Excursions and Day Tours - Girdwood, Alaska
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Girdwood

Tours, Day Trips and Excursions


About GirdwoodThe resort village of Girdwood offers many outdoor adventures

Located just 39 miles south of Anchorage, the picturesque resort village of Girdwood is perfect for short day trips and weekend getaways. The beautiful Chugach Mountain range provides an excellent backdrop for year round adventure, such as glacier dog sledding, hiking, rock and ice climbing, and ATV tours.

Girdwood is also home to the Alyeska Resort, the only 5 star resort in Alaska! The resort offers first class accommodation, fine dining - with amazing views from the Seven Glaciers restaurant located high on top Mt. Alyeska, spa services, and winter skiing. In addition to the resort, Girdwood offers a variety of B&Bs, restaurants, bars, boutiques and shops.

Girdwood can be reached by car or daily train and bus service. Please email mytrip@alaskatours.com for more information on lodging in and transportation to/from Girdwood.

 

 

 

Prices listed include all taxes and fees.

 

Summer GLACIER DOG MUSHING Tour 37Mush a dog team on the snow in the summertime!
$429 adult, $399 child (2-12 years)

(2 person minimum required)

(passengers over 250 pounds charged 1 1/2 times pp rate)

The greatest Alaskan experience of all - dog sledding on a glacier! Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight to the unique glacier base camp which serves as a summer-time training ground for Iditarod sled dogs. Learn about mushing from a 9-time Iditarod trail veteran and drive the team yourself along a spectacular 2-mile glacier trail. Please note: transfers from Anchorage are NOT included.

Tour Duration: 2 hours.

Tour times: various. Daily departures: May 1 - August 31, 2008.

 

 

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND - 26 GLACIER CRUISE Tour 38Glaciers and wildlife are plentiful in Prince William Sound!
This full-day adventure begins with a transfer to Whittier from Girdwood via railroad. Enjoy spectacular scenery as you travel through the mountains and through a one-way tunnel. Upon arrival in Whittier, board a high-speed catamaran for the cruise through Prince William Sound. Watch for sea otters, whales and birds as you travel through glacier-filled College and Harrimann Fjords. During the cruise, you will see Alpine (hanging), Piedmont and Tidewater glaciers. The ship will stop a safe distance from a glacier to watch for glacier calving - when the large chunks of ice fall off the glacier. A hot lunch is included on board.

Cruise Duration: approx. 4.5 hours.

Daily departures: April 28 - September 30, 2008.

  • Cruise with round trip transfers from Girdwood (depart 11:15am, return 7:35pm; available May 17 - September 14, 2008):
    $225 adult, $128 child (2-11 years)

  • Cruise only from Whittier (depart 1pm): 
    $151 adult, $91 child (2-11 years)

 

 

RAINFOREST HIKING Tour 33

$69 per person from Girdwood (2 person minimum required)
$114 per person with roundtrip transfer from Anchorage (3 person minimum required)
Explore the Historic Iditarod Trail south of Anchorage. This moderate and exciting 5 mile (roundtrip) hike consists of a very unique hand tram crossing and walk over the Winner Creek Gorge. Your naturalist guide will point out and discuss the flora and fauna of North America's northern-most temperate rainforest. You may even see a moose! When blueberry season is in full swing, the trail is blooming with scrumptious delights sure to please everyone. No experience necessary.

Important information: Ages 7 and up. This trip operates in ALL weather conditions! Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable hiking clothing including rain gear and sturdy footwear or hiking boots. You will be asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour.

Duration: 2-3 hours.

Departure times: 10am, 3pm, and 6pm. Daily departures: May 15 - September 30, 2008.

 

 

HISTORIC IDITAROD (CROW PASS) TRAIL DAY HIKING Tour 36

$99 per person from Girdwood (2 person minimum required; maximum of 10 persons)
$144 per person with roundtrip transfer from Anchorage (3 person minimum required)

Glaciers, waterfalls, wildflowers, and mining ruins add some spice to the hike to Crow Pass, as if it needed any; the pass is the highest point on the historic Iditarod Trail and one of the finest day hikes in Southcentral Alaska. Arctic ground squirrels, marmots, and mountain goats inhabit the high country near Crow Pass, and bears, moose, and Dall sheep are frequently spotted too, especially on the Eagle River side of the pass. The trail is relatively snow-free by late June, though the Crystal Lake basin south of the pass and some of the gullies north of the pass may hold snow well into summer.

Special features: One of the classic alpine backpacking traverses in Southcentral Alaska - an alpine pass, mountain glaciers, mining ruins and Iditarod Trail history, wildlife, and access to off-trail wilderness rambles.

Elevation gain: 2,100 feet to Crow Pass from trail head.

Mileage: 2 miles to mine site (moderate, steep) one way; 3 miles to Crystal Lake and Raven Glacier viewpoint (moderate, steep, exceptional vistas) one way.

