Alaska Master Thread

[whacked1]

I ended doing this Alaska trip. Even though not everything is open, definitely recommend visiting Anchorage/Wasilla/Seward in late March if you have the opportunity!

TR?

[TravelMoshe]

I ended doing this Alaska trip. Even though not everything is open, definitely recommend visiting Anchorage/Wasilla/Seward in late March if you have the opportunity!

Cool! I wonder how it compares to the summertime. What are some things that you did? or that you couldn't do? What was the temperature? Any specific reason you chose to go there davka at that time?

[Berry6]

TR?

First time doing one. Here you go: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=139726.new#new

[whacked1]

First time doing one. Here you go: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=139726.new#new

Thanks ! Great TR. Here's to many more! 🍻

[aaronnechama]

I'm heading to Alaska in the summer and have an RV reserved for the entire duration of the trip (9 days).

• Anyone have experience with RV parking sites and hookups?
• Is it still worth to get the Toursaver Coupon app (cost: $100)?

[SSLPhD]

I'm heading to Alaska in the summer and have an RV reserved for the entire duration of the trip (9 days).

• Anyone have experience with RV parking sites and hookups?
• Is it still worth to get the Toursaver Coupon app (cost: $100)?

1. There are multiple TRs on RVing in Alaska.  Where specifically are you planning on going?
2. Depends what you plan on doing and how many people.  There may be other coupon options.

[TravelMoshe]

I'm heading to Alaska in the summer and have an RV reserved for the entire duration of the trip (9 days).

• Anyone have experience with RV parking sites and hookups?
• Is it still worth to get the Toursaver Coupon app (cost: $100)?

I don't know if you've used an RV before, but I rented an RV with my family in Alaska last summer for 2 weeks and wrote up a whole guide for beginners using an RV for the first time. See it here: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=137445.0
I also wrote up a TR, see here https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=137459.0, where I also wrote about the various RV camps we stayed in. I did do a ton of research last year about every aspect of the trip, so if you want to PM me, I am happy to share any info I may have...

[Miri123]

I'm planning an Alaska trip in August. Trying to be budget conscious. We've booked accommodations already.
I've already booked a glacier cruise in Kenai Fjords. Is it worth doing another one in Whittier? Do you see anything different? Willing to pay for it if it's worth it.

[notyettaken]

My opinion is that flightseeing tours are much better then the boats, so skip the boats and do flightseeing instead.

Does anyone here have a different take?

[Something Fishy]

My opinion is that flightseeing tours are much better then the boats, so skip the boats and do flightseeing instead.

Does anyone here have a different take?

Wut

[notyettaken]

Wut

Nu go on don't be shy.

[SSLPhD]

Nu go on don't be shy.

1. You can't see wildlife very well from an airplane.
2. A boat is more of an immersive experience, and you can get close to waterfalls, etc
3. Airplane will be (a) more expensive for a (b) shorter duration.
4. You get a nice dirty pane of glass between you and the view in an airplane, so good luck getting nice photos.
5. If you're tall...

[TravelMoshe]

Agreed. Flightseeing and boat tour are basically comparing apples and oranges. Boat tour you get to see lots of wildlife up close (Stellar sea lions, puffins, Dall's porpoises, sea otters, whales if you're lucky etc) and you get close up to a tidewater glacier where you have a good chance of seeing some amazing calving activity. Flightseeing tours give you a broad perspective of glaciers and landscapes etc. Flights also good in Talkeetna to go see Denali... Or to bring you to a bear viewing place...Boat tours are also for 6+ hours, whereas flightseeing are usually from 1-2 hours. As far as doing another tour from Whittier-will be almost completely redundant. There are some small differences between the 2 (see my commentary in my trip report from last year https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=137459.0) but basically the same idea.

[Explorer1]

seward tour: we took the 6 hour ferry with kenai fjords tours and it was more than enough we saw all the wildlife and beutifal glaciers, its also usually very cold and windy so your prob. going to be inside the boat unless theirs a sighting.

glacier hikes: we did matnuska glacier and loved it but if your going down to wrangel theiy have cheaper, better, and less crowded tours.

Rafting: from what i herd the place to do rafting is near denali,
i did rafting in wrangel, it was great but very short, the guide spent most time preping, lazing in the lake and telling us history before,
also i took a rv to wrangel and it was a scary adventure, wouldnt recomend unless you have a car.

hiking: if your able to hike full harding icefield trail do it, if it was in the west you would need to win a lottery to go.

other great options would be fair banks, great for kids but quite boring.

also if you could go to valdez the drive passes through matansuka glacier and wrangel is a short detour, it was the nicest place i have been to in alaska and has many activities like, watch wildlife eat salmon at salmon gulch, biking, hiking, glacier and wildlife cruise, jet ski near glaciers, 3 hour kayaking in valdez glacier lake for $65 pp!!! where you kayak through a maze of icebergs and explore ice caves,
also valdez activities are way cheaper than ancorage area.

Which company offers  Kayaking for $65 pp?

[ben moshe]

Which company offers kayaking for $65 pp?

https://valdezstayandplay.com/

They bring the kayaks to the glacier lake and send you off its a unguided tour. they also have e bike rentals as well for pretty cheap.
just make sure to reserve in advance.

feel free to pm me for more info

pictures from kayaking at Valdez glacier lake we took in july 2023

[Something Fishy]

HOLY HELL. That's a real beautiful way to die. Probably one of the most dangerous pictures I've seen on DDF.

A company allowing unguided anything around active glaciers should be shut down, and a guide allowing you to kayak under an iceberg should be fired (or better yet, charged with criminal negligence). Unbelievable.

(And that's without even discussing the other dangers of this sort of excursion. Go google how long it takes for hypothermia to set in if you end up with a dunking in a glacial lake.)

[Something Fishy]

I've seen **** happen. Trying to save a few bucks and compromising on serious safety concerns is a good way to get into serious trouble.

If the cost of a properly guided excursion is too high then may I suggest looking at other destinations. Alaska is not cheap (excursion-wise).

/end soapbox. I did my part.

[ben moshe]

I've seen **** happen. Trying to save a few bucks and compromising on serious safety concerns is a good way to get into serious trouble.

If the cost of a properly guided excursion is too high then may I suggest looking at other destinations. Alaska is not cheap (excursion-wise).

/end soapbox. I did my part.

Mussar exepted,
I was not aware that it was a dangerous situation, you have A very good point and after your post I looked up the hypethermia and iceberg collapse,
Indeed a pretty dangerous situation, was my 1st time in Alaska and would have paid the diff to do it safely.
I appriciates yiur post for making everyone aware.

[notyettaken]

HOLY HELL. That's a real beautiful way to die. Probably one of the most dangerous pictures I've seen on DDF.

A company allowing unguided anything around active glaciers should be shut down, and a guide allowing you to kayak under an iceberg should be fired (or better yet, charged with criminal negligence). Unbelievable.

(And that's without even discussing the other dangers of this sort of excursion. Go google how long it takes for hypothermia to set in if you end up with a dunking in a glacial lake.)

I saw his pics and was thinking "cool, I've got to do this next time I go to AK" then is saw this post.....

[NoC]

HOLY HELL. That's a real beautiful way to die. Probably one of the most dangerous pictures I've seen on DDF.

A company allowing unguided anything around active glaciers should be shut down, and a guide allowing you to kayak under an iceberg should be fired (or better yet, charged with criminal negligence). Unbelievable.

(And that's without even discussing the other dangers of this sort of excursion. Go google how long it takes for hypothermia to set in if you end up with a dunking in a glacial lake.)

100%! Absolutely shocked to see this. People, Don't!