Disappear into the vast expanses of Alaska, one of America’s wildest and most beautiful states. Discover a land of majestic mountain peaks, glaciers tumbling into tranquil fjords and volcanic archipelagos scattered across the ocean. The far-flung state also offers charming towns with strong links to traditional cultures and traditions.
The towns and cities in Alaska have been shaped by the indigenous communities that have lived here for thousands of years. Learn about the Inuit peoples of the Far North in towns such as Barrow or explore cultural sites of the Alutiiq on Kodiak Island. Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center in the city of Anchorage and browse displays that cover centuries of indigenous cultures in Alaska.
Travel to Fairbanks in Interior Alaska for attractions such as Pioneer Park that focus on the gold rush era in the state. Anchorage, the most populated city, and Juneau, the state capital, offer art galleries and museums in sleek 21st-century buildings that display Alaska’s modern side.
Embrace the great outdoors of Alaska. Join a coach trip into the heart of Denali National Park and Preserve, which sprawls out around Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, the highest peak in the country. Enjoy adventure sports such as climbing and white-water rafting at destinations such as the Kenai Peninsula or take a boat trip to see the ice floes of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Alaska is a haven for wildlife and you can spot different creatures in every region. Head to Nome to see polar bears during whaling season or visit Kodiak Island and Katmai National Park and Preserve to spot brown and grizzly bears catching salmon. Watch the ocean for whales at any point along the coast and look to the skies at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve to spot America’s national bird soaring through the air.
Airports in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks are the most used points of entry into Alaska. Choose a time of year that suits your travel plans. Summer sees warm days and, in the north, 24 hours of sun. Winter is the time of thick snowfall and the chance to see the aurora borealis, the northern lights.
