How to use this guide:
Look for “My top pick” in each port if you want my favorite choice for each port. The other options are all great alternatives to experiencing the best of each port.
A quick heads-up:
This guide reflects my personal research and opinions. Operators can change their routes, timing, and requirements at any time. Always confirm details directly with them before booking, and follow their safety guidance. I’m not affiliated with these operators, and I’m not responsible for any changes, cancellations, or issues that come up.
Jump to Your Port
Seward
Ship docks in town
My top pick: Major Marine Tours – Kenai Fjords Wildlife & Glacier Cruise
This is Alaska at its most epic. You’ll see glaciers calving into the sea, whales breaching, sea otters floating on their backs, and puffins bobbing in the waves. It’s a long day on the water, but it’s absolutely worth it. Just dress warm – the wind near those glaciers is no joke.
Book Kenai Fjords Cruise →Good to know: If your get seasick at all make sure to take your meds before you go and be outside the whole time.
A guided sea-kayak run on Resurrection Bay that works for beginners and confident paddlers. You paddle in two-person kayaks, scan the shoreline for sea otters and harbor seals and keep an eye up for bald eagles doing eagle things.
⏱ 3 hours 45 minutes
Book Resurrection Bay Kayaking Adventure →
They include the key gear: PFD, spray skirt, dry bag, and waterproof boots. Expect wildlife more than “perfect conditions” and dress for wind and light rain. Late summer can include a quick stop near Tonsina Creek to see spawning fish.
A guided hike near Exit Glacier with incredible views of the Harding Icefield. You’ll learn about glacier geology and get to walk on an actual glacier.
⏱ 5–7 hours
Book Exit Glacier Ice Hiking Adventure →
This hiking has sustained uphill sections. Glacier hiking gear and lunch are included.
Private salmon and halibut fishing with all gear provided. Great choice if you’ve got anglers in your group.
⏱ 4–8 hours
Book Fishing Charter →
Make sure to ask about fish processing timing if you’re flying out soon after your cruise. The last thing you want is to be dealing with that at the airport.
Helicopter flight to a glacier followed by dog sledding on the ice. This is the kind of experience people talk about for years—big views on the flight and real time with the dogs and mushers once you land.
⏱ 2–3 hours
Book Helicopeter & Dog Sledding Adventure →
Weather can cancel these flights with little warning, so have a backup plan. There are weight limits, and you’ll want to ask what gear they provide for the glacier.
Ketchikan
Ship docks in town
My top pick: Island Wings Air Service – Misty Fjords Floatplane Tour
Misty Fjords is the kind of scenery you can only see from the air—granite cliffs rising thousands of feet from the water, waterfalls appearing out of nowhere, and fjords so remote they look unreal. This is hands-down the best way to see Southeast Alaska’s dramatic landscape.
Book Misty Fjords Floatplane Tour →Good to know: Weather can cancel flights, so try to book earlier in the day when conditions are usually more stable.
A private tour customized to your interests—rainforest walks, totem poles, local history, whatever you want to focus on. Your guide adjusts the pace based on your group.
⏱ 1.5–4 hours
Book Private Ketchikan Tour →
Some stops have separate entry fees, so ask about that upfront. Rainforest trails can be uneven, so good walking shoes are important.
Come hungry. George Inlet Lodge serves a Dungeness crab feast in a rustic lodge just south of town. It feels like classic Alaska.
⏱ Varies
Book George Inlet Lodge & Crab Feast →
Expect salad to start then hot crab then blueberry cheesecake. They include one alcoholic drink and unlimited hot and cold beverages. Leave time for the gift shop if your crew likes souvenirs.
Yes, snorkeling in Alaska! You’ll wear a wetsuit and see marine life up close in these cold, clear waters. It’s unique and surprisingly memorable.
⏱ ~3 hours
Book Snorkel Adventure →
The water is cold even with the wetsuit, so make sure everyone in your group is comfortable with that before booking.
Zipline through the Tongass rainforest with multiple lines and beautiful scenery. This small, intimate tour is limited to nine people and includes transportation and all necessary gear for your convenience.
⏱ 3–4 hours
Book Zipline Adventure →
There are weight limits, and weather can affect operations. Check the requirements before booking.
A lot of fun and it’s right in town, so you’ll have plenty of time after for walking around and shopping. The lumberjack show is entertaining, and the crab feast is exactly what it sounds like.
⏱ Varies
Book Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast →
Best fit if you want a fun and easy excursion. Keep an eye on show times if you’re on a tender.
