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• great way to pass the day before flight and see beautiful sights

  Debbie L,19 thg 6, 2026

  - Đánh giá từ Viator

  5.00

  made a lot of nice stops for views of mountains and Falls and animals the highway to Anchorage is beautiful, the views amazing Small group and Adam was friendly, informative and adjusted to his group

• Through Rain, Glaciers, and Mountains: My Journey from Whitter to Anchorage

  ezeikeln,25 thg 5, 2026

  - Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The final morning of my Alaska cruise did not unfold the way I had originally imagined. My excursion had first been scheduled to depart from Seward, with planned stops at Byron Glacier, Portage Glacier, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Beluga Point, and Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary. But travel, especially in Alaska, often moves according to weather, logistics, and forces beyond anyone’s control. Due to an unexpected change in the cruise ship’s disembarkation port from Seward to Whittier, the entire itinerary shifted, bringing delays, uncertainty, and a much longer travel day than anticipated. As I stepped off the ship in Whittier, cold rain mixed with wet snow swept across the harbor. Passengers crowded the terminal, many looking confused and exhausted after the sudden port change. I waited nearly an hour before the tour operator was finally able to reach me. The delay was understandable. Access into and out of Whittier depends on the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, often called the Whittier Tunnel — a narrow, single-lane passage shared by both vehicles and freight trains, where traffic alternates direction on a strict schedule. When my guide, Adam, finally arrived, he immediately recognized me in the crowd. Calm, professional, and courteous despite the chaotic conditions, he introduced himself quickly before hurrying me toward the shuttle van through the freezing rain. The vehicle, a dark gray Ford Transit van, offers welcome warmth from the storm outside. While I waited inside, Adam continued searching for the remaining passengers. About twenty minutes later, he returned with the rest of our small group. Including myself, there were six passengers in total. Almost immediately, I recognized my new travel companions — a Chilean family I had briefly crossed paths with aboard the cruise ship. The family consisted of a mother, father, two brothers, and a younger sister, all traveling through Alaska on a carefully planned bucket-list adventure after journeying thousands of miles from Chile. Unlike me, their trip would end later that same evening with a late-night flight home. I, on the other hand, felt fortunate — blessed both mentally and financially to continue exploring Alaska for another week before beginning the third segment of my broader Pacific Northwest and Western United States budget journey. The first leg had taken me through Vancouver, Canada, for four days, followed by the unforgettable eight-day Alaska cruise through Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier, and finally Whittier. By the time we officially departed the cruise terminal, it was already close to 10:00 a.m., far behind schedule. Before leaving Whittier, Adam decided to make an additional stop at Begich Towers, the famous fourteen-story building that houses the majority of the town’s residents. Originally constructed as a military barrack during the Cold War era, the building remains one of Alaska’s most unique residential communities. Inside, we learned fascinating details about Whittier’s military history and its strategic importance during the mid-20th century. We even met one of the building’s longtime residents, who kindly offered to show us her apartment — remarkably unchanged since the early 1950s. Unfortunately, due to our delayed schedule, Adam declined on behalf of the group. Still, the resident shared several beautiful photographs of Whittier Harbor on sunny summer days, including cruise ships departing beneath clear blue skies — a dramatic contrast to the gray storm surrounding us that morning. Our next stop brought us to a scenic overlook near the marina, where we captured moody photographs of the harbor shrouded in fog and rain. Shortly afterward, we joined the queue waiting to pass through the Whittier Tunnel. Nearly thirty-five more minutes passed before traffic finally began moving. Once through the tunnel, the landscape quickly transformed. Towering mountains rose dramatically around us as we approached Portage and Byron Glaciers, roughly fifteen minutes away. Despite the persistent rain, the scenery remained breathtaking. We stepped out to photograph the rapidly retreating glaciers, visible reminders of climate change, and Arctic amplification reshaping Alaska’s wilderness. The glacial meltwater feeding Portage Lake created a brilliant turquoise hue, rich with suspended minerals ground down by ancient ice. Even beneath dark skies and low clouds, the lake glowed with remarkable color. Snow-covered mountains framed the background, and I could only imagine how spectacular the view would appear beneath sunlight. After a brief stop, we continued toward the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Girdwood, about forty-five minutes away. Upon arrival, Adam encouraged us to first explore the gift shop and smaller animal enclosures while he organized the group.  