Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour
Description
This is the perfect tour for those with limited time in Alaska. Experience magnificent Portage Glacier on this full-day tour from Anchorage, as well as famous Seward Highway, America's most scenic road. Hugging the edge of Turnagain Arm, stop at lookouts like Beluga Point to try to spot all sheep then, continue on to see even more wildlife at the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (seasonal). Take a 1-hour cruise on Portage Lake to see Portage Glacier calving, and see where wildlife is rehabilitated at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Later, head high up on the Chugach Mountains for amazing panoramic views of the Anchorage bowl and beyond (weather permitting) This is a 6-hr tour (approx.) Activity Level: EASY Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trails surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Beluga Point is one of the scheduled stops. We will have narration about the area, its geology, unique features and history of the area. Guests will have time to take photos.
The drive from Anchorage to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center/Portage Glacier Area begins with spectacular views as you pass between the dramatic shorelines of Turnagain Arm and the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains. The Seward Highway is considered to be one of the most scenic highways in the US.
At the 200-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, jaws drop in awe-even those of longtime Alaskans who've studied grizzlies and other animals up close. AWCC's mission is to preserve Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, research, education and quality animal care. The center, which opened to the public in 1993, also educates visitors about Alaska's wildlife. Coyotes peer out from behind the brush while a bald eagle swoops in on the salmon remains left by a grizzly bear. Wood Bison plod through 65 acres of tidal flat terrain, as part of a program that will one day restore the species to the Alaskan wilderness. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center. Come be a part of these exciting programs and watch these animals display their natural, “wild”, behavior. You will have about 90 minutes here to view these animals. There is coffee and food for purchase from vendors at the Center.
Portage Glacier Cruise is one hour from Anchorage. This cruise will take you right up to the face of a glacier. You’ll board the comfortable MV Ptarmigan, featuring an enclosed, heated cabin and open-air observation deck. The hour-long cruise is narrated by the US Forest Service, and you’ll navigate around bobbing icebergs and motor to within 300 feet of the towering wall of ice called Portage Glacier (one of Alaska’s most popular attractions). You may have an opportunity to hear the unmistakable rumbling of a calving glacier or rolling iceberg. After the 1 hour cruise, you will have an opportunity to eat lunch at a nearby restaurant. Lunch is not included.
Enjoy wide open panoramic views from a high overlook in the Chugach Mountains
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum number of people per booking is required for this tour to operate.
- Glacier Cruise portion of the tour is subject to weather conditions.
- Activity level: EASY.
- Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trail surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance. We strongly recommend that guests requiring assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing assistance. Neither Planet Earth Adventures nor our suppliers may physically lift or assist guests onto transportation vehicles or otherwise.
- We have limited number of infant/child seats. These must be requested in advance if you have a child. If it is NOT requested at the time of booking, we will NOT have them on the day of the tour.
Reviews(164)
Phil was an amazing guide for the Glacier and Wildlife Tour. He had lived in the area for many years and experienced the wilderness and all its beauty through backpacking, camping, hunting and fishing. His experience and vast knowledge of the mountains, as well as the wildlife, added personal experience to his stories that made them all the more interesting. Everything I experienced that day, from the glaciers, rivers, and mountains was something out of the movies that one needs to experience personally to believe them. Pictures don’t do the area justice! I highly recommend this tour. WELL worth the price!
This was a great tour! Saw many whales and luckily some porpoises and seals as well! The snack provided hit the spot and our tour guides were very knowledgeable. Memdenhall glacier was beautiful. We did not have time to hike to Nugget Falls, but we could see them well and got some incredible photos. Would book this tour again without hesitation!
This tour was amazing! Our driver, Phil, was extremely informative and gave great information everywhere we stopped. He was patient helping everyone find animals in the binoculars. The combination of stops made a perfect day.
Spectacular day with Albert , he was informative and took us to great picture spots. The entire trip was wonderful! We had a clear day and glacier experience was unique.
We had such a wonderful experience. They picked us up at the hotel. Phillip our guide catered to our every need and tailored the whole experience to what we wanted. He was incredibly knowledgeable about every part of the trip. The boat to the glacier was fun and very informative and sooo beautiful. The conservation center was wonderful and Phillip knew so much about every animal. Lunch was delicious and at the cutest Alaskan restaurant. All in all a great trip.
Portage Glacier was the highlight of the trip. Phil was our guide and did an excellent job. It was an enjoyable experience.
Phil was our guide/driver. He was knowledgeable, polite and professional. The highlight was the Portage Glacier—awesome!
Fun!!! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled when on the roads. The tour guide was so much fun and was super helpful and showed us everything and answered all our questions
When booking this tour we really did not know what to expect. But whatever preconceived notions we had it exceeded what we thought it might be. Our guide Phil was very knowledgeable and answered all questions we had. He pointed out different things along the way that being from out of town we would not have noticed on our own. He took us to an extra stop along to way to see an eagles nest complete w mother and baby. Also when visiting flat top the clouds rolled in so we couldn't see a thing. He has a sense of humor because he whipped out his phone showed us pictures of what it should have looked like giving us the "virtual tour." Overall we highly recommend this Glacier and wildlife tour and would gladly do it again with this company.
Excellent experience from start to finish! The glacier tour was well organized, breathtaking, and truly unforgettable. The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip enjoyable while ensuring everyone’s safety. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and every moment felt worth it. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an amazing glacier adventure!
