7 hours
Duration
Whittier to Anchorage All Day Bus Tour – Cruise Ship Days
2026 SUMMER EARLY BIRD SPECIALS
All prices are going up March 1
SPECIAL THIS WEEK: Groups of 6 or more get 10% off if booked before this Sunday.
FAMOUS ALYESKA MOUNTAIN TRAM TICKETS, LUNCH AND MUCH MORE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!
Whittier to Anchorage Bus Tour – Full Day includes all popular attractions and lunch to keep you entertained for the day.
If you’ve got a full day between the ship and your next check-in, this is the easiest way to use it—not waste it. You’ll travel through the best scenery along the route, with well-timed stops that feel like the Alaska you came for: big views, fresh air, wildlife moments, and places worth stepping off the bus for. It’s comfortable, organized, and guided by people who genuinely know the land—so the day feels smooth, not packed.
Pick up directly at the Whittier cruise ship terminal. Go through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Stop at the Portage Glacier Visitor Center with amazing glaciers surrounding a beautiful lake. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center visit to see Bears, Moose, Caribou, Bison, Musk-Oxen. Turnagain Arm with Beluga Whales and Dall Sheep (drive by). Majestic Mt. Alyeska with aerial tram and a view of seven glaciers. Viewing of wild salmon, sheep, birds, and beluga whales (drive by). Tour of Alaska’s metropolis in the middle of wilderness – Anchorage with a visit to Lake Hood, Ship Creek, and drop off at any location in town. Basic lunch is included in the price.
Whittier to Anchorage All Day Bus Tour will pick you up directly at the ship, inside the terminal where you pick up your luggage. We will drop you off anywhere in Anchorage (hotels, car rentals or airport).
PRICE |
Adults: $190 |
LOCATION |
Bus Tour Departs: Whittier cruise ship terminal
Bus Tour Arrives: Anchorage Airport or hotels |
BUS DEPARTURE TIME |
Please arrive by 8:30 AM for a prompt departure at 8:45 am.
This tour operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays when a cruise ship is in port. Will I be able to get off the ship on time to make your departure? Please check our Frequently Asked Questions for answer to this question. |
BUS ARRIVAL TIME |
Bus arrives Anchorage airport 4:00 – 4:30PM
Bus drops off at Anchorage hotels till about 5:30PM |
WEAR |
Comfortable layered clothing, walking shoes. |
INCLUDED |
During this wonderful Whittier to Anchorage Full Day Bus Tour you will see all of the following:
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Whittier to Anchorage Bus Tour – Full Day Detailed Description:
Overview
Meet your guide inside the Whittier cruise terminal around 8:45 AM and enjoy an 7 hour, fully narrated bus journey to Anchorage. This full-day experience blends classic Alaska sightseeing with a wildlife visit, a scenic Portage Valley photo stop, a tram ride high above the Chugach Mountains, and a city highlights tour—ending with convenient airport-first and hotel drop-offs.
Whittier, Tunnel & Portage Valley
Depart Whittier and travel through the 2.5-mile Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest highway tunnel in North America. Continue into Portage Valley for an overlook of the lake, with numerous hanging glaciers crowning the surrounding peaks—an ideal spot for photos.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC)
Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sanctuary for Alaska’s iconic animals. See bison, elk, moose, caribou, musk oxen, eagles, and—often—bears in spacious habitats while learning about ongoing conservation efforts.
Girdwood & Alyeska Tram
Continue to Girdwood for the Alyeska Aerial Tram. Glide ~2,300 ft to sweeping views of seven glaciers, Turnagain Arm, and the Chugach Range. A hearty lunch is included.
Turnagain Arm to Anchorage
Follow the National Scenic Byway along Turnagain Arm, where steep mountains meet the sea. Look for potential sightings of Dall sheep on the cliffs or beluga whales in the inlet. Farther north, pass Potter Marsh, part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.
Anchorage Highlights & Drop-off
Arrive in Alaska’s largest city for brief highlights: historic Ship Creek and the Alaska Railroad Depot area (seasonal salmon viewing), a panorama from Point Woronzof, and Lake Hood, the world’s busiest floatplane base. Drop-offs include Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (first) and most major hotels.
