Travelers heading to Alaska on combined cruise and land packages, known as cruisetours, have access to a range of exclusive excursions that extend far beyond the coastline. These land-based adventures, primarily centered around Denali National Park and Fairbanks, offer opportunities for wildlife viewing, river rafting, and even witnessing the northern lights.
These experiences are designed to provide a deeper immersion into Alaska's vast interior, a region inaccessible to those on a cruise-only itinerary. From driving a Jeep on a historic highway to flying over the Arctic Circle, these activities showcase the unique geography and culture of the 49th state.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska cruisetours combine sea voyages with multi-day land trips, unlocking exclusive excursions in the state's interior.
- Activities in Denali National Park include guided wildlife tours and white water rafting on the Nenana River.
- Fairbanks serves as a hub for viewing the northern lights during aurora season and for flightseeing trips across the Arctic Circle.
- Many of these unique excursions have specific requirements, such as age or weight limits, and often require advance booking due to high demand.
Exploring the Wilds of Denali National Park
Denali National Park and Preserve is a cornerstone of many Alaska land tours, offering six million acres of untamed wilderness. While the park is vast, access for private vehicles is heavily restricted, making guided tours the primary way to explore its interior.
Search for the 'Big Five' on a Tundra Tour
One of the most popular activities is the narrated Tundra Wilderness Tour. This bus excursion, lasting approximately five and a half hours, travels deep into the park along the Denali Park Road, offering some of the best opportunities to spot the region's most famous wildlife.
Guides and fellow passengers work together to find what are known as Denali's "Big Five": grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. The elevated view from the bus provides a safe and effective vantage point for photography and observation.
Denali Park Road Access
Private vehicles are only permitted on the first 15 miles of the 92-mile Denali Park Road, up to the Savage River Bridge. To venture further for prime wildlife viewing, visitors must book a spot on either a narrated tour bus or a non-narrated transit bus operated within the park.
For those seeking a more extensive exploration, the 13-hour Kantishna Experience tour is expected to resume in 2027. This full-day journey travels to the end of the road, offering more time and opportunities to see the park's diverse ecosystem and learn about its history from a National Park Service ranger.
Ride the Rapids of the Nenana River
For a more active adventure, white water rafting on the Nenana River provides a different perspective of the Denali landscape. This guided trip covers an 11-mile stretch of the glacier-fed river, navigating through a series of rapids with views of Mount Healy and Sugarloaf Mountain.
The rafting excursion lasts about 3.5 hours. Participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh no more than 265 pounds. All necessary gear, including a dry suit, helmet, and life jacket, is provided by the outfitter.
Travelers can choose their level of involvement. They can hold on as a passenger while a guide steers the oar boat, or, for those 15 and older, they can actively paddle through the waves. This flexibility makes the experience accessible to a wide range of visitors.
Adventures Beyond the Park Boundaries
The areas surrounding Denali and the city of Fairbanks offer their own unique set of Alaskan experiences, from scenic drives to bucket-list celestial and aerial tours.
Drive a Legendary Alaskan Highway
The Denali Highway, a 135-mile gravel road, was once the only road access to the park. Today, it offers a rugged and scenic drive. A guided Jeep excursion allows visitors to experience a portion of this historic route without needing their own vehicle.
During the 4.5-hour tour, participants drive their own 4x4 Jeep in a convoy, covering about 50 miles of the highway. The journey passes glaciers, tundra, and the snow-covered peaks of the Alaska Range. On clear days, the tour provides distant views of Denali itself. The guide communicates via two-way radio, sharing information about the area's history and geology.
Chase the Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks
Fairbanks is one of the premier locations in the world for viewing the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Its location under the "Auroral Oval" provides a high probability of sightings during the aurora season, which runs from August 21 to April 21.
Many cruisetours that visit Fairbanks during this period offer optional late-night excursions. These tours typically run from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., taking guests to viewing locations away from city lights to maximize the chance of seeing the celestial display. Local tour operators also offer specialized photography tours to help visitors capture the phenomenon.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Alaskan Experiences
Some excursions available through cruisetours offer truly unique bragging rights, from crossing a significant line of latitude to playing golf under the midnight sun.
Fly Over the Arctic Circle
A flightseeing trip from Fairbanks offers the chance to cross the Arctic Circle. This excursion provides an aerial perspective of Alaska's immense and remote wilderness, including the Yukon River valley and the Brooks Range.
The approximately six-hour tour includes a landing in the small wilderness community of Coldfoot, located just outside Gates of the Arctic National Park. Here, visitors spend about 2.5 hours on the ground, learning how residents survive in an environment with extreme winter temperatures. At the conclusion of the trip, participants receive an official Arctic Circle Certificate.
Due to the nature of the small aircraft used for these tours, there is a passenger weight limit of 340 pounds. Booking in advance is highly recommended as seating is limited.
Golf Under the Midnight Sun
Perhaps one of the most unusual activities is the opportunity to play golf late at night. Between May and July, when Fairbanks experiences near-continuous daylight, the Midnight Sun Golf Course offers a memorable round of golf.
This excursion includes transportation, green fees, and all necessary equipment, including a cart and a standard set of clubs. The 18-hole course is built on permafrost and offers views of Fairbanks and the Alaska Range. Playing a full round of golf as the sun hangs low in the sky is an experience unique to the far north. As a souvenir, golfers receive a certificate and a small memento like a bag tag or hat clip.
