Planning your first trip to Alaska: 10 must-do tours for first-time visitors

Heading to Alaska for the first time is an exciting, but daunting, adventure. Whether you arrive by cruise ship or travel independently through Inside Passage towns, these top 10 tours offer unforgettable scenery, wildlife, and culture. Below are hand-picked excursions across Seward, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and more. Click any tour name to see full details and availability.

Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise — Seward

A marine wildlife cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Choose the shorter 4-hour wildlife cruise for a focused wildlife experience, or the full 7.5-hour national park cruise to get closer to tidewater glaciers and more remote scenery.

4-hour option: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise — 4 hour

7.5-hour option: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise — 7.5 hours

Wildlife Safari and Bear Viewing — Skagway

Head off the beaten path with experienced guides to search for black bears and other wildlife in remote coastal and forest habitats.

Wildlife Safari and Bear Viewing — Skagway

Cultural Culinary and Lumberjack Show — Ketchikan

Celebrate Alaska’s native and local culture through storytelling, traditional flavors, and a lively lumberjack show. This is a family-friendly port experience with lots of local color.

Alaskan Cultural Culinary and Lumberjack Show — Ketchikan

Mendenhall Lake Kayaking Adventure — Juneau

Paddle across a tranquil glacial lake with close-up views of ice, forest, and mountains. This is a peaceful, active option for travelers who want time on the water and up-close glacier perspectives.

Mendenhall Lake Kayaking Adventure — Juneau

Yukon Discovery Tour — Skagway

Journey into Gold Rush country and cross briefly into Canada’s Yukon for sweeping alpine vistas and historic Klondike-era sites. This tour offers a brilliant mix of scenery and history.

Yukon Discovery Tour — Skagway

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour — Ketchikan

Meet real crab fishermen and learn about the working life of Alaska’s commercial fleets. This tour gives a brilliant, genuine insight into the industry made famous by Deadliest Catch.

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour — Ketchikan

Dog Sledding on a Glacier — Juneau

Experience dogsledding the classic Alaska way. For the iconic bucket-list trip, pick the helicopter-plus-dogsled glacier excursion. If you prefer a budget-friendly option, choose the land-based sled dog discovery.

Helicopter and dogsled glacier: Helicopter and Dogsled Glacier Excursion — Juneau

Sled Dog Discovery: Juneau Sled Dog Discovery

White Pass Summit Train Excursion — Skagway

Board the historic narrow-gauge route carved through steep mountain passes and sweeping ravines. The ride combines dramatic scenery with an authentic historic experience.

White Pass Summit Excursion — Skagway

Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour — Ketchikan

See the sculpted beauty of Misty Fjords from above by seaplane. Glacier-carved fjords, sheer cliffs, and emerald temperate rainforest look different from the air. This is a life-defining scenic flight for many travelers.

Misty Fjords Flightseeing — Ketchikan

Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Tour — Juneau

Our top pick for first-time visitors combines guaranteed whale sightings and a visit to Mendenhall Glacier. This tour blends wildlife, glacier scenery, and convenience into one rewarding day.

Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Tour — Juneau

How to choose the right tours for your trip

• Match tours to your ports of call. Only book excursions that fit the ports on your itinerary.
• Consider activity level. Kayaking and wildlife safaris are active; cruises and cultural shows  eare lower impact. 
• Prioritize must-sees. If glaciers top your list, choose the Kenai Fjords cruises and the Juneau dog sled glacier excursion. If wildlife is your primary goal, prioritize whale watching and the wildlife safari.
• Book early for peak season. Helicopter dogsled and long national park cruises sell out fast.

Practical packing and planning tips

• Dress in layers and bring a waterproof jacket. Weather changes quickly in Alaska.
• Bring binoculars and a camera with a decent zoom for wildlife viewing.
• Allow time for transfers and ship port arrival steps when booking shore excursions.
• If cruising, always check your ship’s last-aboard time and plan shore excursions conservatively so you never miss departure.

Ready to book or want custom recommendations?

Click any tour link above to view details and check availability. If you want customized suggestions for your specific cruise dates and port windows, shoot us a message through the chat app, and we can get you set up!