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 holiday 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.
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Suggested tours for Alaska
These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday 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 holiday 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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 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 the UK?
The flight time from the UK to Alaska is around 14 to 18 hours. There are no direct flights from the UK to Alaska, the most efficient route is to fly to Seattle or Vancouver and then on to Anchorage.
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?
UK citizens can travel to Alaska under the Visa Waiver Program but must complete an online application for authorisation to travel — known as an ESTA. Please visit the US Customs and Border Protection website at least 72 hours before travel and fill in the required information. In most cases a response will be received within seconds. Applications may be refused for anyone who has visited Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen since March 2011.
If the application isn’t authorised, you must apply for a visa through the US embassy. Approved travel authorisations are valid for two years and for multiple entries into, or transits through, the United States, unless you renew your passport, in which case you must reapply. If you have a British Subject (not British Citizen) passport, you’ll need to apply for a USA visa in advance from the US embassy.
Do I need vaccinations to visit Alaska?
Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Alaska, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.
What do I need to check with my passport for travel to Alaska?
To travel to Alaska from outside the US you’ll need to have an ePassport that’s valid for at least six months after your return. However, the six-month validity requirement is waived for some nationalities, including British citizens. Children are required to have their own passports to transit through the USA. Your passport should have at least two blank pages to allow space for border control documentation.
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
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![Black bear in Alaska]()
Spot black and grizzly bears -
![Kenai Fjords cruise]()
Take a cruise around Alaska's coastline -
![Humpback whale breaching near Seward]()
Look out for the wildlife in Kenai Fjords National Park -
![Reflecting pool near McCarthy]()
Spot glaciers in McCarthy -
![Brown bears at Brooks Falls]()
Watch grizzly bears catching salmon in Brooks Falls -
![Mount Denali, Denali National Park, Alaska]()
Explore Alaska's vast wilderness
Our expert guides to travelling 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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![Winter Canada and Alaska with Audley Travel]()
Winter Canada and Alaska with Audley Travel
Canada and Alaska aren’t for hibernating in winter. From dog-sledding and snowmobiling through icy forests to joining in with winter festivals and seeing the northern lights, our video shows just some of the activities you can enjoy when winter calls.
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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 favourite 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.
Read this guide -
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.
Read this guide -
Wilderness lodges in Alaska ![Winterlake Lodge in the winter]()
Wilderness lodges in Alaska
Wilderness lodges in Alaska
Experience the magic of Alaska's rugged interior staying in one of a handful of very special wilderness lodges, which we've personally checked. We can arrange for expert guides to show you the scenery and wildlife, mixed in with activities like kayaking and fishing.
Read this guide -
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 -
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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How to see the northern lights in Canada and Alaska ![The Northern Lights]()
How to see the northern lights in Canada and Alaska
How to see the northern lights in Canada and Alaska
Elusive, silent and celestial, the aurora borealis is a spectacle that few get to witness. Specialist, and cold-weather enthusiast, Lucy discusses the northern lights in Canada or Alaska and suggests the best lodges to stay in to improve your chances.
Read this guide -
Bear watching in Alaska ![Brown bear, Brooks Falls]()
Bear watching in Alaska
Bear watching in Alaska
Fly into the remoter parts of Alaska to spot the grizzly and black bears that prowl the wilderness. Our specialists know the best places to go bear watching in Alaska and will help you build them into your tailor-made Alaskan holiday.
Read this guide -
Canada & Alaska rail journeys ![Riding the White Pass Railroad]()
Canada & Alaska rail journeys
Canada & Alaska rail journeys
The vast wilds of Canada and Alaska were tamed by rail, and even now the land is crossed by some of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. Here we showcase some of the best.
Read this guide
