Land Activities

Bird watching

The pristine wilderness of Alaska is, perhaps, the last vestige of thriving populations of North American wildlife. Where else can you see polar bears, bald eagles, blue and humpbacked whales, gray wolves, grizzly bears, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their original and undisturbed natural habitats?

Select from Alaska’s best wildlife viewing operators to plan a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife adventure!

Adventure Travel and Ecotourism

Alaska is the premier destination for adventure and ecotourists seeking a personal connection with nature, wilderness and the local people. Alaskan adventures come in all shapes and sizes, so wherever you choose to go in Alaska’s 365 million acres, you’re bound to experience the adventure of your life!

The largest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, located in spectacular Denali National Park offers unsurpassed experiences for hikers and backcountry enthusiasts. Choose a day hike, mountain bike excursion, or the “Crown Jewel” of adventures, a month-long mountaineering expedition to the summit of Mount McKinley. Each is sure to be an experience of a lifetime!

While visiting the southcentral region of Alaska, you will find at least four mountain ranges within driving distance of Anchorage. You can go for day hikes in the mountains of Chugach State Park or go for multi-day excursions to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and the Kenai Peninsula, both offer a variety of exciting adventures including, camping, hiking, fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, river kayaking, rafting and much more.

Heading west, sea kayaking among the remote and untamed Aleutians will bring countless coves and delightful views of sea otters and puffins. Here you can experience untamed coastal regions, wild rivers, granite peaks and majestic glaciers. Or explore the rugged beauty of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve - 4 million acres of expansive wilderness.

The north country offers a variety of unique Alaskan experiences, explore the history and culture of Alaska’s native people, raft down the Yukon river, pan for gold in Fairbanks or cross the Arctic Circle as you head up the Dalton Highway to the tip of Alaska’s far north.

At the opposite end is Alaska’s inside passage, where you can discover the vast, unspoiled coastline by kayak as brown bears forage for food along the beaches; enjoy diverse mountain ranges, spectacular glaciers and the extensive Alaskan rain forest. When you’re done, you can sit back and contemplate on the variety of species of birds you saw just in one day!

Backcountry Experiences

Alaska is full of outdoor adventures, from the mild to the wild. Picnic near an Ice Age glacier or raft a raging river. Experience gold rush excitement aboard a sternwheeler or try your hand fishing for Alaska’s world-class halibut and salmon. Skim the wilderness in a “bush� plane or helicopter. Or take a flightseeing trip over some of the most breathtaking mountains in North America. Drive for miles beside a turquoise glacier-fed river.

Endless Summers :Alaska has some of the most incredible scenery to be found in the United States. In order to enjoy all Alaska has to offer, visitors must get out and experience it for themselves.

With an amazing trail system that snakes through most major communities, Alaska has a trail for all abilities – from accessible nature paths to mountain hikes that are physically challenging. Cyclists, joggers and walkers will discover endless possibilities at their feet. Long-distance riders can use the highways – which vary in road surface and shoulder width.

For those who prefer water to land, kayak and canoe enthusiasts have unlimited opportunities to explore Alaska’s many rivers, streams, lakes and protected coastal waters.

Flightseeing

Flying is a way of life in Alaska and a trip to Alaska would not be complete without a flightseeing excursion. From one end of the state to the other, there’s never a shortage of colorful pilots to take you for a bird’s eye view of this great land. Circle majestic Mt. McKinley, land on a glacier and go exploring, access backcountry wilderness, visit a remote village or drift peacefully in a floatplane past bears as they feast on summer salmon.

You’ll find your aviator and guide well versed on the history, culture, geography and wildlife of the area. Whether your pleasure is a one-hour scenic overview of the area, a fly-in fishing foray, a full day of wildlife viewing or the chance to get intimate with a glacier, you’ll find a flightseeing scenario to fit your agenda. The sky’s the limit, the memories are priceless, and it’s all within your reach.

Aurora Viewing

The curtains of light that sometimes flow across Alaska’s northern sky on clear dark nights are mysterious and awe-inspiring. But the dancing lights can still take a person’s breath away as quickly as the freezing temperatures in which they are most likely to be seen. They appear to be manifestations of magic. Or perhaps spirits playing in heaven, a traditional view of the aurora held by some northern indigenous cultures.

