There are some destinations you visit, enjoy, take a few pictures of, and head home.
Alaska isn’t one of them. Alaska is one of those places that reminds you just how big, wild and beautiful the world really is. It’s standing in front of a glacier and realizing the pictures never prepared you for its size. It’s watching a whale disappear beneath the water and waiting for that tail to rise. It’s spotting wildlife along the shoreline, cruising through water scattered with ice, and finding places so peaceful that you almost forget everything else exists.
I’ve been fortunate enough to experience Alaska myself, and it remains one of the destinations I’m most excited to return to.
If Alaska is on your bucket list, or you’re already planning an Alaska cruise or land vacation, these are five experiences I think deserve a place on your itinerary.
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Travel Advisor Tip:
Don’t assume that seeing a glacier from your cruise ship is the same as taking a glacier excursion. If this is one of your bucket-list experiences, look for an excursion that gets you onto the water, onto the ice or into the air. |
2. Go Whale Watching
There is wildlife watching…and then there is watching a humpback whale surface in Alaska.
Alaska's waters provide opportunities to see humpback whales, orcas and other marine wildlife, depending on your destination and time of year.
Juneau is particularly well known for whale-watching excursions, and many tours combine whale watching with other sightseeing experiences. And yes—you may see whales from your cruise ship.
But a dedicated whale-watching excursion gives you a completely different perspective. Smaller vessels can spend time in areas where whales are being spotted, giving you a better opportunity to watch their behavior.
Bring binoculars, keep your camera ready and remember to occasionally put both of them down.
Some experiences are better when you simply watch them happen.
Alaska's waters provide opportunities to see humpback whales, orcas and other marine wildlife, depending on your destination and time of year.
Juneau is particularly well known for whale-watching excursions, and many tours combine whale watching with other sightseeing experiences. And yes—you may see whales from your cruise ship.
But a dedicated whale-watching excursion gives you a completely different perspective. Smaller vessels can spend time in areas where whales are being spotted, giving you a better opportunity to watch their behavior.
Bring binoculars, keep your camera ready and remember to occasionally put both of them down.
Some experiences are better when you simply watch them happen.
3. See Alaska From the Air
One of our Alaska flightseeing experiences, landing on a glacier surrounded by the mountains.
If there is ever a destination worth splurging on a helicopter or flightseeing excursion, Alaska is it.
From the ground, Alaska is beautiful.
From the air, you begin to understand its scale.
Mountains stretch seemingly forever. Glaciers wind through valleys. Lakes appear in places that seem completely inaccessible. Depending on the excursion, you may even land on a glacier or travel to a remote location that would otherwise be impossible to reach during a port day.
These excursions tend to be more expensive than traditional sightseeing tours, but if you're looking for a true once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experience, this is one I'd strongly consider.
From the ground, Alaska is beautiful.
From the air, you begin to understand its scale.
Mountains stretch seemingly forever. Glaciers wind through valleys. Lakes appear in places that seem completely inaccessible. Depending on the excursion, you may even land on a glacier or travel to a remote location that would otherwise be impossible to reach during a port day.
These excursions tend to be more expensive than traditional sightseeing tours, but if you're looking for a true once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experience, this is one I'd strongly consider.
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Travel Advisor Tip: Popular flightseeing and helicopter excursions can have limited availability. This is not something I recommend waiting until you board your cruise to decide. |
4. Experience Alaska's Wildlife
Whales may get much of the attention, but Alaska has an extraordinary variety of wildlife.
Depending on where you travel, you could encounter:
Wildlife is, of course, wild, so no ethical tour operator can guarantee exactly what you'll see. But experienced local guides know the habitats, seasons and areas where certain animals are commonly found.
For travelers who put wildlife near the top of their Alaska wish list, I recommend choosing at least one excursion specifically designed around wildlife viewing rather than relying on chance sightings along the way.
Depending on where you travel, you could encounter:
- Bears
- Moose
- Bald eagles
- Sea otters
- Seals and sea lions
- Mountain goats
- Caribou
- Whales and other marine life
Wildlife is, of course, wild, so no ethical tour operator can guarantee exactly what you'll see. But experienced local guides know the habitats, seasons and areas where certain animals are commonly found.
For travelers who put wildlife near the top of their Alaska wish list, I recommend choosing at least one excursion specifically designed around wildlife viewing rather than relying on chance sightings along the way.
5. Leave the Crowds Behind and Experience Wild Alaska
Some of my favorite travel memories aren't necessarily the famous landmarks.
They're the moments when you get somewhere and think:
How is this place real?
Alaska is filled with opportunities to get beyond the typical sightseeing route.
That might mean kayaking through a quiet fjord, taking a small boat into an ice field, hiking through the rainforest, riding the historic railway into the mountains, visiting a remote lodge, fishing with a local guide or exploring an area accessible only by boat or aircraft.
These are often the experiences that turn an Alaska vacation into your Alaska story.
When you're comparing excursions, don't automatically choose the tour with the longest list of attractions. Sometimes I'd rather experience one extraordinary place well than rush through five places just to say I saw them.
They're the moments when you get somewhere and think:
How is this place real?
Alaska is filled with opportunities to get beyond the typical sightseeing route.
That might mean kayaking through a quiet fjord, taking a small boat into an ice field, hiking through the rainforest, riding the historic railway into the mountains, visiting a remote lodge, fishing with a local guide or exploring an area accessible only by boat or aircraft.
These are often the experiences that turn an Alaska vacation into your Alaska story.
When you're comparing excursions, don't automatically choose the tour with the longest list of attractions. Sometimes I'd rather experience one extraordinary place well than rush through five places just to say I saw them.
How Do You Choose the Right Alaska Excursions?
With so many options, it helps to start with the experiences that matter most to you. If whale watching has been on your bucket list for years, prioritize that. If walking on a glacier is the experience you’ll remember forever, put your excursion budget there.
If you’re cruising, also pay close attention to port times, transportation and excursion duration. You want enough time to enjoy the experience without spending the day worrying about getting back to the ship.
DO YOU HAVE TO BOOK THROUGH THE CRUISE LINE?
No. Independent operators can offer smaller groups, different itineraries and experiences the cruise line may not offer. Just make sure you’re booking with a reputable operator and that the timing works comfortably with your ship’s schedule.
Your Alaska vacation should look like your vacation, not someone else’s must-do list.
If you’re cruising, also pay close attention to port times, transportation and excursion duration. You want enough time to enjoy the experience without spending the day worrying about getting back to the ship.
DO YOU HAVE TO BOOK THROUGH THE CRUISE LINE?
No. Independent operators can offer smaller groups, different itineraries and experiences the cruise line may not offer. Just make sure you’re booking with a reputable operator and that the timing works comfortably with your ship’s schedule.
Your Alaska vacation should look like your vacation, not someone else’s must-do list.
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