Top Things to Do in Alaska

Alaska’s size is part of its appeal, but it can make planning feel overwhelming. The best way to start is with what you want to do: watch whales from a small ship, see brown bears catching salmon, walk on a glacier, or stand under the northern lights. Here are 14 of the top things to do in Alaska, with where and when to do each one. For an overview of the destinations themselves, see our guide to the best places to visit in Alaska.

1. Cruise the Inside Passage on a Small Ship

A small ship carrying fewer than 100 guests can reach narrow channels, quiet coves, and small towns like Petersburg and Wrangell that large cruise ships pass by. Days combine wildlife watching from the deck with kayak and skiff outings, and many routes include Glacier Bay National Park.

Where: Southeast Alaska, usually starting in Juneau, Sitka, or Ketchikan, or sailing from Seattle or Vancouver.
When: May through September.

Our Alaska small-ship cruises range from about six days to two weeks. Read what to expect on an Inside Passage cruise for a look at daily life onboard.

2. Watch Whales

Humpback whales spend the summer feeding in Alaska’s coastal waters. In places like Frederick Sound, near Petersburg, groups of humpbacks sometimes bubble-net feed together. Orcas, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and sea otters are also commonly seen.

Where: Juneau, Frederick Sound, Icy Strait, Sitka, and Kenai Fjords (on day cruises from Seward).
When: Humpbacks are present from about May through September, with the most whales from June through September.
Tip: On a small ship, the captain can slow down or stop when whales appear, so you’ll often get longer sightings than on a short day tour.

3. See Brown Bears Catching Salmon

Watching bears fish for salmon is a highlight for many visitors. Several viewing areas manage access with permits or guides to keep both bears and people safe.

Where:

• Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park: reached by floatplane via King Salmon. Best in July and September.
• Pack Creek, Admiralty Island: a floatplane trip from Juneau. Admiralty Island has an estimated 1,600 brown bears.
• Anan Wildlife Observatory, near Wrangell: black and brown bears feed in the same creek. Permits are required from early July to late August.
• McNeil River State Game Sanctuary: permits are awarded by lottery. Visitors view from a gravel pad at the falls, guided by state wildlife staff.
• Chilkoot River, near Haines: bears are often seen along the road from about mid-June to October.

When: About July through early September for most sites.

See our Alaska wildlife trips and wilderness lodges for trips built around bear viewing, and our guide to wildlife in Alaska for more viewing areas.

4. Watch Bald Eagles

Bald eagles are a common sight along Alaska’s coasts and rivers, perched in trees and circling over salmon streams.

Where: Throughout Southeast Alaska. Near Haines, the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve on the Chilkat River draws thousands of eagles each fall.
When: Year-round. The Chilkat gathering peaks in October and November, after the main cruise season. In summer, raft and jet-boat trips on the Chilkat River offer a good look at eagles and other wildlife.

5. Kayak Among Fjords and Icebergs

Paddling a sea kayak along a forested shoreline, or near floating ice below a glacier, is one of the most peaceful ways to experience Alaska. Guides choose sheltered routes, and no previous experience is usually required.

Where: Glacier Bay, Endicott Arm, Kenai Fjords, Prince William Sound, and protected coves throughout the Inside Passage.
When: May through September.
Tip: Many small ships launch kayaks right from the stern, so you can paddle several times during a trip without booking separate tours. See our active Alaska trips for more paddling-focused itineraries.

6. Hike on a Glacier

With a guide, crampons, and a helmet, you can walk on a glacier’s surface among blue crevasses and meltwater streams. Conditions on the ice change from year to year, so guides adjust routes accordingly.

Where: Matanuska Glacier, northeast of Anchorage; glaciers near Juneau; and the Root Glacier near Kennecott in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.
When: June through early September.

See our Alaska trekking trips for hiking-focused itineraries.

7. Take a Flightseeing Tour

A small plane or helicopter shows you Alaska’s scale in a way nothing on the ground can: icefields, glaciers, and mountain ranges that stretch to the horizon. Some tours include a glacier landing.

Where: Misty Fjords National Monument by floatplane from Ketchikan; the Juneau Icefield from Juneau; and the Alaska Range around Denali.
When: Summer, weather permitting.
Tip: Flights depend on clear weather. If you can, plan flightseeing early in your stay, so there’s time to reschedule if it’s cancelled.

8. Ride the Rails

Two historic railways offer a relaxed way to see the landscape. The Alaska Railroad connects Seward, Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks, with long stretches far from any road. In Skagway, the White Pass & Yukon Route climbs from the waterfront into the mountains along the route Klondike gold seekers once followed.

Where: Southcentral and Interior Alaska (Alaska Railroad); Skagway (White Pass & Yukon Route).
When: Summer for most passenger services.

9. Explore Gold Rush History in Skagway

Skagway was the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s, and its restored boardwalk-era downtown is part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Ranger-led walking tours explain how tens of thousands of stampeders passed through on their way north.

Where: Skagway, at the north end of Lynn Canal.
When: May through September.

10. Learn About Alaska Native Cultures

Alaska is home to many distinct Alaska Native peoples, including the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Iñupiat, Yup’ik, Unangax̂, and Athabascan. Cultural centers, tribal houses, and community visits offer a chance to learn about their histories, art, and traditions.

Where:

• The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage.
• Totem parks and tribal houses in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Wrangell.
• The Huna Tribal House in Glacier Bay.
• Celebration, a large Alaska Native festival held in Juneau every other June.

When: Year-round, with the most programs in summer.

Our Alaska cultural tours include visits to communities and cultural sites.

11. Meet Sled Dogs and Try Dog Mushing

Dog mushing is Alaska’s state sport. In winter, you can take a dog sled ride across snowy trails, sometimes under the northern lights. In summer, many kennels offer visits and demonstrations, and some give rides on wheeled carts.

Where: Fairbanks, the Anchorage area, and kennels near Denali.
When: Sled rides on snow, roughly November through March; kennel visits in summer.

12. See the Northern Lights

Fairbanks sits beneath the auroral oval, which makes it one of the most reliable places in North America to see the northern lights. Lodges near Fairbanks offer aurora wake-up calls, and winter trips often combine aurora viewing with dog sledding and hot springs.

Where: Fairbanks and the Interior, and farther north beyond the Arctic Circle.
When: The aurora season runs from late August to late April, with the best viewing during the dark winter months. The aurora isn’t visible during the summer cruise season.
Tip: Stay several nights. More nights mean more chances for clear skies and an active display.

13. Fish for Salmon and Halibut

Alaska’s rivers and coastal waters are famous for salmon and halibut. Remote lodges offer guided fishing, often combined with bear viewing and wildlife watching, and many will process and ship your catch home.

Where: Kodiak, the Kenai Peninsula, Southeast Alaska, and remote lodges in Southwest Alaska.
When: Summer, with different salmon runs from about June through September.

See our Alaska wilderness lodges for fishing-focused stays.

14. Raft a Glacial River

Float trips range from gentle wildlife-watching floats to faster whitewater runs, often past glaciers and through river valleys where eagles and moose are commonly seen.

Where: The Chilkat River near Haines, rivers around Denali, and the Kenai Peninsula.
When: June through early September.

Combining Activities on One Trip

Many of these activities fit naturally together. A small-ship cruise through Southeast Alaska can combine whale watching, kayaking, glaciers, and cultural visits. A land tour or wilderness lodge stay adds bear viewing, glacier hiking, and the Alaska Railroad. For the best months for each, see our guide to the best time to take an Alaskan cruise. Browse our Alaska tours and cruises to see how Adventure Life combines these activities into one trip, with guides and logistics handled for you.