Alaska is the wildest corner of the US. As you explore its vast national parks, you’re more likely to see grizzly bears than other visitors. Mountains rise like giant meringues over dense evergreen forests laced with hiking trails. And, along the island-strewn coastline, you can watch as humpback whales twist and twirl their huge bodies out of the water, blowing plumes of spray before disappearing again beneath the waves. Planning a trip to somewhere so untouched can seem daunting, but our specialists, having visited the region, can help tailor an Alaska vacation to your interests.
Alongside the state’s natural world are towns and cities with a rich gold-mining past. Skagway could have been plucked from a history book with its brightly painted wooden buildings. From here, you can hop on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, following in the footsteps of gold prospectors caught in the fever of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Suggested tours for Alaska
These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Alaska could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Alaska, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your vacation in Alaska
What language is spoken in Alaska?
As with the rest of the USA, English is spoken throughout Alaska. In addition, there are around 20 native languages spoken in Alaska by the Inuit, Aleut, Tlingit, Athabaskan, and Eyak people.
What's the currency of Alaska?
The currency in Alaska is the US dollar. All major credit cards are widely accepted. There’s no state-wide sales tax on goods and services, however some communities, particularly in the southeast, impose their own sales tax of between 4% and 7%.
What food and drink should I try in Alaska?
In Alaska, wild seafood is a staple on local menus. There are five types of locally caught salmon — chinook, sockeye, coho, pink, and chum — as well as cod, halibut, and rockfish, crab, shrimp, scallops, and oysters. You’ll also see wild meat dishes on offer, typically as reindeer sausages on the breakfast menu or reindeer hot dogs at food stalls. It’s also worth looking out for Alaskan birch syrup, which is thinner than maple syrup and not quite as sweet. Alaska has a thriving craft beer industry and a handful of distilleries.
How much should I tip in Alaska?
The standard tip in Alaska is usually 15%. Tipping is expected, especially in bars and restaurants if you receive good service. It’s also common practice to tip taxi drivers, tour guides, hotel porters, and bar staff.
Where can I find the latest travel advice for Alaska?
For the latest travel advice for Alaska, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Canadian Government Travel & Tourism website.
What can I experience in Alaska?
Alaska gives you the opportunity to explore epic landscapes, delve into gold rush history, and experience wildlife encounters that reveal the majesty of nature. It’s one of the wildest corners of the US, home to enormous mountains and glaciers, vast national parks, and an astounding array of wildlife, from wolves and bears to moose, caribou, and eagles.
The landscape in Alaska encourages outdoor adventure and you can cruise iceberg-ridden fjords, hike on a glacier, watch bears fish for salmon at Brooks Falls, or see ocean giants breach and blow on a whale-watching trip.
Alaska’s towns and cities owe much to their gold-mining past, and from historic Skagway you can make your way into the mountains on a scenic railroad trip that follows the route of Klondike prospectors in the late-19th century. Alternatively, discover the rich culture of the Athabascan people on a sternwheeler riverboat cruise on the Chena and Tanana Rivers.
Where can I stay in Alaska?
Alaska offers a variety of hotels, motels, characterful bed and breakfasts, and wilderness lodges to stay in. In remote or small communities, the choice of places to stay is more limited, however, and can be quite basic, so you might find that places to stay lack the facilities would you expect elsewhere. Our Alaska specialists have found a wide variety of options to choose from including rustic cabins set in majestic locations, historic properties and lakefront lodges. With such a short summer season, we recommend booking early. Your specialist will suggest the best options, but you can browse our collection of places to stay to get some ideas.
Where should I go in Alaska?
Alaska gives you the chance to visit vast tracts of wilderness, icy fjords, lush rainforests and remote towns with a storied history. For a classic overview, combine train and road travel to take in some wildlife watching, rafting, or hiking, take a flightseeing tour of Denali National Park, learn about local history and culture in Anchorage or Juneau, head to Kenai Fjords National Park to see humpback whales and tidewater glaciers, or visit the mining ghost town of Kennicott.
