Portage Glacier Cruise and Wildlife Explorer Tour: Explore Alaska's Stunning Scenery and Wildlife

Embark on a Portage Glacier Cruise and Wildlife Explorer Tour in Alaska. Discover stunning scenery, spot native wildlife, and get up close to Portage Glacier. Book now!

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Portage Glacier - Experience the sheer awesome face of a mighty Alaska glacier on your one-hour cruise aboard the mv Ptarmigan. Standing just 300 yards from a relic of the Ice Age and watching for icebergs to break off the glacier and crash into the water below. You will find out why Portage Glacier is Alaska’s second most visited attraction.
What's Included
  • Pickup and drop-off service from designated meeting points
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a Shuttle journey down Turnagain Arm and engage yourself with the breathtaking Alaskan scenery on a tour displaying its impressive geographical attributes and rich indigenous mammals. Observe dangling glaciers and Dall sheep while navigating along Turnagain Arm, then embark on an unforgettable voyage that takes you face to face with Portage…

Location
509 W 3rd Ave
West 3rd Avenue
Please check in at our new location: 509 W. 3rd Ave, directly across from the Hilton Hotel. Parking is available across the street. Check in at the concierge desk, then wait in our garden or indoor lobby. Please arrive 20 mins before departure. Look for the gray van with a bear!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(348 Ratings)
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1 star
Imogen
May 24, 2025
100% recommend! - This was hands down the most enjoyable tour we did in Alaska, every comment praising Matt is 100% true. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and upbeat, couldn't ask for a better tour guide! Even during our tour, he was looking for things like new baby animals, signs of avalanches on the mountains and new eagles nests to point out for the tour the next day, as well as simultaneously pointing out things he'd noticed from the day before. Every stop has been carefully thought out and planned for the perfect tour. Highly recommend, especially if you have a short time in Anchorage and want a comprehensive overview of the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
William_s
May 23, 2025
Lots of really good... - Lots of really good information. Matthew was a great guide. He has tremendous passion and enthusiasm for Alaska and the area. Would definitely do again. Really great variety. Love the conservation center and Matthew’s knowledge of the animals and willingness to share
Review provided by Viator
Suet261
May 23, 2025
Worth it - Matt was a very informative and upbeat tour guide. I have mild mobility issues and he was helpful but not hovering, which I appreciated. The whole event was interesting and fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gails1992
May 22, 2025
Matt was an amazing tour guide - We thought we were going to miss seeing the Portage glaciers. The tour company that was recommended to us needed a 5 day pre-purchase. I tried calling but no answer. Fortunately the Visitor’s Center recommended Alaska’s Finest tours. We were able to book this just hours before the time. This is the very beginning of the tourist season so we were lucky. Our second stroke of luck was getting Matt as a tour guide. Years of living in Alaska and also working for this locally owned company. He gave us an amazing memorable tour. We saw Dall sheep, a moose, who on a return trip back to Anchorage had had 2 babies, lots of eagles, and bears with all of these in the wild. He knew tips for the cruise to see the glaciers, shout out to the staff and captain who couldn’t have been nicer. On our way back to Anchorage we stopped by the wildlife conservation center. Another plus. I can’s say enough good things about our excursion! One funny note, the other tour company’s guide was listening in to Matt’s educational talk to us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grace_g
Jan 7, 2025
Memorable Experience - Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about local history and culture. He also provided excellent hospitality. We enjoyed the tour very much!
Review provided by Viator
Fabinren_g
Oct 5, 2024
A good day with a variety of places and views - Having several stops is good as you find not that long journey and in every stop there is something to discover. Our tour guide Matt managed very well the group, he was very respectful, funny and had precise information for the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Snorkeldogs
Sep 25, 2024
Beautiful glacier! - This was a fantastic tour! Matt was a very informative friendly tour guide. We did the cruise as part of the Wildlife/ portage cruise. We got some awesome pictures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tx13sr13
Sep 19, 2024
Great day trip from Anchorage, hour scenic drive and you get up close to a glacier by boat and also by hiking trail - This was the perfect short trip, one hour cruise, only $49 but they give a veteran’s discount of 10% so $44. Only an hour drive from Anchorage and free parking at the boat launch. Boat cruise is narrated and you cruise right up to the glaciers and get to experience glaciers first hand including holding a piece of glacier ice they fish out and even taste a piece of it if you want. Boat allows plenty of time to take pictures with the glacier in the background. Since it is a lake you don’t see the wildlife you would see on the ocean glacier cruises but you also don’t get the boat rocking or swaying. Very smooth cruise with inside or on top seating. We did see some sheep on the mountain so I suggest wherever you go in Alaska to bring binoculars. In addition to the cruise, there is a parking area between the ticket/gift shop and boat launch where you can hike to one of the glaciers. Easy trail, one mile in and one mile back. Worth the short hike.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darren_d
Jun 1, 2025
Informative Trip - The driver is calling the shots. You are on his schedule… Excellent knowledge of the area and the trip, but the wildlife center felt rushed as we went stop to stop on his agenda.
Review provided by Viator
Jlinception
Sep 19, 2024
bad weather cruise - not so good - It was a rainy and heavy clouded and cold day, so the view was not that great. I wish the weather could be better and it will be a perfect cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $239
up to 14 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).