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Alaska Cruisetours

Explore denali national park on an alaska land and sea package, what's an alaska cruisetour.

Cruise:  Enjoy our top-rated 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise vacation with two glacier-viewing experiences during your time on board.

Train:  Enjoy scenic rail travel from the ship to the lodge via our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service for an all-encompassing Alaska cruisetour.

Lodge:  As a part of your Alaska cruisetour, spend three or more nights on land at Princess Wilderness Lodges located riverside near legendary national parks.

Explore Your Cruisetour Options

Need help choosing.

10 - 13 Nights

Denali Explorer

• Most popular
• 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise
• 3-6 nights on land
• Exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® Alaska rail service
• Stay in the Denali-area
• Natural History Tour into Denali National Park
• Fairbanks or Anchorage
• Select sightseeing included

13 - 15 Nights

Off the Beaten Path

• Go deeper into Alaska
• Kenai and/or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• Unique National Parks and Canadian Rockies Cruisetour options
• 6-8 nights on land
• Princess Alaska rail service
• Fairbanks and/or Anchorage

12 - 17 Nights

Connoisseur

• Highest level of service
• Escorted by a Tour Director
• 5-10 nights on land
• Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park
• Most meals included

10 - 11 Nights

On Your Own

• Most affordable option
• For independent travelers
• 3-4 nights on land
• No pre-scheduled activities

Katmai National Park cruisetour

New and exclusive to Princess! Offering a deeper connection with Alaska wildlife, this brand new itinerary combines a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and two nights in Anchorage. Spend a day viewing brown bears at Katmai National Park and visit Alaska’s premier Wildlife Conservation Center

Ultimate Wildlife Adventure cruisetour

A Princess exclusive, this new cruisetour is curated to provide whales breaching in Glacier Bay National Park, bear viewing in Katmai National Park and observing Denali’s “Big 5” such as moose and caribou in Denali National Park. Wildlife enthusiasts will be thrilled with the opportunities to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitats. This 13-night cruisetour also features a visit to Alaska’s premier Wildlife Conservation Center.

National parks cruisetours

Explore five of Alaska’s National Parks with our National Park Cruisetour. Cruise Glacier Bay’s pristine waters, be awe-struck by Kenai Fjords icefields and feed your wanderlust by adventuring into Denali National Park. Accompanied by two more National Parks, the 15-night cruisetour is designed for explorers and wanderers.

Canadian Rockies cruisetours

Experience the breathtaking scenery of Banff National Park in the heart of the Rockies on our 14-night cruisetour with a 7-day Alaska cruise and luxury Rocky Mountaineer rail travel.

Alaska Cruisetour Experience

A closer look at Alaska’s interior.

Princess wilderness lodges

With Princess, you won’t just explore Alaska’s landscapes, you’ll live amidst them in our custom-built wilderness lodges. Located riverside next to some of the most renowned national parks, these warm and welcoming lodges are the perfect spot to bask in Alaska’s best attractions. As a part of your Alaska cruisetour, explore and unwind with comforting amenities and breathtaking scenery.

Voyage of the glaciers

Sail 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound on our top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise vacation. Spend seven days traveling from Anchorage (Whittier) to Vancouver, B.C., stopping in historic port cities like Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Along the way, enjoy two glacier-viewing experiences on every itinerary – including Glacier Bay National Park, and Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord.

Direct-to-the-Wilderness® Alaska Rail Service

With glass-domed railcars, our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service takes you into the heart of Alaska without juggling multiple tickets or confusing transfers. Enjoy convenience and comfort from ship to train and then directly to your Princess Wilderness Lodge in the Denali-area. We’ve taken care of everything on your Alaska cruisetour, so you can spend less time worrying and more time exploring.

Visit Denali National Park on every Alaska cruisetour

Every Princess Alaska cruisetour takes you to Denali National Park so you can enjoy a land beloved by millions but only seen by the adventurous. This national park is a dream destination for any serious Alaska traveler. With some of the most stunning wilderness in existence and famous wildlife, it’s part of the definitive experience of traveling to the Great Land’s wild interior.

Princess Lodges & Alaska Cities

Comfortable riverside lodges surrounded by natural beauty.

• Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge®
• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®
• Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge®
• Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge®
• Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge®
• Anchorage (Whittier)

Embark on an unforgettable Alaska cruisetour to the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge®, where you can take in the beauty of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States. Snow-covered mountains dominate the skyline while rivers feed the earth below. Explore your surroundings on a Copper River rafting trip, or fish for Alaska salmon in the mesmerizing waters.

All of our Alaska cruisetours include a stay at our premier Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®, just one mile from the entrance of Denali National Park overlooking the Nenana River. Access some of the most stunning sights on earth — wilderness, wildlife and untamed land. Go flightseeing by Denali’s snow-covered peak, fly-fish for Arctic grayling, raft the Nenana River or venture into Denali on a park tour.

On the banks of the Chena River lies the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge®. With riverside dining and frontier décor, the Fairbanks Lodge is the perfect excuse to extend your Alaska cruise vacation and dive deeper into your surroundings. Cruise down the Chena River on a sternwheeler riverboat, pan for gold at Gold Dredge 8 or ride ATVs through surrounding forests underneath the midnight sun.

Situated on the Kenai Peninsula overlooking the Kenai River, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge® is surrounded by mountains, rivers and wilderness inviting you to explore. Adventure through Chugach National Forest, cruise past Kenai Fjords National Parks’ glaciers or fish along the Kenai River. Take in the sights of this natural masterpiece at a leisurely pace only on an Alaska cruisetour.

Situated within Denali State Park near the Chulitna River, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge® offers unparalleled views of Denali from the treehouse as well as the Great Room and expansive deck in the main lodge. Tour a working Alaska homestead and learn how the Great Land’s residents have become so self-sufficient. Or land in a helicopter on a glacier beneath the tallest peak in North America on your Alaska cruisetour.

