10 Best Tours and Day Trips from Anchorage

Anchorage is the starting point for some of the most amazing tours and excursions. You can explore the Matanuska Glacier, tour the city on a streetcar, sample Alaskan cuisine and spot northern lights. All this and more is part of the best things to do in Anchorage, so don't waste time and venture to this destination.

There are experiences that are unrepeatable and visiting the Matanuska Glacier from Anchorage is one of them. If you would like to walk on a glacier and admire its impressive shapes and colors, then you have to take the day tour that will take you to one of the most spectacular places you will ever know.

The Matanuska Glacier tour starts with a pick-up in downtown Anchorage. During the drive, you will enjoy views of the Glenn Highway, which runs through the Matanuska Valley. The guide will tell you about the history and culture of the area.

Once on the glacier, the guide will provide you with the necessary equipment to walk on the ice. You will be able to see up close the crevasses, caves, waterfalls and ice formations that characterize the glacier.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 270 € per person.
• Duration: the complete tour takes about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: car and on foot.

Anchorage is the city for travelers who want to discover the beauty and diversity of Alaska. If you are interested in having an overview of the city a good option is to tour its corners aboard a streetcar that will take you through the most interesting points of Anchorage.

It is a 15-mile loop through the city, which starts at the Anchorage visitor center and passes through the most prominent places of the town as:

• Anchorage Harbor; where you can see fishing boats, cruise ships and freighters arriving and departing the city.
• The Anchorage Museum: the largest museum in Alaska, where you can see art, history and science exhibits.
• Alaska Heritage Park: where you can see the traditional homes of the different cultures that inhabit the state, such as the Inuit, Aleuts and Athabascans.
• Westchester Lagoon: where you can see waterfowl, moose and small mammals that live in the area.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 20 € per person.
• Duration: between 1 and 2 hours.
• Means of transport: streetcar.

To learn about the main local dishes and ingredients, as well as to discover the flavors of this state, the best option is to taste the gastronomy of Alaska in a gastronomic tour of Anchorage that will take you to some of the most peculiar restaurants and bars of the city.

It is a tour through the center of the city where you can taste typical dishes and local drinks. However, it's not all about food; the activity manages to link gastronomy with Alaskan history and culture. So it is an experience both for the palate and to enrich the mind. In addition, it will allow you to taste samples of food and drink.

On the Anchorage food tour you could visit the following places:

• The Rookery Cafe: cozy and modern, where you can try homemade pastries, made with local and organic ingredients.
• La Taqueria: a Mexican restaurant to taste giant red crab tostada , a typical Alaskan product, with a raspberry lemonade.
• Bocca al Lupo: an Italian restaurant with a delicious menu featuring rustic pasta, pizza and more, all made with local and artisanal products.

Interesting details

• Price: around 120 € per person.

• Duration: about 3 and a half hours.

• Means of transport: on foot.

If you want to capture with your camera the dance of green and purple lights in the night sky, a phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, you can't miss the Northern Lights Photo Tour from Anchorage, an activity that will allow you to learn and practice the techniques to capture them with the lens.

The tour will take you from Anchorage to a place away from light pollution, where you will have more chances to see and photograph this natural phenomenon. Also, along the way, a guide will tell you about the aurora borealis, its origin, significance and influence on Alaskan culture.

The destination is not specific, because it depends on weather conditions. The guide will choose the best place for this experience such as Chugach State Park, Eklutna Lake, Knik River or Matanuska Valley, among others.

Details of interest

• Price: about 250 € per person.

• Duration: in total between 8 and 10 hours.

Adventure lovers can explore the hidden wilderness at Chugach State Park. There they can enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, skiing or snowshoeing. It's an experience that combines different elements and you can make the most of it if you join a guided tour, because it will take you to see the most impressive and spectacular places in the park.

Chugach State Park covers more than 2000 square kilometers of mountains, forests, lakes, glaciers and rivers in Alaska. So there is a lot to see and do.

During the tour, you can admire the beauty and variety of the landscape, as well as observe the park's wildlife, such as bears, moose, eagles, eagles and wildflowers. It is also a unique opportunity to take pictures and fill your lungs with fresh air while enjoying the ecosystem.

Details of interest

• Price: about 100€ per person.
• Duration: approximately half a day.
• Means of transportation: car, bicycle, kayak and on foot.