In the scientific explanation, invisible charged particles are blown toward earth as the solar wind. They carry the solar magnetic field, which merges with earth’s magnetic field and directs the particles toward earth’s north and south magnetic poles. The particles hit the atmosphere in unevenly shaped oval rings centered on these poles, exciting atmospheric atoms that release the energy as light.

Bear Viewing

Bears are the living symbol of wild Alaska. Many backcountry travelers here catch a glimpse of bears, particularly in the wildlife refuges and parks. Wise travelers usually prefer a distant view, since close encounters with an aggressive black bear or a half-ton grizzly can get pretty scary. Bear incidents occur every year, and hikers should follow safety practices.

In most areas, hikers are more likely to see signs of bear along trails than the creatures themselves. Bears are solitary, and the truly wild ones tend to avoid humans. Even so, you should always be prepared. A simple stroll to a mountain trailhead just off a subdivision in the state’s largest city, Anchorage, might lead you smack into a black bear browsing on trailside foliage.

Perhaps the most watched bears in Alaska are in Denali National Park. Visitors taking the tour bus on the 80-mile dirt road into the park regularly spot grizzlies on the tundra, sometimes in the distance, and sometimes digging squirrels out right beside the road. Backpackers are required to take precautions.

Kodiak Island is one area with a concentrated bear population, home to more than one bear for every two square miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. These are the world’s largest bears, a subspecies of the brown bear. A big male can stand taller than 10 feet when on his hind legs, and five feet when on all four legs. They weigh up to 1,500 pounds. There are many opportunities to see bears on the island, with excursions to wild areas such as the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Kodiak Island and nearby areas on the coast of the upper Alaska Peninsula are among the best places to view large numbers of brown bears together, a rare experience. These bears eat mostly salmon, and the normally solitary bears congregate in large numbers in certain areas to feed on the fish as they migrate up streams to spawning grounds. The bears fish and jockey for position and spar with one another. Air charter services out of, Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula, Homer and Kodiak offer bear-viewing trips to this area. Some multi-day tour boat charters are also available.

The best viewing times vary with the fish runs in any year, but generally they are in June, July and August. In developed areas, visitors can sometimes get close enough to the action to hear the bears breathe and eat, and to smell their fur. While getting close to bears can never be considered entirely safe, in these areas bears seem to have become habituated to humans. As long as people follow the rules and obey area rangers, there seem to be few problems.

There are two developed bear viewing areas on the Alaska Peninsula: Brooks Camp within Katmai National Park, and the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. Of these, Brooks Camp is the more accessible. There are relatively few restrictions on visitors, who may come and go to the river along trails also used by bears, with traffic regulated by rangers. There are two viewing platforms at the river. There is a lodge, and visitors may also camp about a half-mile from the river.

Bicycling

Back in February 1900, an adventurous young man named Ed Jesson left Dawson in the Yukon Territory on a bicycle he had just learned to ride. Five weeks and 1,000 miles later, he arrived in the gold rush town of Nome, with nary a flat tire or broken spoke. While no one has tried to duplicate Jesson’s effort of late, bicycling has grown in popularity in Alaska.

Arctic Bicycle Club in Anchorage, and the Juneau Freewheelers Bike Club in southeast Alaska both sponsor a number of rides and competitive events. The clubs post upcoming competitions on their websites.

A number of trails at various locations, particularly in southcentral Alaska, are shared by hikers and bikers in summer months and cross-country skiers in winter. But Alaskans, being an adventuresome lot, are known for taking their mountain bikes just about anywhere and in all kinds of weather. Bike rides, like 5K and 10K runs, may become a community event in spring, summer or autumn, with organized groups of riders heading south out of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway for Nenana, or north from Anchorage to Mt. McKinley National Park.

Other mountain bikers may head for places such as Katmai National Park and Preserve, where one commercial tour operator offers a combination of bicycling, kayaking, brown bear viewing, camping and photo opportunities at the Valley of 10.000 Smokes, a 40-square-mile volcanic area.

Visitors may want to bring their own bikes, or check the websites of the Arctic and Freewheelers bike clubs for the availability of rental bikes at a particular destination.

Before heading out on the open road or anywhere else with a bike, check the current condition of the route to be sure it is safe for bike traffic. Find out if there are construction projects underway and whether wildlife is likely to be nearby. More than one bike rider has had to press on suddenly, even in the Anchorage area, after suddenly crossing paths with a bear or moose.