Only an hour and a half from the cruise port of Whittier lies the largest city in Alaska – Anchorage. Visit the Chugach National Forest, the second largest national forest in the United States. Spend the day absorbing history at the Anchorage Museum. Or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and see brown bears, moose and bison living in a protected habitat that perfectly emulates the wild.

Explore the Great Land

Voyage closer to the sights, sounds, wildlife and traditions that make Alaska unique.

Between the natural masterpieces and the animate personalities, every part of Alaska tells an extraordinary story. On an Alaska cruisetour with Princess, discover what makes the Great Land so special, and craft your own tales of your time on land and sea.

A sensory experience

Don’t just see the Great Land’s glaciers, feel them come alive on an Alaska cruisetour. Get up close to Mother Nature’s masterpieces and listen for the crash of “white thunder”. Visit wilderness playgrounds like Glacier Bay National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – along with even more natural wonderlands like Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier.

A nature lover's dream

From bald eagles to humpback whales, many animals call Alaska home. The waters are teeming with marine life, like king salmon, while the land is decorated by the colorful coats of Denali National Park’s “big five” – including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep and caribou. On an Alaska cruisetour, encounter wildlife in their natural habitats and experience their unique personalities for yourself.

Mountains & National Parks

National treasures

Alaska’s national parks are nothing short of impressive. Denali National Park boasts the continent’s highest peak, and Glacier Bay National Park is one of the world’s largest protected areas. You can discover even more magnificence during your Alaska cruisetour at Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks, where one of the four largest ice caps in the world invites guests to explore its terrain.

Alaska excursions

Don't just visit this famous land, live it on Alaska excursions. Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter. Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience.

Alaska Cruise Onboard Experience

Our award-winning North to Alaska program brings local personalities, culture and cuisine on board and ashore to immerse you in all things Alaska during your cruise to the Great Land.

Alaska Seafood

Fresh and bountiful, like Alaska itself

Alaska's seafood is famous, and we bring the best to you with locally inspired dishes from the state’s best eateries. With Cook My Catch excursions, catch your own salmon or halibut with the help of a local expert, and in the evening our talented chefs will prepare your haul for your dinner — a Princess exclusive. From ship to shore, the best is at your fingertips on our Alaska cruises.

Meet Local Alaskans

Real Alaska from local Alaskans

Alaskans are inviting people who love to share what makes their state unique. Watch lumberjacks in action, learn from Glacier Bay National Park rangers and craft with a Native totem pole carver. Or listen to harrowing Tales from the Deadliest Catch fishermen and climbers who have summited Denali during your Alaska cruise.

Unique Alaska Cruise Experiences

Great experiences from the great land

Travel back in time and pan for gold like a prospector during the Gold Rush. Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium. At the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali. Or savor tree-inspired bites at our very own Sappy Hour. Dive deeper into what makes the Great Land special on your cruise to Alaska.

Alaska Cruise Articles and Videos

Read about Alaska’s must-see attractions, signature cuisine, and how to prepare for a wild adventure into the heart of The Great Land.

Discover Alaska with Princess in 2024-2025

The best cruise line in Alaska just keeps getting better! From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess.

Best Dishes to Try on Your Alaska Cruise

No one does seafood quite like Alaska—which is why we brought the best of the Great Land on board, so you can experience it all with Princess.

Top Alaska Cruise Destinations

From exploring Denali National Park to fishing for salmon in Anchorage, discover the top Alaska destinations on a Princess cruise.

Inside Passage Alaska Cruise

From exploring historic gold mines to venturing in the footsteps of early explorers, learn about Alaska’s Inside Passage and discover the wonders awaiting you.

Alaska Ports of Call

From the sweeping mountains of Juneau to the fish-bearing seas of Ketchikan, discover our Alaska cruise ports and set sail into the adventures that await you.

What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise

Check out our helpful checklist so that you know exactly what to pack for an Alaska cruise with Princess.

Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess Get You There

Princess EZair® Flights

Stress-free airfare

Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled.

EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages.

Airplane to Ship Transfer

We get you where you need to go

Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

Stay longer and relax

Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.

Need help planning?

Princess Cruise Vacation Planners are a dedicated resource to help you every step of the way through the planning process of your cruise vacation. And the best part is, they are absolutely FREE!

Cruise deals & promotions

Find our top sales, deals, partnerships and promotions for our destinations all in one place. We run promotions throughout the year and sometimes run sweepstakes where you could win prizes!

#PrincessCruises Alaska Connection

See Alaska through our guests' eyes.

You May Also Like

Alaska cruises.

See the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife, and national parks.

Denali National Park

Home to North America’s tallest peak.

Train Travel

Explore Great Land with Princess exclusive rail service.

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Planning A Trip To Alaska: Land Vs. Sea

By Heidi Sarna | Published on January 29, 2024

When planning a trip to Alaska, many travelers wonder if it's best to explore the state by land or sea. While both options have their benefits, there's absolutely nothing like seeing Alaska's majestic natural beauty from the water. Cruising offers a unique and unforgettable perspective and a special way to experience Alaska's breathtaking coastal landscapes and wildlife.

Cruising along Alaska's coastline offers a window into the beauty of the state, from natural highlights to small-town charm.

The Case For Alaska By Sea

Touring southeast Alaska's Inside Passage by land can be logistically challenging and quite pricey. Many of its islands are only accessible by air or sea — there are no roads that you can drive to reach these ports — and food in Alaska is expensive.

In contrast, visiting Alaska by sea on a cruise ship is convenient and a great value, considering meals, accommodation and entertainment are included in the fares.

Alaska's capital, Juneau , is a popular cruise port that can only be reached by air or sea as it is surrounded by glaciers and rugged terrain; likewise, you couldn't drive to Sitka or Haines from the lower 48, either.

Whether you're out on one of the expansive open decks or in a warm observation lounge watching the world float by, a cruise ship affords front-row views of the massive glaciers, iceberg-choked straits, sheer rock faces, miles of forest and wildlife that have made this state such a popular cruising destination.

