A Glacier Adventure

Arrive in Anchorage, where the Chugach Mountains rise behind a city positioned between wilderness and the waters of Cook Inlet. Settle into your hotel and take the remainder of the day at an easy pace, absorbing your first impressions of Alaska’s immense landscapes. Anchorage serves as an ideal base for exploring glacier-fed valleys, mountain wilderness and remote wildlife habitats, setting the stage for an adventure that will eventually continue to the coastal landscapes surrounding Juneau. Excursionist lists Anchorage and Juneau as the two destinations of this 11-day journey.

Begin your exploration from above with a flightseeing adventure over the vast Chugach landscape. Departing from Anchorage’s Lake Hood area, soar above snow-covered peaks, broad river valleys and immense fields of glacial ice, with the possibility of a remote glacier landing depending on your chosen flight and conditions. Later, venture towards glacier-fed Eklutna Lake, where kayaking, cycling and walking offer a gentler perspective on the mountain environment. With Eklutna Glacier visible deeper within the valley, the day introduces the scale and geological power that characterise Alaska.

Leave the road system behind on a spectacular flight from Anchorage into Lake Clark National Park, travelling towards landscapes where brown bears roam largely undisturbed. Excursionist offers a dedicated Anchorage bear-viewing experience that combines the scenic flight with exploration by 4×4 and on foot alongside a naturalist guide, following the bears to areas where they are most active. The experience provides an intimate look at Alaska’s wildlife within its natural habitat before returning to Anchorage, with mountains, coastline and wilderness unfolding below throughout the journey.

Journey south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm towards Girdwood, historically known as Glacier City and surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach Mountains. The day can take several forms: rise into the mountains by helicopter to explore remote ice, venture towards Spencer Glacier by rail or snowmobile where seasonal conditions allow, or follow the Crow Pass Trail for expansive views towards Raven Glacier. After a day amid alpine scenery, pause for a memorable meal overlooking the surrounding peaks before returning to Anchorage.

Travel along the dramatic shores of Turnagain Arm into Portage Valley, where glaciers descend from the surrounding mountains and glacial waterways reveal thousands of years of geological change. Walk sections of the Trail of Blue Ice, visit the valley’s interpretive centre and continue onto Portage Lake for a cruise among icebergs towards the glacier. For travellers seeking something more active, nearby trails provide opportunities for closer encounters with the ice-carved terrain. Return to Anchorage after a final full day exploring the glaciers of Southcentral Alaska.

Leave Anchorage and fly southeast to Juneau, Alaska’s capital and the gateway to a dramatically different wilderness. Here, steep mountains rise almost directly from the sea, immense icefields feed dozens of glaciers and temperate rainforest blankets the surrounding slopes. Settle into your new base and take time to explore the compact waterfront and mountain-framed setting before the next stage of your glacier adventure begins. Excursionist’s itinerary combines Anchorage and Juneau across ten nights, although commercial airfare is typically arranged separately from its land services.

Set out for one of Juneau’s defining landscapes at Mendenhall Glacier. For a more immersive encounter, paddle across Mendenhall Lake beneath steep forested mountains, passing floating ice as the glacier comes increasingly into view. Continue on foot with an expert guide to explore the dynamic landscape around the glacier’s edge, observing how ice, rock and water continually reshape the valley. More relaxed alternatives include walking towards Nugget Falls or visiting viewpoints overlooking the glacier before returning to Juneau.

Take to the skies once again, this time above the immense Juneau Icefield. Helicopter and flightseeing experiences reveal a frozen world of icefalls, crevasses and interconnected glaciers stretching far beyond what can be seen from the ground. Depending on the chosen programme and weather, touch down on remote ice and step into an environment accessible to very few travellers. Juneau is particularly well suited to aerial glacier exploration, with multiple major glaciers flowing from the enormous icefield immediately beyond the city.

Turn from ice to ocean on a wildlife journey through the waterways surrounding Juneau. Cruise into the Inside Passage, watching for humpback whales as they surface and feed in the nutrient-rich waters, alongside possible sightings of sea lions, seals, bald eagles and other coastal wildlife. Stephens Passage is particularly associated with summer humpback activity, creating the opportunity to experience some of Alaska’s largest animals against a backdrop of forested islands and glacier-carved mountains. Return to Juneau after an unforgettable day on the water.

Spend your final full day exploring the extraordinary meeting point between rainforest, mountains and ocean that surrounds Juneau. Wander beneath the towering trees of the Tongass National Forest, take in elevated views across Gastineau Channel or venture farther into the surrounding wilderness by boat or aircraft. Juneau’s appeal lies in how quickly civilisation gives way to remote coastline, forest and glacial terrain, offering a quieter final chapter after several days of high-adrenaline glacier exploration.

Enjoy a final morning surrounded by the mountains and waterways of Juneau before transferring for your onward journey. Your Alaskan adventure concludes after connecting two very different landscapes: Anchorage and the vast glacier-fed wilderness of Southcentral Alaska, followed by Juneau’s icefields, rainforest and wildlife-rich coastal waters. Together they capture the sense of remoteness at the heart of Excursionist’s A Glacier Adventure, where immense landscapes and close encounters with Alaska’s natural world define the experience.