Another option is joining a commercial tour, with all gear provided, for the day or longer, possibly a trip combining bicycling, hiking, kayaking and other options. Carefully weigh the cost of shipping a favorite mountain bike and associated gear all the way from home with renting from a firm offering a bike tour. Choose a tour guide with extensive experience in Alaska who knows the particulars of weather and roads in the area to be traveled, especially for lengthy trips.

Get specifics on the level of difficulty of the tour. Purchase trip insurance. Ask exactly what the tour guide will provide in the way of equipment, meals and lodging, and what the customer provides. One tour operator may provide everything, including roadside snacks of fresh fruit, granola, candy bars and drinks. Another tour may require customers to pack their own snacks, plus a meal to share with the group. Find out if the tour guides have first aid and CPR training and/or emergency medical training.

Ask what communications systems and backup staff are available, in the event of a mechanical or logistical breakdown. Then grab a helmet, rain gear and sunblock lotion and prepare for a great time mountain biking on Alaska’s trails.

Camping

Camping in the far reaches of Alaska’s wilderness, from the Arctic to the rainforests, can be the ecotourism adventure of a lifetime, complete with wildlife, fishing and photography experiences galore. The last frontier is big and wild, with many camping adventures to choose from, so travelers need to plan well in advance for travel reservations, equipment and outfitters and guides, as need be. Whether taking a short trip over Resurrection Trail on the Kenai Peninsula, sleeping at night in U.S. Forest Service cabins, or backpacking for two weeks with a guide in the Brooks Range, time should be spent to make sure the trip fits the needs of the traveler and that the traveler is physically fit for the trip.

Alaskans, particularly those who camp, backpack and run rivers, are passionate about the environment and wildlife, and always happy to educate visitors on how to keep it pristine.

Outfitter Chuck Ash of Anchorage, a Vietnam veteran with a degree in biology, who guides hikers through the Brooks Range and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, says travelers who are specific can help the guide give them the trip they want. If travelers want to see the vast caribou migration through the Brooks Range, for example, he would tell them to come in June, to see the migration and avoid bugs. There are numerous state, federal and private campgrounds in Alaska, many accessible to the road systems, for those who want to combine some camping experiences with road trips. Travelers into the Alaska wilderness who lack extensive experience in wilderness camping should strongly consider a guided trip, to assure safety and comfort.

Most professional outfitters and guides recommend travel insurance, because Alaska’s weather can cause delays in air or water travel. For a reasonable fee, travelers can reduce the financial risk by obtaining travel insurance through a travel agent who provides reimbursement if the trip does not proceed as planned.

Dog Sledding

Sled dog racing over the Iditarod Trail from Anchorage to Nome is an international event these days, having become the state’s Olympics of mushing and the stuff of which legends are made.

People come from several countries to compete in this race. They also come by the hundreds to watch the ceremonial start at Anchorage and official start at Wasilla, and the finale at Nome.

Many other Alaskans do compete in shorter races, in cities and villages all over Alaska. The races attract numerous onlookers, to cheer on competing friends and relatives and to photograph the mushers going out of the shoot and crossing the finish line.

For those who don’t have a friend or relative with a dog team, a number of commercial dog mushing operations in various communities of Alaska are ready to take visitors for a real sled dog ride, lasting from one hour to several days. The dog mushing is the greatest thing in the world.Alaska invites everyone to bundle up and come ride with a team, to go sled dog mushing in Alaska.

Golfing

In a state best known in the sports world for its world-class sled dog mushers and downhill skiers, golf is an increasingly popular sport, with the added attraction of wildlife on the golf course.

The greens in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Kenai Peninsula, Fairbanks and Kodiak attract a growing number of golfers. Moose, caribou, black bears, fox, lynx, rabbits, eagles and even Dall sheep are known to wander onto the greens, much to the delight of golfers who pack a camera in with their golf clubs. Golfers say the wildlife is more of an attraction than a nuisance.

The average three-month golf season is more like five months, because with the midnight sun, greens hours are lengthy, “almost like double months,” Griffin says. “We use orange and yellow balls a lot, because if there is frost or snow it’s easier to spot them,” he says. “And if you have room for one extra club, bring a chain saw, because there are plenty of trees on the golf course,” he says.