From your floating home base, a trip to Alaska provides opportunities to witness breaching humpback whales sending their powerful gusts of breath spraying into the air. Keep your eyes open for seals floating along on chunks of ice and for brown bears trying to catch fish along the shoreline. Look up to spot bald eagles soaring overhead or perching high up on treetops.

You can also take it all in from the comfort of your stateroom's balcony or a window-facing treadmill in the gym that offers a panorama topped with blue skies.

In port, you can see more of Alaska's bounty on one of the optional shore excursions that get you out into the woods to go hiking, cycling, kayaking, fishing or panning for gold. Expert guides lead the way, enhancing your experience and understanding of the region.

You can also wander around ports like Sitka , Skagway , Juneau and Ketchikan on your own, taking in the crisp air as you revel in Alaska's forests, mountains and icefields. Stop for lunch at a local joint to dig into a plate of fresh halibut served with fries and wash it down with a local microbrew (if that's your thing).

I have fond memories of my family and I enjoying fish and chips at Juneau's Hangar on the Wharf after taking the Goldbelt Tram 1,800 feet up to the top of Mount Roberts for a walk around the alpine forest, where we enjoyed sweeping views of the Chilkat Range and Gastineau Channel. It was a great day for the whole family and, at the end of it, just a short walk back to the ship.

The Ease Of Alaska Cruises

Cruise ships provide a hassle-free travel experience from start to finish, especially in an area like Southeast Alaska that isn't easy to explore on your own. Choosing a cruise for your Alaska vacation means you leave the navigation, parking and itinerary planning to the experts while you focus on the destination.

What other vacation option out there conveniently takes care of your accommodations, meals, entertainment and transportation between ports? All you need to do is unpack once and wake up each morning to greet another beautiful Alaska day.

Plant yourself in one of the hot tubs on deck, against the backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks and icefields, and watch the water for otters and whales. Nature's show surrounds the ship on all sides as you glide through the Inside Passage of southeast Alaska, within sight of some of the world's most stunning nature preserves, from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to Misty Fjords National Monument.

You can also learn about what you're seeing by attending port talks and watching videos on your stateroom TV. Readers might want to pick up a book, such as "Travels in Alaska" by John Muir, a naturalist and poetic writer who shares reflections on his journeys to Alaska in the late 19th century.

On cruises to Alaska you can choose to spend time meeting your fellow cruisers, taking advantage of onboard game shows or attending dance lessons, fitness classes and trivia contests. These activities are the perfect opportunity to mingle with others who are also drawn to the natural beauty of Alaska.

Alaska Cruises Offer Access

Discovering the Last Frontier by cruise ship means you have access to Alaska's national parks , massive glaciers and the deep fjords that spread out along its scenic coastal areas.

Cruising allows you to visit remote areas of Alaska that are difficult or impossible to access by land. There are numerous islands, wilderness areas and small towns and communities that can only be reached by water — whether by small speed boats, cruise ships or float planes that land on the water.

Close-up access to glaciers, the stars of the show for many travelers, is another benefit of cruise travel. Ships can often cruise close enough to a glacier's terminal moraine that you can hear and see the movement of the ice. And for glaciers that you can't see from the ship itself, you can sign up for an excursion that will get you there by a small boat, kayak or motorcoach.

The many glaciers to behold include Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America, and the Margerie and Johns Hopkins glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park, which gets its name from the hundreds of ice fields across its more than three million acres.

Here, the journey is as good as the destination. Sailing through the deep, narrow Tracy Arm Fjord, for instance, reveals some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll find in Alaska, with steep cliffs covered in evergreens and streaked with waterfalls, and the twin tidewater Sawyer glaciers capping the fjord's end. If you're lucky, you'll witness the glaciers calving and get to see huge chunks of ice break off and crash dramatically into the water with a splash.

Highlights Of A Trip To Alaska

While you'll spend lots of time on the water when you choose an Alaska cruise vacation, you also have the opportunity to get off in each port to join guided excursions or explore on your own.

In downtown Ketchikan, you can watch salmon swim upstream to spawn in July and August; just look down under the Creek Street boardwalk. Or wander around the old-time main street of Skagway to check out saloons filled with staff dressed in period outfits. In Sitka, you can walk through the towering spruce and western hemlock trees of Sitka National Historical Park to admire the totem pole collection donated by Alaska's Tlingit and Haida nations over the past century. And it's always an appetizing idea to sample some fresh fish and chips at a local restaurant.

Of the vast number of guided shore excursions to choose from on an Alaska cruise , many are family-friendly. Anything involving dog-sledding is a family no-brainer. Some dog-sledding experiences, for example from Juneau, require a short (and very scenic!) flight to get to the remote training camp; consider it a twofer. You and your gang can also head out on a fishing trawler to catch lobster or salmon. These excursions sometimes include cleaning, vacuum packing and shipping the fish back home for you.

From Ketchikan, the thrilling Misty Fjords flightseeing tour will give you aerial views of granite cliffs rising 4,000 feet from the sea. The grand finale is when the floatplane lands on a wilderness lake for a quick look around. Juneau is also a great port for flightseeing tours, many flying over the nearby ice fields.

For something more down to earth, take a ride on Skagway's White Pass and Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway, the same one that took prospectors to the Yukon gold fields 100 years ago. Or sign up for the mostly downhill 15-mile bike ride along the scenic Klondike Road, which offers endless views of snow-capped peaks. Other active ways to explore Alaska will have you strapping on crampons to trek across a glacier.

There are many hiking opportunities too: My family and I enjoyed a four-mile walk through the temperate Narnia-like rainforest of Glacier Bay National Park. We spotted bear scat and saw huge porcupines frolicking in the trees.

If you enjoy kayaking, you can paddle through ancient fjords, around icebergs and alongside rugged shorelines while enjoying the serenity of the surroundings. Hop in kayaks near Juneau for a sea-level view of Mendenhall Glacier, keeping an eye out for seals and eagles as you paddle around.

