenty of time for sightseeing the region. After exploring the rugged landscape, the charming streets, and the vibrant saloons of the Yukon Territory, these tours loop back into Alaska and finish up in Anchorage.
Breaking the trend, Intrepid’s 6 Day Kenai Peninsula tour bypasses Denali and the Yukon and instead heads south to take in Homer and Seward, along with all the picture-perfect landscapes in between. Explore the remote beaches around Homer, choose to join a sea kayaking adventure atop Kachemak Bay, or add a bear viewing flight to your stay. Your base in Seward is the gateway to explore Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay where you can head out among the fjords and glaciers searching for humpback whales, sea otters, and more marine life. The accommodation in Seward is so remote it can only be accessed by kayak or water taxi, so it is the perfect way to get away from it all and immerse yourself in nature.
Another unique itinerary from Anchorage takes in Alaska’s Iditarod with Globus Tours. The Iditarod is a long-distance dog sled race through the Alaskan wilderness and is an annual tradition that sends Anchorage abuzz. This itinerary is full of out-of-the-ordinary experiences including meeting four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser at his kennels, dinner at the Musher's Banquet where mushers (sled driver’s) draw for their starting position and seeing the ceremonial start of the race where you can cheer on.
You can do these tours from Anchorage as a stand-alone itineraries, or combine your chosen experience with another tour of Canada and Alaska to cap off an incredible adventure.
Canada & Alaska Cruises