If you're thinking about visiting Alaska, you have many destination choices. You may be debating whether to cruise the stunning glacial waters of the Inside Passage or explore the incredible wilderness of Denali National Park. Are you more interested in whale watching, or do you hope to catch sight of a bear? You don't have to choose with a land cruise vacation. These packages add land options to an Alaskan cruise for the best of both worlds.
Alaska Sea and Land Tours
Land and cruise tours, sometimes called "cruisetours," combine the best of the sea with scenic interior excursions. They are typically nine to 18 days — longer than a cruise alone to make time for both.
These vacations include accommodation and transportation from city to city, whether you're exploring Alaska's rugged terrain or majestic shores. Your meals are also included while you're on the cruise ship, and you can expect at least one meal to be included during land tour days. A relaxing, all-inclusive trip like this is excellent if you're visiting Alaska for the first time since you won't have to worry about arranging all the details yourself.
Many popular Alaska sea and land cruises start with a cruise leaving from Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), in Canada or Seattle, Washington, in the United States. The cruise ship journeys through the famed Inside Passage to a port in southcentral Alaska, such as Anchorage or Whittier. From there, travelers continue their trip with land-based tours by bus or train. Land and sea tours also happen in reverse, starting at a top destination on land like Denali National Park and ending in Vancouver or Seattle.
The best time to experience Alaska's natural beauty is late spring through early fall. Some sea and land tours may be available in the shoulder season, which is May and October. You can expect mild temperatures and long days — up to 22 hours of sunlight on the longest day of the year in northern cities. Whenever you go, pack warm layers and accessories like hats and gloves to prepare for cold, rainy weather.
What to Do on an Alaska Cruise and Land Tour
Whether you're on land or at sea, there's plenty to do in Alaska. You can plan activities for yourself or take advantage of the excursions your cruise company offers. You might want to take a guided walk through historic towns such as Victoria and Kodiak Harbor. If you're feeling adventurous, consider an ATV or mountain biking expedition through Alaska's gorgeous landscapes. Other activities include fishing, kayaking, hiking, nature safaris and wildlife expeditions — even air tours of the Arctic Circle!
No matter what activity you choose, keep your eye out for wildlife of all kinds. Alaska is home to a diverse range of animals. Watch for whales, sea otters and sea lions in the water and eagles, puffins and hummingbirds in the air. Alaska's "Big Five" — important mammals living in the interior — all live in Denali National Park, so look for bears, moose, caribou, wolves and Dall sheep there.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Denali is Alaska's premier land destination. It covers 6 million acres of wilderness. The taiga or snow forest becomes an alpine tundra, which climbs to tall mountains, including Denali itself. North America's tallest peak reaches 20,310 feet at its summit. Some of the most popular activities in the park include hiking, biking, watching for wildlife and meeting the park's sled dogs. For the more adventurous, there's also rafting, zip-lining or an ATV tour. If you're not feeling that adventurous, try a narrated bus tour.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
The northernmost part of the Inside Passage is Glacier Bay, one of the top Alaska cruise destinations. This park consists of 3.3 million acres of majestic tidewater glaciers, rough mountain terrain, protected fjords and awe-inspiring coastlines. Activities here are mostly water-based. You can take a boat tour for whale watching or glacier viewing, go river rafting or kayaking, or fish in the open Pacific Ocean. If you do a land excursion, you could see mountain goats, lynx or porcupines.
The Inside Passage
The Inside Passage weaves between the islands that make up the southeastern tail of Alaska and the west coast of the North American continent. In addition to Glacier Bay, it also contains Tongass National Forest, the largest U.S. national forest and the largest intact temperate rainforest globally.
The Northern Region of the Inside Passage includes Juneau and Skagway. Juneau is the only state capital accessible only by air or sea. Head to the Juneau-Douglass Bridge to see Tahku, a life-size bronze statue of a humpback whale leaping out of an infinity pool near the bridge. The Gateway to the Klondike, Skagway celebrates its past as a gold rush town. Check out Broadway Avenue in downtown Skagway, where over 20 historic buildings have been preserved and other buildings feature replicas of historic false fronts to transport you back in time.
Ketchikan is the main tourist destination in the Inner Passage's Southern Region. This city is known as the Salmon Capital of the World since it was founded as a salmon cannery. Ketchikan also contains three parks dedicated to preserving and displaying totem poles from the Alaska Native cultures in the area, earning it its other nickname, City of Totems.
Alaska Land Cruise Vacations From AAA
Make travel easy with a vacation package from AAA. Two of our most popular vacations are the Denali and Gold Rush Fever tour and the Alaska Discovery and Land Cruise.
Catch gold rush fever with a 17-day trip through Alaska and the Yukon. Start your trip in Anchorage, then travel to Denali National Park on a luxurious glass-domed train. We include a guided tour of the park, and you can explore on your own. From there, you'll travel to Fairbanks for a riverboat cruise. The second week starts with a few days in the Yukon, followed by a train to Skagway, where you'll board your cruise ship for a four-day journey through the Inside Passage. Finally, you can spend a day in Vancouver, BC, before returning home.
The Discovery cruise is a 12-day tour from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Vancouver, BC. After taking a riverboat to Denali National Park, you'll spend two nights in a comfortable wilderness lodge. Get to know the park at your own pace, then join our guided tour. From Denali, you'll get incredible views from the glass-domed train and visit Anchorage and Talkeetna. You'll board your cruise ship the next day for an eight-day journey through Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, stopping at Juneau, Skagaway and Ketchikan along the way.
Why AAA?
When you book your Alaska land and sea cruise with AAA, you get many benefits, including:
- A tour manager
- Our best price guarantee
- Hotel-to-hotel baggage handling
- Credit toward an excursion for each person
If you ever have any problems or questions about your trip or while on vacation, you also have access to 24/7 member care services.
Plan Your Alaskan Getaway With a AAA Central Penn Travel Advisor
Make planning an Alaska land and sea cruise easy by letting a AAA travel advisor handle the details. Make an appointment to speak to a travel advisor today!
Learn more about the benefits and other travel perks you can take advantage of with a AAA membership.