Alaska is renowned for its whale-watching opportunities. From the decks of your ship while cruising the upper Lynn Canal near Skagway and in the waters of Misty Fjords National Monument, you can often spot enormous breaching humpback whales with gusts of air shooting from their blowholes. Or, better yet, sign up for a whale-watching excursion onboard a smaller vessel to witness these majestic creatures up close and take in other wildlife, from sea lions to orcas and harbor seals.

To extend your Alaska vacation, Royal Caribbean's Alaska CruiseTours adds on a two- to six-night land-based tour from Seward, the start or end point for many of Royal Caribbean's weeklong north- and southbound Alaska sailings to and from Vancouver. From Seward, you head north into Alaska's wildly beautiful interior via luxury motorcoach and board Wilderness Express glass-domed train cars. Visit Denali National Park, home to North America's tallest mountain and more than 200 species of wildlife, from grizzly and brown bears to moose, caribou, wolves, dall sheep and birds galore. Wander around the historic village of Talkeetna and marvel at the backdrop of Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city, as well as the majestic snow-capped Chugach Mountains. Highlights include hikes through the rugged wilderness, cuddles with sled dog puppies and rides on classic stern-wheelers that you won't soon forget.

Written By HEIDI SARNA

"Heidi Sarna, a freelance writer who specializes in cruising, is a contributor to Frommer's, Travel Weekly, CNBC.com and The Points Guy, among others. Heidi has taken more than 125 cruises and has visited 78 countries and counting."

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Building Your OWN Pre or Post Cruise Tour

By TheCruisingBrewers , June 30, 2010 in Alaska

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TheCruisingBrewers

Hi everyone,

Having just been to Alaska and doing the self drive to Denali for a couple of days before our south bound cruise, I thought I would start a topic here for those interested in designing their own tours, for whatever reason. I had to read MANY posts here to do mine and thought a topic would be helpful for others. In chatting with our own CC group I found some, people had some great ideas that would be helpful to share with others.

Post what you did and how you did it, here. Why did things not work, how many days you travelled, how you got from point A to point B, where you stayed and what you did. Also post open recommendations for others on number of days, places to stay and things to do.

With so many experienced travellers here it would be very helpful to thse new to Alaska to see what works and what doesn't before they go it alone!

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Budget Queen

Well, I have been posting here with independent travel information for Alaska visitors for years.

My recent trip was 2 weeks interior Alaska, plus a one way cruise. Trip 27. TIME is what is needed, in my opinion. Then fit in what you can.

I was hoping you would reply BQ! I read your posts, they are always VERY helpful! What I was thinking though was it would be nice to have like a "this is what I did".... place for ideas in one place sort of inside of sorting through all the topics....There are SOO many! My biggest challenge was booking it all very late, but I am sure there are those out there still trying to figure things out for this summer.

Can you tell everyone the itinerary you did and how you got from point A to point B? I would love to hear.

I will be in anchorage before southbound cruise and I wanted to go to Denali, and since you just drove into it - can you help. I'm just at a lost, do I just rent a car and go and find a place to stay, is it just one road into the park then I'll see wildlife, etc. I'm sorry I'm so confused - some say take the alaskan RR but some say it's along the highway, so you should drive - help pls and thanks

mapleleaves

It's easy to plan your own land tour and it's lots of fun! You can also save a lot of money and you have greater flexibility.

Go the bookstore and read some travel books, go online to each city's website and to the state site, then ask them to send their free trip planners. Alaska.org is also a great site. We did a 2 week RV trek in AK last year and my best resource was reading trip reports on TripAdvisor.com. I booked the RV in Oct then spent the winter researching and planning our route. I read 2 yrs worth of trip reports and learned so much! (Just go to the Alaska forum and in the search box, type "trip report", with the quotes.) If you're struggling with something, you can post for help and get great advice. But for the most part they don't appreciate the generic " what do I do in Seward for 2 days?". Do your homework first.

Besides the well known places like Kenai Fjords and Denali, there are so many wonderful small experiences.....like the spirit houses at Eklutna, the Roadhouse at DeltaJunction, walking to the face of Exit Glacier in Seward, watching the bears in Valdez near Alison Point. And you probably won't experience them on a cruise tour.

Have fun planning!

alaskabound2323

We rented 2 cars in Seward, we stayed 2 nights post cruise in Seward, (bearpaw lodge) then drove to denali, It took us 7 hours with 3 short stops. We then spent about an hour in the visitor center and picked up our bus passes. We spent 2 nights in Healy at earthsong lodge. Then drove back to Anchorage for a late night flight.

We were told not to do the drive all in one day, but it was easy, beautiful and painless. We were 9 people so it was a lot cheaper to drive than take the train.

Sure I can help.

You can even stay at ine of the cruise tour lodges. If you want.

We rented a car Look for deals, ours was like $150 in ANC at the airport and drove to Denali. We stayed 2 nights at the Denali Lakeview Inn which is JUST north of the main gate in Healy. Really nice B&B! Also I heard NordHaven was very nice as well. Princess Lodge is right on the hiway and close to the park, and it is about the same prices as the B&B's. There are also numerous littilier places in Talkeenta and south of Denali.

We then drove back to Anc spent the night there, and caught the shuttle from the Airport to Whittier.

We used THE MILEPOST for stops and directions and to know where gas stations were.

Please feel free to email me for help. My blog has pictures and details of our trip too! I also put a review up in Member Reviews.

[email protected]

FurryPetMom

Thank you for this helpful info on planning your own land tour. We just got back a couple weeks ago from our first cruise to Alaska and I am already starting to plan for next year! We are going to do a 7 day nb cruise from Vancouver to Seward and then do the land portion on our own. We want to visit Denali and spend more time in Homer. Please keep the advice/suggestions coming!

I am planning too!

