A trip to Alaska is a journey that many people make once in a lifetime and everyone wants to remember it forever. Therefore, when planning a trip to Alaska, you should carefully consider the route, where and when to go, where to stop and how to move. In this article, I will talk about my experience planning a trip to Alaska in the summer. I think this will give other tourists at least some basis for their own trip to Alaska.
I have already been to Alaska once - in the winter of 2015, I went to watch the auroras, rode dog sledges, rested in hot springs and so on. Therefore, I already have some idea of \u200b\u200bthe state, people and sights. 
In Alaska, I really liked it then (I still can’t fully understand what it is), I decided not to put off the matter and go there that same year, but already in the summer of 2015.
Summer is hot season for Alaska. The high season begins in mid-May and lasts until mid-September. Although to be sure - it is best to go from mid-June to the end of August - neither the weather, nor nature will definitely upset you. By the way, due to the short high season and the large influx of tourists, prices for tours and accommodation increase by two to three times compared to the end of September or the beginning of May. And many shops / hotels / restaurants generally work only in the summer months, closing for the winter.
You can come here in two ways. Firstly, on a cruise ship. There are many routes in this case. Most often, they start from Seattle or Vancouver and cover several coastal cities at once. I will not talk about cruises to Alaska in this article, because I don’t really know anything about them. In any case, you will have where to live, what to eat and excursions are already selected for you. Cruises on average last from 7 to 14 days, sometimes with two to three-day tours inland. 
The second option is by plane. Most often you will get with several transfers. Most flights to Alaska are from Seattle, WA. In order not to guess which airline to fly, see the tickets on the Kayak.com website and choose which is cheaper or more on schedule.
There are two main airports in Alaska - Anchorage and Fairbanks, depending on your route, you can fly to any of them. Certainly more planes fly to Anchorage and it is easier to make a route.
My journey begins in Miami. In the afternoon I fly to Seattle with a small dock in Atlanta. I arrive in Seattle late at night, staying one night at the hotel. The next whole day I spend in Seattle - I have never been here, so I think I will find what to do with myself.
In the evening I fly from Seattle to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. When I thought about where to go to Alaska, I searched everything on the Internet. I don’t really like reading forums, so I based on what I could find on TripAdvisor in both English and Russian. So, besides Anchorage, I wanted to see something else. Sample materials that I used can be viewed on my Pinterest page.
Two interesting options caught my eye: Juneau and Kodiak Island. Kodiak Bears is home to some of the largest bears in the world (Kodiak Bears), which you can see nearby, but there are very few hotels and it is not very clear with transport - that's why I decided to see the bears from Anchorage. 
Day 1
All day in Seattle, evening flight to Juneau (2 hours 30 minutes)
I will not write anything about Seattle - an article about Seattle will appear another time. Upon arrival in Juneau you will need to get to the hotel and have a good rest.
Day 2
All day in Juneau, evening flight to Anchorage (1 hour 30 minutes)
There are several different excursions in Juneau, I settled on the following.
- Mount roberts tramway. The Juneau cable car, rising from downtown to Mount Robert, at a height of 600 meters. The road itself is interesting and, of course, the views from the mountain. Pass costs $ 33 (summer 2015) for the whole day. I think once up and down is more than enough. From above you can see the city itself, cruise ships, other mountains. 
- Juneau Whale Watching. There are several companies in the city that organize boat trips with the ability to observe humpback whales and dolphins. Judging by the photographs, you should dress warmer, because even in the summer the ocean is very cold and you will have to spend a lot of time outdoors. Depending on the duration of the tour (3-5-8 hours), the price varies from $ 100 to $ 200 per person. Here you can add a city tour, a fish buffet and so on - just a tourist paradise. 
I also liked the pictures of downtown Juneau, so I’m thinking of taking a walk around the city. In the evening I will go to the airport and fly to Anchorage. 
Day 3
Train ride to Seward
In Alaska, there are several railway routes, which, however, are more likely to have a tourist function than a transport one. The 114-mile route from Anchorage to Seward (Seward, if I understand correctly) is called Coastal classic. The train leaves from Anchorage at 6.45 in the morning and arrives at Seward at 11.05 in the morning. The return train leaves at 6 pm and arrives in Anchorage at 10.15 pm. That is, you can spend the whole day in Seward. Tickets for adults, depending on the class of service, cost from $ 89 to $ 165 each way, plus a discount if you buy back and forth. 