Juneau
Ship docks in town
My top pick: Jayleen’s Alaska — Private Whale Watching
Juneau has some of the best whale watching in the world, and Jayleen runs a small, personal operation where you’re on a boat with just 6 people max per boat. The guides know these waters, they know the whales, and they genuinely care about giving you an incredible experience. You’ll come away with photos and memories you won’t forget. Still one of my personal favorites.
Book Whale Watching →Good to know: It’s a small boat, so you’ll feel the waves. Bring seasickness meds if you need them, and dress for spray and wind.
Small-boat whale watching with local guides who know where the whales are. Great reputation and consistently good sightings. This tour has max of 49 passengers and is one of top tours of Juneau.
⏱ 4 hours
Book Small Group Whale Watching Tour →
Dress for spray and bring layers. It gets cold out on the water even in summer.
Helicopter flight to a glacier where you’ll actually dog sled on the ice. This is the real deal—not a wheeled demo, but an actual sled ride with working sled dogs on a glacier.
⏱ 2.5–3 hours
Book Helicopter and Dog Sledding Experience →
There are weight limits and weather constraints, so read the fine print carefully before booking. It’s pricey, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Floatplane tour to see glaciers from the air, with an optional stop at Taku Lodge for a salmon bake. Big scenery with minimal walking required.
⏱ 1.25–3.5 hours
Book TAku Lodge Feast & Sea Plane Discovery →
Weather can delay flights, so bring layers while you wait at the dock.
This is serious bear country. You’ll take a 30-minute floatplane flight to remote Waterfall Creek on Chichagof Island, one of the highest brown bear density areas in the world. During peak salmon run season, you sit quietly near the falls and watch brown bears fish in their natural habitat. No platforms. No zoo feel. Just you, your guide, and wild Alaska.
⏱ ~6 hours
Book Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing →
This operates during peak salmon season, typically late July through August when bear activity is highest. You’ll gear up at the operator’s office, then fly to a remote shoreline viewing area. Expect rocky footing and extended quiet sitting time. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but this region has one of the strongest track records in Southeast Alaska. Book early. These permits are limited.
This is the family-friendly dog sled experience in Juneau. You’ll learn directly from a musher about the Iditarod and the training process, then ride a 1-mile dirt track pulled by a team of Alaskan huskies. Afterward, you’ll spend time with the dogs and meet the puppies under staff supervision.
⏱ ~2 hours 15 minutes
Book Musher’s Camp® & Sled Dog Discovery →
This is not glacier dog sledding. You ride on a wheeled sled on a maintained track. It can be muddy depending on weather, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty. If you want actual glacier dog sledding by helicopter, look at the TEMSCO option instead.
Skagway
Ship docks in town
My top pick:Chilkoot Charters — White Pass Summit Rail & Suspension Bridge Tour
This is the classic Skagway experience done well. You’ll ride the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad into Canada with narrated commentary, climbing through dramatic mountain scenery that made the Gold Rush legendary. In Fraser, you transfer to a comfortable bus and continue to the Yukon Suspension Bridge, where you can walk the 65-foot-high span over white-water rapids and explore the outdoor interpretive exhibits.
Book White Pass Rail & Suspension Bridge Tour →
Good to know: You’ll need your passport if you cross into Canada, and border wait times can vary. Don’t cut it close getting back to the ship.
Travel north on the South Klondike Highway over historic White Pass and into Canada for a full Yukon experience. This private 7-hour tour takes you through dramatic mountain scenery to Emerald Lake, with stops at scenic viewpoints and opportunities to scan for wildlife along the way. Your guide shares Klondike Gold Rush history and Alaska/Yukon cultural context as you go.
⏱ 7 hours
Book Emerald Lake Tour →
All tours are private and priced by van size: up to 5 guests, up to 8 guests, or up to 11 guests. Lunch in Carcross is not included. Passport required for Canadian Customs. Your guide meets you at the end of your ship’s pier, just past port security. Build in buffer time for border processing and confirm return timing carefully.
This is a scenic wildlife-focused day that combines fjord cruising, a highway drive through dramatic mountain scenery, and a quiet river float. You’ll travel by high-speed catamaran to Haines, continue by motorcoach along the Haines Highway National Scenic Byway, and then float the Chilkat River inside the Bald Eagle Preserve. The rafts are stable and not whitewater, making this more about wildlife and landscape than adrenaline.
⏱ 6 hours 30 minutes
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Half Day Float →
Expect a 45-minute fjord cruise to Haines, a 40-minute narrated drive through the Chilkat Valley, and a guided float through the preserve. Eagles are the highlight, especially during salmon runs, but moose, bears, and wolves are sometimes spotted. This is a calm float, not whitewater rafting. Dress in layers and bring binoculars if you have them.