I know I need more days in Denali (Thanks BQ! 2 or 3 whole days I got that!) and I want to see another unspoiled area so either Copper River or Kenai. I am leaning on Kenai. While I am not thrilled with Glitter Gulch, I LOVED Denali and want to definitely go all the way out to Wonder lake/and/or Eiselon next time.

How about you?

I think Prince William Sound should be on a tour list... Is that right?

Maybe someone else knows this too... Is it worth it to go to Faibanks? I read this is a popular cruise tour stop, but I just can't see why...?

I think Prince William Sound should be on a list... Is that right?

For those who visit Alaska often what is YOUR favorite tour?

Keep ideas coming :)

I am planning too!   I know I need more days in Denali (Thanks BQ! 2 or 3 whole days I got that!) and I want to see another unspoiled area so either Copper River or Kenai. I am leaning on Kenai. While I am not thrilled with Glitter Gulch, I LOVED Denali and want to definitely go all the way out to Wonder lake/and/or Eiselon next time.   How about you?   I think Prince William Sound should be on a tour list... Is that right?   How about you?   Maybe someone else knows this too... Is it worth it to go to Faibanks? I read this is a popular cruise tour stop, but I just can't see why...?   I think Prince William Sound should be on a list... Is that right?   For those who visit Alaska often what is YOUR favorite tour?   Keep ideas coming :)

Yes, I think 3 full days in Denali minimum. I'm not sure about Fairbanks, it doesn't look that appealing to me. We are planning for August of next year. I am hoping that there will be some beautiful fall color starting in Denali by then. Perhaps someone that has been in August can chime in. It is our first time to Denali and we definetly want to go all the way out to Wonder Lake.

I think we will arrange for a Kenai Fjord tour out of Seward when we get off the cruise ship.

We went on the 14 day Alaska cruise on the Amsterdam last month and really enjoyed Homer. It has a great small Alaskan town quality about it. We loved it and are for sure planning a couple days there.

I have to ask about your cc handle..are you brewers? Just curious as my husband is a homebrewer.

ok I don't know where the frown face came in my title..major ERROR!

Our RV trip was during the last 2 weeks of August last year. Yes, the leaves were starting to turn so the colors were beautiful! It must have been spectacular a few weeks later. This isn't my picture but a great example of the color. http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/19/denali-fall-foliage-taiga_1393.jpg

It was also the beginning of rutting season so we saw a few bull moose at the beginning of the park road in Denali. We had several moose sightings during our drive as well.

Fairbanks has some good activities; ElDorado Gold Mine, Riverboat Discovery, UofA Museum, Creamers Field if you're a birder, UofA large animal research center (musk ox). The 2 times I've been there, it was sunny and warm, shorts weather which I really appreciated. I feel like I've done Fairbanks now but would use it as a departure point for an air tour. Last year I met a couple who did a "bush mail run" with Warbelow's Air Service; their tour to Gates of the Arctic National Park looks very interesting.

We had done the Kenai Peninsula on a previous trip so this time we drove from Fairbanks to Valdez. Spectacular scenery the entire journey. Loved Valdez. It's similar to Seward but more of a working harbor instead of tourist spot; very interesting. And the mountains surround you. The weather didn't cooperate though; we cancelled our kayak trip.

This web site has lots of great info. You could start on DESTINATIONS on the top banner. http://alaska.org/index.jsp

OK, this past trip was a northbound HAL cruise, with 2 days in Seward- went out both on Kenai Fjords boat trips. Took the train to Anchorage with an overnight. Picked up a 2 week RV rental the next day, Drove to Denali park for 3 days with 2 trips in to Eielson. 2 nights in Fairbanks, Cargo flightseeing to Beetles. Drove the Richardson, including the Denali Highway, paved section from Paxson. Overnight near Copper Center, flightseeing, drove to Valdez, 2 nights. back toward Anchorage, with an overnight on the Glenn before Palmer. To Soldotna, overnight. Homer 2 nights. Overnight south of the Whittier turn off. Day boat tour out of Whittier. Overnight at Bird Point. Early turn in of RV and car rental. Day trip to Talkeetna for lunch, drive of Hatcher Pass. Home on -empty, overnight flight.

Past trips have always included plenty of flightseeing, including 3 nights in Barrow. Next trip, I'd like to plan Prudhoe Bay with a private tour.

Hehe well sort of... DH's last name is Brewer, but he is more of a coffee brewer than beer. He works for a large commercial coffee company that sells coffee to resturants, casinos, hotels and hospitals. His name just handily fit his occupation, even his truck has Brews up right or something like that on it...It is sort of funny.

Mapleleaves thanks for the input. You hear comments like Fairbanks is the most highly rated spot etc, but I always wonder if it cruiseline hype. How could it rate over Denali? I have read also read the mine and Riverboat are worth doing.

Do you drive your own RV or rent one? We had good friend we met on our cruise rent one for the Denali drive and they loved it. The problem with me right now is if I had a motorhome and did not have to be in point A on X day I might not every wanna leave! Hehe

I originally started planning this first trip we took, to Kenai/Homer, just because I had read so much about how wonderful it is, and then we opted for Denali instead, which I happy to say was incredible.

So now I want to see Denali, Seward, Kenai and Homer. Thanks for the input!

Next trip, I'd like to plan Prudhoe Bay with a private tour.

Get in touch next year. Would love to make the trip with you and show you all the weird little places I have found on my many trips from Prudhoe. Would you consider chartering a plane to ANWR? Did it once, would love to do it again.

I can usually make arrangements to drive one of the BP vans they are trading in at least as far as Fairbanks, sometimes all way to Anchorage. Just have to pay for the gas.

Get in touch next year. Would love to make the trip with you and show you all the weird little places I have found on my many trips from Prudhoe. Would you consider chartering a plane to ANWR? Did it once, would love to do it again.   I can usually make arrangements to drive one of the BP vans they are trading in at least as far as Fairbanks, sometimes all way to Anchorage. Just have to pay for the gas.

