Alaska Travel Guide: When to Go and How to See It
7 min read · Written by Brenda Hoffman, Travel Meets Adventure
When someone tells me Alaska is on their travel list, one of the first things I want to know is what they picture themselves doing there.
Watching glaciers from a ship?
Taking a scenic train into Alaska's interior?
Looking for wildlife?
Spending time in Denali?
Fishing, hiking or getting out on the water?
Or maybe the dream is simply standing outside with a cup of tea, looking at mountains that don't look anything like home.
Because there isn't just one way to see Alaska.
The best Alaska trip starts with what you actually want to experience.
When Should You Go?
I don't like giving Alaska one “best” month because different parts of the season can offer different experiences. Alaska's main visitor season generally runs from late spring into early fall. Temperatures, daylight, rainfall, wildlife activity, crowds, pricing and available excursions can all vary depending on when and where you're traveling. Instead of automatically saying June, July or August, I want to ask what matters most to you. Are you comfortable with cooler weather? Do you want lots of daylight? Are there specific excursions you hope to do? Are you flexible with your dates? Is seeing the northern lights important enough that we should consider timing and location differently? We choose the travel dates around your priorities—not because someone online declared one month the winner. And no matter when you travel, Alaska's weather and wildlife don't take reservations. We can choose thoughtfully, but we can't guarantee either one.
Cruise, Land—or Both?
This is where Alaska planning gets interesting. A cruise can be a wonderful way to experience coastal Alaska. Depending on the itinerary, you may visit several ports and experience scenic cruising, glaciers and opportunities for wildlife viewing while unpacking once on the ship. But the cruise doesn't show you all of Alaska. If places such as Denali or other parts of Alaska's interior are important to you, we may want to look at a land itinerary before or after the cruise. That might include rail, motorcoach, rental car, lodges, hotels or an organized cruisetour depending on how you want to travel. And some travelers may prefer a land-only Alaska vacation. You don't have to do Alaska the way everyone else does it. We can cruise it, explore it by land, combine the two, or build something completely different around what interests you.
Don't Choose an Itinerary Just Because It Says “Alaska”
Two Alaska cruises can be very different. So can two cruisetours. I want to look at the actual itinerary: Which ports are included? How much time do you have in port? What scenic cruising or glacier experiences are part of the route? What excursions are available? If there's a land portion, how long are you actually spending in each destination? How often are you changing hotels? How much transportation time is involved? What's the activity level? A destination name on an itinerary doesn't tell me how much you'll actually experience once you're there.
Alaska Can Be Active—or Not
You can hike, kayak, fish, take a helicopter or flightseeing excursion where offered, ride a train, take a wildlife excursion, visit cultural and historical sites, or spend the day exploring a port. You can also sit somewhere beautiful and enjoy the view. Not every Alaska vacation needs to be an outdoor endurance test. When I'm helping you look at excursions, I want to pay attention to walking, terrain, transportation, physical requirements, accessibility and how long the day actually is. Adventure should fit the traveler—not the other way around.
Pack for Changing Conditions
Alaska is one of those destinations where I would rather have options in my suitcase. Layers make sense because conditions can change throughout the day and can be different depending on where you are and what you're doing. A waterproof outer layer, comfortable shoes appropriate for your activities, and warmer layers are usually worth considering. Binoculars can also be useful if wildlife and scenery are important to you. But I don't believe in giving everyone the exact same Alaska packing list. Someone doing active excursions has different needs from someone spending most of the trip sightseeing from a ship, train or motorcoach. Pack for your itinerary, not somebody else's Alaska vacation.
And About That Balcony Cabin...
I love the idea of being able to step outside and see Alaska from your own balcony. But I'm not going to tell you that everyone needs one. A balcony may be worth the extra cost if you know you'll use it and having that private outdoor space matters to you. Someone else may rather book an ocean-view or interior cabin and put that money toward an excursion they've been dreaming about. The more expensive cabin isn't automatically the better Alaska vacation. I want to spend your travel budget where it will make the biggest difference to you.
Alaska Is Bigger Than One Trip
You probably aren't going to see everything. That's okay. You don't need to squeeze every glacier, port, national park, train ride and excursion into one vacation. Tell me what made you put Alaska on your list in the first place. That's where we'll start. Then we'll build the trip around the Alaska you actually want to experience.
What Does Your Alaska Trip Look Like?
Maybe you're dreaming about glaciers from a cruise ship. Maybe it's Denali, a scenic train ride, wildlife, fishing, hiking, or finally seeing Alaska with your own eyes. Tell me what's calling you there. I'll help you look at when to go, how to travel, which itinerary fits, where to spend your time, and which experiences are worth making room for in your budget.
How I can help with this
Ready to take the next step?
Tell me what you're dreaming about and I'll help you figure out the right next step.
Help Me Plan Alaska