Wildlife lovers may wish to visit Kodiak Island, home to the largest grizzly bears in the world, or Prince William Sound to see whales, sea lions, and bears. Alternatively, discover Alaska’s fjords on an Inside Passage cruise, sea kayaking and hiking through rainforest as you go. You’ll also visit Glacier Bay National Park to see icebergs calve, and can explore Tlingit culture and history in Icy Straight Point or Haines.
Do I need a national park pass to visit Alaska’s national parks?
Alaska’s national parks are free to enter and don’t require a national park pass, other than Denali National Park which charges an entrance fee year-round. Under 15s can enter Denali free of charge. Interagency passes, such as the America the Beautiful passes, are accepted at Denali.
How far in advance should I book a trip to Alaska?
It’s best to book a trip to Alaska 6 to 12 months in advance, especially if you’re planning to visit during the busiest period of June to September. We tend to handpick stays that have fewer rooms and give you a more intimate experience, so we recommend planning ahead to secure your top choices.
How long does it take to fly to Alaska from Canada?
A direct flight from Vancouver to Anchorage takes around three hours. From Toronto, it takes around nine hours, connecting through Vancouver or Minneapolis.
What's the time zone in Alaska?
The time zone for most of Alaska is UTC-9 hours (EST+4 hours), while time in the Aleutian Islands to the far west is one hour later. Alaska observes Daylight Savings Time from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
What's the best way of getting around in Alaska?
The best way to get around Alaska is to self-drive. It gives you the most freedom and access to the state’s more remote regions, which may not be served by public transport. Train travel is another excellent option, with the railroad running between Seward and Fairbanks. Most destinations are remote so can involve long drives or alternative transport due to access restrictions, so you might also need to use light aircraft and ferry trips to reach some locations.
Do I need a visa to visit Alaska, and what do I need to check with my passport?
Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Alaska. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.
Do I need vaccinations to visit Alaska?
There are no recommended vaccinations for visiting Alaska. For information on suggested vaccinations, you’ll find more information on the Government of Canada - travel vaccinations website.
Do I need an international driving permit in Alaska?
Non-USA residents require an International Driving Permit to hire a rental car in Alaska.
Alaska in pictures
Spot black and grizzly bears
Take a cruise around Alaska's coastline
Look out for the wildlife in Kenai Fjords National Park
Spot glaciers in McCarthy
Explore Alaska's vast wilderness
Our expert guides to traveling in Alaska
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Alaska. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Alaska at its best.
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Your guide to choosing an Alaska cruise ![Juneau, Alaska]()
Your guide to choosing an Alaska cruise
Your guide to choosing an Alaska cruise
An Alaska cruise combines convenience with front-row seats to many of the state’s most impressive sights, from glaciers to wildlife. Whether you choose a classic cruise or an intimate expedition cruise depends on your own personal travel preferences.
Read this guide -
What to do in Alaska: our highlights guide ![Brown bear with salmon, Brooks Falls]()
What to do in Alaska: our highlights guide
What to do in Alaska: our highlights guide
Alaska specialist Sam shares his favorite places and experiences in Alaska, from watching brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls to flying over glaciers and active volcanoes in a small plane.
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Self-driving in Alaska: a route through the wilderness ![Exit Glacier Road, Seward]()
Self-driving in Alaska: a route through the wilderness
Self-driving in Alaska: a route through the wilderness
In Alaska, mountains are on another scale, old mining buildings lie ruined in long-abandoned towns, and you’re more likely to see wildlife than people on the near-empty roads. Here, Alaska specialist Emma outlines what your self-drive trip could entail.
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Alaska wildlife ![Whale watching off the Alaskan coast]()
Alaska wildlife
Alaska wildlife
Wildlife thrives in Alaska’s untamed wilderness. So much so that Alaska claims the biggest grizzly bears and moose on Earth. Jon from our Alaska team tells you how to plan a trip to see them, along with bald eagles, humpbacks and sea otters.
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