Alaska Wildlife Tour
Description
Our Alaska Wildlife Tours are led by experienced, naturalist guides who are knowledgeable not only about the wildlife but also about local culture, ecology, and conservation efforts. Their personal storytelling and in-depth knowledge can make a huge difference. Our intimate small-groups offer a more personalized, in-depth tour experience, allowing guests better access to guides and a more peaceful environment for spotting wildlife.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The AWCC opened to the public in 1993. It is located on 140 acres at the southern edge of Turnagain Arm and the entrance to Portage Valley. The center’s mission is to provide care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife and to provide wildlife education and awareness. Animals that are unable to be released or survive in the wild are given refuge in the center's spacious habitats. Here people can safely get close, observe and photograph some of Alaska's largest land animals, including moose, bison, elk, deer, caribou, bears muskox, small mammals and birds of prey. During spring and summer, visitors can often witness the rehabilitation of orphaned baby animals of various species.
Beluga Point, is an area that is named after the beluga whales that can be seen from the shoreline, especially during the summer months (July to August). This area offers several natural attractions that make it a popular stop for visitors such as wildlife, breathtaking views of Turnagain Arm, a narrow waterway surrounded by mountains. The scenic backdrop of mountains and the ocean creates opportunities for stunning photography and quiet reflection. At times we can also see a phenomenon called a tidal bore, where a wall of water rushes in, reversing the flow of the river. The bore wave can be seen along Turnagain Arm, and Beluga Point is one of the spots where people gather to witness this natural event.
Turnagain Arm is a stunning fjord-like waterway located southeast of Anchorage, Alaska, known for its dramatic tides, breathtaking mountain views, and abundant wildlife. Part of Cook Inlet, it features one of the world's largest tidal ranges, creating a unique tidal bore where a wave rushes inland during high tide. Visitors often spot beluga whales, Dall sheep, and various bird species along its shores. The Seward Highway, which runs along Turnagain Arm, offers one of Alaska's most scenic drives, with views of rugged mountains and vast tidal flats. Your guide will make several stops along the way for photos and interpretation.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide (English and Spanish)
- Activity level is 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.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.
Reviews(175)
It was a wonderful tour. We had a great time. Our tour guide Albert was amazing. Thanks for a great day!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with you and showing you some of the incredible places that make Alaska so special. I really enjoyed our time together and the conversations along the way. Thank you for choosing Planet Earth Adventures and for allowing me to be part of your Alaska experience. I hope you left with some great memories—and perhaps a reason to come back and visit us again someday! Safe Travels!
Definitely a good tour to book. We got a full 2hours at the conservation park which you really need to walk the whole place without rushing. We were lucky that a group had cancelled so we had Albert as our "private" tour guide. Such a nice guy & so interesting to talk to. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thanks Albert Sarah & Alison (Italy & UK)
Sarah and Alison, thank you for the wonderful review! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with you both. I’m glad you appreciated having a full two hours at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center—we intentionally allow plenty of time there so our guests can explore and enjoy the animals without feeling rushed. As it turned out, the cancellation made for a nice bonus: your own private Alaska tour! I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and sharing a bit of Alaska with you. Thank you for choosing Planet Earth Adventures, and I hope our paths cross again someday. Safe travels back to Italy and the UK!
Wonderful experience to see the dogs in action and experiencing the power of them pulling you in the sled.
Thank you for the great review! There’s nothing quite like experiencing the excitement and incredible power of Alaska’s sled dogs firsthand. We’re glad you had the opportunity to see these amazing athletes in action and experience a sled ride for yourself. Thank you for choosing Planet Earth Adventures, and we hope this becomes one of your favorite memories from Alaska!
Stopped along the way and driver gave and pointed a lot of facts about the area and animals. Saw Doll sheep on the rocks and an eagles nest with babies along the way and stopped to photograph. Once at conservation center they drove us through, then dropped us off to explore on our own. Loved seeing the animals up close.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the journey and all the wildlife sightings along the way—Dall sheep on the rocks and an eagle’s nest with babies is truly something special. It’s great to know your driver was able to share interesting facts about the area and animals, and that you appreciated the photo stops. We’re also glad you enjoyed your time at the conservation center and getting up close with the animals. We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us, and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
The tour was basically a lot of driving while the guide talked about past experiences and showed us videos of past experiences. We saw a handful of animals at the rescue/conservation center. The guide pretty well excluded us as he was exchanging contacts and information with the other family. P.S. Snacks were mentioned, but not offered. Obviously, we are from out of town and are not familiar with Anchorage. The guide seemed irritated when asked about parking.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. After carefully reviewing our reservation records and tour manifests, we have been unable to locate a booking under your name or any tour matching the circumstances you described. Because of this, we believe your review may have been intended for another tour company. I have personally been guiding our Wildlife Conservation Center tours throughout this summer, and the experience you describe simply does not align with how our tours are conducted or with the hundreds of five-star reviews we have received from other guests. We pride ourselves on making every traveler feel welcome and included, sharing Alaska’s history, wildlife, and local knowledge throughout the day, and providing attentive, personalized service. Complimentary snacks are routinely offered, and we are always happy to answer questions and assist visitors with parking or anything else they need while in Anchorage. If there is any possibility that you did travel with Planet Earth Adventures, we would genuinely appreciate you contacting us directly with the name on your reservation and your tour date so we can investigate further. If we made a mistake, we want to make it right. However, based on our records, we believe this review may have been posted for the wrong company. We wish you safe travels and hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Alaska.
Very informative guide. Breathtaking scenic drive. Great first day activity. Bundle up if it’s cool outside.
Very scenic and informative. Nice small group. Wildlife conservation center windy and cold that detracted from experience but can’t help that. Not as many animals as I expected but wide variety. Had time to walk around on our own which was good. Made handful of stops on way to center. Snow capped mountains were beautiful.
Phil great guide and viewing of animals unbelievable and so close to animals.
Albert was very friendly and gave us a fun tour. He made multiple stops for pictures, and helped us get some great shots of the wildlife. He was very informative and told us a lot about the local area. Everyone had wonderful time on the excursion.
Very reasonable price considering all the transportation, information, and interaction. Our guide was Albert. He was very knowledgeable about the area, history, and wildlife. Wish we had more time at the conservation center but definitely glad we went. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys wildlife, but maybe try and plan for more than 1 hour.
