Alaska Excursions

Alaska Excursions

Wide range of glorious day trips throughout Southcentral Alaska.

Iditarod 40

Photos and stories from the last great race.

Anchorage: 37°/58°/Partly sunny

Fairbanks: 39°/62°/Partly sunny

Juneau: 34°/50°/Cloudy

More weather

Tundra wildlife and natural history tours

More on Alaska travel highlights

Mat-Su, Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound, Copper River accommodations

Southcentral towns outside Anchorage often have a wide selection of lodging to accommodate visitors who come to town for a weekend's relaxation, to fish or to show off the state to relatives.

Inside Passage lodging: Juneau, Ketchikan and more

Visitors to Southeast Alaska have a lot of choices in lodging, from chain hotels in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan to fishing and hunting lodges tucked away on the shores of the Inside Passage.

Western Alaska lodging: Kodiak, Nome, Bethel and more

Western Alaska's grand expanse of terrain, water and wildlife attracts many visitors with an interest in the outdoors. Its larger cities -- Kodiak, Bethel, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and Nome -- put up quite a few visitors and governmental and commercial guests for the night.

Northern Alaska lodging: Barrow and Kotzebue

Hotels in Barrow and Kotzebue, in Northern Alaska, cater to tour groups, which arrive by plane from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Interior lodging and restaurants: Fairbanks, Denali and more

Interior Alaska has a broad range of accommodations, from rustic cabins to hotel suites with kitchens.

Anchorage-area hotels, B&Bs, hostels, lodges and resorts

Lodging in Alaska

Green buses shuttle visitors into Denali

Flightseeing at Denali

Denali campground guide

Bus service to Denali

Limited offer: Drive Denali for free

Tundra wildlife and natural history tours

Rafting the Nenana reveals Denali's wet side

Alaska Railroad to Denali

Reserve campsite, bus ticket early for Denali trip

Denali National Park

Hiking and backcountry camping at Denali

Denali Institute ecosystem courses

Hotels, campgrounds, lodges welcome visitors

Driving Denali in autumn

Denali climate and sunshine

Driving to Denali

Ferry and cruise trips near Anchorage

Driving in Anchorage

Day trips south of Anchorage

Day trips north of Anchorage

A city of parks

Savvy shopping in Anchorage

Finding history

Attractions around Anchorage

Downtown Anchorage attractions

Kayaking a perfect sea -- Prince William Sound

Rafting and kayaking are good across North

River kayaking and rafting in Alaska

Kayaking the icy waters

Harvesting glacier ice

Ice worms on the glacier

Why is glacier ice blue?

Worthington Glacier

Kennicott Glacier

Matanuska Glacier

Exit Glacier

Glaciers in the distance

Other glaciers reachable by land

See the glaciers up close

Roadside glaciers

Glacier viewing in Alaska

Flightseeing at Denali

Flightseeing over Alaska's bush

Flightseeing in Alaska

Big catch, big cash

Ecotours in Alaska

Alaskans cruise Alaska

Health inspections of ships

Cruise lines serving Alaska

Alaska ports of call

Cruises in Alaska

Bird Creek is considered instant outdoors

Inside Passage camping

Shorter bus rides have narration and hotel pickup

By Leon Unruh / Alaska.com

Denali National Park's great outdoors can be seen through two tours other than the green shuttle buses. The Tundra Wildlife Tour and the Natural History Tour offer narrated rides on the park road.

The Tundra Wildlife Tour has two departures a day -- early morning and early afternoon -- from hotels near the park entrance. The Natural History Tour has three departures. These tours are operated by Denali Park Resorts (the same company that runs the Denali visitor transportation system's green shuttle buses).

The wildlife tour is six to eight hours long, going to Toklat River (Mile 53) and on to Stony Dome and the Toklat River, Mile 53, on clear days when there's a view of Mount McKinley. The tour doesn't go as far as Eielson Visitors Center. Guides interpret the scenery -- from rolling valleys to glaciated peaks -- and wildlife -- bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, ground squirrels, foxes and birds.

The tour includes a box lunch and drink. The menu may vary, but look for a croissant, cheese, reindeer sausage and trail mix, with coffee, hot chocolate or juice.

The Natural History Tour goes to Primrose Ridge, Mile 17, with narration by a guide. A snack is provided.

Tundra Wildlife and Natural History tours begin May 15 and run through Sept. 17. Because road conditions are iffy early and late in the season, wildlife rides are shorter then.

Tundra Wildlife Tour

DatesDestinationTrip lengthAdult / child fare
May 15-24 and Sept. 13-17Teklanika River, Mile 293-4 hours$58.25 / $34
May 25-Sept. 12Toklat River, Mile 53. Tour goes to Stony Dome, Mile 61, if views of McKinley are available.4-6 hours$87.25 / $46

Natural History Tour

DatesDestinationTrip lengthAdult / child fare
May 15-Sept. 17Primrose Ridge, 17 miles3-4 hours$46.50 / $28.25

Make a reservation

Reserve a Wildlife Tour or Natural History Tour seat by calling 800-276-7234 or 907-276-7234.

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