Best Alaska Excursions

Whether you’re looking for relaxing vistas or a thrilling adventure, Alaska is full of stunning experiences. You’ll find everything from casual walking and train tours to exhilarating dog sledding rides and helicopter tours during your visit to Alaska.

Read on to find our picks for the best excursions in Alaska:

1. Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Dog Sledding Tour, Helicopter Tour, Glacier Tour

Points of Interest: Mendenhall Valley, Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Icefield

This dog sledding and helicopter tour is the experience of a lifetime. You'll start your adventures on a helicopter ride to the Herbert Glacier over the breathtaking landscape of Juneau. After landing in the Mendenhall Valley, you'll get to meet the dogs that will take you on a thrilling dog sled ride across a snow-covered valley between the majestic mountains on the Juneau Icefield.

2. Skagway White Pass Railroad Summit Excursion

Port: Skagway

Tour Type: Train Tour

Points of Interest: White Pass Railroad, White Pass summit, Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, Dead Horse Gulch, Klondike Trail

This White Pass Railroad excursion is one of the most popular tours in Skagway. You'll enjoy a fully narrated journey along the "Scenic Railway of the World" and up to the White Pass summit, which is 2,865-feet in elevation. Along the trip, you'll be able to enjoy views of canyons, mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls.

3. Skagway Dog Sledding & Glacier Flightseeing Helicopter Tour

Port: Skagway

Tour Type: Dog Sledding Tour, Helicopter Tour, Glacier Tour

Points of Interest: Denver Glacier

Experience Alaska's favorite sport on this thrilling dog sledding excursion. This tour begins with a scenic helicopter tour up to the Denver Glacier dog camp, where you'll be able to enjoy the thrill of driving a sled, play with puppies, and fly through the magical scenery.

4. Juneau Icefield Helicopter Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Helicopter Tour, Icefield Tour, Glacier Tour

Points of Interest: Juneau Icefield, Herbert Glacier

On this helicopter tour, you can explore the beauty of million-year-old glacial icefields. During the flight, you'll get the chance to see wildlife, mountains, rainforest, icefalls, ice spires, and vibrant-blue crevasses of the Juneau Icefield. After landing on the Herbert Glacier, you'll go on a guided walking tour across the surface of the glacier while snapping photos of this magnificent piece of history.

5. Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Whale Watching Tour, Glacier Tour, Boat Tour, Land Tour

Points of Interest: Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, Saginaw Channel, Auke Bay, Mendenhall Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center

This combo whale watching and glacier tour is the best way to make the most of your day in Juneau. From specially-designed boats with large windows, heated cabins, and outdoor decks, this whale watching journey will take you through Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal or Saginaw Channel. These are all excellent opportunities to spot wildlife and take a few snaps. You'll have plenty of time on the water, so you're sure to see tails, breaches, and an array of spouts from these magnificent whales!

6. Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & Feast

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Seaplane Tour, Walking Tour, Glacier Tour

Points of Interest: Gastineau Channel, Douglas Island, Taku River, Taku Lodge, Hole In The Wall Glacier

This floatplane tour will take you on a journey to the remote Taku Glacier Lodge. This narrated flight takes off from Gastineau Channel and lands on the Taku River. From the air, you'll get a chance to see spectacular views of glaciers, icefields, waterfalls, and wildlife. After landing, you'll visit the Taku Lodge, which is located across the river from the Hole In The Wall Glacier. While here, you'll be able to explore the lodge or the walking paths through the rainforest. At the end of your journey, you can enjoy a meal, drinks, and cozy up next to the fireplace or continue exploring.

7. Deluxe Misty Fjords National Monument Tour

Port: Ketchikan

Tour Type: Seaplane Tour

Points of Interest: Misty Fjords National Monument, Big Goat Lake

This floatplane tour is the best way to fully appreciate the dramatic beauty of the Misty Fjords National Monument. During this narrated flight, you'll get to see Ketchikan's lush forests, snowcapped mountains, and abundant wildlife from the window seat of a floatplane. After experiencing majestic fjords, cascading waterfalls, jewel-like lakes, and abundant wildlife from the air, your journey will end with an exhilarating landing on an alpine lake or remote fjord.

8. Ketchikan Lighthouse, Totems, & Eagle Excursion 

Port: Ketchikan

Tour Type: Boat Tour, Wildlife Tour

Points of Interest: Totem Bight Park, Guard Island Lighthouse

There is so much to see around Ketchikan from this short, narrated boat tour. Relax in the heated main cabin or the open-air observation deck as we embark on this narrated lighthouse, totems and eagles excursion. While taking in views of the tallest totem poles at Totem Bight Park and the Guard Island Lighthouse, you'll have a chance to view eagles galore, eagle nests and baby eagles in season. Enjoy a selection of hot chocolate supreme, freshly brewed coffee, hot tea selections, soft drinks, water, Alaska salmon spread, crackers, cheese, fresh fruit, cookies, and mints while you take in this unforgettable experience.

9. Icy Strait Whale Watching Tour

Port: Icy Strait

Tour Type: Whale Watching Tour, Boat Tour

Points of Interest: Icy Strait Point, Shaman Point, Glacier Bay

On this whale-watching tour, you'll get to watch the Humpback whales that come to Hoonah in huge numbers each summer. These whales are amazingly active, and sightings will include diving, blows, and flues (tails). Lucky whale-watchers may get the thrilling experience of watching the whales breach or bubble-net feeding.

10. Juneau Mendenhall Glacier Guided Walk via Helicopter

Port: Juneau

Tour Type: Helicopter Tour, Walking Tour 

Points of Interest: Mendenhall Glacier, Mendenhall Towers

On this breathtaking helicopter tour, you'll soar over stunning lakes, rainforest, and ice before landing directly on the famous Mendenhall Glacier. After landing, a tour guide will take you on a short walk across the glacier surface, where you'll have a chance to snap some stunning photos.