This is for travelers who care about coming home with incredible photos, not just memories. You’ll leave Skagway by high-speed catamaran through steep fjords to Haines, then spend four hours in the Chilkat Valley with a professional photography guide who has already scouted the best locations for light, wildlife activity, and composition.
⏱ 6 hours 30 minutes
Book Chilkat Photography Tour →
Small group format allows hands-on coaching, whether you’re using a DSLR or your phone. Bald eagles are commonly seen, and brown bears are sometimes spotted during late summer salmon runs. This is not a rushed “stop and snap” tour. It’s paced for people who want to wait for the right light and the right moment.
Sitka
Usually docks, sometimes tender
My top pick: Gallant Adventures — Wildlife & Whale Watching
Sitka is beautiful from land, but it’s even better from the water. This tour gets you out into the sound where you’ll see whales, sea lions, eagles, and maybe even sea otters. The guides are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about the wildlife.
Book Wildlife & Whale Watching Cruise →Good to know: Weather can shift fast in Sitka. Dress warm and plan for wind.
A private half-day Sitka overview that skips the shuffle at the dock and goes straight to what matters. You’ll cover key highlights like Starrigavan Recreation Area for wildlife spotting, Baranof Castle for views, and cultural sites around town. The guide adjusts the route based on what your group actually wants to see.
⏱ 3 hours
Book Beyond Stika Private Tour →
This is ideal if you want flexibility and undivided attention. Confirm entrance fees for any specific stops like Fortress of the Bear or the Raptor Center.
A short tour covering Fortress of the Bear (where you’ll see rescued brown bears), raptors, and totem poles. It’s a solid overview of Sitka if you don’t want to spend the whole day on the water.
⏱ 2–2.5 hours
Book Stika Tour →
Great choice if you want to see wildlife without getting on a boat, or if you want something shorter to pair with exploring town on your own.
Small-group kayaking with a more personalized feel. Beyond the Rockwell Lighthouse, guides know the best hidden gems and serene paddling routes that showcase Sitka’s stunning natural beauty in ways you won’t forget.
⏱ Varies
Book Island Discovery Paddle →
Perfect for active folks who want time on the water at a quieter pace. Again, confirm tender logistics if that’s in play.
Private fishing combined with wildlife viewing. Great option if you want to fish and still see Sitka’s scenery.
⏱ Half or full day
Book at hooklineandsitka.com →
Confirm the meeting spot and fish processing plans ahead of time.
Valdez
Ship docks in town
My top pick: Stan Stephens Cruises — Columbia Glacier Cruise
Columbia Glacier is one of the most impressive glaciers you’ll see in Alaska. This cruise takes you right up to the glacier face where you can watch house-sized chunks of ice calve into the water. It’s powerful, humbling, and unforgettable.
Book Columbia Glacier Cruise →Good to know: It’s a full day on cold water, and it gets even colder near the glacier. Layer up and bring seasickness meds if you need them.
Whitewater rafting through Keystone Canyon. It’s cold water and a lot of fun.
⏱ Half day
Book White Water Rafting →
Bring dry layers for after. You will get wet.
Duck flats is a great introduction to sea kayaking in Prince William Sound. Look for nesting bald eagles, resting harbor seals, feeding sea otters and other curious creatures.
⏱ 3 hours
Book Duck Flats Sea Kayak Tour →
This is a fantastic sea kayak tour, perfect for first-time paddlers who are short on time.
Wrangell
Tender port
My top pick: Muddy Waters — Anan Bear Observatory
This is one of the most special wildlife experiences in Alaska. Anan Creek is permit-controlled, which means you’re not fighting crowds, and the bears you see are completely wild. During salmon season, you’ll watch black and brown bears fishing right in front of you.
Book Anan Bear Observatory →Good to know: Permits are limited, so spots fill up fast. You’ll walk on uneven ground, and the weather can be wet. Listen to your guide—wildlife safety is serious.
Jet boat trip to LeConte Glacier. This is a great backup if Anan is sold out. You’ll see icebergs, seals, and dramatic scenery.
⏱ Varies
Book Glacier Jet Boat →
Dress warm. It’s windy and cold out on the water near the glacier.
Take a boat tour through the Stikine River’s remote wilderness. Big landscape energy and a lot of solitude. Highlight feature of this cruise is seeing the Shakes Glacier
⏱ Varies
Book Stikine River Tour →
Confirm timing with your tender schedule. You’ll need buffer time to get back to the ship.
Icy Strait Point / Hoonah
Ship docks at the pier
My top pick: Hoonah Whale Tours — Whale Watching
Icy Strait Point has some of the best humpback whale viewing in Alaska. This small-boat tour puts you out on the water with guides who really know these waters. You’ll see whales feeding, eagles perched along the shore, and probably sea lions too.
