Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley Private Tour
Description
Explore the beautiful Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley with a private and local guide. From Anchorage, we'll travel along the scenic Seward Highway. One of only 13 highways in the US with the distinction of "All American Road". Along the way we will have great opportunities to view and photograph wildlife and scenic vistas. First we stop at the beautiful Hotel Alyeska and the ski town of Girdwood. Take an optional scenic tram to the top of Mt Alyeska for lunch with a view. Next stop Portage, where you will board the mv Ptarmigan for an optional one-hour cruise across the stunning scenery of iceberg-dotted Portage Lake. After the cruise, stop in at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife. Afterwards, head back to Anchorage and enjoy a narrated city tour including all the best dining places.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Portage Glacier
Seward
Next, soak up the sights along the incomparable Turnagain Arm, a stunningly beautiful piece of Alaska home to a myriad of wildlife, including Dall sheep, mountain goats, boose, beluga whales, black bears and migratory bird species.
Girdwood is a resort town within the southern extent of the Municipality of Anchorage. Located near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, surrounded by seven glaciers feeding into a number of creeks, which either converge within the valley or empty directly into the arm.
Alyeska Aerial Tram
Potter Marsh, at the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, is an ideal break from Anchorage for birders and other wildlife viewers. From the Seward Highway just before the left turn into the Potter Marsh parking lot, you are treated to a stunning view of Turnagain Arm. A wooden boardwalk winds 1,550 feet from the parking area through the marsh and across watery openings and sedges, perfect habitat for a rich variety of birds. From late April through September, Canada geese, northern pintails, canvasback ducks, red-necked phalaropes, horned and red-necked grebes, and northern harriers use this wetland. Look for eagle nests in the cottonwoods near the base of the bluff using binoculars or a spotting scope.
Greatland Adventures
Beluga Point Site is an archaeological location along Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1978. Artifacts of the area are evidence of early human habitation. Beluga Point North 1 (BPN1) artifacts are 8,000–10,000 years old and believed to be evidence of the oldest habitation in Anchorage municipality. Beluga Point is also a wildlife viewing area. Beluga whales can be sighted seasonally July through August as hundreds of the cetaceans visit Cook Inlet to feed on the Pacific salmon run.
The AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round, providing spacious enclosures and quality animal care. Here you can view and photograph up close Alaska's iconic animals that are unable to be released into the wild.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Reviews(8)
Other than a hiccup with the dining at the top of the tram not being available, we had a great day on Turnagain Arm. Dawn was a wonderful guide--offered good information along the way but also was sensitive to our need for "quiet time" as we were tired from two weeks of traveling in Alaska. Good balance overall, and a gorgeous day to see Portage Glacier!
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a nice note! We will make sure to pass this along to Dawn as well!
Eight hours in Anchorage? It’s a “must do”….with Mike!!? The man was the perfect guide for this trip.
Thank you for the nod to our guide Mike. He is a top guide in our group of Alaskans who serve as our knowledgeable and very fun tour leaders. Our staff is clever and accommodating for our Anchorage Tour and our Turnagain Arm Tour, as well as all the other tours we provide to visitors.
We had an incredible day on this tour with our guide John. He was very knowledgeable friendly and provided great insight. He also had a lot of good suggestions for additional experiences while we’re in Alaska that we hope to do on a future trip.
Hi there, Thank you for your wonderful review! We are glad you enjoyed your Anchorage City Tour with John. Next time you are in Alaska give us a ring, we have so many incredible things to show you across the state! Cheers,
Did the Turnagain Arm Tour and had a blast with our guide, John! We was both engaging and informative. Loved the first hand knowledge he shared with us. We lucked out with a GORGEOUS day and got some awesome pictures! Only downside was trying to get lunch at the top of the tram at Alyeska, but that was on us for choosing to go that way. Warning for others... it was over an hour wait for food and seating was a nightmare. John, however, was great and so patient while waiting for us. We ended up just switching the food to go and ate in the bus. Thank you John for our outstanding experience!!!!
We had to change our plans at the last minute. I called GLA at 9am and by 10:30am we were on our tour. John was terrific. The experience was professional and fun!
So glad you enjoyed your tour, and we were able to help you fill your day last minute!
I can't say enough about planning Alaskan excursions with Steve at Greatland Adventures. My husband and I visited Alaska for the first time August 6-15, 2019. We were looking for multiple excursions in both Anchorage and Seward and were interested in smaller group type of activities as I wanted to photograph and video the experiences which is hard to do with a lot of people. Steve worked with me to provide what he could through his company, but ALSO worked with other tour operators to plan the perfect trip. The Turnagain Arm tour was AMAZING! We had a wonderful driver Orion who took us to the Alyeska resort, the Wildlife Conservation Center, and a Portage Glacier Cruise. I was able to get some amazing images of the beautiful vistas and local wildlife. Orion also provided us with historical information about Alaska along the way. Steve helped me to find the right hotels prior to our trip. He worked with 4 other tour operators to get us on an ATV tour, a helicopter and dogsledding tour, a whale watching tour, and a zip lining tour. This company is terrific and our trip would not have been what it was without the help of Steve and his wonderful staff!! WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!
Thank you so very much for your kind words! We do our absolute best to provide first class customer service to all our guests, from inquiry, booking, tour operations, and on to the follow up! We are so glad Steve was able to accommodate you in all aspects of your Alaskan vacation, and Orion showed you a truly memorable time on the Turnagain Arm! Best Regards, Rochelle
Our family of eight including two children took this tour today. Steve was our guide and he was friendly and informative. We took the tram ride up Mt. Alyeska and then on to the Portage Lake and Glacier tour. We finished up with a visit to the Wildlife Conservation Center. A wonderful and memorable day. Thanks Steve!
I had a great time with your group! Thank you for sharing your experience with others.
Absolutely fantastic trip today to Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley. Our guide Vern was knowledgeable and friendly, with a story for every occasion. All aspects of our day from initial booking to return home were professional and hassle free. Our group of 8 all loved it and will recommend this company for years to come. Thanks Greatland Adventures - Aussie 8
Thank you Jenny S! Vern mentioned that he had a really great time with your group. We are glad that you enjoyed the tour and the personalized service that a private tour provides. We really hope you can come back and have some more fun with us in the future. Cheers.