In Seward, most tours are designed specifically for tourists from the train, which is very convenient. In the vicinity of the city there are several attractions, the main of which Kenai Fjord National Park, where you can go on a 6-hour tour (leaves at 11.30 in the morning, just like after the arrival of the train). If you do not want to be on the ship all day, as an option - here you can go kayaking in the open ocean, along the icebergs. 
Day 4
Bear Watching. Flight to Fairbanks
For me, the main thing why I go to Alaska in the summer is to look at the bears in their real habitat, especially when they fish in the rivers. This can be done from many cities in Alaska, but only in the summer and only by plane.
I decided to fly from Anchorage, because there are most of the companies that deal with this and most of the routes. There are many options for how this tour is organized - with landing on water or on land, with or without lunch, in different parts of the state, with landing on a glacier, for one day or several. The cost per person starts from $ 500 and above, depending on the duration, route and number of people. By the way, you can see cameras in real time. 
In the evening - flight to Fairbanks (50 minutes, you need to land on the left side of the plane to see the highest mountain in the USA - Mt. McKenley, if it is still not dark. If you are flying the other way from Fairbanks to Anchorage - then you need to land on the right). It is better to fly in the evening flight, because morning flights arrive "too late" at 7 in the morning, and you may not have time for some excursions.
Day 5
Trip to the Arctic Circle
There is nothing much to do in the Fairbanks in the summer - it is more of a winter tourist center, so the whole day tour will take me Arctic Circle (Arctic Circle).
There are two types of tours - by plane and then by car (on average it takes 7 hours, departures at 5.30 in the morning and at one o'clock in the afternoon - $ 400) and only by car (departure at 6.30 in the morning, return at 11 pm, $ 190). 
In each of the tours you will be brought to the place where the Arctic Circle passes, they will issue a certificate, make a memorable photo, show the Trans-Alaskan oil pipeline (the basis of the state economy) and that's all. By plane, it’s certainly faster and not so tiring, but twice as expensive.
Day 6
Train ride from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Flight home
A train Denali star - perhaps the most famous railway route in Alaska - passes through half the state, and in particular through the Denali National Park with views of Mount McKenley.
The train leaves Fairbanks at 8.15 a.m., travels 360 miles (580 kilometers) all day, and arrives at Anchorage at 8 p.m. The train has two classes of service - Adventure class ($ 185 one way) and GoldStar Service ($ 355 one way). 
If you travel the GoldStar Service - you will have a place on the second floor of the car with a glass roof, food, soft drinks and the possibility of access to the open balcony - as stated on the site - the only one in the world.
Arriving at 8 pm in Anchorage, I plan to immediately go to the airport to take a night flight to New York (via Seattle). Anchorage has a very modern airport, where, for example, there is an Alaska Airlines lounge, where you can take a shower and have a snack after a long day (entrance $ 50).
Since I don’t have enough time, and I want to see the maximum, the entire route turns out to be quite compressed - travel, flights every day, overnight stays where and so on. Of course, in Alaska there are a bunch of other routes and excursions - fishing, hunting, you can rent a car and ride on it - there are many options. In this article, only an approximate route is given, which I will try myself and which, perhaps, will provide a guide for other travelers who do not know where to start the trip to Alaska.
- Day 1. Anchorage
- Arrival in Anchorage, transfer from the airport, a city tour, hotel accommodation.
- Most of the group arrives from Seattle on Alaska flight. Airlines No. 91 at 11:30. A group transfer is provided for all arrivals between 11:00 and 12:30. If you arrive at other times, then an individual transfer or taxi is possible (no more than $ 15 from the airport to the center). From the airport, the group travels for lunch (from approximately 13:00 - 14:00,lunch included ), and immediately after lunch a sightseeing tour (from about 14:00 to 18:00).
