Anchorage Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

If you’re travelling from further afield you can fly into Anchorage Airport. Over 200 flights arrive daily with direct flights from major cities in the US as well as European and Asian destinations. Major airlines include Delta, Alaska Airlines and American. The ferry is another option. The Alaska Marine Highway operates ferries to service 30 communities from Bellingham in Washington to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Chain. 

If you’re coming from Canada you can drive via the Alaska Highway which runs 2,092 kilometres from British Colombia to Alaska. If you’re travelling from the lower 48 states you can also get to Alaska via Dawson Creek in BC. 

The most convenient way to get around Anchorage is by car, but downtown is compact enough to get around on foot. You can also explore on foot or by bicycle. There are loads of scenic points along the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail from downtown. There is a public bus system called People Move which services the Anchorage, Greater Anchorage and Eagle River areas, but services aren’t too regular so it’s best not to rely on this. If you don’t have a car but want to explore further afield, you can catch the train with the Alaska Railroad. 

The coldest month is January with an average daily high of 0°C, but temperatures can dip much lower than this. There’s plenty of snowfall in winter and loads of opportunities for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. The summer sees average highs of 21°F and the days are long. Around the time of the summer solstice the sun sets for just a few hours – a bit of a bizarre experience but plenty of time to explore the great outdoors!

The best time to visit really depends on what you want to see and do. If you want to see the northern lights, it’s best to go between late fall and early spring, although winter gives you the best chance as it’s the darkest time of year. For snow sport enthusiasts, winter through early spring is prime time. Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy Anchorage’s lively beer gardens, spot wildlife and see the surrounding wilderness in full bloom with wildflowers. 

What to pack depends on what time of year you visit, but you can’t go wrong with lots of layers, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a waterproof and windproof coat, a hat and gloves.

Layering is key as you’ll be able to adjust if the sun comes out while you’re eating lunch outside or a cold wind blows in while you’re up the mountains.

Another essential for all seasons is a decent pair of sunglasses - the sun glares brightly against the snow and there are over 20 hours of sunlight in the summer.

If you’re continuing your adventure to Denali National Park, Matanuska Valley or Kenai Fjords (or anywhere else where’ll you be hiking and doing lots of outdoor activities), don’t forget a sturdy pair of hiking boots and other essential gear for your trip. 

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.