Offered by Crystal Cruises, this excursion involves climbing up the White Pass in the Alaskan town of Skagway. Professional mountain climbers serve as guides, and provide visitors with equipment and instruction for how to do the climb.
Crystal Cruises
2049 Century Park East
Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-785-9300
Misty Fjords is considered one of the most beautiful sights in Alaska. Alaska Seaplane Tours offers a flightseeing excursion to this site. Guests travel in a floatplane and are able to see waterfalls over a thousand feet high, rainforests, and 3,000-foot high granite cliffs. The plane ride takes two hours, and while expensive, the views are excellent.
Alaska Seaplane Tours
420 Front Street
Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
866-858-BEAR
alaskaseaplanetours.com
More than three dozen named glaciers exist in the vicinity of Alaska's capital of Juneau. NorthStar Trekking provides guests with an excursion onto these glaciers. A helicopter takes visitors to the top of a glacier nearby town and from there a professional guide takes visitors for a hike atop the glacier. Visitors learn all the necessary skills before they go on the trek, including how to use trekking poles, ice axes, and crampons. All told, the excursion takes 4 1/4 hours, with two hours on the ice and a half hour in the helicopter.
NorthStar Trekking
PO Box 32540
Juneau, AK . 99803
866-590-4530
northstartrekking.com
Grizzly bears abound in and around Ketchikan. Dolly Varden Tours offers a chance to observe them in their natural habitat. The 3 1/2-hour tour starts with a seaplane ride from Ketchikan to Traitor's Cove, followed by a van ride to the start of the Margaret Creek wilderness trail. Approximately 1/4 of a mile into the trail is a viewing platform. Below, bears hunt for salmon in the creek. Tours are also available to other locations, such as Prince of Wales Island.
Dolly Varden Tours
200 Cook Rd
Burlington, WA 98233
866-967-9555
dollyvardenalaska.com
The world's largest gathering of bald eagles takes place every winter on the Chilkat River. By the summer tourist season, only about 400 eagles remain , but it is nevertheless an amazing sight. Dolly Varden Tours also offers guests access to this site. The tour usually includes a ride on the river during which visitors can see orcas, humpbacks, and other sea life. A nature walk and a free lunch are usually included.
Dolly Varden Tours
200 Cook Rd
Burlington, WA 98233
866-967-9555
dollyvardenalaska.com
