Price per Person
$2822 (based on double occupancy)Duration
6 daysGroup Size
12Level
Easy to ModerateDates
June - AugustAlaska Cruise Alternative: Glaciers, Parks & Wildlife
- Description
- Details
- Cancellation Policy
- Travel Insurance
Alaska is magical, and we want everyone to know why. Salmon Berry Travel & Tours was founded on our passion for all Alaska offers and the desire to show others how much fun it can be. We didn’t want to be just another tour company. Our vision was to be authentic, welcoming visitors to our state with genuine hospitality.
Cruises are top of mind for many people when they think of traveling to Alaska. However, there is so much more to be explored than you can see from a cruise ship. Our Alaska cruise alternatives feature day tours and multi-day travel packages that will create an experience you’ll be talking about for the rest of your life. We are in the business of making memories.
About Our Cruise Alternatives
There are so many cruise alternatives that you won’t want to miss. While views of the terrain from a distance on a ship make lovely pictures, it can’t compare to an up-close and personal experience. You can’t truly experience Alaska without seeing our native plants and wildlife or meeting our residents.
What You’ll See
It would not be easy to list everything you can see on your cruise alternative trip. However, we can give you a few examples of what your group of up to 12 guests can experience:
- Matanuska Valley’s moraine and glacial blue meltwater pools
- A 27-mile-long frozen river of ancient ice known as Matanuska Glacier Park
- The 200-acre natural habitat Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- View the famous Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park
- Iconic Alaska Railroad
And much more! There is so much to see near your hotels in Anchorage and Seward, with many options for shopping and dining.
Where You’ll Stay
We have picked some of our favorite accommodations for our multi-day tours to enhance your trip. A couple of our customer favorites are:
- Copper Whale Inn – This historic Anchorage hotel was built in 1939, only 24 years after Alaska was founded. It was the first architecturally designed home in the area. The Copper Whale Inn offers 15 rooms for your rest.
- Harbor 360 Hotel – Located directly on the Seward Small Boat Harbor, this locally-owned waterfront hotel in Seward, each room has two queen beds.
Why Choose Salmon Berry Travel & Tours
Our team of Alaska travel experts designed your Alaska cruise alternative trip with care. Not only do we want to feature our beautiful state, but we want to do it with your safety and the care of the natural habitat in mind. We want you to understand the place and the people that make Alaska such a great place to travel.
Safety
You can rest easy knowing that we are fully insured. Safety is important to us for our employees and guests, so we ensure that our drivers are trained and licensed for commercial travel. We want you to enjoy your trip without concern. We also stay current on and observe all recommended safety protocols.
Sustainability
Salmon Berry Travel & Tours cruise alternatives are designed to keep Alaska as clean and beautiful as we found it so that generations can enjoy it. We have adopted several eco-friendly initiatives, such as reusable water bottles, rechargeable hand warmers, and our Anchorage Eco Tour. We have partnered with the Tour Green Program from the Renewable Energy Alaska Project and the Beluga Whale Alliance and are Adventure Green Certified. We live and work here, and it’s important to all of us to work to be responsible stewards of this land and preserve our natural resources.
Enjoy a small group travel experience with highlights in Anchorage, the glacier & wildlife cruising into Kenai Fjords National Park, the Matanuska Glacier, and more! With close attention to detail and a maximum of 12 guests, this travel itinerary highlights the best of Alaska!
ITINERARY
Day One
Welcome to Alaska! Fly directly into Anchorage to start your adventures- take a taxi/uber car service into downtown Anchorage for your overnight stay at one of our favorite accommodations. This boutique-style hotel is located in downtown Anchorage within walking distance of our favorite shops and eateries and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail!
Please meet your guide at 5:45pm at the Copper Whale Inn lobby. We will walk two blocks to our welcome dinner from here.
