How Long Should I Plan for a Trip to Alaska?

If you have a week you have enough time for a thrilling, memorable Alaskan vacation. Almost any itinerary (see Sample Trips) can be adapted to match the amount of time you have. And with a wide variety of activities and tours to choose from, planning your perfect itinerary is easy. Here are some possible foundations for your travel plans.

7 days

• Fly to and from Alaska and spend most of your time exploring/experiencing.
• Focus on one area of the state and take a variety of shorter excursions around that area.
• Rent a car or RV and discover Alaska's unique roadside communities. You'll get a change to meet friendly people, see wildlife, and view unforgettable scenery. Stop where you want, for as long as you want.

7 to 14 days

• Fly round-trip to Alaska, or fly one way and take a cruise ship or state ferry in the other direction.
• If you plan to travel by sea, add a few shore excursions to experience adventures such as flightseeing, kayaking, walking tours, guided rafting and fishing trips.
• Add land-based day trips and tours to your itinerary. Plan on one low-key day for every two days of intensive touring.
• Plan a one- or two-day visit to an Alaskan "bush" community for in-depth discovery of Alaskan history and Native culture.

14 days or more

• Combine two 7-day itineraries.
• Travel to and from the state using different methods of transportation.
• Drive to and from Alaska in your own car or RV and see several regions of the state by road, adding occasional flightseeing trips, land-based tours and day cruises.
• Include a rail trip.
• See more than one region.
• Take a few days to visit the "bush" for explorations of gold rush history or Native culture.
• Take a motorcoach tour from the lower 48 and allow the tour operators to handle all the details for you.

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