Although I browsed the gift shop, I chose not to purchase anything. Much of the merchandise felt overpriced and heavily commercialized, with many products labeled “Made in China.” Still, the wildlife itself made the stop worthwhile. I watched a sleeping owl tucked quietly beneath shelter while two small white foxes and a playful baby red fox wandered comfortably through the rain-soaked enclosures.  Soon afterward, we returned to the van and began driving the center’s two-mile wildlife loop. Along the route we encountered bison, wood bison, reindeer, two brown bears, and a black bear. Adam provided binoculars for the group to share — though there were only three pairs available — and one of the Chilean brothers generously shared his own as well. It reminded me that on my next Alaska trip, bringing binoculars would absolutely be essential. Near the end of the conservation center drive, Adam stopped at a scenic viewpoint overlooking mountain ridges and coastal inlets. The mist rolling between the peaks created an almost cinematic atmosphere.  As we departed, the Seward Highway unfolded before us with magnificent views of the Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm. Towering mountains rose directly beside the highway while low clouds drifted across their snowy summits. Along the drive, we passed a sign marking our exit from Kenai Fjords National Park before making a short rest stop in Girdwood. Following the break, Adam surprised us with an unplanned addition to the itinerary: Virgin Creek Falls Trail. The short detour proved to be one of the most memorable moments of the day. A brief ten-minute hike through the damp forest brought us to beautiful cascading waterfalls surrounded by moss, evergreen trees, and lingering patches of dirty gray snow left behind from winter. The rainforest scenery strongly reminded me of the coastal landscapes near Ketchikan and the Indigenous Tlingit territories stretching across southern Alaska and British Columbia.  The stop added something special to the journey — a quieter, more intimate side of Alaska beyond glaciers and highways. For a few moments, surrounded by rushing water and deep green forest, the stress and delays of the day completely disappeared. From there, we continued toward Beluga Point, roughly forty minutes away. By the time we arrived, the rain had finally begun to ease. Stunning views of the Chugach Mountains rising above Cook Inlet, their snow-covered slopes glowing softly beneath breaks in the clouds. The fresh ocean air carried the scent of saltwater across the shoreline. Although we were unable to spot any beluga whales, we did witness an Alaska Railroad train passing nearby, filled with passengers traveling between Anchorage, Seward, and Whittier. Many waved enthusiastically from their windows as the train sped past, creating an unexpectedly perfect photo opportunity against the dramatic Alaskan backdrop.  After several peaceful minutes of enjoying the scenery, we continued onward to Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, our final major stop before Anchorage. The sanctuary featured beautifully maintained boardwalks, walking paths, and viewing platforms extending across the marshlands. Eagles soared overhead while smaller birds moved through the wetlands below. The surrounding scenery felt almost unreal — mountains towering behind residential homes built into the hillsides; the Alaska Railroad tracks cutting across the landscape, and distant views of Cook Inlet beyond the marsh. Fun fact Potter Marsh itself was an unintended consequence of early twentieth-century railroad construction, which altered the natural flow of water and gradually created the wetlands that now serve as an important wildlife habitat. As we drove into Anchorage afterward, Adam generously shared recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and activities to explore during my upcoming week in the city. It came time to say goodbye to my Chilean travel companions. Since their flight would not depart until 11:00 p.m., Adam planned to drop them off in downtown Anchorage near the 5th Avenue Shopping Mall so they could continue exploring Anchorage before returning later that evening to take them to the airport. Meanwhile, he would bring me directly to my accommodation. Before parting ways, I wished my new friends a safe journey home to Chile. Though we had only spent a single day together, travel has a unique way of creating brief but meaningful connections between strangers.  As I reflected on the journey that evening, I realized that despite the delays, weather, and unexpected itinerary changes, the experience had become something far richer than a simple transfer tour. It became another memorable chapter in my Alaska adventure — filled with glaciers, rainstorms, wildlife, mountain landscapes, and the kindness of people brought together for only a short moment. In many ways, this final segment after the cruise added even greater depth to my experience of Alaska. It reminded me that sometimes the unplanned parts of a journey become the moments we remember most.

• The beauty of its landscapes, together with the kindness of the guide, made our day a great experience

  mar adelrosarior599,2 thg 8, 2025

  - Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor

  5.00

  It was a wonderful day, our guide very friendly and patient, thank you for your responsibility, we made the reservation by Google and you, responded very well