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Explore the stunning glaciers and diverse wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park on guided trips departing directly from Seward. Choose from scenic sightseeing cruises, thrilling helicopter flights, or land-based excursions.
Free Cancellation Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a six-hour cruise featuring tidewater glaciers, whales, and seabird colonies.
Free Cancellation An 8-hour cruise to Northwestern Fjord, featuring three active tidewater glaciers and diverse Alaskan wildlife.
Tour Seward’s highlights including Exit Glacier and the Iditarod trail, featuring a dog sled ride and local lunch.
Free Cancellation A seven-hour cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park with a flexible route optimized for wildlife and glacier viewing.
Free Cancellation Seward Shore Excursion: Pre- or Post-Cruise Kenai Fjords National Park Tour
Free Cancellation See glaciers and wildlife on a 6-hour evening cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park, including a full dinner.
Free Cancellation Fly from Seward over Kenai Fjords for a remote landing and guided walk at the base of Bear Glacier.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Kenai Fjords — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Tours of Kenai Fjords National Park departing from Seward offer an unforgettable journey into one of Alaska's most dynamic environments. Whether you are cruising through icy fjords, hiking near a retreating glacier, or flying over the massive Harding Icefield, you can expect spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife.
Watch massive rivers of ice, like Holgate and Aialik Glaciers, meet the ocean. If you're lucky, you'll witness the thunderous roar of ice calving into the sea.
The nutrient-rich waters of the fjords attract a huge variety of animals. Keep your binoculars ready for humpback whales, orcas, playful sea otters, and Steller sea lions.
This colossal 714-square-mile ice sheet feeds nearly forty glaciers in the park. You can view its staggering scale from the air or via a strenuous hike.
The only part of the park accessible by road. Guided land tours often stop here to hike the trails and see the physical markers showing decades of rapid glacial retreat.
Full-day boat tours take you deep into untouched coastal wilderness areas like Northwestern Fjord, offering a rare, up-close look at multiple alpine and tidewater glaciers.
Helicopter tours provide a jaw-dropping perspective of the park's rugged geography, flying over deep blue crevasses, waterfalls, and iceberg-filled lagoons.
Planning a trip to Kenai Fjords requires a bit of preparation due to the remote location and unpredictable Alaskan weather. Here is what you need to know before securing your tour tickets.
The most popular options are 6- to 8-hour boat cruises that explore the coastal fjords and glaciers. If you prefer to stay on land, guided driving and hiking tours visit Exit Glacier and often include extras like dog sledding. For a splurge, 1-hour helicopter flights offer glacier landings.
Book your tours well in advance, especially if you are visiting during the peak summer months of June, July, and August. Boat cruises and public-use cabins frequently sell out due to the high volume of tourists on the Kenai Peninsula.
Kenai Fjords National Park does not charge an entrance fee, so you won't need to buy a separate park pass. Most 6- to 8-hour boat tours include lunch or dinner, and all feature narration from an onboard wildlife guide or the captain.
The coastal rainforest climate is highly unpredictable. Temperatures drop significantly near active glaciers and on the open water. Always dress in warm, synthetic layers, bring high-quality waterproof jackets and pants, and avoid wearing cotton.
Many visitors take the Coastal Classic train from Anchorage, arriving in Seward around 11:20 AM. While the 11:30 AM boat departures are designed to align with this, train delays can cause you to miss your boat. Operators will try to accommodate you on a later tour, but refunds are not given for train delays.
Commercial tour boats have strict space and safety limitations. You cannot bring coolers, strollers, scooters, or tripods on board. Additionally, drones are strictly prohibited everywhere within the national park boundaries.
Most major commercial tour vessels operating out of Seward are wheelchair accessible, featuring heated cabins, accessible restrooms, and compatible tables. The Exit Glacier Nature Center also offers a 1-mile accessible trail loop.
| Half-Day Wildlife & Glacier Cruise | Full-Day Deep Fjord Cruise | Land & Dog Sled Tour | Helicopter Glacier Landing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 6 hours | 8 hours | 6 hours | 1 hour |
| Best for | Families, first-time visitors, and train arrivals | Photography enthusiasts and extensive glacier viewing | Those prone to seasickness who want to stay on land | Thrill-seekers and unique aerial photography |
| Includes | Lunch, onboard guide, heated cabin | Breakfast, lunch, onboard guide | Lunch, Exit Glacier hike, dog sled ride | Helicopter flight, glacier landing |
| Price from | $266 | $335 | $223 | $522 |
Kenai Fjords National Park is technically open 24 hours a day, year-round. However, access and services change drastically depending on the season.
