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Updated on January 23, 2021

Safety precautions, travel restrictions, cruise ship updates, and how to keep your plans flexible when traveling to Alaska during COVID-19.

We’re committed to helping you experience the best of Alaska while prioritizing the health and safety of our guests and communities.

Travel restrictions and health and safety measures continue to evolve as we all work to adjust to this new normal. One thing remains the same, though… the importance of travel for our well-being and the economies that depend on tourism. The more we all work together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the faster we can return to enjoying the experiences we crave. Please refer to this page for updated information and contact us with any questions. Thank you for traveling safely and we can’t wait for you to experience Alaska with us!

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. State of Alaska Travel Information
2. Local Municipal Travel Information
3. Keep Your Plans Flexible
4. Cruise Ship Updates
5. Travel Safely
6. Safety Precautions While on Tour
7. International Travel
8. Questions

Alaska COVID-19
Aircrafts are cleaned between flights and passengers are required to wear a face-covering while in the helicopter. All guests will be temperature screened and will be flying with people from the same group only.

1. State of Alaska Travel Information

Per Alaska Health Order No. 6, every person traveling into Alaska (including residents and those with proof of vaccine) must submit a Travel Declaration and proof of a qualifying negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to travel.

    1. Receive a molecular-based test for SARS-CoV2. Click here to find national testing sites and here for FDA-approved home-collection COVID tests.
    2. Sign up on the Alaska Travel Portal and complete the Travel Declaration and Self-Isolation Plan through the portal.
    3. Upload negative test result into the Alaska Travel Portal or have results available to show screeners at the airport.

If you arrive in Alaska when your test results are still pending, you will need to self-quarantine at your expense until you upload your negative results to the portal. If you arrive without taking a pre-test, testing is available at the airport for $250 and you will need to self-quarantine while awaiting results.

After arrival, travelers are encouraged to minimize interactions for the first 5 days and take a second test between 5 and 14 days. Click here to find testing sites in Alaska. This is recommended but not required. Minimizing interactions means practicing strict social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and avoiding indoor public spaces as much as possible.

Additional Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions
Protocols and Health Guidance for Alaska Travelers
State of Alaska COVID-19 Traveler Information

2. Local Municipal Travel Information

Local jurisdictions may have their own requirements for traveling into their communities. It’s the responsibility of every traveler to educate themselves and contact the communities they are traveling to ahead of time to understand local conditions. Click the links below for local COVID-19 health mandates:

• AnchorageJuneauDenaliSkagwayKetchikanSitkaMore…

Alaska Health Order No. 8 provides guidance on traveling between communities located off the Road System or the Alaska Marine Highway System.

3. Keep Your Plans Flexible

In addition to our flexible cancellation policies, we are happy to announce that we now offer a payment plan for added peace of mind. This Book Now, Pay Later option allows you to reserve your tours with a 5% non-refundable deposit, and the remaining balance due two weeks before your tour.

While many travel companies have relaxed their cancellation policies, it is a good idea to look into additional travel insurance for whole trip protection, health insurance, and medical evacuation insurance.

4. Cruise Ship Updates

Please click here to find each cruise line’s updates on sailings and their cancellation policies. If you have a reservation with us and your cruise ship’s sailing is canceled, you will receive a refund less any applicable non-refundable fees or deposits. Alternatively, ask us about a future shore tours credit!

See information from the CDC about cruise ship travel here.

5. Travel Safely

Guidance for traveling safely and responsibly during COVID-19:

    • Minimize your exposure in public settings in the weeks before you travel.
    • Please stay home if you are sick, even with mild symptoms. If you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, postpone your trip.
    • Local communities have different rules. Check with each community you are traveling to before you go.
    • Pack extra masks and hand sanitizer
    • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth while indoors and whenever you can’t maintain proper social distancing.
    • Limit your social interactions during your trip to protect yourself and others.
    • Practice hand hygiene, including using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
    • If possible, open windows when in a vehicle or set the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode.
    • If you develop symptoms while traveling, immediately isolate yourself and call a local testing site. If you test positive in Alaska, you must isolate at your own expense for 14 days or until a public health official clears you for traveling.

6. Safety Precautions While on Tour

Please refer to your tour voucher for any specific protocols as they will vary across our tours. In general, guests ages 2+ must bring and wear masks when inside any buildings, during transportation, and anytime a distance of 6 ft cannot be maintained. Guests should not show up to tour if they are experiencing any symptoms and should contact us as soon as possible.

Overall, there will be very limited capacity on each tour. Your health and safety are our top priority, and you can expect to see increased measures taken as outlined by the CDC and the State of Alaska. Some of these new standards include health screenings, enhanced sanitization, wearing masks, and physical distancing. If you have questions about safety protocols for a specific tour, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

7. International Travel

To reduce introduction and spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the CDC issued an Order effective January 26, 2021. It requires all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested for COVID-19 infection no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. For more information on this testing requirement, see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Due to Canada’s current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens, only essential road travel is allowed in or out of Alaska until further notice.

8. Questions

    • Test results and testing questions with health information included, and Declaration Forms, can be sent to [email protected].
    • Questions related to upcoming travel and testing/quarantine requirements for coming into Alaska can be sent to: [email protected] or contact (907) 646-3322, staffed M-F 9am-5pm.
    • Questions regarding DHSS COVID-19 response, including orders and alerts, can be sent to [email protected].

  • For any other questions, visit Alaska’s COVID-19 website or contact us.