There are many unique and exciting experiences to explore Alaska and one that will get your adrenaline pumping is flying over the glaciers on a helicopter tour in Anchorage. It's an incredible way to appreciate the impressive glaciers that surround the city. You can also admire the natural beauty of this region from a privileged perspective and land on the ice to explore the glacial landscape.

Some of the most popular glaciers you can visit are Knik, Portage, Colony and Matanuska. All offer spectacular views of Alaska' s mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers.

Along the way, you can take photos and videos of the incredible views that open up before your eyes. For many, the most exciting part is the landing on the glacier, because you will be able to get out of the helicopter and walk on the ice to explore the surroundings.

Details of interest

• Price: ranges from 280 € to 680 € per person.
• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours.
• Means of transport: helicopter.

One way to enjoy nature, sport and culture at the same time is with an excursion that allows you to cycle along the coastal trails. This is an activity in which you can discover some of the most impressive landscapes, breathe fresh air and feel the adrenaline.

This excursion can be an experience suitable for all levels, as there are routes adapted to every preference and physical condition. For example, you can choose between guided or self-guided tours, with or without bike rental included, and with different durations and destinations.

However, one of the most popular is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which runs along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska, where you will have views of the sea, mountains and glaciers. The trail stretches for about 35km and can be done at any time of the year with a change of colors and light depending on the season.

Details of interest

• Price: can cost between 40 and 120€.

• Duration: approximately 3 hours.

• Means of transport: by van to the trailhead and then by bicycle.

If you are in doubt about how to see glaciers in Anchorage you should know that one of the best ways is with an excursion to Portage Glacier. This is one of the most impressive and accessible glaciers in Alaska. In addition, on the tour you can admire the beauty of this ice giant from different perspectives and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

The tour starts in Anchorage and will take you to Portage Lake. There, you will board a boat that will take you to the face of the glacier, where you will be able to observe its crevasses, its blue tones and its majesty. During the cruise, you will receive explanations from your guide about the history and geology of the glacier.

After the cruise, you will be free to explore the Portage Glacier at your own pace. You can walk along the Blue Ice Trail, which offers incredible views of the valley and the glacier.

Details of interest

• Price: about 220 € approximately.
• Duration: the whole tour takes about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: Van and boat.

An alpine hiking tour from Anchorage is an experience where you can appreciate nature and enjoy Chugach State Park, the third largest in the United States, with more than 2000 km2 of surface.

In this park are some of the most beautiful mountains and tundra of Alaska, as well as glaciers, lakes, rivers and forests. It is a place where you can practice hiking, because it has a great variety of routes and levels of difficulty.

The route is done with a naturalist guide who will explain the history, geology and fauna of the place. You may even have the opportunity to see animals such as marmots, bears, Dall's rams and a variety of birds. Along the way, you'll be surrounded by alpine scenery and incredible views of Anchorage and the interior of the Chugach Mountains.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately $160.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.

If you are in Anchorage, you can't miss the opportunity to take a glacier and wildlife ecosystem tour from Anchorage. This is a unique experience where you can admire the beauty of the glaciers, the forest and the animals that inhabit this region.

The tour will take you to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center where you can see bears, moose, wolves, reindeer and more up close. There you will learn from a professional guide about the history and behavior of these species.

The tour will also take you to the Chugach National Forest, which is home to mountains, lakes, rivers and glaciers. From the Beluga Point overlook you will see beluga whales, which swim in Cook Inlet. You will also visit the Portage Glacier and listen to the sound of glacier calving.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately from 170 €.
• Duration: an estimated 6 hours.

Whether you arrive by cruise ship, plane or road, here are some tips to help you make the most of your excursion:

• If you want to enjoy the midnight sun, verdant landscapes and balmy temperatures, summer is your choice.
• But if you prefer to see the northern lights, winter is the right time.
• Be prepared for the changeable weather and wear appropriate clothing and footwear, with plenty of cold weather gear.
• Once in Anchorage, you can explore the city by streetcar, bicycle or on foot. You can also take day trips to nearby places such as Matanuska Glacier, Denali National Park, among others.
• Don't forget to try the local cuisine, such as reindeer sausages, salmon or crab, and sample Alaskan craft beers.