Whittier Custom Scenic Wildlife Sightseeing Tour

Scenic Transfer • Wildlife Encounters • Bespoke Sightseeing
Your journey to Whittier should feel like part of the adventure—not just a ride. With Epic Alaska Tours, it’s a completely custom, high-touch experience crafted around your interests and schedule.

Travel in a luxury Mercedes Sprinter van with your personal Alaskan guide, offering rich storytelling, local history, and insider insights along the way.

Choose from an array of iconic and hidden-gem locations:
• Portage Valley, abundant hanging glaciers
• Girdwood, an alpine town with gourmet dining
• AWCC- home to rescued bears, bison, & more
• North America’s longest highway tunnel in a mountain
• Anchorage highlights: Earthquake Park, Lake Hood seaplane base, & downtown
• Scenic spots: Beluga Point, eagles, dall sheep, Anchorage cityscape overlook
• Local artisan shops

We’ll tailor every detail to your pace and passions. This is your day, your way—crafted with the care and elegance Epic Alaska is known for.

What's included:

• Professional, knowledgeable local guide
• Customized itinerary with flexible stops based on your preferences
• Luxury private transport in a Mercedes Sprinter van
• Showcasing Alaska's hidden gems
• Commentary on Alaska’s natural, cultural, and historical highlights
• Comfortable door-to-door pickup and drop-off at your preferred locations
• Bottled water and light snacks
• Entry to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Not included:

• Personal expenses and souvenirs
• Tips/gratuities for guide and driver
• Any additional activities not specified in the itinerary (e.g., boat tours, special excursions)

What to expect:

Duration: between 6 hours and 8 hours

Anchorage

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage was born as a railroad construction camp in 1914 and has since grown into Alaska’s largest city. Downtown is compact, walkable, and full of charm, with historic buildings, vibrant murals, and sweeping views of the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet.

Pass by without stopping

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

43520 Seward Highway, Mile 79 Of The Seward Highway, Girdwood, 99587, Alaska

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a heartfelt sanctuary dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing lifelong care to Alaska’s injured and orphaned wildlife.
Visitors have the unique opportunity to get up close with iconic Alaskan animals such as bears, moose, bison, mountain goats, and wolves, all living in large, natural enclosures that mimic their wild habitats.

AWCC is a place of education and conservation, where expert staff share stories about each animal’s rescue journey and ongoing efforts to protect Alaska’s fragile ecosystems.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Earthquake Park

5101 Point Woronzof Rd, , Anchorage, 99502, Alaska

This quiet, forested area marks the site of one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history: the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. Measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, it remains the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America and the second strongest in the world.
Here, the earth quite literally gave way. A once-thriving Anchorage neighborhood slid into the Cook Inlet when the ground dropped more than 30 feet in seconds. Today, you can still see the contours of the land where it buckled and shifted—a haunting, beautiful landscape shaped by seismic force.

Interpretive signs throughout the park offer insight into what happened, while elevated viewpoints give you sweeping vistas of Cook Inlet, Mount Susitna ("Sleeping Lady"), and on a clear day, even Mount Denali in the distance.

15 minutes

Lake Hood Harbor

185 Aircraft Drive, , Anchorage, 99502, Alaska

What might look like a peaceful lake is actually the busiest seaplane base on Earth, with up to 500 takeoffs and landings per day during the summer months.
With over 80% of Alaska’s communities unreachable by road, planes are a lifeline. From bush pilots flying supplies to remote villages, to scenic tour operators and backcountry adventurers, Lake Hood is the heartbeat of Alaska’s aviation culture.

Pass by without stopping

Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary

154th Ave, , Anchorage, 99587, Alaska

Stretching along the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, this peaceful wetland is a haven for birds, moose, and serene natural beauty.
A winding wooden boardwalk extends out over the marsh, allowing guests to walk gently above the water and grasses. From here, you might spot trumpeter swans, arctic terns, bald eagles, and dozens of migratory bird species, especially during spring and summer. Look closely into the water below—you may see spawning salmon, darting trout, or even a shy muskrat gliding past.

Pass by without stopping

Beluga Point

Mile 110, Seward Hwy, Mile 110 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, 99516, Alaska

This dramatic stretch of coastline offers panoramic views of Turnagain Arm, with the Chugach Mountains towering behind and tides that can rise and fall as much as 30 feet—among the highest in the world. The landscape shifts constantly with light and water, creating an unforgettable backdrop for photos and reflection.
In the summer months, this spot earns its name: Beluga whales can often be seen surfacing close to shore, following schools of salmon as the tide comes in. With a bit of luck and patience, you may spot their white backs gliding through the silvery water.

It’s also a great place to look for Dall sheep high on the cliffs above, or simply pause to take in the raw, expansive beauty that makes Alaska feel so alive.

30 minutes

Girdwood

Girdwood, Alaska

Girdwood is a charming mountain town known for its world-class skiing, welcoming community, and gourmet dining—all just a scenic 40-minute drive from Anchorage.
Originally a gold mining camp, Girdwood has blossomed into a year-round destination where visitors can soak in natural hot springs, explore hiking trails, or indulge in locally sourced cuisine at cozy restaurants and cafes.

1 hour

Portage Glacier

Portage Lake, Anchorage, 99501, Alaska

This massive, blue-tinged river of ice stretches over 14 miles long, carved by millennia of movement through rugged mountains.
Visitors can view the glacier from the Portage Glacier Visitor Center, where large windows and informative exhibits provide insight into glaciology, local wildlife, and the area’s natural history. On a clear day, the icy face of Portage Glacier towers dramatically over Portage Lake, with icebergs floating serenely on the water.

Beyond the visitor center, there are hiking trails, kayak tours, and boat cruises that bring you closer to the glacier’s awe-inspiring scale and power.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Byron Glacier Trail

Byron Glacier Road, Anchorage, Alaska

Byron Glacier is reached by a beautiful hiking trail that winds through lush spruce forests and rugged terrain, leading visitors closer to the glacier’s stunning blue ice formations nestled among towering peaks.
This peaceful trail offers the perfect blend of adventure and tranquility, making it an ideal escape from busier tourist spots. Along the way, you may hear the distant rumble of ice calving or flowing water, enhancing the sense of connection with Alaska’s wild spirit.

1 hour

Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

Portage Glacier Hwy, Whittier, 99693, Alaska

Stretching 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) beneath Maynard Mountain, this tunnel is the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America. What makes it truly unique is its one-lane configuration: cars and trains take turns passing through, and direction alternates every 15 minutes—a process carefully coordinated by traffic signals and tunnel staff.
Originally built during World War II to provide access to the strategic port town of Whittier, the tunnel was named after Anton Anderson, the chief engineer and visionary behind the project. It was opened to vehicular traffic in 2000, transforming Whittier from an isolated military post into a scenic cruise and ferry hub.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included