Today includes: Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn, Welcome Dinner at Glacier Brewhouse
Day Two
Begin your historical tour from the heart of downtown, visiting the shores of Ship Creek, where Anchorage was born out of a desire for industry through a modest tent city. In June and July, you might be able to view Chinook salmon swimming upstream to spawn in the world’s only urban King salmon fishery. Here, we will walk to the bronze Arctic art installation honoring Grandma Olga Ezi, a Dene matriarch who settled the Alaska Native village of Eklutna to the east. From Ship Creek, we will travel to the west end of Anchorage through Bootleggers Cove, stopping for a walk in Earthquake Park, where in 1964, a 9.2 earthquake shook the city for almost five minutes and caused an upheaval of the silty shoreline and bluffs of town; the second-most powerful earthquake ever recorded. From the park, your guide will drive around Lake Hood, home to the world’s busiest seaplane airport and base. Finally, the tour van winds its way up the Hillside neighborhood of Anchorage toward a scenic overlook within the Chugach State Park system, our final stop. Weather permitting, guests can take panoramic photos of Anchorage, surrounding mountain ranges, and stunning Cook Inlet. While we can’t guarantee wildlife viewing during this tour through the City of Flowers & Lights, we are known for our big wildlife, and it is not uncommon to see an occasional moose or bald eagle. Anchorage is Dene homeland, and recognizing this will be the perfect start to your visit to Alaska!
Today includes: City Tour of Anchorage, Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn (B)
Day Three
Try a local favorite! Journey north of Anchorage and explore the Matanuska Glacier’s many incredible features, such as moraine and glacial blue meltwater pools, in Southcentral’s beautiful Matanuska Valley. From downtown Anchorage we make the scenic drive north to the Matanuska Glacier Park: a frozen 27-mile-long river of ancient ice. Thousands of years old, this massive glacier is tucked up into the head of the Matanuska Valley. You will spend 2 hours trekking with our glacier guides, learning how the Matanuska Glacier was born and how it shaped the landscape in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. Explore blue meltwater pools and awesome ice formations. Walking on ice is slippery fun, so we provide our guests with helmets, a trekking pole (walking stick), and microspikes attached to their shoes. We require our guests to bring sturdy footwear (stiff-soled hiking boots or shoes) and suggest you bring an extra pair of socks. Don’t be surprised if your shoes get covered with glacial flour. This glacial till is finely ground rock the glacier has created – it makes for great facials! This tour does require walking on uneven surfaces for at least 2 hours – guests must be able-bodied.
Today includes: Matanuska Glacier Walk, Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn (B, L)
Day Four
This morning check-in for the train south to Seward. Ride in GoldStar Service enjoying dome car seating, two adult beverages (guests over 21 years of age), breakfast in the GoldStar dining car, and access to the open-air viewing platform. Don’t miss the best leg of the Alaska Railroad, and riding in GoldStar will ensure secure access to upper-level seating. Don’t worry about your bags – your local guide will ensure you & your luggage arrive at the hotel this afternoon!
Upon arrival into Seward, take a day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on the 6-Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise! Learn about the world of whales, wildlife, and glaciers found in Kenai Fjords National Park. At the same time, you view as much scenery, glaciers, and marine wildlife as possible within six hours of sailing on a comfortable tour catamaran. Providing a full narration of your journey, a National Park Ranger will be onboard to point out the spectacular sights and provide information on the area’s ecology, history, and geology. You will spend time in front of the mighty Holgate Glacier and watch for calving, where giant chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the water. A deli lunch is included onboard.
Today includes: Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar dome car service from Anchorage to Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise, Overnight Seward at Harbor 360 Hotel (B, L)
Day Five
Make the most of your trip to Alaska – do you want to go fishing? go on an area hike? drive a dog sled team? Seward city tour with the Alaska Sealife Center? kayak along the coastline? Let us know how we can make your free day in Seward memorable!