- Anchorage is a modern, thriving city, Alaska's main shopping, transportation and tourist center, home to almost half of the state’s population. During the sightseeing tour you will get acquainted with the sights of the city and learn about its rich history. Overnight in Anchorage. Springhill Suites Mariott with breakfast
- Day 2. Anchorage - (385 km / 239 miles) - Portage: Spencer Lake Tour
- After that, a 20-minute train ride to Lake Spencer. This lake is unusually beautiful - icebergs are floating on its surface - fragments of a glacier that you can touch with your hands, canoeing between them. During the tour, lunch is provided (lunch included )
- Overnight in Anchorage. Springhill Suites Mariott with breakfast
- Day 3. Anchorage - (362 km / 225 miles) -Denali
- On this day, you will head north, towards the Denali National Park. On the way you will visit:
- - The village of Eklutna, where the old Russian church of St. Nicholas, built in 1870, is located (one of the oldest buildings in this part of Alaska), as well as a unique Orthodox cemetery, often called the “Ghost Cemetery”.
- - Headquarters of the most famous annual dog sled races in Alaska - Iditarod (Iditarod ) During an excursion to headquarters, you will see sled dogs participating in real races, you can also stroke their young puppies. You will learn a lot of interesting things about this sport, get answers to many questions of interest: why they run, the role and education of the team leader, and many, many others. In the center you can chat with the participants of the races and watch a substantial film, both about dogs and about the race.
- In the evening, check into a hotel in Denali.Grizzly bear lodge
- Day 4. Denali National Park
- Early in the morning, you will go to the treasury and the main attraction of Alaska - Denali National Park. This is a huge biosphere reserve with an area of \u200b\u200balmost 25 thousand square kilometers, where you will have the opportunity to visit surrounded by untouched wildlife and see wild animals: moose, deer, bears, wolves and many others. In good visibility you can admire the magnificence of the highest peak of North America – mcKinley Mountains (6194 meters).
- In your free time after the tour, we recommend that you go toexcursions park for extra. fee, a list of which you will find at the end of the program. Overnight in Denali. Grizzly bear lodge
- Day 5. Denali - (198 km / 123 miles) - Fairbanks - (100 km / 62 miles) - China
- - The world's largest ice museum "Aurora"(ticket is included) , where the temperature is kept at -7 ° C throughout the year. You can drink an alcoholic cocktail (extra charge $ 17 per person) in the ice bar from an ice glass that you can keep as a keepsake. It is a pity that this "memory" is quickly melting.
- The highlight of the day will be bathing in natural hot springs. (ticket is included in the price) known for their healing properties. Night at Fairbanks. Regency Fairbanks with breakfast
- On this day, you will go on an exotic walk on a wheeled steamer from the time of the gold rush. On the way, you will see a school of sled dogs and an Indian fishing camp, and in the village of the Atabask tribe you will learn a lot of interesting things about their culture, way of life, you will see the buildings and costumes of not only Atabaskans, but also other indigenous peoples of Alaska. After a scheduled lunch(included in the price) , you will go to the historical thematic "Pioneers Park" and continue your acquaintance with the history, culture and traditions of Alaska.
- This move will take place along a picturesque highway, on the border with the territory of the largest national park in the country, “Wrangel-St. Ilya” (Wrangell - St. Elias ), which has more than 100 glaciers and some of the highest mountain peaks in North America. On the way, magnificent landscapes will open in front of you: views of the wide valleys, lakes and tundra of the Alaskan ridge. You will also pass along an engineering miracle: the legendary Trans-Alaskan pipeline, stretching for 1300 kilometers.
- Overnight in Glennalen. Black rapids lodge
- On the way to Anchorage, you continue your journey along one of the most scenic tracks in Alaska. You will see the glacier and the Matanushka valley and make a stop in the town of Palmer, where you will visit a deer farm (ticket is included) . Here you will learn many interesting facts about this traditional resident of Alaska, you can feed deer from your hands and take memorable photos. More than 150 reindeer, 35 moose, 13 horses, and other artiodactyls will live on the farm.
- According to the program of today, a trip to Girdwood is planned for you - a cozy and picturesque town located at the foot of the Chugach mountain range, surrounded by seven eternal glaciers. Here on the high-speed funicular(ticket is included) , you will climb one of the mountain peaks, from where landscapes of stunning beauty will appear before you. And in the Voronoi Ruche gold museum, you can feel like a getter and lather gold(ticket is included) .
- Anchorage night. The Voyager with breakfast
- Day 8. Whittier - (97 km / 60 miles) - Anchorage: 26 Glaciers Cruise
- After the tour at 18:00 - group transfer to the airport or Anchorage hotel. If you are planning to fly from Anchorage this evening, then your departure should be no earlier than 22:00. Transfers at other times - at an additional cost.