Wow, what an offer, yes, I am VERY interested. Let me know what YOU, are doing, and I'll try to arrange my time for it. Would have considered it this year, but didn't dare leave a rented RV for 3-4 days in a parking lot. :(

Hehe we Do you drive your own RV or rent one?   I rented from Great Alaskan Holidays in Anc. Had read many positive reviews about GAH on TripAdvisor; they lived up to the hype. It was a great experience. An RV is a great way to see Alaska. Since the RV is self contained you have total flexibility in your schedule,which is a huge plus; you don't have to get somewhere just because of a hotel reservation. Our only reservations were at Denali for the campsite and 2 shuttle trips. Also the weather can be wet and cold so it's nice to make dinner in the RV and stay warm and dry, open up the bar and play cards! Pricey though. I booked the RV when GAH ran a special the previous Dec, and we went after mid Aug when the prices drop for the shoulder season. I had a 22ft for $115 a night, plus campfees, plus insurance. It got 10mpg and we drove 2200 miles.

We have just returned (on July 4) from our self-planned tour.

We flew to Anchorage on June 22 staying at the Millennium Hotel near the airport. We picked up our rental car the next morning at the airport to start our journey. The car only had 700 mi on it at pickup... and it was white and spotless.

We drove to the Denali Princess (with lots of picture stops along the way -- including a roadside sighting of a black bear) using the Milepost book as a guide for suggestions. We ate at Subway in Glitter Gulch on the first night... no $5 footlongs here!

We enjoyed the Kantishna Experience (not the same as the Kantishna Roadhouse bus) tour in the park on Thursday, June 24. The tour on the previous day had no luck with seeing wildlife. We saw many animals, and some uncommon sights: lynx being among the first two animals we saw! Ptarmigan, fox, several grizzlies in different sightings, dall sheep, red squirrel, moose, caribou, mosquitoes :D, wolves. Amazing trip. I have more details if anyone is interested (including details of pickup, dropoff, and the included lunch).

The next day (Friday) we had booked the mid-day Jeep Adventure along Stampede Road/Stampede Trail and Stampede Jeep Trail. The mid-day was at special pricing, but this is in the TourSaver as well.

On Saturday, we saw the Rangers' dogsledding demonstration. Then we hit the road northbound to Fairbanks. We saw a black bear in the Dragonfly Creekbed (from the overlook). We stayed at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. The smoke from the nearby forest fire wasn't too bad, but by this time it was raining.

We visited Santa -- just to say we had done it and to mail some thank you notes with a North Pole postmark to students for end-of-the-year teacher gifts.

On Sunday, we returned to Denali for the drive to the Savage River point (the limit for private vehicles at this time of year). We saw a moose during our exit of the park -- and many spectators who were WAY too close for comfort.

We proceeded to McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in Trapper Creek for two nights. On Monday, June 28, we visited Talkeetna for the day... when the clouds parted to prove that the mountain really does exist! We took the Talkeetna Air Taxi flight using the TourSaver coupon (a little iffy there on the coupon... their records didn't show that we were using the coupon despite the fact that our emails proved we had sent the book's number to them in March). Honestly, this flight wasn't the highlight of our trip... the Kantishna bus tour was.

We drove back through Wasilla, Anchorage, etc. to get to Cooper Landing for a Bed & Breakfast. The Kenai Princess only offered one night due to being fully booked already when we were making reservations. We visited Kenai Princess to take a few pictures. It is much smaller than the other 3 we visited.

We went to Kenai for the evening... too much of a regular city to merit a full day's visit. Homer for the day. Seward for the day (SeaLife Center suing TourSaver, Exit Glacier, otter sighting). Back to Anchorage for the last night... with a very dirty white rental car... with an additional 1800 mi on it! 2850 pictures and videos...

We'd do it again in a minute... got to save up the money for the next journey now.

We LOVED our trip and already want to go back! We left some "down time" on our trip on purpose, so if you want you could probably do what we did and more...hope this is helpful to someone!

Day 1- got off the ship in Seward, walked about 7 minutes to Exit Glacier Guides' office and spent the day ice hiking/climbing- great trip. We spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express- nothing special, but convenient and clean.

Day 2- wandered around Seward, went to the SeaLife center, shipped some stuff back home (like our fancy cruise clothes) and just kept our backpacks for the rest of the trip. We would have had plenty of time to do a boat tour but decided not to for $$$ reasons. 6pm- took the train to Anchorage and checked into the Comfort Inn Ship Creek overnight- way overpriced and moldy wallpaper in the bathroom, wouldn't stay there again.

Day 3- picked up our rental car at Avis and drove to Healy- we stopped in Wasilla to grab snacks and picnic stuff. We had a Mini Cooper so didn't need to stop for gas along the way, but there were plenty of stations. Our GPS was helpful for finding places to stop. We stayed at Earthsong Lodge- cute little cabins and a coffeehouse out of the way of the big tourist hotels but close enough to drive to Denali in about 20 minutes.

Day 4- shuttle bus tour of Denali- we stopped at Subway (open 24 hours) and got lunch for the park- way cheaper than box lunches from other places. We got lucky- apparently we were among the 7% of people who have a perfectly clear view of the mountain all day. Back to Earthsong for the night.

Day 5- whitewater rafting with Denali Outdoor Center (fun but pretty tame if you've rafted before) and then drove back to Anchorage, went out to dinner downtown, and spent the night at the new Crowne Plaza- nice and a bargain too.

Day 6- morning flight home- we love Alaska Airlines but the check-in process in Anchorage was painful! Be prepared to wait a while to get baggage tags even if you checked in online.

I am interested in hearing more about the Kantisha Experience. Did this tour take you to Wonder Lake? I am interested in any more information you have on it. I think we are leaning more towards the shuttle buses vs the tour buses so that we can get off and hike and explore when we want to.