Important information: Ages 9 and up. Previous hiking experience suggested. This trip operates in ALL weather conditions! Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable hiking clothing including rain gear and sturdy footwear or hiking boots. You will be asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour.
Duration: 5 to 6 hours.

Departure times: 10am. Daily departures: June 15 - September 15, 2008.

 

 

GLACIER HIKING Tour 31

$139 per person from Girdwood (2 person minimum required)
$184 per person with roundtrip transfer from Anchorage (3 person minimum required)

Just south of Anchorage, the Alyeska Glacier is nestled in Glacier Bowl of the Chugach Mountains. Overlooking breathtaking views of the Turnagain Arm and towering alpine peaks, you will be amazed while peering into crevasses during the Alaskan Midnight Sun. Ride the scenic Alyeska Tram and then hike for about 40 minutes a scenic ridgeline surrounded by the seven glaciers of the Girdwood Valley and outstanding views. At the glacier's edge, you will gear up with climbing harnesses, ropes and/or crampons, over-boots to travel out onto the glacier itself. Trip includes all equipment, experienced and certified mountain guides, tram ticket and interpretive glaciology discussions. A snack and water is provided.

Important information: Ages 10 and up. While this is a moderate to strenuous activity, no previous experience is needed.  Wear warm comfortable clothes in layers and hiking boots.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours.

Departure times: 10am, and 3pm. Daily departures: June 13 - September 15, 2008.

Note: From June 13 to July 13, there is also a Midnight Sun Glacier Hike which departs at 8pm.

 

 

ICE CLIMBING Tour 30Ice climbing is Alaskan adventure at its finest!

$189 per person from Girdwood (2 person minimum required)
$234 per person with roundtrip transfer from Anchorage (3 person minimum required)

Learn to ice climb or hone your skills south of Anchorage. After arriving at the climbing area in the Portage Valley, you will hike 5 miles roundtrip on rugged terrain ranging from trails to off-trail talus walking, boulder hopping and cramponing on ice to get to the Byron Glacier where you will climb. Your guide will set up a top-rope on the ice route. The experienced, certified mountain guides will teach you everything from the basics to advanced ice climbing techniques. You will be fitted with crampons, a harness, mountaineering boots, and ice tools. After learning the basics, "climb on" as your guide belays you! The towering Chugach Mountains and glaciers will fill our views during the 6-hour trip in Portage. No previous climbing experience necessary.

Important information: Ages 12 and up. Wear comfortable warm winter ski clothes dressing in layers (long john top & bottom, fleece jacket, waterproof shoes, backpack, lunch and a camera. Do not wear cotton!  You will be asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour. Meals are not included.

Duration: 5 to 6 hours.
Departure time: 10:00am. Daily departures: May 25 - September 30, 2008, though tour operates year round. Please contact us for departure times and availability for tours after September 30.
Private climbing instruction available for an additional charge.

 

 

ROCK CLIMBING Tour 32

$129 per person from Girdwood (2 person minimum required)
$174 per person with roundtrip transfer from Anchorage (3 person minimum required)

An exhilarating and memorable experience for all! Technically experienced guides teach everyone from novices to advanced climbers at Tram Rock or on the Seward Highway. Climbing takes place at either Tram Rock (at Alyeska Resort) or along the Seward Highway, depending on weather. Tour includes snack, climbing gear, helmet, harness, chalk-bag and rental rock shoes.

Important information: Ages 3 and up. While this is a moderate to strenuous activity, no prior experience is necessary.  Wear comfortable warm clothes in layers and hiking boots. You will be asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour.
Duration: 3 hours.

Departure times: 10am and 3pm. Daily departures: May 15 - September 30, 2008.

 

 

GIRDWOOD ATV TOUR  Tour 34

3-hour Tour from Girdwood/trailhead: $165 per person (ages 16 and up)**

2nd rider (sharing an ATV): $110 per person (ages 8 and up)

** minimum of 2 adults required!ATV tours are exciting and get you deep into the "Real Alaska"!

Access Alaska's backcountry! The Girdwood area has a maze of trails winding through temperate rainforest. With your guide, ride trails hidden even to locals. You'll also take a short hike to a clear water pool with spawning salmon and a spectacular waterfall.  Bear, moose and eagles can also be seen in this area depending on the time of year (not guaranteed). Safety gear, raingear, snacks and refreshments are provided. Please bring your own boots for this tour.

Minimum 16 years old to operate an ATV.

Tour duration: 3 hours.

Departure times: 10am and 2pm (subject to change). Daily departures: May 1 - September 30, 2008.

 

 


Click here to view great activities and short trips in other locations:

 

Anchorage | Girdwood | Seward | Talkeetna | Denali | Fairbanks

Homer | Kenai   | Kodiak | Cordova   | Valdez

Haines | Juneau | Ketchikan | Skagway | Sitka | Wrangell
 

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