Alaska is a must-see destination for many cruisers looking to experience the history, culture and wildlife of “the last frontier.” To truly experience its fullness, you’ll want to book some shore excursions, but they can come with high prices.
How strong? You can expect to shell out at least $300 or more per person for most of these excursions. Although shore excursions in alaska Rarely cheap, many of these excursions are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will create memories and showcase Alaska’s natural beauty like nothing else.
Here are six picks for the best Alaska shore excursions worth the splurge.
Dog Sledding and Helicopter Glacier Adventure — Juneau
Priced at $750 per person, this dog sled tour It’s one of those unique experiences where the memories will far outweigh the hit to your credit card.
Starting in Juneau, passengers fly by helicopter to a dog sled camp located atop the Norris Glacier, part of the vast Juneau Ice Field. The camp is only accessible by air, and the scenic flight alone is worth the price of admission.
Once you land on the glacier and set foot on the pristine snow and ice, dogs will take center stage. Along with a veteran dog sled musher, your team of dogs who love to run will take you across the ice. Alone in a desert of ice and snow, you might feel like you’re on the edge of the Arctic Circle. The trip is exhilarating, fun and absolutely bucket list in every way. Take some photos to make those at home jealous with your Instagram posts.
Related: These 3 incredible Alaska Princess tours will take you deep into the wilderness
Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer — Tracy Arm
You may notice that Tracy Arm Fjord is 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 crystal-clear waters.
What the cruise line doesn’t tell you is that your ship is unlikely to reach the Sawyer Glaciers, especially early in the season when ice still clogs much of the fjord’s narrowest passage.
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Several cruise lines offer the Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer tour, and it’s worth the $300 splurge if you want to get up close to the glacier. You’ll disembark your boat right in the fjord and board one of Allen Marine’s small expedition ships for a cruise to the North Sawyer Glacier. You’ll enjoy wildlife, waterfalls, and incredible views of disintegrating glaciers before meeting your boat in the fjord. (Note: some cruise lines offer this tour from Juneau.)
We have done this tour numerous times and it never disappoints. The expedition ship also sells some of the best seafood soups we’ve ever had (but let’s keep that secret between us, okay?).
Denali Peak Sightseeing Flight: Denali National Park
This excursion is only available to those participating in pre- or post-cruise land tours visiting Denali National Park, but represents one of the most spectacular aerial experiences we have had in Alaska. You will have to shell out more than $400 per person, but the experience is priceless.
Departing from Denali, passengers are packed into a small plane and taken on an incredible aerial adventure over Denali National Park, which somehow manages to look even more majestic from the sky. Flight time is approximately one hour.
For an even more memorable adventure, look for air tours that include a landing (a worthwhile upcharge). If conditions permit, your pilot will leave the plane on the mountain, in the snow, and give you time to walk outside. Then, your plane, equipped with skis or special floats, will return over the snow and take off over the majesty of Denali National Park. It is an impressive trip, unlike any other available in Alaska.
Related: 6 incredible excursions that you will only find on an Alaska cruise
White Pass and Yukon Route Railway Luxury Experience: Skagway
A journey through the formidable White Pass and Yukon Route Railway It is one of Alaska’s iconic experiences. Departing from the gold rush frontier town of Skagway, the railway will take you to impressive heights into the mountains beyond Skagway, following the original trail of ’98. While the train’s route crosses Canada’s Yukon Territory to Carcross, this tour will take you to White Pass Summit.
Recently, the railway has offered an upgraded experience: a luxury carriage for a select few passengers, complete with plush leather seats, complimentary drinks and canapés, all elevated to match the scenery next to the train.
No children are allowed, and the car comes with a private guide who will share with you the scenic overlooks and Gold Rush history while you drink and dine on 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 not like a tough seeker.
Nature Exploration Cruise and Crab Feast – Ketchikan
If you love crab, you’ll love this gloriously indulgent excursion available in Ketchikan. At over $200 per person, the tour offers tremendous value.
It all starts with a scenic cruise through nearby George Inlet, where wildlife is abundant and waters crystal clear. Guides will demonstrate how to remove crab pots from the water, and even pass around a crab and explain its entomology and relevance to the region.
Then, you’ll head to the George Inlet Lodge, where you can eat all the crab you want and wash it down with a fresh Alaskan beer. (Alcohol-free alternatives are also available.) However, pace yourself so you can devour the delicious cheesecake dessert topped with fresh blueberries.
How much is too much crab? This informative, scenic and delicious tour is the way to test your limits. Just be careful: you won’t feel hungry for quite a while afterward.
Related: 15 Alaska Cruise Mistakes You Never Want to Make
Whale watching — Various ports
From Juneau to Icy Strait Point, Wrangell and beyond, whale watching excursions are a must. They are expensive, although reasonably priced compared to some of the air tours on this list. But if you want to be guaranteed whale watching, it’s best to book passage on one of these smaller boats.
Tours cost between $200 and $400 per person, depending on the excursion you choose. The small whale watching boats include indoor and outdoor seating areas, but even if it’s raining, you’ll want to brave the upper decks and the elements. The thrill of seeing a whale up close is like nothing else, and you’ll get a better view if you’re outdoors.
While you may see whales from your cruise, they are likely very far away. Ship officers are trained to avoid whales and generally stay away from any group they see. Small boats, on the other hand, can get much closer than a large boat.
We have taken whale watching tours in almost every port of call in Alaska and while we have had good sightings in several ports, two stand out. Icy Strait Point has offered some of the best whale watching experiences (sightings are guaranteed or your money back). Excursions from Juneau’s nearby Auke Bay have also been worth the price of admission.
Either way, if you are determined to see whales, a whale watching excursion is a no-brainer. Bring a poncho, some rain gear, and your camera, and get ready—you never know how Mother Nature will surprise you.
Related: Top Alaska Cruise Tips to Help You Make the Most of Your Time on Board and Ashore