We are planning a self guided land tour for August of 2011. We hope to spend several days at Denali and several days in Homer.

I would love to see any pictures you have of Denali National Park.

Sunny AZ Girl

My DD and I are taking our first trip to Alaska next week - r/t from Seattle on the Carnival Spirit. DH won't go as he prefers warm weather vacations and his vacation time is limited. However - I am determined to get him there in the future and include a land tour with a cruise. I love this thread. Keep it coming so I can keep on dreaming!:D

As a local who has lived her for 38 years, I'd rate the following as "must do's" in the Anchorage area:

1. A boat trip to either Prince William Sound from Whittier or Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward. Prince William Sound emphasizes glaciers while wildlife is more plentiful on the Seward trips.

2. Denali National Park. Take the shuttle vs. an organized tour since you follow the same route. Go at least to the Eielson Visitor Center; weather permitting, you get a great view of Mt. McKinley. You need at least 2-3 days to make this worth your while.

3. Explore Turnagain Arm, Girdwood, Alyeska, and the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center in Portage Valley.

4. Pay a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage to learn more about the native peoples of Alaska.

5. Have a good seafood meal with locally caught salmon or halibut. Try sourdough pancakes and reindeer sausage for breakfast. Lots of places serve it.

6. Walk around downtown Anchorage. Visit the Public Lands Information Center for an excellent orientation to the area. Sample local "cuisine" at one of the many hot dog vendors on 4th avenue.

There's plenty to do here and some activities are free or relatively inexpensive.

I am interested in hearing more about the Kantisha Experience. Did this tour take you to Wonder Lake? I am interested in any more information you have on it. I think we are leaning more towards the shuttle buses vs the tour buses so that we can get off and hike and explore when we want to.   We are planning a self guided land tour for August of 2011. We hope to spend several days at Denali and several days in Homer.   I would love to see any pictures you have of Denali National Park.

We are still sorting pictures, but I'm sure DH will post to our online picasa album soon. I will post the link when he has the album ready.

We arrived at Denali Princess and got our registration packet. Sometimes, the pre-arranged tour tickets have been sent to the lodge ahead of time for us to pick up there. No tickets for us. Checked with the tour desk. No tickets for us. Joyce, at the tour desk, called over to the Wilderness Access Center to ask if the email confirmation would be enough to get us onboard. We were assured that the manifest would include our names, and that would be enough.

We were waiting for the bus at about 6:45, so we saw lots of buses coming in to pickup passengers. Many of the waiting folks were confused by the Red/White "Kantishna Roadhouse" bus, but that was not the same as our anticipated Green bus for the "Kantishna Experience." We were patient to wait for the green bus... arriving at about 7:10.

We had pre-arranged for box lunches from the Salmon Bake (across the street from Denali Princess... a short walk) because we had read that there wouldn't be much food included in our tour price.

We had seen many energetic drivers welcoming their passengers aboard with excitement and enthusiasm. Our driver was ho-hum, but the good news was... he wasn't our actual driver. He picked up the crowd from Princess then headed up the hill to pick up more passengers (Denali Bluff maybe?). We got off of that bus at the Wilderness Access Center to board another green Kantishna Experience bus with our actual driver, Laurie Lange. We had no time to venture into the building to purchase snacks or use the facilities... just an FYI.

We were given a brief orientation into expectations for behavior during animal sightings, and we were off... the breaks were about 1.5 to 1.75 hours apart. Anytime wildlife was spotted, the viewer yelled "Stop!" The driver would stop at the quickest safe place... sometimes using reverse to maneuver into a better viewing position. At one point, the driver abandoned a viewing of a grizzly (cub?) playing in a tree with its buddy in the brush behind it... to advance on a full-grown grizzly for much clearer viewing for us.

She told us that the drivers only do this assignment once per week. Yesterday's driver reported no wildlife sightings. We were thrilled with our luck.

We stopped at Savage River for the ranger to board and welcome us into the park. We stopped at Eielson Visitor Center for our wraps to be distributed (this was at about 11:30 am).

Our lunch bags had been on the seats when we boarded... trail mix, baby carrots (some got ranch dressing with them), blueberry NutriGrain bar, kettle-cooked potato chips, an orange, 2 wrapped chocolate chip cookies, a bottle of shelf-stable orange juice, and a bottle of water. This was in addition to the wrap (turkey, beef or veggie were options). Our wraps had turkey, cheese and spinach in a tortilla. The bus had a gas-powered refrigerator in the back keeping the wraps cool during our journey.

We were told that we needed to be at the Wonder Lake Ranger Station at about 12:30 to pick up our ranger. We were a little bit late due to numerous stops for wildlife sightings. We did stop and get off the bus at the northern end of the lake to discuss the Anderson Roadhouse and homestead. We walked to the top of the hill to meet up with the bus again. We continued to the end of the Park Road where we got off the bus again (potty break available) and walked to Fannie Quigley's cabin. We toured the cabin with history talk. We also received the National Park's stamp for the Kantishna Experience. Our ranger, Jamie Cleaver, shared historical pictures of Fannie, gold mining methods and ingenuity in the Kantishna area.

We returned the ranger to her home at the Wonder Lake Ranger Station, and continued along the road back to Eielson for a quick break. We stopped at the various potty break points on the return trip to the WAC. We arrived a little bit late -- due to the numerous pauses for wildlife sightings... including a pair of grizzlies we had spotted earlier in the day. The Visitor's Center and the Murie Science Learning Center were closed by this time.

The driver dropped off a set of folks at the WAC, and she drove to the various hotels to drop passengers off.

I know this doesn't satisfy all of your questions... especially not the desire for photos. We'll get those ready soon. I'm sure you'll want us to reduce the number from the 2847 we took...

The bus is similar to a school bus, but the seats are a bit more comfortable -- like bucket seats. There are seat belts. Windows are like school bus windows. There is a rack overhead to hold backpacks, etc. Speakers are positioned in the racks above (meaning that sometimes people's stuff may muffle the driver's narration). The driver has a wildlife viewing monitor (she mentioned that not ALL buses have these) for the purpose of recording sightings for the Parks Service.