Because of the growing popularity of golf, players are advised to book course time three to five days in advance at the height of the summer season.

Professional organizations for golfers include the Alaska Golf Association, the Alaska Women’s Golf Association and the Alaska Junior Golf Association, which are open during the summer season.

Indoor driving ranges, featuring a number of world-class courses from around the world, are open year-round, seven days a week, in Anchorage. They are particularly popular during colder months. The indoor courses attract a cross section of golfers for league competition, from veteran golfers to high school students just learning the game, says Russ Kaiser, president of Nevada Bob’s, a popular indoor range and pro shop. “We’re busy every day,” he says.

Hiking

From the Mt. Roberts Trail in Juneau to Exit Glacier in Seward and wilderness routes far beyond, Alaska offers an enormous range of opportunities for hikers of all levels.

Juneau alone offers 30 major trails, or 90 short walks that combine the adventure of a hike with the thrill of viewing wildlife and glaciers. There are trails everywhere, to meet every need; some are surprisingly close to Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage and other population centers. “Alaska is just an absolutely marvelous place for day hiking, family overnights and wilderness trips,” says Chip Dennerlein, Alaska regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association. “The average person could walk up alongside a glacier for the day at Seward, walk up a mountain at Flattop in Anchorage, walk onto broad tundra ridges at Denali,” he says.

The route to Exit Glacier, just outside Seward, is essentially a flat mile-and-a-half round trip; there is also a longer, steeper route up to the Harding Ice Fields. “After a couple of miles you get a really great view, and at the Harding Ice Field trail you can be walking in snow even in mid- summer,” says John Quinley, of the National Park Service. “It’s a good trail, but there is no downhill until you turn around.” The most-climbed trail in Alaska is Flattop, in Chugach State Park near Anchorage, says Al Meiners, park superintendent.

Another popular hike is the 33-mile Chilkoot Trail, in southeast Alaska, managed jointly by the Canadian Parks Service and the U.S. National Park Service. Permits, which are free, are required for hiking the Chilkoot Trail, and trips must be scheduled. While the trail does not offer solitude, with more than 2,600 hikers annually, it offers a step back into the history of the gold rush days, and camping in designated areas.

The Resurrection Pass trail system, in Southcentral Alaska, similarly offers a step back into history. The Resurrection Pass route was originally established by miners in the late 1800s, hot on the trail of gold. There are eight public use cabins along this 39-mile trail, between Hope and Cooper Landing.

In Eagle River, near Anchorage, the Eagle River Nature Center offers many easy trails, including an interpretive trail three-fourths of a mile long and accessible to hikers with handicaps. Visitors should keep in mind that hiking in Alaska can mean everything from a stroll in shorts and a tee shirt to a rugged wilderness experience in fog and rain. “Sometimes it can run that gamut on the same day on the same trail,” .The rule is always to remember this is a northern area where weather can change. Hikers need to be prepared. Dress in layers. Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear. Carry water. Let others know the route plan.

Alaskans take pride in minimum-impact hiking and camping, to protect the fragile northern environment for generations to come. Those not experienced in low-impact hiking, and those unfamiliar with certain areas, should consider hiring a guide. Assisted hikes are available using horses, llamas, or other pack animals. Those choosing to go it alone should check on current trail conditions, weather forecasts and probable presence of wildlife. Dogs likely to chase wildlife should be left home.

Horseback Riding

From Juneau to Nome, and all along the railbelt, from the Kenai Peninsula to the Interior, horseback riding is growing in popularity among residents and visitors alike. For those who just like being around horses, there are plenty of events to choose from, including horse shows, rodeos, and competitive trail rides. One group, the Chugach Range Riders, has a scavenger hunt on horseback each September. And don’t forget the Alaska State Fair, where numerous riders show and compete on their horses each autumn. More adventuresome folks also may want to look into ecotourism on horseback. Then grab an apple and a bunch of carrots for the horse, and come ride the backcountry of Alaska.

Snow Skiing

For downhill racing, Olympic training, and just plain fun, snow covered mountains near Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks attract alpine skiers from all over the world. Alaska is, after all, the home base to several US Ski Team members and hundreds more young skiers in training on sunlit days and crisp, starry nights. For holiday periods and special events, make reservations for accommodations adjacent to ski areas well in advance.

