Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley Private Tour

5.0 (9 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

9 reviews

5.0

Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley Private Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore the beautiful Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley with a private and local guide.

From Anchorage, we'll travel along the scenic Seward Highway. One of only 13 highways in the US with the distinction of "All American Road". Along the way we will have great opportunities to view and photograph wildlife and scenic vistas. First we stop at the beautiful Hotel Alyeska and the ski town of Girdwood. Take an optional scenic tram to the top of Mt Alyeska for lunch with a view. Next stop Portage, where you will board the mv Ptarmigan for an optional one-hour cruise across the stunning scenery of iceberg-dotted Portage Lake. After the cruise, stop in at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife. Afterwards, head back to Anchorage and enjoy a narrated city tour including all the best dining places.

Day Trips Nature and Wildlife Tours Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Eco Tours Involves Animals

At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: Greatland Adventures

What is included

Included

Included: Local guide
Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Included: Private tour

Not included

Not included: Food
Not included: Admission fees: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Not included: Admission fees: Alyeska Scenic Tram
Not included: Admission fees: Portage Glacier

Itinerary

Portage Glacier

15 min

Portage Glacier
Seward Highway

Seward
Turnagain Arm Drive

2 hours

Next, soak up the sights along the incomparable Turnagain Arm, a stunningly beautiful piece of Alaska home to a myriad of wildlife, including Dall sheep, mountain goats, boose, beluga whales, black bears and migratory bird species.
Girdwood

1 h 30 min

Girdwood is a resort town within the southern extent of the Municipality of Anchorage. Located near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, surrounded by seven glaciers feeding into a number of creeks, which either converge within the valley or empty directly into the arm.
Alyeska Ski Area

1 h 30 min Admission not included

Alyeska Aerial Tram
Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary

30 min

Potter Marsh, at the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, is an ideal break from Anchorage for birders and other wildlife viewers. From the Seward Highway just before the left turn into the Potter Marsh parking lot, you are treated to a stunning view of Turnagain Arm. A wooden boardwalk winds 1,550 feet from the parking area through the marsh and across watery openings and sedges, perfect habitat for a rich variety of birds. From late April through September, Canada geese, northern pintails, canvasback ducks, red-necked phalaropes, horned and red-necked grebes, and northern harriers use this wetland. Look for eagle nests in the cottonwoods near the base of the bluff using binoculars or a spotting scope.
Greatland Adventures

Greatland Adventures
Beluga Point

15 min

Beluga Point Site is an archaeological location along Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1978. Artifacts of the area are evidence of early human habitation. Beluga Point North 1 (BPN1) artifacts are 8,000–10,000 years old and believed to be evidence of the oldest habitation in Anchorage municipality. Beluga Point is also a wildlife viewing area. Beluga whales can be sighted seasonally July through August as hundreds of the cetaceans visit Cook Inlet to feed on the Pacific salmon run.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

2 hours Admission not included

The AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round, providing spacious enclosures and quality animal care. Here you can view and photograph up close Alaska's iconic animals that are unable to be released into the wild.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites
Hilton Anchorage
Marriott Anchorage Downtown
The Lakefront Anchorage
Ramada by Wyndham Anchorage
Four Points by Sheraton Anchorage Downtown
Anchorage Grand Hotel
Anchorage Downtown Hotel
The Wildbirch Hotel - JdV by Hyatt
Duke's 8th Avenue Hotel
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
Clarion Suites Anchorage Downtown

and 4 more pickup points

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately