Educational
Uncover Alaska’s rich culture and history with Voyij’s educational tours and learning-based activities. Explore heritage sites, attend local talks, and experience immersive programs that reveal the stories, traditions, and knowledge of Alaska’s people and places. Perfect for curious travelers seeking to delve deeper into their journey.
39 Activities
Iditarod Team Winter Sled Ride On Private Trails
Take an authentic Alaskan winter dog sled ride with our team of champion huskies, driven by an experienced musher. Play with the dogs, help harness the team and enjoy breathtaking views of Denali from our private trails! Experience the thrill of Alaska’s official state sport on an authentic dog sled ride with a competitive Iditarod team! A professional dog musher will be your guide. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by friendly sled dogs! Learn about mushing and meet the team before heading out onto our private trails with Denali views. These are the same trails we train on for Iditarod, Alaska’s famous thousand-mile race. All of the dogs in your team have either run the race or are actively training to run the Iditarod one day! Watch their energy-level skyrocket as we get the team ready to run! You may have heard the saying “Hold your horses!,” we like to say “Hold your huskies!” because the dogs will be so excited to go! Your guide will cover a few safety tips before inviting you to get comfortable in the sled. Notice the noise level drop as you take off down our private training trails! Feel the dogs’ focus and determination as they power around corners, and up and over hills. Soak in the natural sounds around you as you immerse yourself in peaceful solitude. Enjoy breathtaking views of Denali among a beautiful, snow-covered Alaskan landscape. After your ride, we’ll turn the team lose to enjoy some free playtime! Mingle with the dogs and watch as they zip around you playfully! We’ll have cookies and hot cocoa waiting for you inside our gift shop. We can even bring a few dogs in with us! All of our guides have professional racing experience. We welcome your questions, and we love to share stories from the trails over a warm cup of cocoa!
Yukon Suspension Bridge, Pet the Puppies, and White Pass Summit TRIPLE Combo
*Experience Skagway & the Yukon's top attractions in ONE tour!* Follow in the footsteps of the 1898 Gold Rush stampeders up the White Pass and into the Yukon! Start your adventure by traveling up the Klondike Highway while you take in wildlife, waterfalls, glacier-covered mountains & views of the White Pass Railroad. Once into Canada (Province of British Columbia aka B.C.) you'll pass through the subarctic alpine tundra of the Tormented Valley, with views of Summit Lake. You'll continue through B.C. where you'll stop at Canada Customs at Fraser B.C, and the Yukon Territory. Photo opportunities will be available at the British Columbia and Yukon signs. Our featured stop is the Yukon Suspension Bridge, located in the remote British Columbia wilderness. This 200 foot long bridge traverses the Tutshi River where you'll be able to spot a number of animals in their natural habitat. The roaring rapids below provides an amazing backdrop for photos & memories while on your Alaskan vacation. The Outdoor Interpretive Museum provides maps & guides to give you a better understanding of the region between Skagway & Whitehorse, with information on the First Nations & the stories of the Gold Rush as this part of continent was settled. The 2nd stop is the Tagish Lake Dog Sledding Camp. Here, you'll get a glimpse into the history of sled dog use throughout Canada and Alaska. You'll get to see the dogs in action and play with puppies. You'll also get to meet real life trainers & mushers! There is a gift shop for snacks and souvenirs to take home as a way to remember this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Itinerary DEPARTURE • Meet outside your ship or at Centennial Park EN ROUTE • Informative commentary from driver-guide • Multiple photo stops along Klondike Highway • Welcome to Alaska sign • White Pass Summit • Cross into Canada DESTINATION 1: SLED DOG CAMP • 30 minutes at Tutshi Lake Sled Dog Camp • Play with puppies and learn about what it takes to be a race winner DESTINATION 2: SUSPENSION BRIDGE • 45 minutes at Yukon Suspension Bridge • Walk bridge, explore, enjoy cafe • Optional bison chili purchase CONTINUING • Welcome to the Yukon sign • Tagish Lake views • Tormented Valley RETURN You choose: get dropped off at your ship or in town. Just let the driver know. From town, it's a short walk (5-10 minutes depending on where you are) back to the ships. Highlights • EXCLUSIVE to Skagway Tours—no other company offers this triple combo • Three experiences in one: sled dog camp, Yukon Suspension Bridge, and Summit highlights • Great for families and groups who want variety and shared memories • Expect a relaxed, friendly pace with stories, quiet stretches, questions, and photo stops • Multiple classic photo stops along the Klondike Highway, including Summit Lake and Welcome signs • Meet Iditarod & Yukon Quest mushers' dogs and puppies • Walk Yukon Suspension Bridge over Tutshi River • Gift shop, cafe, bison chili at the Bridge
Musher's Camp & Gold Panning
This authentic Alaskan tour begins with a bus ride through Skagway to our dog camp deep in the Tongass National Forest. Once you arrive, you will attend a presentation from our mushers where you will learn all there is to know about the sport, as well as meet these professional athletes and their pups! After this, get ready to feel like an early explorer by panning for gold in our riverside sluice. Top it off by traversing our scenic grounds and visiting our gift shop before returning to town. Your journey begins with an entertaining historic tour from your knowledgeable guide through downtown Skagway and along nine miles of stunning coastline to our Adventure Camp in Dyea. Kick off your visit with what we like to call a “Musher Talk.” We have been sharing our passion for dog sledding for years, and in that time, we have gathered up the most frequently asked questions about the sport. In the Musher Talk, we will share fascinating information about this extreme Alaskan state sport and welcome any additional questions you may have. Of course, we make sure you have plenty of time to meet some of the actual athletes who do these amazing things, our sled dogs! Not to worry—we have litters of puppies too that are ready for cuddles and kisses. Human socialization is actually essential to their development and racing success. After that, take a chance to pan for gold in our riverside sluice! Once your guide shows you the art of gold panning, you can test your luck to see what you can find while learning about the history of the gold rush that took off from this area. Then you will have time to take a short self-guided nature hike next to a beautiful waterfall and dense Alaskan forest or browse the gift shop and relax in our saloon with a deck overlooking the picturesque stream. All of this in a spectacular Alaskan setting! This is a tour full of Alaskan adventure, history, and awe-inspiring wilderness. Tour Itinerary 35 minutes Narrated scenic drive from the dock to our Adventure Camp 30 minutes Restroom break followed by interactive presentation about dog mushing 20 minutes Time to meet the sled dogs and play with the puppies! 20 minutes Test your luck and pan for gold! 20 minutes Free time at camp to browse the gift shop, hike to a waterfall viewpoint, or use the restrooms 40 minutes Return drive back to town
Kitchen Science Alaska
Meet local Alaskans and understand why everything about food is different in the 49th state. This unique and personal experience will also give you the skills to bring your Alaskan food favorites home while creating memories of life in the Last Frontier! The Chef and the Owner of the Historic Skagway Inn & Alaska House Restaurant, located on the notorious Gold Rush era “Paradise Alley”, share how successful food preservation technologies from the time of the Gold Rush are still used today and show you modern cooking skills - an artful blend of the old and new. Get a behind-the-scenes look at organic gardening in the Inn’s kitchen garden. Understand the science that transforms garden and seafood items into delicious meals. Uncover the local secrets of Alaskan organic gardening and how to prepare, cook and preserve local food favorites. Our Cordon Bleu chef shows you the tips and tricks of professional knife skills, and teaches you to be an expert in selecting and using the best knives. His insights for cooking and preparing food are easy to apply in your own kitchen! You will learn how to smoke Alaskan halibut or salmon, learn how the sun and temperature affect greens grown in our Northern Garden and peek into making sourdough bread as part of the Alaska food story. After all the learning you will enjoy an individually served tasting of smoked fish, vegetables from the garden, sourdough bread and finish up by making (and eating) home-made ice cream! You will conduct three experiments that include smoking (and tasting) Alaska Salmon (an ancient form of preservation) using purple cabbage to determine pH of foods and making your own ice cream dessert. This unique experience will give you the skills to bring your Alaskan food favorites home.
Available Timing
Private Summer Ride With Iditarod Team
No need to bundle up in the snow to experience dog sledding—on this private tour, you’ll zip through the Alaskan forest on a two-person dog sled, exploring secluded, private trails the pups use for their Iditarod training. Afterward, interact with the champion dogs, ask questions, snack on cookies, take in the view of Denali, and learn all about this timeless Alaskan tradition. (It’s Alaska's official state sport!) Learn all about how to dog sled from trained mushers themselves. Go for a private dog sled ride, mushing your way through the forest. Interact and play with the dogs—they're very friendly! Learn about the team's training and the history of dog sledding in Alaska.
Rainforest Sanctuary, Totem Park & Eagles
The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a 40-acre private preserve of temperate rainforest bordering the Tongass National Forest. Take a guided nature walk exploring the wildlife and ecology of the preserve. Visit a historic sawmill, explore a totem park, and view a featured raptor at the Alaska Raptor Center Ketchikan exhibit. Here’s how your rainforest exploration will surprise and delight you. You’ll start out with a scenic eight-mile coastal drive to rustic Herring Cove and the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a temperate rainforest, nestled into the Tongass National Forest. When you arrive, a naturalist guide will be on hand to take you on a 0.75 mile guided rainforest exploration along an improved trail amongst stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar trees. The forest floor is covered with mosses, wild flowers and a variety of berries. Your guide will lead you to a protected open estuary where you follow Herring Creek along an elevated wooden boardwalk overlooking grassy wetlands. During the seasonal spawning season, bears and seals feed on salmon in Herring Creek. Bald eagles and other birds wait for scraps in the estuary. Sitka black tail deer, mink and marten also frequent the area. Weather, tides, and seasonal ecosystem changes result in varying levels and type of wildlife activity. Everything here is alive with color and cultural history. After your trail walk your opportunity to learn about the natural history, wildlife and cultural traditions in the region continues. You’ll be guided through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill, seeing saws and machinery that powered this mill. Keep your camera ready as you see a bald eagle at the Alaska Raptor Center exhibit. Explore the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the country with its impressive 40-foot totem and 13 poles carved by the same artist. Before your return to town visit the General Store and pick up a souvenir of your uniquely Alaskan experience.
