Turnagain Arm, Wildlife Center & Glaciers: Small-Group Tour
Description
Six hours, one unforgettable road. This small-group tour (14 guests max) trades the big motorcoach for a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter and a born-and-raised Alaskan guide who's been driving Turnagain Arm his whole life. Heading south from Anchorage, the Seward Highway squeezes between the Chugach Mountains and the sea. We pull off at Beluga Point to glass the water for beluga whales and the cliffs for Dall sheep and bald eagles. Then it's on to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where rescued bears, moose, bison, caribou, and muskox live in big natural enclosures — your best shot at photographing all of Alaska's icons in one afternoon. Lunch happens like a local: Girdwood Brewing Company, in a mountain ski town, with rotating Alaska food trucks. We finish in Portage Valley with views of Explorer and Byron Glaciers and a short walk through mossy rainforest before heading home. Small van, real Alaskan, flexible stops when wildlife appears. Come see the Alaska between the postcards.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide, Tim, meets you at your hotel in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter van, and we head south out of the city toward Turnagain Arm.
The Seward Highway is a designated National Scenic Byway and one of America's most beautiful drives — a ribbon of road pinched between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Turnagain Arm. Along the way, watch for Dall sheep on the cliffs, bald eagles overhead, and beluga whales in the Arm, with your guide sharing local history and stories the whole way. We make flexible stops when wildlife appears.
A rocky outcrop over Turnagain Arm and one of Alaska's classic viewpoints. We stop to glass the water for beluga whales, scan the cliffs for Dall sheep, and take in the Chugach Mountains rising straight from the sea.
A sanctuary for rescued and orphaned Alaskan wildlife on a spectacular stretch of Portage Valley flats. See brown and black bears, moose, bison, caribou, muskox, and more up close in spacious natural enclosures — the reliable way to photograph all of Alaska's big animals in one afternoon.
A glacier-carved valley at the end of Turnagain Arm. Take in views of Explorer and Byron Glaciers and stretch your legs on a short walk through mossy northern rainforest — a completely different Alaska from the coastline you just drove.
Lunch like a local in the ski town of Girdwood. This neighborhood brewery hosts rotating Alaska food trucks, mountain views, and a laid-back local crowd. Grab lunch, try a local beer if you like, and relax before the valley's glaciers.
We retrace one of America's most scenic drives back north. Drop-off at your hotel or wherever in the city you'd rather end your day.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
I've found that getting around an unfamiliar city can be an annoyance. My goal is to remove all annoyances from your day. To this end, let us pick you up at your hotel. This could entail us being there by as much as 30 minutes early to do this. I will let you know before your tour exactly what time I'll be at your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(354)
Great scenery. The ride was comfy once seated. Isle was a bit tight. The driver was pleasant and knowledgeable. Lunch was fantastic. Nice to be picked up and dropped off at our Airbnb.
Our guide, Tim, was very attentive,knowledgeable and had an easy going delivery during the tour. I especially liked that he made pick up and drop off very convenient. Nice lunch stop too.
Really had a great experience and was a great trip to see the area around Anchorage. Tim was a great guide with many educational points along the way and at the Wildlife Conservation Center.
Tim was exceptional. He was informative and caring. Very scenic tour with a huge lunch sandwich. Couldn’t finish it.
Great way to get out of town and enjoy Alaska’s gorgeous scenery! Tim, our guide, does a wonderful job! I highly recommend this excursion.
This was an amazing tour to see breathtaking sites and get to experience a wide range of animals native to Alaska ranging from black bear, brown bear, moose, caribou, bison, music, and much more. Tim was an excellent tour guide who was very informational being a local and made the tour fun and relatable to his audience. We had many stops to get pictures and had a great time with family and friends. Highly recommend this tour!!
A chance ti see all the big animals fairly close and gives perspective of soze, features, mivement. Will be fairly crowded- not off the beaten oath but with lots of room for most ic the animals. Hetting picked up and dropped off at tour place is a big plus.
What a wonderful tour! Tim was very kind and knowledgable and made sure everyone was comfortable. The views were amazing and we were able to see things we would not have on our own. Definitely worth it!
Tim - 5 stars for you. You made sure the tour was great.
Good experience , wild center only has few animals but it's interesting to see it .