Today, by train from Anchorage, you will go to the town of Portage, from which your unforgettable journey will begin!
Upon arrival at Portage, you will drive to the wildlife center to discover Alaska's rich fauna. There are several varieties of deer and bears, including grizzlies; moose, coyotes, bald eagle, bison, bison, lynx and many others.
At the end of the tour you will move to Anchorage.
Today, you will meet Fairbanks. During the tour you will see the main attractions of the city and visit:
Observation deck of the University of Alaska.
Day 6. Fairbanks - (400 km / 248 miles) - Glennalen. Cruise on the Chin and Tanan Rivers, "Pioneer Park"
Transfer to Glennalen.
Day 7. Glennalen - (571 km / 355 miles) - Girdwood
For other things to do in Gerdwood, read the list of additional attractions.
On the way to Whittier Town, from which the cruise will begin, you will pass through a unique tunnel, which is the second longest in all of North America.
Upon arrival, you will transfer to a cruise ship, which can sail at a close distance to the sliding glaciers. You will see how blocks of ice crash into the water with a crash, pass by the transparent blue icebergs. You will also see views of the lush forests, and in the water - an abundance of marine animals - whales, seals, sea otters, birds.
Alaska is one of the wildest, harshest and at the same time stunning places in the world. Cold and changeable weather makes traveling in this area a real test of strength. Photographer Alex Strohl, who has considerable experience in extreme travel, shares his impressions and photos from a recent trip to Alaska. On the trip he was accompanied by his wife, as well as a friend who filmed their adventures on video.
15 PHOTOS
1. Quiet moments.
“There were many moments when we just enjoyed the silence and solitude.”
2. The greatness of Alaska. Alaska is simply bewitching by its scale, mountains are everywhere, and they are huge.
3. Alaska in the summer. “We have never been to Alaska in the summer, only in the winter. But still they decided to go and did not regret it. ”
4. Wildlife is everywhere. “Just driving along the highway, we managed to see a lot of wild animals: bison, wolf, fox and several moose.”
5. Extreme amenities. “We settled in a tent over a glacier called Blueberry Hill. The day before, the guides left, leaving us with a gun to protect us from wild animals. ”
6. Car camping. “During previous trips, I was simply delighted with Alaska. And also gained valuable experience in the art of automobile camping ”
7. Crossing the river. “When we crossed to the other side, it felt like the car was almost swimming.”
8. See all of Alaska. “If you have been to Anchorage, you can hardly say that you saw Alaska. As the locals say, Anchorage is half an hour from real Alaska. ”
9. Exploring the boundaries of the possible. “Alaska offers tremendous opportunities for traveling and exploring nature.”
10. Adventure Time "We were there for about two months, but if you wish, you can arrange an adventure in Alaska even in a few days - to go deep into the country, see the Canadian glaciers and return home."
11. Alone with nature. “It feels like you're alone in the whole world. We went kayaking near an island that didn't even have a name. We even came up with a name for it: “Blueberry Island”.
12. Deep waters. “When you sit in a kayak and look deep, you have to calm yourself and say that everything is in order ...”
Our big trip to Alaska in 2008 began with the city of Juneau. When approaching, thoughts appeared in my head: “Where have we come? Why is everything so gloomy? It's always cold here!))” And so on ...
But everything turned out to be not so.
We flew on a very interesting Alaska Airlines plane with the face of Aleut.
The airport was no less interesting. In Alaska, they love to hang the heads of dead animals on the wall.
We came to Alaska under the Work and Travel USA cultural exchange program when we were students. To prepare certain documents, we had to visit the city of Juneau before going to the main place in the city of Sitka.
Having drawn up the necessary documents, we went for a walk around Juneau. Juneau is the capital of Alaska, although it is not the largest. The population here is just a little more than 30,000 people. Alaska's largest city with a population of about 300,000 is Anchorage.
By cable car we climbed one of the peaks of the city. It offers a beautiful view. Check it out)
One of the fattest income items of coastal cities in Alaska is tourism. A large number of retirees in America and many other tourists daily land from Cruise liners and buy souvenirs in specials. shops that are at every step, in the streets near the shore.
