Cruise Close to Nature on an Alaska Wildlife Tour
From mountains to coastal plains, from freshwater rivers to saltwater oceans and bays, Alaska provides a rich variety of terrain that allows different types of wildlife to thrive. A special Alaska cruise allows you to see all the wildlife from the comfort of your own ship.The "Last Great Wilderness" beckons with its expanses of pristine, ruggedly beautiful land. The population density is low, with less than 0.06 people per square acre on average. Most of the population is centered in the major cities like Juneau and Fairbanks. Furthermore, environmentalists have been pushing hard to keep Alaska's wilderness in a natural state. Cruise ships help keep the impact of people on the habitats low.
The vast stretches of unsullied land and the lack of major interference by humans have made Alaska the perfect home for a number of rare types of wildlife. Admiralty Island sports the world's highest density of bears, with a population density of more than one bear per square mile. From your special cruise, you can see the more than half of the world's endangered bald eagle population.
Land animals are not the only creatures to thrive in the Alaskan environment. The rivers teem with silvery salmon, 300-pound halibut are a regular catch, and the oceans sport whales, porpoises, crabs, and shellfish.
How Does a Wildlife Cruise Work?
An Alaskan wildlife cruise helps you get close to amazing wildlife like caribou, bear, wolves, rare birds, and whales, without disturbing the environment or risking your own safety. Most cruise tours are centered in the National Parks of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge or the Kenai Fjords National Park.
You can add a wilderness tour to your cruise. Led by guides who have years of experience with the local fauna, they increase your chances of getting great views as well as answering any questions that you may have.
Depending on your interest and activity level, you have a few different options to choose among when it comes to picking your wildlife cruise and land package.
What Are My Options?
* Camping Wildlife Tours - A camping wildlife tour is a chance to
experience the Alaskan wilderness first hand. Spend your
nights
under the open sky, toasting marshmallows by the fire and bonding with
your fellow travelers. Hike through the gorgeous scenery to
the
most likely wildlife spotting locations during the day.* Bus Wildlife Tours - If hiking isn't your forte, take the bus. This also allows you to see a wider portion of the Alaskan scenery.
* Whale-Watching Cruises - Enjoy the wildlife of the sea with a whale-watching cruise. Sail through majestic fjords and past rolling ice fields accompanied by porpoises, humpback whales, and orcas.
* Fishing Wildlife Tours - Some tours include a different type of fishing every day, including fly-fishing for trout and salmon, fishing for hundred-pound halibut, and even delivery to especially remote fishing spots by float plane.
* Adventure Wildlife Tours - View some of the most undisturbed reaches of Alaska with an adventure tour. Traveling by kayak or taking a whitewater rafting journey can be a thrilling addition to your Alaska cruise.