Lighthouse Totems & Eagles Excursion
Join our Alaskan captain and their crew at our dock in Ward Cove – which was once home to North America’s largest operating pulp mill and a working salmon cannery – to board either the Lighthouse Endeavor or Totem Princess. Once aboard, you’ll get to settle into the inside heated main cabin or a seat on the outside observation deck, as you leave the dock for your cruise. Sip a hot chocolate or freshly-brewed coffee and keep your eye out for plentiful American bald eagle sightings. Your captain will navigate the vessel along our developed shoreline while our crew helps you spot the many eagle’s nests along our route. You’ll arrive in front of Totem Bight State Park, home to an Alaskan native clan house and 14 towering Tlingit and Haida hand-carved cedar totem poles, where you will learn about Ketchikan’s vibrant Alaska Native culture as well as the history of the park. We’ll provide you with beautiful, panoramic views of the entire park from the water, and an opportunity to get your photo taken with this stunning site. About halfway through the trip, you’ll leave the developed shoreline to head out to Guard Island Lighthouse, perched on its own island near the opening to Clarence Strait. (This fascinating landmark was established in 1904 and is still in operation today!) While here, take a minute to breathe in the fresh sea air and keep your eye out for the possibility of some of our favorite marine mammals – seals, sea lions, and, in May and September, sometimes even humpback and orca whales! You also may get a chance to see any number of seabirds, such as great blue heron, pigeon guillemots, or gulls. On your way back to Ward Cove, your captain will bring your tour vessel along the neighboring island of Gravina, showcasing beautiful views of the old growth Tongass National Forest, our world’s largest temperate rainforest, and give you the opportunity to possibly spot some land-based wildlife, such as Sitka Blacktail deer or – if you’re really lucky! – a black bear. Throughout the tour you’ll also get the chance to learn about the unique lifestyle of living on a remote Alaskan island directly from the locals who make this place our home! Highlights: *Guaranteed American bald eagle sightings *Possible sightings of harbor seal, moon jellyfish, pigeon guillemots, blue heron, deer, humpback and orca whales, or other wildlife *Panoramic views of Totem Bight State Park, home to an Alaskan Native clan house and a collection of 14 towering Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian hand-carved cedar totem poles *Voyage to Guard Island Lighthouse to photograph the first lighthouse to be built in Alaska, completed in 1904 & still in operation today *Beautiful scenery embodied in the Tongass National Forest, the world's largest temperate rainforest, and the seascape of the Tongass Narrows
Sitka Scenic Tour
You only have a few hours in Sitka, Alaska, and you may never come back. What’s the best way to explore the area? Our two-hour, private Sitka shore excursion helps you discover why Smithsonian Magazine called Sitka, Alaska, one of the Top 20 Small Towns to Visit in 2013. Capture amazing views of Sitka, our stunning harbor and fishing fleet as you learn about Japonski Island’s fascinating World War II history. Walk among the towering totems at the Sitka National Historical Park, visit our resident bear cubs who have been rescued from certain death at the Fortress of the Bears, and discover the amazing and true stories of Alaska’s most historic city. Let our local guides show you our Sitka, a Sitka as unforgettable as the images you take home with you. We will tell you the engaging story of the totems, the history of the Fortress of the Bears, and share with you stories of our incredible Sitka-by-the-Sea. Make lasting memories as our knowledgeable local guides share with you a Sitka filled with amazing wildlife, incredible beauty, and unbelievable images. Be sure to bring your camera to capture those once-in-a-lifetime shots! Escape the large, crowded bus tours and let our local tour guides show you the best of Sitka in our 10-passenger Nissan NV vans. We wear wireless microphones so everyone can hear our stories. Points Of Interest: Japonski Island Capture amazing views of Sitka, its stunning harbor and fishing fleet as you learn about Japonski Island’s fascinating World War II history. Admission to Fortress of the Bear Meet the rescued Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears up close. Learn their stories and how we save orphan bear cubs from certain death Visit the Sitka National Historic Park Take a short walk to snap photos of the stunning totem poles and the beautiful Indian River. Learn about the lifecycle of Alaskan salmon who have been spawning in the Indian River for millions of years Drive by many historic Sitka landmarks Make note of the ones you want to go back to see up close! *St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral *Sheldon Jackson Museum *Sitka Sound Science Center Narrated tour of Sitka, Alaska Local guides take you behind the scenes and give you the inside scoop on how real Alaskans live. Wireless microphones make hearing easy!
