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907-917-8687
Anchorage to Whittier Small-Group Tour or Private Tour and Transfer
Anchorage to Whittier
Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour
6 hours
9 AM to 3 PM
From $217
per person, small group
Anchorage Pickup
hotel, airport or your choice
May–September
private tour also available
- 850+ reviewsAcross Google, Tripadvisor, and Viator
Anchorage to Whittier Guided Tour
From Anchorage to the glaciers
- Anchorage pickup & Turnagain ArmStart at your hotel, airport or chosen location and follow the scenic coastal highway.
- Beluga PointLook for Dall sheep on the cliffs and, in season, beluga whales below.
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation CenterVisit the 250-acre sanctuary for rescued bears, moose, bison and other Alaska animals.
- Portage Valley & Byron GlacierSee hanging icefields and waterfalls, with a self-guided walk along the glacial stream.
The rest of your day
- Lunch in GirdwoodEnjoy an optional lunch at a local café; the meal is not included.
- Whittier tunnel & cruise terminalTravel through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel and finish at your cruise terminal.
- Travel & luggageComfortable, well-maintained vans for up to 11 guests. Luggage is carried securely in our trailer.
Tour Highlights & Itinerary
- 01
Turnagain Arm
Your day begins with pickup at your Anchorage hotel, the airport, or another location of your choice, followed by a scenic drive along the breathtaking Turnagain Arm - one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in North America.
The Seward Highway is a designated National Scenic Byway, and this stretch along Turnagain Arm is why.
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Keep a window seat if you can. The road follows the water for miles, with pull-offs for photos when the light is good or wildlife shows up.
- 02
Beluga Point
We'll make a stop at Beluga Point, where you may spot Dall sheep high on the cliffs or, in the right season, beluga whales gliding through the water below.
The first place most visitors realize how big Alaska really is: mountains straight up on one side, a tidal arm of the sea on the other.
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Look up the rock face above the road for white specks. Those are Dall sheep, and they often come close to the highway here.
Turnagain Arm has one of the few bore tides in the United States, a single wave that rolls in with the incoming tide. It depends on the tide tables, so we can't promise it, but your guide watches for it.
- 03
Wildlife Conservation Center
Next, we'll visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 250-acre sanctuary where rescued bears, moose, bison, and other iconic animals roam natural enclosures.
Sightings on the road are luck. Here they're a sure thing, and every animal has a story.
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This up-close experience is a guest favorite and the perfect way to safely see Alaska's wildest residents.
The center has cared for orphaned and injured Alaska animals since 1993. Many can't be released, so they live here in large, natural enclosures, and visitors help pay for that care.
Tip: the bears are often most active in the morning and when keepers bring food. Your guide knows the best viewing spots.
- 04
Portage Valley Glaciers
From there, we'll continue to Portage Valley, a glacially-carved landscape filled with hanging ice fields and waterfalls.
A valley carved by ice, with glaciers still hanging from the peaks on both sides.
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You'll enjoy a self guided walk to Byron Glacier - an easy, scenic trail along a glacial stream that leads to a spectacular view of the glacier itself.
Portage Glacier once filled the lake you see here. It has pulled back out of sight of the road, which makes the valley a clear lesson in how fast Alaska's ice is changing.
The Byron Glacier trail is about 0.8 miles each way and mostly flat, following a glacial stream toward the ice.
Honest note: low cloud can hide the upper glaciers. On those days the valley floor, the waterfalls and the lake still make the stop worth it.
- 05
Girdwood to Whittier
After soaking in the alpine beauty, we'll stop in Girdwood, a cozy mountain town where you'll have time for an optional lunch (meal not included) at one of our favorite local cafés.
You reach Whittier through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, about 2.5 miles long and shared by cars and trains.
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Finally, we'll pass through the famous Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel - the longest highway tunnel in North America - and descend into the remote port town of Whittier, where we'll deliver you right to your cruise terminal, relaxed and ready to set sail.
It's the longest highway tunnel in North America and runs one direction at a time, so we plan the day around its schedule to get you to your ship on time.
What guests say
This tour was by far one of the best that I was in Alaska… we were able to see bears and glaciers; the views are stunning, it had it all!
We enjoyed every stop on this adventure tour. We saw sheep in the mountains, beluga whale pods, beautiful bears, moose and other animals at the conservation area. The views were stunning. We saw all the Glaciers and had an opportunity to hike closer to one. A stunning waterfall, a great lunch and even salmon swimming up a stream. Our guide was fantastic. Very informative.
Stephanie was our guide and she was fantastic! Even though it was a rainy/misty day she made the Best of it. The scenery was fabulous. The Wildlife Refuge was a wonderful place and one of the bears appeared for a bit. Overall the tour was informative and well laid out. We would recommend this tour to anyone going to Anchorage.
Everything Covered
What's Included in the Tour?
Local Alaskan Guides
Welcome Anchorage Tours employs knowledgeable, local Alaskan tour guides.
Portage Valley Glaciers
In Portage Valley you will see mountains, running rivers and if weather permits, the hanging glaciers.
Wildlife Viewing
The AWCC has Bears, Moose, Musk Ox, Wolves and more! P.S. Ask about the Eagles Nest!
Entrance Fees Included
Enjoy the experience. No extra charges.
New Comfortable Vehicles
For better views and unique, personalized experiences.
Questions before you book?
Call or text us and a local will answer.
Questions people ask
How long is the tour, and when does it start?
Approximately 6 hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For other times, call 907-917-8687 to arrange a private tour.
How much does it cost?
Small-group tours are $217 per person. Private tours are $1,347 for up to 4 guests, and each additional guest is $100.
Where do you pick us up?
At your Anchorage hotel, the airport, or another location of your choice.
When does this tour run?
May through September.
Will I see wildlife?
At the Wildlife Conservation Center, yes. Along Turnagain Arm and at Beluga Point you may spot Dall sheep high on the cliffs or, in the right season, beluga whales. We can't promise what the wild will do.
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Can you handle my luggage?
Yes. Our vans carry luggage securely in a trailer, so your bags travel with you all day and arrive when you do.
Will I make my ship on time?
Yes. We guarantee you'll arrive at your cruise ship at least 3 hours before your ship's departure time.
What if the weather is bad?
Tours run rain or shine, and the vans are warm and dry. Alaska is worth seeing in every kind of weather. If conditions close a stop, your guide will swap in something else worth your time. In genuinely extreme conditions we'll contact you to adjust timing or offer options.
How do I book directly?
Right here on this page, or by calling or texting 907-917-8687. Booking direct puts you in touch with the people who actually run the tour.
Our Promise
Our promise is to always deliver, to the best of our ability, excellent service and memorable experiences, and to put people first over profit. We are a local, Alaskan-owned family business. We are in this business because we love Alaska and hospitality. We desire to share the joy of this beautiful place whenever we can! Best, James and Jen
