Alaska is a bucket list destination for many cruisers who want to experience the history, culture, and wildlife of the “Last Frontier.” To really experience it in full, you’ll need to book some shore excursions – but they can be pricey.
How much does it weigh? Most of these trips can be expected to cost at least $300 or more per person. While shore excursions in Alaska are rarely cheap, many of them are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will create memories and showcase Alaska’s unparalleled natural beauty.
Here are six picks for the ultimate Alaska shore excursion worth the splurge.
Dog Sledding and Helicopter Glacier Adventures – Juneau
Priced at $750 per person, a dog sledding tour is a unique experience where the memories will far outweigh the money on your credit card.
From Juneau, passengers fly by helicopter to a dog sledding camp on top of Norris Glacier, part of the vast Juneau Icefield. The campground is only accessible by air, and the scenic flight alone is worth the price of admission.
Once you’re on the glacier and onto pristine snow and ice, the dogs take center stage. Join an experienced dog sled musher as you are pulled across the ice by a team of dogs who love to run. Alone in the icy wilderness, you might feel like you’re on the edge of the Arctic Circle. This trip was exciting, fun, and an absolute bucket list item in every way. Take some photos and make everyone at home jealous of your Instagram posts.
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Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer – Tracy Arm
You may notice Tracy Arms Sound listed as a scenic cruise destination on your cruise itinerary. Home to the North and South Sawyer Glaciers, the stunning fjord is filled with narrow channels, towering cliffs and pristine waters.
What the cruise lines don’t tell you is that your ship is unlikely to reach Sawyer Glacier, especially at the start of the season when ice still blocks the fjord’s narrowest passage.
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Several cruise lines offer Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier adventure tours, and if you’re keen on getting up close and personal with glaciers, it’s well worth the $300. You’ll disembark in the fjord and board one of Allen Marine’s small expedition vessels for a cruise to the North Sawyer Glacier. You’ll enjoy stunning views of wildlife, waterfalls and calving glaciers before re-boarding the fjord. (Note: Some cruise lines offer trips from Juneau.)
We have been on this tour several times and have never been disappointed. Expedition Ship also happens to sell some of the best seafood chowder we’ve ever tasted (but let’s keep that a secret, shall we?).
Denali Flight Sightseeing—Denali National Park
This excursion is only available to those taking a pre- or post-landing tour of Denali National Park, but it represents one of the most spectacular flight sightseeing experiences we’ve had in Alaska. It costs over $400 per person, but the experience is priceless.
Departing from Denali, passengers are bundled into a small plane for an amazing flight sightseeing adventure over Denali National Park, which somehow makes it look even more majestic from the air. Flight time is approximately one hour.
If you want a more memorable adventure, look for a flight sightseeing tour that includes a landing (worth the extra cost). If conditions permit, your pilot will land the plane on a mountain, in the snow, and give you time to take a walk outside. Your plane – equipped with special skis or floats – will then fly back along the snow and take off over majestic Denali National Park. This is an amazing journey unlike any other in Alaska.
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Deluxe White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad Experience—Skagway
Traveling along the stunning White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is one of Alaska’s signature experiences. Starting in the gold rush frontier town of Skagway, the railroad takes you to breathtaking heights and into the mountains beyond Skagway, following its original 98-year-old route. While the train route passes through the Canadian Yukon Territory to Carcross, this trip will take you as far as the summit of White Pass.
Recently, the railroad has offered an upgraded experience: luxury train cars for a limited number of passengers, complete with plush leather seats, free drinks and snacks – all elevated to match the scenery along the train’s route.
Children are not allowed and you will have a private guide on board who will share the picturesque sights and Gold Rush history with you as you climb White Pass to the top. The nearly three-hour tour costs about $450 per person, but with the luxury service, you’ll feel like a million bucks and definitely less like a rowdy prospector.
Wilderness Discovery Cruise and Crab Feast – Ketchikan
If you love crabs, you’ll love this indulgent tour in Ketchikan. At over $200 per person, this tour is great value.
It all starts with a scenic cruise along nearby George Inlet, where wildlife is abundant and the waters are pristine. Guides will demonstrate how to pull a crab pot out of the water, and they’ll even pass around a crab and explain their entomology and relevance to the area.
Then, head to George Inlet Lodge, where you can feast on crab and drink a refreshing Alaskan beer. (Non-alcoholic alternatives are also available.) Pace yourself, though, so you can eat your delicious cheesecake dessert topped with fresh blueberries.
How much crab is too much? This informative, scenic and delicious tour is a way to test your limits. Note: You won’t feel hungry for quite some time afterwards.
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Whale Watching – Various Ports
From Juneau to Ice Channel Point, to Wrangell and beyond, whale watching tours are a must. While they are expensive compared to some of the flight sightseeing tours on this list, they are reasonably priced. But if you want to guarantee a whale sighting, it’s best to book a ticket on one of the smaller boats.
Tours cost $200 to $400 per person, depending on the tour you choose. The small whale watching boats have indoor and outdoor seating areas, but even if it rains, you’ll want to brave the upper decks and wind and rain. The thrill of watching a whale leap out of the water up close is unparalleled, and you’ll get a better view if you’re outdoors.
While you may see whales on a cruise ship, they may be far away. Officers on board ships are trained to avoid whales and generally avoid any pods they see. Small boats, on the other hand, can get closer together than larger boats.
We’ve been on whale watching tours in almost every port of call in Alaska, and while we’ve had good whale sightings in every port, two ports stand out. Icy Strait Point offers some of the best whale watching experiences (guaranteed sighting or your money back). Tours from Oak Bay near Juneau are also well worth it.
Regardless, if you want to see whales, a whale watching tour is a no-brainer. Bring a poncho, waterproofs and camera and be prepared: you never know what nature may surprise you.
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