Premium Sitka Scenic Tour
We have put together Sitka's top three visitor attractions into one amazing tour! So let our local guides take you on one of the best tours of Sitka! Our 2.5 hour Sitka Scenic Tour-Premium package is your private small group excursion where you’ll discover why so many visitors claim Sitka as the best stop on their Alaska cruise. On your shore excursion of Alaska's most historic city, you’ll walk among the towering Totems, take a short walk along a salmon river in the amazing Tongass National Rain Forest. Visit our resident bear cubs who have been rescued from certain death, meet a Bald Eagle up close and discover how big they really are! Let us show you our Sitka, a Sitka as unforgettable as the images you take home with you. Escape the large crowded bus tours some cruise ships offer and let our local tour guides show you Sitka in our 10 passenger Nissan NV vans. We wear wireless microphones so no-one misses out on our stories. On our 2.5 hour Sitka Shore Excursion you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime as our local guides share with you a Sitka filled with amazing wildlife, incredible beauty and unbelievable images. Let our guides tell you the story of the totems at the Sitka National Historical Park, visit rescued cubs at the Fortress of the Bears, see Eagles up close at the Alaska Raptor Center and we will share with you stories of our incredible Sitka-by-the-Sea. Be sure to bring your camera and plenty of batteries and storage for once in a lifetime shots you won’t want to miss! Thousands of cruise ship visitors come to Sitka each day in the summer. Seats are truly limited on these small group tours. You are invited to reserve your seat by purchasing ahead online. Points Of Interest: Silver Bay Your first stop is the beautiful Silver Bay. You might get lucky enough to see whales, sea otters and other wildlife that inhabit the area. It’s a stunning stop for family photos Admission to Fortress of the Bear Meet the rescued Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears up close and learn their stories and how we save orphan bear cubs from certain death Admission to Alaska Raptor Center See the Bald Eagles who are being rehabilitated so that they can go back and live in the wild. Find out about how Alaska has helped the Bald Eagle come back from near extinction. View other birds of prey including owls, ravens, and hawks Visit Sitka National Historic Park Take a short walk to snap photos of the stunning totem poles and the beautiful Indian River. Learn about the lifecycle of Alaskan salmon who have been spawning in the Indian River for millions of years Narrated tour of Sitka, Alaska Local guides take you behind the scenes and give you the inside scoop on how real Alaskans live. Wireless microphones make hearing easy!
Backcountry Eats & Foraging Treats
Looking for a tasty tour that has a little of everything? Then, spending a half-day with us at the Talkeetna Lakes or Chugach State Park is your #1 option. This is a great pick for families with younger kids, as well as a great opportunity for seeing the quaint community of Talkeetna on your way to interior Alaska. On this one-of-a-kind daytrip, you’ll learn how to for wild Alaskan edibles, experience world-class hiking, and our specialty, the art of backcountry cooking. As part of the adventure, we’ll also take a thrilling drive by majestic mountains, braided rivers, thick woodlands. Upon arrival, our experienced guide(s) will let you know what to expect, and give you tips for spending the day safely in the Alaskan wilderness. Then, we’ll hit the trails in search of Talkeetna’s/Chugach's finest ingredients. Depending on the season, we could uncover wild greens, edible wildflowers, fiddlehead ferns, fireweed shoots, mushrooms, berries, and so much more. All of which, we have the opportunity of taking back to the campsite for education on how to prepare, cook, and eat using backcountry equipment and supplies. Finally, after a delicious backcountry dessert our guides will say goodbye, it's on to your lodging destination for a relaxing end to your dream-day. Are you ready to explore your wild like the locals? Book this trip and we guarantee you an experience of a lifetime!
Available Timing
Lake Hood Segway PT Tour
Explore Alaska's uniqueness in ruggedness, and individualism made through the use of small planes. Aviation buffs will love to watch planes take off and land on Lake Hood. At the museum learn the unique history small planes played in the development of the Alaskan Territory. A great way to see Lake Hood and check out the fascinating seaplane base. You don’t want to miss out on this exceptional Alaskan adventure! This tour includes a tour of the Alaska Aviation Museum as well (Museum admission included)! Take a walking tour through the history of aviation in Alaska after experiencing it yourself on a Segway! You will meet at the Aviation Museum on 4721 Aircraft Drive. Here you will have an approximately 15-30 minute orientation, including a short film session to familiarize yourself with the Segway. Then it's off on your hour to hour 1/2 Segway Tour. The museum pass can be used any time before or after the Tour. You will experience the Segway ride around historic Lake Hood and Lake Spenard. Glide your way through the world’s busiest seaplane basin with airplanes taking off, landing and flying overhead. This tour is great for families, and groups of friends!