What’s Included
- Comfortable, shared coach bus from Whittier to Anchorage
- Pickup inside the Whittier cruise ship terminal
- Transit through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
- Dedicated photo stop in Portage Valley
- Visit to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (admission included)
- Alyeska Aerial Tram ride in Girdwood
- Hearty boxed lunch and bottled water
- Anchorage highlights tour with airport-first and hotel drop-offs
Coach Features
- Easy step-up entry and wide aisle
- Heating and air conditioning
- Tinted, large picture-view windows for photography
- Individual, full-size seats (no middle seats)
- Friendly driver-guide narration throughout
Typical Timeline (subject to change)
- 8:45 AM – Depart Whittier cruise ship terminal
- 9:00 AM – Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel transit
- 9:15–9:45 AM – Portage Valley lake & hanging-glacier photo stop
- 10:00–11:45 AM – Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center & and lunch
- 12:15–1:45 PM – Girdwood: Alyeska Tram
- 2:00–2:30 PM – Turnagain Arm
- 2:45 PM – Potter Marsh overview (drive-by commentary)
- 3:00–4:00 PM – Anchorage highlights: Ship Creek, Point Woronzof, Lake Hood
- 4:15 PM – Airport drop-off
- 4:30–5:15 PM – Hotel drop-offs
What to Bring
- Layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes
- Light rain jacket
- Camera or smartphone
- Small daypack for personal items
Good to Know
Wildlife sightings, tram operations, and the exact photo-stop locations vary with weather, tides, and season. Your guide will adapt stops for the best experience on the day of travel.
About Whittier, Alaska
If one one the Whittier cruises your final destination you might find following facts interesting. Whittier is Anchorage’s portal to Prince William Sound. Although Anchorage itself in on Upper Cook Inlet, the highest tides in the Northern America, muddy, fast-moving water offers no use for boating. Whittier, on the other hand, stands on the edge of a long fjord, whose clear waters are full of salmon orcas, and otters. Surrounded by mountains dripping with glaciers which are beautiful when the sun is shining, they also trap storms over the town and as a result 15 feet of rain and 20 feet of snow a year is average. Most of town’s 250 residents live in one 14-story structure, which certainly cuts down on snow-shoveling time.
In the past, the only way to get to from Anchorage to Whittier cruises was by riding through the mountain by train. Now the railway tunnel is paved creating North America’s longest highway tunnel and providing opportunities for buses, shuttles, and motorcoaches to take you to Anchorage. Whittier to Anchorage All Day Bus Tour offers shuttles and tours.
There are lots of exciting things to do in Whittier or Seward transportation such as hiking, fishing for salmon, trout, red snapper, photography, hunting for bear and birds, wildlife viewing, and much more right here in Whittier, Alaska!
This service is available only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Any other days only private transfers, call directly for rates.
Our tour/transfer is directly coordinated with the cruise line schedule and place. We will meet you when you are able to get off the ship, will take care of your luggage, and drop off at most locations in Anchorage.
Departing Cruise ship terminal at 8:45AM
Arriving Anchorage Airport 4:00-4:30PM
Dropping off at Anchorage hotels till about 5:30PM
All ships dock at Whittier port overnight 12:00AM and start disembarkation at 7:00AM the same morning.
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Tour Reviews
Transfer from Whittier to Anchorage Full day tour
To make good use of time we decided to do a tour on disembarking from the cruise ship in Whittier on our way to Anchorage. If you have time this was a great way to see some sights given you are on the way to Anchorage anyway.
We stopped at Portage which was beautiful seeing a ice covered lake. Onto the wildlife park where you could see Alaskan animals and then to a lunch stop at Alaeska Resort with a tram ride included in the price. The views were lovely and we even had snow falling at the top. Lunch was simple sandwiches and after a cruise of over eating it was just right.
Our driver Tim had good information about the areas mixed in with some average jokes. There are a few Anchorage City highlights (Lake Hood, Ship creek, Ulu factory and earthquake park area) on the way to your drop off.
Easy to find sign in the cruise terminal and organized check in, with plenty of room for your luggage.
We enjoyed the tour.
Via Tripadvisor
Great day trip if you have a late flight out of Anchorage from Whittier
Sherry, the tour guide did a good job of giving us insights into Alaska and Anchorage history. The bus driver was very friendly and personable. I highly recommend the service.
Via Tripadvisor
Family
Meeting at the cruise terminal was friending …day tour was very interesting and thank you for bringing our left luggage on the bus to our hotel..will use your service again next time …..