Book Hooah Whale Tours →Good to know: The water can get choppy. Dress warm and bring layers.
A classic Hoonah day: river fishing paired with wildlife watching in places the locals go. You’ll fish, watch for wildlife, and get the kind of on-the-ground context you don’t get on big tours.
⏱ 6 hours
Book Private Fishing & Bear Watching Day →
Great pick if you want a real Alaska day without a long van ride. Ask what species they’re targeting that week and confirm license requirements.
Start at the fishing boat where you learn about local crabbing and choose your crab. Then your hosts take your small group through Hoonah and Icy Strait Village with totem carving and a foraging forest stop. Finish with a hand-cooked crab feast at a coastal home with ocean views.
⏱ Varies
Book Village Tour & Crab Feast →
This is a strong pick for travelers who want local culture and a meal that feels personal, not packaged.
Haines
Usually a tender port
My top pick: Rainbow Glacier Adventures — Chilkat Valley Wildlife Tour
Haines is one of those ports that rewards people who appreciate real, unpolished Alaska. This tour takes you through the Chilkat Valley where eagles are everywhere, moose sightings are common, and if you’re lucky, you might see a bear. The guides are local and genuinely love where they live.
Book Wildlife Tour →
Good to know: Wildlife sightings vary from day to day. Bring binoculars if you have them.
A private Haines day that feels like you rented the whole landscape. You ride out to Chilkoot Lake State Park then paddle a turquoise lake framed by waterfalls and snow-capped peaks with a guide who explains the salmon-bear-eagle ecosystem without turning it into a lecture.
⏱ 4 hours
Book Chilkoot Lake Kayak →
July brings sockeye spawning and that can pull in eagles and bears. The guide brings a spotting scope for close-up viewing from safe distances and plans time for a riverbank photo stop on the way back. This is a private departure for your group only.
A float trip through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve with big mountain views and a strong chance of spotting eagles. Guides handle the logistics and you glide downriver in an 18-foot raft. No whitewater and no heroics required.
⏱ 4 hours
Book Bald Eagle Preserve Float from Haines →
You ride up the Haines Highway into the valley then float past Klukwan and prime eagle habitat. Expect a riverside picnic after the float. Watch for moose and swans on the drive and keep your camera ready for eagles and the occasional bear.
A small-group wildlife photo run into the Chilkat Valley with a pro photographer. You hunt for bears, bald eagles, moose, and whatever else shows up and you learn how to get the shot instead of spraying and praying.
⏱ 4 hours
Book Wildlife Photo Tour →
Bring the camera you love and the jacket you trust. Your guide picks locations based on the day’s light and wildlife activity, and they will help with settings and composition for phones or “real cameras.” Wildlife sightings depend on the day, so stay flexible and keep your lens cap off.
Want help planning your entire Viking Alaska cruise?
You can absolutely book these tours yourself – I’ve given you all the links. But if you would like help managing your cruise from end to end, I would love to work with you! If you haven’t booked yet or if you have but are not already working with a travel agent AND have paid the deposit less than 60 days ago, schedule some time with me. to chat or email me at jess@jesspeterman.com to start working with me. I always am working for you and not Viking, so I am always checking new promos, keeping up to date on the latest travel trends and help you with any questions you might have!*I waive my planning fee for Viking cruise clients.*
Make an appointment to chat with me Complmentary Consultation Call. You can also email at jess@jesspeterman.com if that works better for you.
Questions I Get All the Time
Which ports are tender ports?
Tender logistics can shift based on ship traffic and pier availability. Wrangell is a tender port. Haines is usually a tender port. Sitka can be either a dock or tender depending on where your ship is positioned.
What’s the difference between “private” and “small group” tours?
Private means you book the whole boat or vehicle just for your group—nobody else joins you. Small group means it’s a local operator with limited capacity, so you’ll have other people with you, but it won’t be a giant bus or a boat packed with strangers.
What’s the best dog sledding option on a Viking Alaska cruise?
If you want the real glacier dog sledding experience, Juneau is your best bet. Costal Helicopters flies you out to a glacier where you’ll actually ride on a sled pulled by dogs on ice. Some Skagway operators offer “dog sled experiences,” but those are often training demos on wheeled sleds.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you choose to book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only include operators I would personally feel good about recommending.
Important Note
Excursion details and schedules can change. Always confirm timing, safety requirements, and return-to-ship logistics directly with the operator before booking.
You are responsible for your own booking decisions and participation. I am not liable for third-party services, weather delays, cancellations, or schedule changes.