Spirit Art Woodcarving Class
Participants will start by choosing a piece of cottonwood bark from Tresham's collection, and then start to visualize what image will be realized from it. Tresham will help guide you through the design process and then introduce woodcarving principles using hand carving tools. Tresham will help guide you through each step in the process of revealing your spirit image. When the carving is finished, you will sand it and put a transparent finish on it that will bring out the color and grain. You get to take the finished carving with you when you go.
The Great Alaskan Earthquake Tour
The Great Alaskan Earthquake Tour program starts with a short movie that literally gives you the history and taste of the Great Alaskan Earthquake that happen in 1964. After orientation and training you are off on the coastal trail to Earthquake Park. Along the way there will be stops to take pictures, view the inlet and Sleeping Lady Mountain. Next to Earthquake Park is Point Warzonof which has the highest concentration of Moose in the City of Anchorage. On the way back, there will be a stop at the Snack Shack at West Winchester Lagoon. From there it is homeward bound, maybe a stop to see Star, if she is agreeable, the second most famous reindeer in Alaska next to Rudolph.
The Russian America Saga
An ambitious group of Alaskans aims to entertain and inform visitors in the former Russian Capital of America, Sitka Alaska. Alaska Storytellers will debut in May, with 30-minute live performances that include Sitka’s rich Russian history. Dancing, Music, artwork, photos, and video are produced by Sitkans and designed to arm visitors with an accurate and entertaining account of some of Sitka’s history.
Cultural Immersion Tour
Specializing in VIP Small Group Tours of 10 or fewer people. Our tour begins with pickup at Eagle Park in Ketchikan by cruise ship dock. Guests are asked to arrive a few minutes early for check-in and to ensure a timely departure. We'll make our way north to the Totem Bight Historical Park, located on the former site of a traditional Native campground known as Mud Bight Village. See the Clan House and Totem Poles and hear stories of a legendary chief's strength, along with other totem stories and meanings. Next, we'll ride in the van, venturing out to the Rainforest Creek Trail. Here visitors will be immersed in and will learn about the unique ecosystem of the Tongass. From how to safely remove the thorns and bark from the devil's club, to identifying many other berries edibles, and medicinal plants of the Tongass, we provide an insightful and fascinating perspective like none other. At the end of the tour, we'll provide snacks including smoked salmon and crackers by a campfire. It is our desire to enrich your vacation experience by providing a cultural and memorable adventure, with a glimpse of yesteryear and a rare view at our traditional rainforest 'medicine cabinet' in the Tongass National Forest.
Turnagain Turn Tour - Anchorage Departure
Alaska’s only guaranteed viewing of land mammals in their natural habitat is at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center! Our guides, all local Alaskans, will help guests explore this 200-acre property dedicated to caring for and educating about Alaska’s most iconic animals. Located at the southern end of Turnagain Arm (an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway), the conversation center is home to moose, brown and black bears, wolves, bald eagles, musk oxen, and reindeer, allowing guests to view each species up close. Ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram 2,300 vertical feet into the Chugach Mountains for views of several alpine glaciers and panoramic views of Cook Inlet. Transportation from Anchorage and lunch at a favorite Girdwood restaurant are included. TRIP DETAILS: This full-day tour from Anchorage includes a local guide, an aerial tram ride up Mt. Alyeska, fresh lunch in Girdwood, an Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center tour, and scenic photo stops along the way! Following pick up at your hotel or the Salmon Berry Tours office in downtown Anchorage, sit back in our comfortable and clean Sprinter vans as your local driver-guide navigates south along Turnagain Arm, an All-American Road, and National Scenic Byway. Watch for alpine scenery, hanging glaciers, and potential wildlife sightings along the Seward Highway. Visit the quaint town of Girdwood and a favorite local eatery for lunch (included). After lunch, ascend the side of Mount Alyeska aboard an aerial tram. From the top (weather permitting), take in views of several hanging glaciers and the upper reaches of this temperate rainforest, and watch for the occasional black bear foraging along the tram route during the early summer months. Next, tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre natural habitat that provides wildlife education and rehabilitation for some of Alaska’s favorite animals! We will drive and walk approximately 2-miles through the Conservation Center’s trails as you get close enough to observe some of our favorite land animals such as moose, reindeer, bison, musk ox, and wolves. While we cannot guarantee bears due to the size of their habitat, it is common to see brown and black bears at the Conservation Center. Make sure to take photos of wildlife with the amazing backdrop of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm. Before returning to Anchorage, stop at the conservation center’s gift shop. Complimentary snacks and water are provided throughout the tour. To provide a positive experience for everyone on tour, hotel pick-ups are limited to three properties per tour, based on a first-come, first-served basis. Book now to confirm your hotel pick-up! Overnighting at Alyeska Resort? Consider this tour a great way to drive between Anchorage and the Resort in Girdwood!