Via Tripadvisor
Great full day tour on the way to the airport
Rather than taking the direct bus to the airport (9 hours prior to my flight time) I chose to get the full day tour from Whittier to Anchorage. My driver was Alan and tour guide was Sherry. Sherry was hilarious to listen to (I’m a sucker for the lame punch-liners) and she was full of them. Together, her and Alan really knew a lot of cool information about the sights. When we stopped to take pictures, I definitely felt like I had enough time to soak in the beauty and take 100000 pictures, definitely did not feel rushed in any way. I had one disappointment only and that was the weather. When we stopped at the Alyeska resort and up the tram, all I saw was clouds. I was unable to appreciate the true beauty of the “seven glaciers” from the top. But of course, ATC and Sherry literally had no say in the weather. If anything, she actually tried very hard for us to enjoy it as much as we possibly could.
Via Tripadvisor
Great way to end an Alaskan Northbound Cruise from Whittier to Anchorage
We finished our cruise on July 1st at 8:00am in Whittier, AK. Our flight was not until 11:30 pm in Anchorage, AK. There are no taxis from Whittier to Anchorage.
I did some research and found a great tour from 8:45am until 4:00pm with ACT. This ended up being the best tour of the Cruise because of the guide Levi. He was awesome!
We started with a quick tour of Whittier. Then we waited for a 9:00am tunnel time. We stopped at several scenic vistas. The wildlife refuge with black/brown bears, elk, bison, foxes, moose, porcupine, wolves, eagle, owls, and many other animals. After we went to the Alyeska ski resort for lunch and a hike. We had an extensive tour of Anchorage.
Levi was great! He is very knowledgeable, kind, funny, and personable. He made the tour a great time. Lastly, he recommended the Glacier Brew House for dinner, the food was incredible.
Nice bus, great driver/guide.
Took this bus from our ship terminal to our hotel. Made some stops for scenery, animal watching and a box lunch. Allan, the driver/guide was entertaining and courteous and helpful. The scenery was marred by a constant light rain. The bus dropped us directly at our hotel.
Via Tripadvisor
Wonderful All-Day Bus Tour
Our disembarkation was 7am and our flight departure was at 9pm so we had time to take the all-day bus tour. It was a very enlightening experience. We had unhurried stops at Portage Glacier viewpoint. Alyeska Aerial tram ride was also included. The wildlife conservation center was fun for the kids. Our driver was friendly and knowledgable and very accommodating. ACT is one provider that is allowed to meet the passengers inside the Princess Cruises Terminal so we were very comfortable while waiting. Others had to walk out to the parking lot to meet up with their transfers. I can’t imagine doing that if it rains.
Via Tripadvisor
Exceptional Value
Trip was excellent. Alan, our driver/guide was exceptional. Particularly pleased with the choice of events and quality of the lunch. Recommend w/o any reservations.
Fun Full Day Transfer
Great way to spend the day before an evening flight out of Anchorage. Picked us up right at the port after our cruise. Allen, our tour guide, was packed full of info about the area. We stopped at Alyeska Ski Resort for lunch (included) and rode the tram up the mtn. (Also included). We were promptly dropped off at the airport at 4:30pm. Fun day!
Via Tripadvisor
“Spectacular Bus Tour”
Thank you Alan & A.C.T. For making our final day in Alaska exciting & informative. You made our exit off ship and meeting us in the cruise terminal in Whittier very easy. I have nothing but compliments for the tour company and our very knowledgeable tour guide/ driver Alan. A.C.T. Don’t ever let Alan go, he’s worth his weight in GOLD! I learned more about Alaska during the tour then I did all week on the cruise. My advise to anyone considering booking this tour GO FOR IT! You will not be disappointed. Seats were very comfortable & lunch was delicious. We made it to the Airport in plenty of time to make our flight. I will be back to Alaska and definitely going to book with A.C.T- Big Bus. Hopefully Alan will be available to guide us. Thank you so much for A very pleasant experience.
Via Tripadvisor
A Great Final Day in Alaska
We had a day to kill after departing from our Princess Cruise in Anchorage, and I booked ourselves and our friends on the Whittier to Anchorage Airport bus tour with A.C.T. We had a wonderful day! The buses were easy to find at the cruise terminal. Our guide, Alan, was entertaining and informative. We loved all the stops. The wildlife conservatory was fantastic, with rescued big game up close and personal, including wolves, bears, and moose. We had a very good outdoor boxed lunch at the beautiful Alyeska Ski Resort Hotel (and saw a wedding), then took the tram to the top of the mountain. On the way to downtown Anchorage, we pulled over for a rare sighting of wild Dall Sheep right by the highway. Anchorage was surprisingly warm and sunny, and we had a short stop to watch the salmon fishermen. We were dropped off on time at the airport. This ACT tour is a wonderful way to spent a final day in Alaska before your flight home.