Today includes: Overnight Seward at Harbor 360 Hotel (B)
Day Six
Following your pick-up from your hotel, sit back with your luggage secured in our comfortable and clean sprinter vans as your Alaskan driver guides you northbound on the Seward Highway! Your trip back to Anchorage today from Seward includes a nature walk to views of Exit Glacier, ride up an aerial tram on Mt. Alyeska, an Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center tour, lunch at a local eatery, and scenic photo-stops along the way!
Travel down Exit Glacier Road for a leisurely nature walk for views of Kenai Fjords National Park’s famous Exit Glacier!
Next, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre natural habitat that provides wildlife education and rehabilitation for some of Alaska’s favorite animals! This is Alaska’s only guaranteed wildlife viewing! Get close enough to observe and photograph some of our favorite land animals, such as moose, reindeer, bison, wolves, and more! While we cannot guarantee bears due to their habitat size, it is common to see both 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!
Visit the quaint town of Girdwood and a favorite local eatery for lunch (provided). After lunch, ascend the side of Mt. Alyeska on an aerial tram. From the top (weather permitting), take in views of several glaciers and the upper reaches of a temperate rainforest.
Continue along the Turnagain Arm, an All-American Road, and National Scenic Byway. Look out for alpine scenery, hanging glaciers, and potential wildlife!
Upon arrival in Anchorage, you’ll be transferred directly to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where you will be helped to offload your luggage. Complimentary snacks and water are provided throughout your tour.
Today includes: Tour & Transfer to Anchorage, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Mt. Alyeska Aerial Tramway, Exit Glacier Walk, Transfer to the Anchorage Airport (arrival 4:30 pm) (B, L)
NOTE: If meeting another tour departure or overnighting in Anchorage, we will ensure you & your luggage are transferred to check in for your next adventures…
Ask us how to add on a trip to Denali, Katmai, Lake Clark or Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks and Preserves to your Glaciers, Parks & Wildlife package!
2024 Pricing for the Escorted Glaciers, Parks & Wildlife Travel Package
$2822 per person based on Double Occupancy
$3877 per person based on Single Occupancy
$2521 per person based on Triple Occupancy
$2604 per person based on Quad Occupancy
INCLUDES
- Local Alaskan Guides with glacier water & snacks en route
- Maximum 12 guests
- 3 nights in Anchorage, 2 nights in Seward Harbor
- Matanuska Glacier Park Tour with 1:6 guide: guest ratio
- Our signature tour & transfer from Seward’s small boat harbor
- Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise – your best chance to see whales!
- Iconic Alaska Railroad in GoldStar Service from Anchorage to Seward with dome car seating & breakfast included
- Rail Transfer
- Meals: Breakfasts (5) Lunch (3) Dinner (1)
- Taxes & fees associated with activities & accommodations
- Local Guide Gratuity Included!
**Pricing for Summer 2024**
$2822 per person based on double occupancy
Traveling independently to Alaska? Please email us to inquire about the single occupancy rate!
The initial deposit of $250 per person (plus fees if booked online) is non-refundable. You will receive a full itinerary via email after we receive your initial deposit. We will send you an itinerary with updated rooming configurations based on your travel group and request the remaining deposit due. Deposit will total 50% of the package price. The final balance is due 60 days prior to travel.
Cancellations must be made in writing (email, fax, or mail). The initial online deposit of $250 plus fees is non-refundable. If cancellation is received 60-31 days from travel, you receive an 80% refund of the amount paid. No refund applies if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to travel.
Salmon Berry Travel & Tours recommends travel insurance provided by TravelSafe Insurance. Our recommendation is based on positive guest feedback. In particular, the experience of one Salmon Berry guest is instructive:
- Our guest had booked the vacation of a lifetime and the ultimate Alaska package. She had to cancel the trip a week before it began due to unfortunate circumstances.
- She later told us that within ten minutes of phone time, her claim was processed in full. She was very pleased with TravelSafe Insurance’s immediate and empathetic response. Getting a refund for her trip was the last thing she wanted to think about, and TravelSafe Insurance immediately took care of her needs and concerns.