Available Timing
Anchorage Wildlife Tour
This half-day tour from Anchorage includes a local guide, a tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and scenic photo stops along the way! Following pick up at your hotel or the Salmon Berry Tours office in downtown Anchorage, sit back in our comfortable and clean Sprinter vans as your Alaska driver guides you down Turnagain Arm, an All-American Road, and National Scenic Byway. Look out for hanging alpine glaciers, Dall sheep in the Chugach Mountains, and Bald Eagles. Beluga whales can be seen during the summer and autumn months along Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm! Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre natural habitat dedicated to wildlife education and rehabilitation for some of Alaska’s favorite animals. We will drive and walk approximately 2-miles through the Conservation Center’s trails as you get close enough to observe some of our favorite land mammals; moose, reindeer, bison, wolves, and more! While we cannot guarantee bears due to the size of habitat and seasons – they are traditionally hibernating in the winter months – you could see them in summer and on sunny warm spring days. Make sure to take photos of wildlife with the amazing backdrop of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm! Before returning to Anchorage, stop at the conservation center’s gift shop. Complimentary snacks and water are provided throughout the tour. To enhance guest experiences, hotel pick-ups are limited to three hotels per tour, based on a first-come, first-served basis. Book now to confirm your hotel pick-up!
Hatcher Pass Hike & History Tour
This half-day afternoon excursion from Anchorage includes a local guide, our signature tour at Independence Mine State Historical Park, a gold panning demo & time at the creek with a pan (rental included!) as well as an interpretive hike along the Mill Loop Trail. Begin this unique Alaska adventure as we drive north from Anchorage along the Kink Arm, we will pass through the town of Palmer, a community with farmland now famous for growing record-breaking produce like the 2,051-pound pumpkin! As we ascend the Talkeetna Mountains, we’ll enter the breathtaking alpine area known as Hatcher Pass. Take an interpretive walk through the abandoned Independence Mine State Historical Park Visitor Center. Following this 45-minute tour, enjoy a panning demonstration & time at the creek where we commonly find 3 or 4 flakes in each pan! Following our time at the creek, enjoy a guided hike along the Mill Loop Trail. The Mill Loop trail is an easy .9 mile trail with 177ft elevation gain. Already at 3500ft in elevation in the Talkeetna Mountains, the views are incredible! This short trail above Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass is family-friendly and will provide an introduction to the flora & fauna of the tundra. Common wildlife sightings consist of arctic ground squirrels and marmots – if you don’t see them you will hear them whistle at you! This tour includes complimentary snacks including popcorn from Bunkhouse #2 and water.
Available Timing
The Days of 98 Show
Experience a day in the life of Soapy Smith, Alaska's most notorious outlaw! About the Show For nearly 100 years The Days of '98 Show has been dazzling audiences with music, laughter, and the legendary CAN CAN! Experience a day in the life of Jefferson "Soapy" Smith, Alaska's most notorious outlaw, who reigned during the wildest days of Skagway during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. This colorful vaudevillian musical brings you into the "Skaguay" of 1898 with the thrills and frills of the dancehalls and the chills felt by gold rush stampeders along the trail of '98. This show has been a Skagway tradition for cruise ship, bus, and RV visitors for over 100 years and is an iconic performance and a "must see" while in Skagway. Who Was Soapy Smith? November 2, 1860 - July 8, 1898 All of the events depicted in this original play are taken from the Skagway historical record and center on Soapy Smith's reign over the town during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 and 1898. Jefferson Randolph Smith was born in Georgia in 1860 and ventured west as a young man. He learned his trade as a con man during the silver and gold rushes of Colorado and eventually made it to Skagway in the fall of 1897. Here, he and Colorado cohort "Rev." John Bowers assembled what was reputed to be the largest band of thieves in North America. Skagway was described by Canadian Mountie Sam Steele as "a little better than hell on earth," and Smith's gang reigned supreme for nine months. Smith had a wife and family in St. Louis but he befriended Miss Belle Davenport and her "soiled doves," Alice and Mollie in Seattle before heading North. While his men did most of the dirty work, Soapy tried to establish himself as a solid citizen of Skagway. He contributed to the building of Skagway's first church and founded an "Adopt a Dog" program. City surveyor Frank Reid and others saw through Smith's good deeds and tried to run the con man and his gang out of town, but Smith was able to rally much of the business community around him. Soapy was riding high on July 4, 1898, as he rode his white horse up Broadway and then stood on the platform with the Governor of Alaska. Four days later he was dead man. His gang robbed a Nanaimo, British Columbia stampeder named J.D. Stewart of $2,800 in gold dust. Smith stood by his troops and refused to give the gold back. Reid's vigilante Committee of 101 gathered at the Juneau Co. Wharf as there was no hall in Skagway big enough to contain the mob. Most of Smith's men ran for the hills, but Soapy grabbed his Winchester and headed for the wharf to break up the meeting. You'll witness the events leading up to this historic moment. In 1923, Princess steamships started bringing tourists to Skagway. The local residents decided to put on a show for them to raise money for their local hockey team. The team needed new uniforms to compete in the White Pass Athletic League against their rival team in Whitehorse, Yukon. The show became an instant tradition and has been running ever since.