Via Tripadvisor
Compliments to Alan the tour guide
On August 23, 2017 we got off of the island princess in Alaska. Alan our tour director and driver with a CT tors greeted us with a warm welcoming. He had given us so much information about Alaska That we were just amazed. I own a travel agency and I was so impressed by his knowledge. I will be sure to spread the word to my travel agent about the super of service that a CT tours represents . And they are very experienced tour guide/driver Alan .thank you very much Di @ Let’s go trav
Via Tripadvisor
Whittier to Anchorage – great day out!
Our cruise ship arrived in Whittier early on Saturday, so we took the ACT to Anchorage. If you have the time its a great way to spend the day – all of the stops were well worth making (the Alaska Wildlife Conservation place was a special favourite) and the tour of Anchorage itself at the end very informative. Our guide – Alan – was great. We were dropped at our hotel at 5pm as promised at the end of a relaxed but rewarding day of sightseeing. Very good value.
Via Tripadvisor
Perfect ending to our wonderful trip
We did the all day transport from Whittier to Anchorage. Our driver Alan was very knowledgeable and entertaining as he took us to the nature conservation and the aerial tram ride at Mt. Alyeska. His love for Alaska really showed in the stories and information he shared. We had a very enjoyable day on a comfortable bus. We all made it to our destination on time. Highly recommend this as a final excursion at the end of your journey.
Via Tripadvisor
Tour from Whittier to Anchorage
This was a great way to end our Alaskan Cruise. The bus picked us up in Whittier, took us around the tiny town of Whittier, then through the tunnel to the Alaska Wildlife Preserve. Following that we went to the ski resort of Alyaska, where we were served lunch then were able to ride the tram to the top. The tour finished up in Anchorage, where we were shown the local sights then transported to the airport for our flight home. Allen was an excellent tour guide!
Via Tripadvisor
All day tour
Perfect way to get from Whittier to anchorage. Comfortable bus. Easy checkin at cruise terminal. I originally booked the shorter excursion but sent an email requesting the full day. They did it and balance billed the cost of the longer excursion over shorter one. Booked online, cheaper than cruise ship.
Via Tripadvisor
Great Option to Transfer from Anchorage Cruise Terminal to Airport!
This narrated bus tour was the perfect way for us to fill our day while being transported from the cruise terminal to the airport. The whole process from booking, boarding, touring and arrival at the airport was well organized and low stress. The motorcoach was clean and comfortable. Our driver/tour guide Alan was the best we have ever had. He was very knowledgeable and personable, provided a lot of interesting information, and had perfect enunciation/voice. We made several stops, all really nice. The highlights were the wildlife center, which showcased a large number of local animals and was excellent, and Alyeska ski resort, where we had enough time to ride the tram, and do some hiking. A very nice lunch was included. Alan made sure to check what the earliest departure time was for the group and tailored the day accordingly. This was a great experience and we highly recommend it.
Via Tripadvisor
Full Day Tour was nice!
Did the full day tour from Whittier to our hotel in Anchorage. This was a great way to end our cruise and start our Alaskan land tour. The Alaska Wildlife Center stop was way better than I was expecting. The Mt. Alyeska tram was nice, but I live in Colorado, so I wasn’t as impressed as others. The box lunch was fine. We also stopped at the Anchorage Market and Festival, which was a bonus stop. My dad has a hard time getting around, and the driver kindly reserved the front seat for him. This helped make his ride much more comfortable.
Via Tripadvisor
Great transfer from Whittier to Anchorage
We had a group of 14. Alan was our driver and he was great! We saw so much on our all day tour. Went to Wildlife Center. Enjoyed seeing all the animals up close. Had a nice lunch and a wonderful time at Alyeska resort and tram ride.
Great photo ops along the way. Driver Alan was excellent and very knowledgeable! Couldn’t have asked for a better transfer. This is a great tour for the price as well!
via Tripadvisor
Great overview of Anchorage, Alaska
We did the 1 day Anchorage tour with airport/hotel transfer costing $136. The entire excursion experience was great. Getting off our ship, we immediately spotted the tour rep who directed us to our bus which was just a 5min walk to it. Our driver, Alan, was extremely friendly. He did a great job of explaining the history/wildlife/giving us a local’s view of Anchorage. While driving on our tour, I saw an eagle flying probably about 50-100 ft away from us. The included lunch consisted of a ham sandwich generously stuffed with meat, bottle of water, apple, cookie, chips). We got 2hrs to eat lunch,check out Alyeska resort and go up the Alyeska Tram which took us up to the top of mountain for great views. The 2 things I would improve/suggest is to give us an extra 30min at the Wildlife sanctuary and an extra 30 min at the Portage Glacier (we were only given 15min to take pictures of the Glacier/lake, not enough time to visit the Visitor centre). I would definitely recommend this tour to others.