Well, here we made such a cool photo in the mountains. Hello to the Central Bank!)
After 8 hours we are in Sitka! When Alaska was Russian, this city was called Novo-Arkhangelsk and was the Russian capital of Alaska. The town is not big at all with a population of about 9 thousand people. It is located on the island Rams.
We worked this summer at a fish factory. The plant is engaged in the fishing and processing of fresh fish, packaging of freshly frozen fish, production of veal and production of salmon caviar. We were engaged in the processing of fish species such as: all types of salmon (pink salmon, chum salmon, trout, etc.), halibut (from flatfish), cod, stingrays and others (not in such a large amount that I do not even remember the name) . Our factory is called.
We lived in a dormitory for workers. A stone's throw from the factory.
The most hearty meal we had was breakfast. Here is one of the options for our morning meal. 
It also happened. This is a Mexican-style dinner. It seems to be on Thursdays)
And this is picnic food. Well, you understand, traditionally American.
The next few frames from our fish factory. From the signs, you will realize that quality and hygiene are the top priorities.
And this is Halibut. 208 pounds is about 90 kg. Fish belongs to the species Flounder.
In the evening and on weekends we walked around the city. We went to the library (there is free internet))
The most American cars) 
And this is a bridge connecting two islands. Our one (about Baranov Island) and a small island on a boat is Sitka Airport. And the mountain is like a volcano.
In one of the gift shops. 
A kind of nesting doll) 
Sewer cover 
Streets of Sitka
The city has the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel
Also were in Sitka National Historical Park.
A lot of evidence of "Russian Alaska"
City scheme
Binoculars for whale watching in the park.
Salmon is spawning. All the rivers are simply filled with fish. At this time, there is a ban on fishing for salmon. About two weeks.
There are some videos. The characteristic sound on the video is that the salmon is beating against the obstacle, trying to jump over it and swim further upstream.
Life is good. Anyway. 
I managed to photograph a sea lion during the hunt. He has fish in his teeth. 
It was possible to shoot a little video.
Some landscapes of Alaska. 
And this is how our fingers looked in the morning after a month of work at the factory. 
It was an unforgettable trip!
Tours to Alaska: the best prices for trips to Alaska, USA from leading tour operators and the best travel agencies.
Alaska is a harsh romance, endless freedom, untouched beauty. The northernmost (and largest!) US state is separated from its star-striped "counterparts" by Canada and generally does not look much like them. The mainland and the numerous islands washed by the Pacific and Arctic Oceans are the kingdom of unconquered nature. In reserves and national parks, mountains, fjords, forests and gorges flaunt, grizzlies and other wild animals are found. The "Land of the Midnight Sun" attracts adventurers who are ready to learn the secrets of life on the very edge of the earth.
Holidays in Alaska
Acquaintance with Alaska most often begins with the capital - the city of Juneau founded by gold miners. Today anyone can try precious happiness: they will talk about gold mining mines and technologies, and allow them to wash a couple of sparkling grains. Of the iconic sights - the Capitol, the State Museum, pedestrian downtown and the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas.
The flowering city of Anchorage, illuminated by the northern lights and surrounded by national parks, and the Indian settlement Ketchikan, where they acquaint with the traditions of the indigenous peoples of America, are required to visit. And then there’s the direct road to Denali: watch the grizzly bears trying to catch trout in the river, climb to the top of McKinley and freeze from the surrounding beauty. And then - admire the blue glaciers, ride dog sledding, fly hydroplanes, dive to the bottom of the lakes: Alaska is preparing many wonders for its brave guests.
Seasonality and cost of tours
It is best to conquer Alaska from May to September: the summer is dry, pleasantly cool. In winter, you should not go deeper into the continent: if in Juneau and Anchorage the thermometer is held at −6 ° C, then frosts crack up to −50 ° C in regions remote from the coast.
An 11-day tour from the Pacific coast to the Arctic coast with cruises, flights, excursions and overnight in hotels will cost 5000 USD per person. To this amount you need to add the cost of food and flights to Anchorage. In winter, ski tours are organized with visits to the resort Alieski and Fairbanks, transfers, excursions and ski passes (from 2200 USD per person for 9 days, airfare and meals are not included in the price). Prices on the page are for October 2018.