The Days of '98 Show Evening Performance
Experience a day in the life of Soapy Smith, Alaska's most notorious outlaw! About the Show For nearly 100 years The Days of '98 Show has been dazzling audiences with music, laughter, and the legendary CAN CAN! Experience a day in the life of Jefferson "Soapy" Smith, Alaska's most notorious outlaw, who reigned during the wildest days of Skagway during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. This colorful vaudevillian musical brings you into the "Skaguay" of 1898 with the thrills and frills of the dancehalls and the chills felt by gold rush stampeders along the trail of '98. This show has been a Skagway tradition for cruise ship, bus, and RV visitors for over 100 years and is an iconic performance and a "must see" while in Skagway. Who Was Soapy Smith? November 2, 1860 - July 8, 1898 All of the events depicted in this original play are taken from the Skagway historical record and center on Soapy Smith's reign over the town during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 and 1898. Jefferson Randolph Smith was born in Georgia in 1860 and ventured west as a young man. He learned his trade as a con man during the silver and gold rushes of Colorado and eventually made it to Skagway in the fall of 1897. Here, he and Colorado cohort "Rev." John Bowers assembled what was reputed to be the largest band of thieves in North America. Skagway was described by Canadian Mountie Sam Steele as "a little better than hell on earth," and Smith's gang reigned supreme for nine months. Smith had a wife and family in St. Louis but he befriended Miss Belle Davenport and her "soiled doves," Alice and Mollie in Seattle before heading North. While his men did most of the dirty work, Soapy tried to establish himself as a solid citizen of Skagway. He contributed to the building of Skagway's first church and founded an "Adopt a Dog" program. City surveyor Frank Reid and others saw through Smith's good deeds and tried to run the con man and his gang out of town, but Smith was able to rally much of the business community around him. Soapy was riding high on July 4, 1898, as he rode his white horse up Broadway and then stood on the platform with the Governor of Alaska. Four days later he was dead man. His gang robbed a Nanaimo, British Columbia stampeder named J.D. Stewart of $2,800 in gold dust. Smith stood by his troops and refused to give the gold back. Reid's vigilante Committee of 101 gathered at the Juneau Co. Wharf as there was no hall in Skagway big enough to contain the mob. Most of Smith's men ran for the hills, but Soapy grabbed his Winchester and headed for the wharf to break up the meeting. You'll witness the events leading up to this historic moment. In 1923, Princess steamships started bringing tourists to Skagway. The local residents decided to put on a show for them to raise money for their local hockey team. The team needed new uniforms to compete in the White Pass Athletic League against their rival team in Whitehorse, Yukon. The show became an instant tradition and has been running ever since.