Any other specific questions?

We would do it again. Having never been to the park before, we wouldn't have been able to tell you the difference between Savage River, Eielson and Wonder Lake. We aren't really hikers. We are walkers. This was a fabulous way to get an overview of the park, and we had the advantage of several hunters on the bus with excellent abilities in spotting wildlife.

Edited to Add:

Our Salmon Bake lunch box ended up being our supper!

trvlcrzy- Thank you for a more detailed account of your experience at Denali.

I've heard that some of the shuttle or tour buses record your experience via their video cameras and it is available for purchase at the end of the trip. Did you have this option with your tour?

While we're not expert hikers we do enjoy exploring on our own with some hiking. We are leaning towards the shuttle buses vs the tour buses so that we can enjoy some time on our own.

It sounds like the lunch provided with the tour was a fair amount of food. I know that if we go with the shuttle buses we will need to bring a boxed lunch so thanks for telling me about the Salmon Bake. They must open early!

We just got back a couple weeks ago from the 14 day cruise on the Amsterdam. We took over 3500 pictures and we are still sorting out our pictures so I know where your coming from.

Your review says you were in Homer for the day. Did you stay the night there? What did you do during your visit. We were there for a short time on our cruise and fell in love with Homer and are planning to spend some time there next year in our self guided land tour.

Did you get to see Wonder Lake during your tour? or the Reflection pond? If it is a clear day I would love to see the view from there.

Thanks for answering all my questions!

trvlcrzy- Thank you for a more detailed account of your experience at Denali. I've heard that some of the shuttle or tour buses record your experience via their video cameras and it is available for purchase at the end of the trip. Did you have this option with your tour?

That option was not mentioned on our tour, but we were returning late, and it felt a bit rushed to get everyone "home." I guess I misinterpreted what I had read on the board before our trip. When I read "video monitor," I was expecting a large screen for passengers to be able to see with the zoom effect. In reality, our driver had a small screen to her left (maybe 11" diagonal... a bit of a guess).

I agree that we would have enjoyed some more time walking around in the park on our own. We said while we were there... no matter how much time you plan for Denali, it's never enough. If I'd had the prior knowledge of our experiences (impossible, I know), I would have skipped Fairbanks altogether and stayed in Denali for that additional amount of time. I would have gone back into the park on a shuttle to Eielson, probably. It was interesting, though, to see people hiking/walking the trails near Eielson, when we had JUST seen two bears about a quarter of a mile from them. While I love seeing the wildlife, it is comforting to see it from the safe distance with the feeling of safety on a bus (not sure it would matter if the bear wanted us :D).

The Salmon Bake claims to begin serving breakfast at 7, but we were able to pick up our orders at 6:40. We walked over the night before and placed our orders and set our own times for pickup. Their box lunch includes a sub (8" probably... definitely bigger than a 6" from Subway), bottle of water, a flavoring pack (tea flavor), an orange, Nature Valley Chewy Granola Bar, pack of Honey Roasted Sunflower Seed Kernels, 2 packs of mustard, 2 packs of mayo, utensils (for what?), 2 Andes mints, and a wetnap all in a large plastic zip-loc bag. (I photographed the contents of both lunches so that I would remember!)

We just got back a couple weeks ago from the 14 day cruise on the Amsterdam. We took over 3500 pictures and we are still sorting out our pictures so I know where your coming from.   Your review says you were in Homer for the day. Did you stay the night there? What did you do during your visit. We were there for a short time on our cruise and fell in love with Homer and are planning to spend some time there next year in our self guided land tour.

DH and I would love to do the Amsterdam's itinerary. We would like to go to Kodiak. We looked into taking a ferry over to Kodiak, but we just couldn't justify the time necessary to do it on this trip. We were only in Homer for the day. We drove over from Cooper Landing (a scenic but LONG drive along Cook Inlet on Sterling Highway). Honestly, our Cooper Landing B&B choice was very convenient to Seward for a day-trip, but it wasn't close enough to Homer to be able to enjoy ourselves comfortably and still have the drive "home." We parked along the very crowded spit in Homer. You may have to pass more than once to find an available space. We were approaching the July 4 holiday weekend during our visit, though. We ate lunch (pizza) at Fat Olive's which had been recommended by a friend. The pizza WAS delicious, but I'm not sure I'd go all that way to eat there if I was coming on a ship (far from the dock area). Also, I think I would have chosen to eat seafood! DH loves pizza, though... (We also loved the pizza at Prospector's Pizza across from the McKinley Chalets at Denali's Glitter Gulch area.)

Did you get to see Wonder Lake during your tour? or the Reflection pond? If it is a clear day I would love to see the view from there.   Thanks for answering all my questions!

Our walk at the end of Wonder Lake was just a 10 minute walk to a picnic area to see the view and compare historical pictures of the Anderson Roadhouse/homestead to the area today while the Ranger gave us a history lesson of the area. We did see some kayakers enjoying the lake from our vantage point.

I used to know how to attach pictures to posts without having them on an Internet site already. With the attachment feature now, many of my pics are too large (Mb) to post. I can't remember how to resize... DH took pics of Wonder Lake while we were there.

This trip was very long, but it was well worth it in our opinion. Again, I wish we had the two days it took to include Fairbanks (drive time and full day there) to spend at Denali to add a shuttle bus trip in, but not knowing anything about the park except for reading about it, it was tough to make these kinds of decisions beforehand. Since the road itself is 92 mi long, the Kantishna Experience bus can't offer much time to walk around or even enjoy exhibits (at Eielson) because of the actual drive time necessary to get to Fannie's cabin and back to the Wilderness Access Center in one day.

While driving and stopping to view wildlife, we saw shuttle buses stopping, too. So those passengers got the assistance in spotting the dot on the hillside, too.

Hope this helps!

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