Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour
- 6–7 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This is the perfect tour for those with limited time in Alaska. Experience magnificent Portage Glacier on this full-day tour from Anchorage, as well as famous Seward Highway, America's most scenic road. Hugging the edge of Turnagain Arm, stop at lookouts like Beluga Point to try to spot all sheep then, continue on to see even more wildlife at the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (seasonal). Take a 1-hour cruise on Portage Lake to see Portage Glacier calving, and see where wildlife is rehabilitated at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Later, head high up on the Chugach Mountains for amazing panoramic views of the Anchorage bowl and beyond (weather permitting) This is a 6-hr tour (approx.) Activity Level: EASY Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trails surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance.
Inclusions
What's included
- Light snacks
- Bottled water
- Professional Local Guide
What's not
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Pickups from private homes, apartments or B&B's. Please contact the supplier for pick up location.
Itinerary
Beluga Point is one of the scheduled stops. We will have narration about the area, its geology, unique features and history of the area. Guests will have time to take photos.
The drive from Anchorage to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center/Portage Glacier Area begins with spectacular views as you pass between the dramatic shorelines of Turnagain Arm and the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains. The Seward Highway is considered to be one of the most scenic highways in the US.
At the 200-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, jaws drop in awe-even those of longtime Alaskans who've studied grizzlies and other animals up close. AWCC's mission is to preserve Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, research, education and quality animal care. The center, which opened to the public in 1993, also educates visitors about Alaska's wildlife. Coyotes peer out from behind the brush while a bald eagle swoops in on the salmon remains left by a grizzly bear. Wood Bison plod through 65 acres of tidal flat terrain, as part of a program that will one day restore the species to the Alaskan wilderness. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center. Come be a part of these exciting programs and watch these animals display their natural, “wild”, behavior. You will have about 90 minutes here to view these animals. There is coffee and food for purchase from vendors at the Center.
Portage Glacier Cruise is one hour from Anchorage. This cruise will take you right up to the face of a glacier. You’ll board the comfortable MV Ptarmigan, featuring an enclosed, heated cabin and open-air observation deck. The hour-long cruise is narrated by the US Forest Service, and you’ll navigate around bobbing icebergs and motor to within 300 feet of the towering wall of ice called Portage Glacier (one of Alaska’s most popular attractions). You may have an opportunity to hear the unmistakable rumbling of a calving glacier or rolling iceberg. After the 1 hour cruise, you will have an opportunity to eat lunch at a nearby restaurant. Lunch is not included.
Enjoy wide open panoramic views from a high overlook in the Chugach Mountains
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5155
- 414
- 32
- 20
- 12
Ratings come from 173 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
4Ryan was great! He was...
Ryan was great! He was full of facts and information.The glacier boat ride was cold but fun. We enjoyed the beautiful views.
5The tour is great for...
The tour is great for seeing the Portage glacier, which was a highlight. Also enjoyed the salmon viewing, and Wildlife Center. That allows you to see all the animals you would expect to see in Alaska. The first stop on the tour to see Beluga Whales was cold with little to see. Definitely a great tour for getting a great taste of Alaska. It would be even better one hour shorter.
4Good way to see anchorage
Good activity to see anchorage on our last day. Phil was very informative and a nice guy. You are able to see a glacier up close.
5Very good tour
Very relaxing excursion to take after a day of traveling. Driver Phil was very knowledgable and a good driver. We saw salmon spawning, lots of wildlife, and a glacier calving. Great day!
5Highly recommend!
Phil was a fantastic guide. So knowledgeable and made the entire experience a blast! Loved his inside knowledge of Alaska, and you can tell he really enjoys what he’s doing!
4This tour was a lot of...
This tour was a lot of fun! Our favorite was the Portage Glacier cruise! We really liked being on a small tour and felt the guide followed the timing that worked for the group, rather than feeling rushed from place to place. I really liked the photo points also.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please be ready for pick-up at the designated location at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Look for a silver Mercedes Sprinter van displaying the Planet Earth Adventures logo. Pick-up times are approximate and may vary slightly due to traffic and other guest pickups.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 11 travellers
- Operated by
- Planet Earth Adventures, LLC
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum number of people per booking is required for this tour to operate.
- Glacier Cruise portion of the tour is subject to weather conditions.
- Activity level: EASY.
- Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trail surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance. We strongly recommend that guests requiring assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing assistance. Neither Planet Earth Adventures nor our suppliers may physically lift or assist guests onto transportation vehicles or otherwise.
- We have limited number of infant/child seats. These must be requested in advance if you have a child. If it is NOT requested at the time of booking, we will NOT have them on the day of the tour.
How it compares in Anchorage
- Its from-price is 11% below the median of the 58 day trips we list in Anchorage.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 8 of 58.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, set on Cook Inlet beneath the Chugach Mountains, with coastal trails, wildlife and long summer daylight.
Anchorage sits between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains in south-central Alaska, and it is the state's largest city. It began as a railway construction camp in 1915, and the Good Friday earthquake of 1964, among the strongest ever recorded, reshaped it; Earthquake Park marks the story. The Anchorage Museum covers art, history and science, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center presents the state's Indigenous cultures.
Top-ranked sights in Anchorage: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Earthquake Park, Lake Hood.
Special offers in Anchorage
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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