With miles of untamed wilderness, glaciers and unspoiled waters, Alaska's landscape is vibrant with wildlife. Alaska is home to many wildlife species, including bears, moose, caribou, seals, sea otters, whales and more than 445 species of birds, according to Alaska Scenes. Whether on land or by sea, the list of wildlife for visitors to observe is long and eclectic. Fortunately, visitors can find many Alaskan wildlife tours that offer them the opportunity to experience the local wildlife firsthand.
Sailing in waters beside whales is one way to experience Alaska's abundant marine wildlife. Beluga whales, blue whales, bottlenose whales, gray whales, humpback whales and orca all migrate to Alaska's nutrient-rich waters, and each season brings the opportunity of spotting different whale species. Alaska Whale Watching tours offers whale-watching cruises that depart from the Pacific Northwest and allows passengers to enjoy whale watching, sport fishing and gourmet cuisine aboard an Alaska yacht charter. If you are already in Alaska, Major Marine Tours offers full-day, half-day, four-hour and three-hour whale-watching tours. For full- and half-day cruises, fresh Alaska salmon and prime rib are prepared on board and available to passengers.
With 98 percent of the U.S. grizzly bear population located in Alaska, bear-viewing tours are favorite visitor attractions. Alaska Adventures Bear tours offer guided bear-viewing tours into the federally protected Katmai National Park and Preserve. Visitors choose between a five- or seven-day package that includes lodging and their own personal camera crew. High Adventure Air offers bear-viewing tours that begin with a scenic float plane ride. Visitors can then experience the bears up-close from the safety of a boat. High Adventure Air offers three bear-viewing tours: a six-hour tour to Wolverine Creek and seven-hour tours to Lake Clark National Park and Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park.
With the largest population of migratory birds in the U.S., Alaska is a top destination for bird watching. Bird-watching experts and novices will have no trouble spotting a wide variety of bird species in Alaska. High Lonesome Birdtours offers all-inclusive small-group guided tours that visit Kenai, Denali, Nome, Gambell, Barrow, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Adak and the Pribilof Islands. Chevak Alaska Bird tours offers local bird-watching tours with Cupik guides who have lived in the Chevak region for many generations. Chevak is a habitat for the Spectacle Eider and has the largest waterfowl refuge in Alaska.
If you are looking for the complete Alaskan wildlife experience, try an extended wildlife adventure tour. These expeditions offer a little of everything, and travelers can experience most aspects of Alaska's wildlife in one trip. Alaska Outdoors offers a 10-day wildlife tour that includes camping, hiking, canoeing, a scenic ferry trip and visits to five national parks. The itinerary-packed tour provides visitors with the opportunity to see bears, moose, whales, sheep and sea lions.
