SHORE EXCURSIONS · BY REGION
The best days ashore.
The 15 most popular alaska shore excursions for cruise passengers. The trips worth your hours ashore, what each one runs, who operates it and how to be back before all-aboard.
Skagway to Yukon by minibus: Klondike Highway views, Carcross Desert, Wild Adventure Yukon museum, BBQ lunch, border photo stops.
Most Popular“This was a wonderful experience! Connor was very knowledgeable about the stops and was a great guide.”
Half-day Yukon border and Suspension Bridge tour from Skagway by mini-bus, with passport-freeing views, photo stops, and easy pickup.
“Great trip, lots of great scenery, from harbor to up in the clouds along scenic roadway. We were fortunate to ride alongside a bear hunting for berries.”
Small-group Chilkoot Trail hike and Taiya River float from Skagway. Pickup, guide, snacks, wildlife spotting in about 4 hours.
“Yes, it's steep. Yes, it's slippery when wet. Yes, you should take rain gear. Yes, you should accept a hiking pole. Owen was our guide, and did a spectacular job of caring for us throughout the tour. He waited and helped us through the rough parts, shared his passion for mushrooms with us, and pointed…”
Skagway mini-bus tour to White Pass Summit and Tormented Valley: waterfalls, Gold Rush cemetery stories, and big photo stops.
“Quick round on the small town and great view up on the mountain. Good tour guide. Toilets stop in town are very clean.”
Skagway to Yukon Discovery Tour: White Pass views, lunch at a dog mushing camp, petting farm and wildlife museum. Cruise-timed day.
“Raymond was a great driver. He made it interesting. Saw a momma bear and 3 cubs, that were along the roadway. He pulled over and the bear walked with cubs less than 5 feet from the bus.”
Scenic Taiya River float from Skagway with port pickup, a small-raft ride, wildlife spotting chances, and a Dyea Gold Rush drive.
“Very relaxed and easy float trip Saw plenty of eagles, no other wildlife Our guide Rachel was very pleasant and informative”
A 2.5-hour Skagway city and White Pass summit tour with waterfall stops, Gold Rush stories, and free port pickup for $79.
“Great way to explore the mountains and learn about the history of Skagway. Perfect afternoon tour from the cruise ship.”
A Native-owned Ketchikan shore tour with rainforest plant lessons, totem stories, and multiple wildlife stops for bears, salmon, and eagles.
“Rebecca’s insights and experience with native culture and her passion for preserving her heritage were inspiring. Also saw a black bear!”
Intimate Sitka Sound whale watching in a small six-person boat. Heated cabin, local guide spotting skills, and a safe return to port.
“Really great experience, went out to small cove and watched grey whales all around us. Friendly guide with great information.”
Skagway’s Yukon dog-sledding day trip mixes border scenery, a wildlife museum, petting puppies, and a short mushing session with lunch included.
“The BBQ was ok, but not the reason for the visit. The dogsled experience was short but thrilling. The dogs were in training and there was no snow on the ground since we visited in September, but so much fun! I could have stayed there for hours petting and playing with the very friendly team.”
See Liarsville Gold Rush Camp in Skagway for a salmon bake, gold panning practice, and live corny-hilarious show, with pickup and return.
“You’re picked up at the dock and driven to an outdoor camp just outside of town, treated to a lively show of storytelling, singing, and hi-jinks, taught to pan for gold and given a chance to try it (almost everyone finds a few small flakes), then move to the buffet pavilion for a salmon feast…”
Small-group Sitka shore tour with bears at Fortress of the Bears, the Raptor Center, and totem parks in Sitka National Historic Park.
“Probably the worst experience I’ve ever had on vacation. Kept receiving emails telling me to claim my tickets yet could not get to the page. Cut on sure and try to find these clowns and they were nowhere to be found. Asked everybody and nobody had heard of them. Tried to call the phone number…”
Seward boat cruise into Kenai Fjords for tidewater glaciers, wildlife spotting, and lunch onboard, with Aialik or Holgate views.
“Seeing the glaciers and wildlife. The captain did a great job at giving fun facts and some history of different locations.”
Private luxury shore excursion from Skagway to Emerald Lake and Carcross with a pro driver, scenic Yukon Highway views, and flexible photo stops.
“Emilano was an awesome guide! We booked for four of us and the ride nice and comfortable. Amazing views and awesome history and story telling. We loved learning about the history and geography of the Yukon. Loved stopping in Carcoss and meeting Richard and trying out his maples syrups, maple butter and Jellys! Such a…”
Haida and Tlingit stories in Ketchikan, plus totem poles, rainforest plant lessons, and wildlife stops on an easy 2.5-hour shore tour.
“our tour was great. However it was not with who we originally scheduled with. unfortunately they were short a driver and couldn't take us. BUT they made sure we got on another tour and kept in good communication with us about the change. very friendly. we toured with Johnny and he's very passionate about his…”
Every coast a ship calls at, and the best of every port day.
