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Offered languages
- English
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.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
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.
Drop-off is at your Anchorage pickup hotel — or if you'd rather end the day downtown for dinner or somewhere else in the city, just let your guide know. Return to Anchorage is typically around 3pm.
Itinerary
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1Anchorage
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.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Seward Highway
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
3Beluga Point
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.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
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.
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Portage Glacier
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
6Girdwood Brewing Company
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
7Anchorage
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.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- 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
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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