The scenery is spectacular and the atmosphere very informal, with fast moving lift lines to well groomed trails, professional ski instructors for group and private lessons, comfortable lodging and good restaurants nearby. Alternative activities range from sleigh rides and cross country skiing to snowmobiling and dog sled rides.

Public transportation is available to and from the slopes. There is also ample parking for private vehicles at the ski areas.

The Anchorage area alone has several ski areas, the largest of which boasts average annual snowfall of 560 inches over 786 skiable acres, with 12 beginner runs, 71 intermediate runs and 17 advanced runs. North of Anchorage are alpine ski areas at Palmer and Hatcher Pass.

The state’s second largest ski area, on Douglas Island near downtown Juneau, gets an average of 300 inches of snow annually over 640 skiable acres. The Fairbanks area has several downhill options, including one area which uses heated buses to move skiers from the bottom of the hill back to the top. At Cordova, skiers get a spectacular view of Prince WIlliam Sound on runs ranging from a bunny hill to expert slopes.

When planning a trip to include downhill skiing, check with the ski area nearest the destination on hours of daylight, probable weather and ski conditions and hours of operation.

Water Activities

Fishing

Alaska offers some of the most spectacular fly-fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing and even ice fishing in the world. It can be as easy as pulling off the side of the road and casting a line. Or you can charter a boat or float plane to whisk you off to a secluded fishing hole where you can reel in one of the more than 627 species that inhabit the Alaskan waters. With over 3 million lakes, 3,000 rivers and countless fish-filled streams, you can see the challenge isn’t catching fish, but deciding what kind to catch and where!

Every region of the state offers accommodations that cater to the needs of the angler - ranging from luxurious to rustic. What kind of experience are you after?
A night out in the unspoiled wilderness, taking in the pure Alaskan air, enjoying the northern skies and cooking over your own campfire…

Or, do you prefer to peacefully sip a tasty Merlot as you relax in a cozy hearthside chair, as a fresh gourmet meal is prepared just for you.

Whatever your fishing heart desires, Alaska offers the angling experience of a lifetime!

Cruising

Cruising Alaska, with its hundreds of miles of coastline, fjords, waterfalls, glaciers and marine mammals, is a natural transportation and vacation choice for thousands of visitors each year. It’s a package deal that includes everything, plus many more comforts than one usually has at home, making it attractive to singles, families, couples and groups alike.

Cruising is essentially travel aboard a floating resort, with all meals (and what meals!) included, plus lodging, entertainment and lots of other friendly travelers to become acquainted with. Prices vary. Shop around. Look for package deals that may include reduced costs of side trips, such as sightseeing tours at ports of call and flightseeing over nearby glaciers.

Alaska is so popular with a growing number of cruise lines of international caliber that travelers can choose from among many options like when to go, where to go and amenities on board, from chocolates on the pillow of a freshly made bed to first-rate movies.

It’s a good idea to ask several cruise lines exactly what amenities are included among the on-board activities, and about special options, for example, to accommodate dietary restrictions of individual travelers. Certain cruise lines cater to certain age groups. Travelers may request, through their cruise coordinator, such specifics as the age group of persons with whom they will share their dining table. Families with children may ask to be seated with like families.

If you’re not looking for luxury, but want to travel by ship, you may want to check with the Alaska Marine Highway System , which calls at many ports in the state.

One of the nice things about cruising the Inside Passage is that it is the most comfortable way to see the area, known for its magnificant fjords, wildlife, and sea mammals. The cruise vessels glide through protected wildlife areas, with thundering waterfalls, towering mountains, green forests and small fishing villages. Ask in advance if there will be a certified naturalist aboard and about precautions the cruise line takes to protect the waters these ships travel through.

Then book reservations, purchase trip insurance, pack some layered clothing, rain gear and a camera, and prepare for a great trip.

Rafting/Kayaking/Canoeing

River-running is becoming increasingly popular on Alaska waters, offering solitude at a price, along hundreds of miles of waterways weaving through the wilderness. It is possible to travel for days under the midnight sun by kayak, raft or canoe without seeing any other people.

The price is being prepared, and, depending on the destination, perhaps a sizeable air-charter bill to reach and return from the river. The payoff can be the adventure of a lifetime, with spectacular scenery, wildlife viewing and sportfishing. One such adventure might be the Colville River, the largest river north of the Continental Divide and one of the most remote rivers in Alaska. The Colville is accessible in areas by raft, canoe or kayak.. The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which encompasses the Colville, is managed by the Federal Bureau of Land Management.