Available Timing
Musher's Camp & S'mores Roasting
Are you a dog-lover with a sweet tooth? Then this tour is for you---join us on the best family-friendly tour in Alaska! The tour begins with an informative ride up to our camp in Dyea, where you will be able to meet our star athlete sled dogs and their puppies. Then, take part in listening in on a Musher Presentation to learn everything there is to know about dog sledding and its history. After, enjoy roasting s’mores around the campfire and exploring our picturesque surroundings in the forest. Your journey begins with an entertaining historic tour from your knowledgeable guide through downtown Skagway and along nine miles of stunning coastline to our Adventure Camp in Dyea. Kick off your visit with what we like to call a “Musher Talk.” In the Musher Talk, we will share fascinating information about dog mushing and welcome any questions you may have. Of course, we make sure you have plenty of time to meet some of the professional athletes who compete in this amazing sport---our sled dogs! We also have litters of puppies that are ready for cuddles and kisses. After that, you may enjoy some time around the campfire and roast marshmallows with your guide to create the perfect s’more. After indulging in your delicious campfire treat, you will have time to take a self-guided nature hike next to a beautiful waterfall and dense Alaskan forest or browse the gift shop and relax in our saloon with a deck overlooking the picturesque stream. Tour Itinerary 35 minutes Narrated scenic drive from the dock to our Adventure Camp 30 minutes Restroom break followed by interactive presentation to learn about mushing and have all your questions answered 15 minutes Time to play with the puppies and cuddle with these future athletes! 20 minutes Time to make s'mores over the campfire 20 minutes Free time at camp to browse the gift shop, hike to a waterfall viewpoint, or use the restrooms 45 minutes Return scenic drive to town
Black Bear Express
Ketchikan's finest bear viewing accessible by road! Visit Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary for this unique opportunity to see black bear in their native habitat. Watch for bears from the safety of the raised boardwalks which maximize your viewing and provide protection. This is a short tour focused on opportunity to view bears. Your experience will start with a narrated tour through Ketchikan, followed by a scenic coastal drive to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. Within a very short time, you’ll find yourself in bear country. The only drive to bear viewing areas in Southeast Alaska…. This tour offers the same duration for black bear viewing as our comprehensive Black Bear & Wildlife Exploration tour. However, it is streamlined to exclusively focus on black bear sightings, omitting the additional time allocated for exploring our mini-features on site. This experience is curated strictly for seeing black bears in their natural habitat. When you arrive at the sanctuary, naturalist guides will join you, bringing the rich forest to life as you walk along an improved trail. You’ll be surrounded by magnificent stands of spruce, hemlock and cedar trees. And soon you’ll be watching for wild bears in search of spawning salmon and ample berries. These are safe, protected raised boardwalks, exclusively for bear tours only. You can expect to have an intimate viewing experience and to reduce environmental impacts, only a limited number of groups have access to this private bear viewing area. Your guide will lead you along another boardwalk system perched over the grassy wetlands alongside Herring Creek. You’ll have the chance to observe a rich run of spawning salmon and the bears and seals that come to fish for them, along with bald eagles and other birds that wait for scraps in the tidal estuary nearby. Your transportation will be waiting to pick you up where the tour began. *Please Note: The half-mile long trail is over relatively flat terrain. The focus of your tour will be on viewing black bear in their natural habitat. Your guide may change the order of the tour or time spent in any one area to give you the best chance to see bears. Although the chances for seeing bear are excellent, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. The wildlife viewing time is approximately 60 minutes. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No food or drink is allowed on the trail. You must follow your guide’s instructions at all times to ensure your safety. *ABOUT ALASKA RAINFOREST SANCTUARY In the heart of the Tongass National Forest lies Kawanti Adventures’ very own Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. The sanctuary is known for its forest trails and boardwalk system that leads to an open estuary complete with a creek running out to the famous Herring Cove. The sanctuary is a hot spot for all wildlife, but specifically bald eagles and black bear.
Full Day Group Private Tour
What you dream, we can design! Alaska is a vast and photo-rich destination with remote environments, ever-changing conditions, and unpredictable wildlife and elements. We provide area expertise to help you safely get your Alaska dream shot. A custom Alaska photo tour caters to all levels of photographers, novice to pro. Based on your wishes, style, and budget, custom Alaska photo tours and guiding services can be all-inclusive or partially inclusive, guided by a professional photographer, or self-guided. Let us help you plan a unique itinerary with endless landscapes and varied wildlife. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Glacier landscapes and features Wildlife includes brown and grizzly bears, polar bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bald eagles, orca, humpbacks, sea otters, puffins, etc. Wildflowers and alpine meadow sceneries during the summer season Aerial photography from fixed-wing or helicopter Off-the-beaten-path locations Temperate coastal forest and maritime scenes
Available Timing
Half Day Group Private Tour
What you dream, we can design! Alaska is a vast and photo-rich destination with remote environments, ever-changing conditions, and unpredictable wildlife and elements. We provide area expertise to help you safely get your Alaska dream shot. A custom Alaska photo tour caters to all levels of photographers, novice to pro. Based on your wishes, style, and budget, custom Alaska photo tours and guiding services can be all-inclusive or partially inclusive, guided by a professional photographer, or self-guided. Let us help you plan a unique itinerary with endless landscapes and varied wildlife. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Glacier landscapes and features Wildlife includes brown and grizzly bears, polar bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bald eagles, orca, humpbacks, sea otters, puffins, etc. Wildflowers and alpine meadow sceneries during the summer season Aerial photography from fixed-wing or helicopter Off-the-beaten-path locations Temperate coastal forest and maritime scenes
Available Timing
Half Day Individual Private Tour
What you dream, we can design! Alaska is a vast and photo-rich destination with remote environments, ever-changing conditions, and unpredictable wildlife and elements. We provide area expertise to help you safely get your Alaska dream shot. A custom Alaska photo tour caters to all levels of photographers, novice to pro. Based on your wishes, style, and budget, custom Alaska photo tours and guiding services can be all-inclusive or partially inclusive, guided by a professional photographer, or self-guided.
Available Timing
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