Alaska Trekker Alaska cruises
Options For Different Budgets
  The same wilderness that makes Alaska unique also means you have to budget Alaska differently from other destinations. Some of Alaska's most dramatic sights can only be accessed by plane or boat, and most unique experiences require expert guides and gear (river rafting, glacier hiking, dogsledding).
  Unlike resort or city vacations where your hotel choice can define your experience, in Alaska you'll want to reserve more of your budget for day tours that let you explore the otherwise inaccessible wilderness.
  Alaska Day Tours & Activities
  Tour costs range from as little as $80 for a 2-hour raft trip to $650 for an all-day, fly-out bear-viewing safari. Is it really worth it? We think so.
If you can afford it, we don't think you'll regret any of the recommendations on alaska.org. But watch our day tour video previews so you can decide for yourself. And, if your budget is limited, review our cost-cutting strategies.
  Here's what you'll want to budget for different tours:
 
Tour/Activity Budget (Per Person) Length Value
Fixed-Wing Flightseeing $150 – $350 1 – 3 hr Highest
Helicopter Flightseeing $250 – $400 1 – 2 hr Medium *
Helicopter Flightseeing & Glacier Dogsledding $350 2 hr Medium *
Glacier & Wildlife Cruise $60 – $150 2 – 8 hr Highest
Rafting or Kayaking $80 – $150 2 – 4 hr Highest
Bear Viewing $400 – $650 4 – 8 hr High **
Fly-In Fishing (Guided) $350 – $400 Full day Varies ****
Ocean or River Fishing Charter $135 – $250 1/2 or full day  
Museums & Cultural Attractions $10 – $35 2+ hr Varies
Fly-In Wilderness Lodge $300 – $500 to fly in $250 per night Days High **
Boat-In Wilderness Lodges *** $250 – $500 per night Days High **
 
Note:
* Helicopters are more expensive to operate and the tours are shorter.
** Expensive, but if you can afford it, unique and memorable.
*** Lodges across the Bay from Homer or Kenai Backcountry Lodge
**** Varies based on crowds and fishing conditions. But the flight in is always special.
  Alaska Lodging
  Unlike day tours, many visitors consider lodging to be one of the least compelling values of an Alaska vacation. Alaska hotels are really just a place to sleep (except wilderness lodges), and yet they can be pricey.
  But don't feel gouged—it's just the laws of economics. Alaska hotels need to recover 365 days of costs in a 120-day season.
 
• If you plan to hike in the high country or Arctic regions, know that the tundra doesn't really melt until late June.
• Luxury hotels run $200 – $250 a night. The difference is larger rooms, better location, and more amenities (restaurants, health club, business center, etc.)
  One way to reduce costs is to stay at Alaska B&B's, which can cost $100 – $175 per night, depending on room size and whether you have a private bathroom. In addition, you'll meet real Alaskans and get their friendly advice on things to do. The Alaska B&B's listed on alaska.org are all great finds, with great decor, rooms, and hosts.
  Cost-Cutting Strategies—Or How To Save $1,500 On Your Alaska Vacation
  If you have a limited budget, Alaska is still for you! Take a few of the higher-value day tours listed below, then rent a car and create your own adventures. It's easy to do in Alaska: the most famous Alaskan adventures ever done were on a shoestring budget.
 
• Lodging: Save $50 – $100 per night by staying at less expensive hotels or B&B's. Or, for the truly adventurous, bring a tent and sleeping bag. See Camping
• Transportation: Save $100+ by renting a car rather than taking buses and trains. You'll travel at you own pace too.
• High Value Day Tours: Glacier cruises, rafting, hiking, and museums offer great value for what you'll see and their length. Fixed-wing flightseeing is $150+ for a short tour, but so unique and memorable we still recommend you do it.
• Fishing: Save $225 by going on an ocean or river fishing charter rather than a fly-in. See Fishing
• Glaciers: Save $350+ by visiting a roadside glacier rather than a helicopter tour. See Mendenhall Glacier
• Native Culture: Save $450 by visiting museums and cultural centers rather than flying to Kotzebue or Barrow. See Museums
• Shoulder Season: Visit before June 13 or after August 20 for 10 – 25% discounts on some tours and lodging.
• Bear Viewing: Save $350+ by hoping to see bears from a distance on a Denali Park Road Tour rather than taking a fly-in bear viewing tour for guaranteed, up-close viewing. However, if you want to splurge big on one thing, treat yourself to fly-in bear viewing. Justify the expense as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. See Bear Watching
Southeast Alaska

• Ketchikan
• Misty Fjords
• Juneau
• Mendenhall Glacier
• Glacier Bay
• Petersburg
• Skagway
• Sitka
• Haines
• Wrangell		 Gulf Coast

• Whittier
• Seward
• Homer
• Kenai
• Kenai Fjords
• Kenai River
• Kodiak
• Valdez		 Southcentral

• Anchorage
• Potter Marsh
• Portage Glacier
• Girdwood		 Interior Alaska

• Fairbanks
• Talkeetna
• Denali National Park		 Far North Alaska

• Nome
• North Pole
• Barrow		 Southwest Alaska

• Aleutian Islands
• Katmai National Park
• Dutch Harbor

• More Towns and Cities
Home | Advertise With Us | Sitemap | Reservations | Contact Us | Add us to your Favorites

Website by Alaska Website Design
AlaskaTrekker.com is a privately owned news, weather and travel website based in Palmer, Alaska.

All images, media, and content copyright © 2005 - 2008 AlaskaTrekker.com – Unless otherwise noted – All rights reserved