Sea kayakers will find hundreds of miles of sheltered waterways in Southeast Alaska, with the solitude broken only by the sight of whales, porpoises, eagles and ravens. Wet weather is to be expected always in Southeast Alaska, however, and travelers will find hypothermia more of a hazard than bears.

Two of the most popular day trips in Alaska are the Nenana Gorge, an 11-mile whitewater trip down the Nenana River that begins at the entrance to Denali National Park, and Lion’s Head, a 17-mile trip down the Matanuska River, about 100 miles north of Anchorage.

The Nenana Gorge, one of the most accessible difficult whitewater rivers in Alaska, is a swift-flowing section of the Nenana River that is home to caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, fox and other mammals. Bears in particular are attracted to arctic grayling and chum salmon swimming up the river. Only kayaks and rafts are suitable on the middle river, but canoes also may be used in upper and lower river areas.

Rafting and kayaking adventures run the gamut from a two-hour trip that begins from a paved roadside to customized wilderness trips, with rafters flown into remote areas. Remember that not all river-running firms are created equal. Choose carefully a guide for trips of any length. Look for outfitters who provide dry suits, who use at least two rafts, and whose guides are trained in swiftwater rescue techniques, says John White, an executive with a firm that offers rafting trips in the area of Denali National Park. Full-body floatation suits designed for lakes and oceans are not suitable for whitewater conditions, he says.

For whitewater trips, outfitters should provide a U.S. Coast Guard-approved type 5 commercial life preserver, White says. For whitewater kayakers and all paddle rafters, helmets are also a must, he says.

Keep in mind that river-running in Alaska is wilderness river-running. The trade-off for solitude is that help may be many miles away. Unpredictable weather conditions may cause a delay in getting to or from the river. Clothing, food, camping and other supplies must be packed with consideration for unpredictably foul weather and other unforeseen circumstances delaying the return flight from the end of a river trip. Always file a trip plan, either with the district ranger station or park headquarters of national parks, and let others know your trip itinerary. Be knowledgeable about the river run planned.

Sailing

For those who love to sail, an Alaska adventure may begin where the road ends, in the waters of Prince William Sound, Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay and Southeast Alaska.

Alaska waters attract sailors from as far as Australia and New Zealand, who winter over on their way around the world, plus a number of Alaskans who engage in competitive and pleasure sailing. Sailors bringing their own vessels into port should check in advance on the availability of mooring space. Ship repair facilities are also available. Visitors who want to see the wilds of Alaska from a sailboat will find several charter companies that offer skippered day trips and overnight or longer sailing/camping trips, and may offer sailing lessons as well. Some charter sailing vessels are available to visiting skippers qualified to operate them without another skipper on board.

There are a number of options to choose from, some combining sailing with kayaking or other activities. Sailing in Alaska offers a wonderful opportunity for adventurers, photographers and wildlife buffs alike to see glaciers and waterfalls, whales, sea otters and other sea mammals, and sea birds up close, while eagles soar overhead.

Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Homer and Seward all boast sailing clubs, and visitors are welcome to watch their racing events. In the time-honored tradition of sailors everywhere, it is still okay for sailors of some experience to wander down to the dock before a race and inquire about skippers needing crew for the race, say sailors from these yacht and sailing clubs.

Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking in Alaska offers the best of all worlds for lovers of the outdoors who want an adventure that combines the peace of the wilderness with an up-close view of wildlife. It is an adventure that shouldn’t be tried on your own unless you are already experienced and know what you’re getting into. But even if you’ve never been sea kayaking, you can explore the world in this special way by going with one of the many guides in Alaska who lead these trips.

Set out in a 16-foot fiber-glass kayak, equipped with a double paddle and life jacket for day or overnight trips to see the coastline of Alaska, its glaciers, waterfalls and rain forests as they have been for thousands of years.

Whales, sea lions, sea otters, seals and dall porpoises may all be encountered along the way, playfully swimming by as kayakers quick with a camera snap their pictures. Kayakers may also see eagles soaring overhead, puffins and land mammals, including mountain goats. Guides will pinpoint areas to watch for wildlife.