via Tripadvisor
Coach transfer with wildlife, glacier and city tours
Our coach transfer was fantastic! Alan was an excellent tour guide and storyteller, he even told some great corny dad jokes. The tours along the way made our experience of Alaska complete. The wildlife park enabled us to tick off all the Alaskan wildlife we wanted to see. We will recommend this coach trip to everyone. Great work ACT and Alan!
via Tripadvisor
Trip to Remember
Taking the tour from Whittier to Anchorage became an attraction that my wife and I will always remember. Alan, our tour guide (luggage handler, food server-LOL) was witty, extremely pleasant and outrageously informative. The tour consisted of all stops as promised as Alan explained all information as we proceeded on our journey.
You must find transportation to go from Whittier to Anchorage so we highly recommend no better way than this scenic tour through ACT to get to your destination
via Tripadvisor
Entertaining and educational experience
We took the all-day tour from Whittier to Anchorage. Our driver, Alan, was so well-informed. He gave us so much information about the land and the people and the culture that added such depth to our experience. The scenery is awesome but this tour was so much more than that. We visited the wildlife center where we spent ample time walking around seeing many types of animals up close. The Alyeska Resort where we had picnic style lunch offered so many lovely spots to eat and enjoy the surroundings. The tram ride to the top was a bonus we all enjoyed. We also were able to stop often for photo ops, which is always important to us photo buffs! There were 16 family members in group and ages from 10-73 and each person said it was the best way to end our vacation. Highly recommend it to everyone!
via Tripadvisor
Fun after the Cruise
We were a group of 8 adults getting off a cruise ship. All of us were very pleased with the tour. Our driver Mike was excellent as was our guide Brenna. They both were so enthusiastic, friendly and informative. The tour provided a boxed lunch that was much much better then we anticipated. There was more than enough to eat and it was good. We made numerous stops with ample time for each. The bus itself was a nice motor coach with comfortable seating and lots of room. It was so very easy to find them as we exited the ship. I would definitely recommend this tour.
via Tripadvisor
Best way to get from Whittier to Anchorage
Best way to get from Wittier to Anchorage. Our guide/driver was funny and informative. Packages lunch was nice/adequate. Wonderful bus with plugins for phones. Wonderful stop offs along the way.
via Tripadvisor
Excellent transfer and 7-hour tour
Excellent transfer and 7 hour tour from Whittier to Anchorage after our cruise. Very efficient. Very nice bus. Allen was an excellent driver and tour guide. Very informative and funny. Highly recommend!
via Tripadvisor
A Fabulous Tour for your last day in Alaska
I am reviewing the full day tour from Whittier to Anchorage. Instead of going straight to the airport, we decided to make a day of it. Boy did we make the right decision. I wish I could remember our driver’s name because he was spectacular in every way. The bus was roomy and comfy and our driver kept us entertained and well informed.
First we went to the Visitor Center. Complete with a movie theater and
several hands-on activities. Plenty to do and see.
Next stop was a wildlife conservation center, which was probably my favorite. Elk, reindeer, bison, moose, brown bears, a black bear, caribou, musk oxenA and wolves. It was very interesting to see them in this unique environment.
Then we went to the Alyeska Tram and took it up to the top for a lunch stop. Lunch was provided: choice of sandwiches, chips, beef stick, fruit by the foot, cookie and water. Our driver/guide gave us interesting info all the way to Anchorage. He made one more extra stop where we could watch some of the locals fishing for salmon. He then dropped some passengers off at hotels and the last stop was the airport. A great way to spend our last day.
via Tripadvisor
A wonderful full-day tour from Whittier to Anchorage with hotel drop off
The tour was very good organized from start too the end. Our driver on Whittier to Anchorage full day tour Alan, was amazing. He gave us a lot of information about Alaska and the places we saw. All praise to his efforts and the knowledge he passed on to us. We got a lot of information and saw a lot of interesting things including a lot of wild animals. We would highly recommend ACT transportations espectally his driver and guide ALAN to anyone who wants to learn as much as possible about Alaska.
via Tripadvisor
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