The Visitor Centers in Seward and at Exit Glacier are open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. During the shoulder months of May and September, services are significantly reduced.
Winter Access: The road leading to the Exit Glacier area is not plowed during the winter months and is completely closed to automobile traffic. During this time, the area is only accessible via snowmobile, cross-country skis, or dog sleds.
Seward serves as the primary gateway to the park and is located about 130 miles south of Anchorage. There are several ways to make the scenic journey:
The absolute best time to visit Kenai Fjords is during the peak summer months of June, July, and August. During this window, the park is fully accessible, the weather is as warm as it gets, and all visitor services and boat tours are fully operational.
Summer also provides long daylight hours and the highest probability of spotting active marine wildlife, including migrating humpback whales and nesting seabirds like puffins.
Visiting between October and April is generally discouraged for standard tourism, as winter conditions set in, the road to Exit Glacier closes to cars, and boat tours cease operations.
The park has made great strides in accessibility. Both the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center in Seward and the Exit Glacier Nature Center are fully wheelchair-accessible, including restrooms.
At Exit Glacier, visitors can enjoy a 1-mile wheelchair-accessible loop (partially paved and compressed gravel) that leads to a panoramic view of the glacier. A limited number of wheelchairs can even be checked out at the nature center.
For water-based tours, most major commercial boats operated by companies like Kenai Fjords Tours feature heated cabins, accessible restrooms, and wheelchair-compatible tables.
Facilities within the park boundaries are rugged and limited to preserve the wilderness. There are no hotels or lodges directly inside the park, though the boat-accessible Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge sits on native-owned land surrounded by the park.
To protect the delicate ecosystem and ensure visitor safety, several strict rules are enforced within the park:
There are actually no entrance fees to visit Kenai Fjords National Park at all. The price you pay for your boat or land tour covers the transportation, guides, and any included meals, but there is no hidden national park fee.
You should dress in multiple warm, synthetic layers and bring a high-quality waterproof jacket and pants. Temperatures drop significantly when the boat gets close to active tidewater glaciers, and the open water can be very windy.
No, commercial operators prohibit tripods, strollers, coolers, and scooters on board. This rule is strictly enforced due to limited deck space and passenger safety concerns.
If the Coastal Classic train is delayed, you will likely miss the standard 11:30 AM boat departures. Tour operators will try their best to accommodate you on a later tour, like a 12:30 PM Resurrection Bay cruise, but no refunds are given for missed departures due to train delays.
Yes, most of the 6- to 8-hour cruises include a meal, either lunch or dinner depending on the departure time. Vegetarian options are available, but you must request them at the time of booking.
It is highly unlikely. The peak summer months of June, July, and August have very long daylight hours, making the sky too bright to see the aurora borealis, even if it is active.
No. The use of unmanned aircraft or drones is strictly prohibited within all boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park. This federal rule protects wildlife from harassment and ensures visitor safety.
Cell phone coverage is spotty to non-existent once you leave Seward and enter the coastal fjords or the Exit Glacier area. Tour boats rely on marine VHF radios and satellite phones for communication.
Yes, most major tour vessels departing from Seward are wheelchair accessible. They typically feature accessible transportation to the dock, heated cabins, and wheelchair-compatible tables, though it is always best to confirm with your specific tour operator when booking.
Captains bring the boats as close to the tidewater glaciers as safely possible, keeping a distance to avoid falling ice and sudden waves. For marine mammals, federal law requires vessels to remain at least 100 yards away to prevent harassment.
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This six-hour cruise departs from Seward to explore the remote coastal wilderness of Kenai Fjords National Park. You will travel through the fjords to see active tidewater glaciers and high-altitude alpine glaciers. Throughout the trip, the captain narrates the journey, sharing details about the area's history and natural features. The boat also visits the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, providing close views of seabird rookeries and opportunities to spot whales, sea lions, and otters. A lunch is provided on board as you navigate the park's waters.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This eight-hour cruise travels deep into Kenai Fjords National Park to reach the remote Northwestern Fjord. As the only daily tour to visit this specific area, the trip provides a rare opportunity to see three active tidewater glaciers and several alpine glaciers up close. While navigating the fjords, you will look for marine life such as humpback whales, sea otters, and harbor seals. The crew shares insights into the region's natural history and the geological forces that created these massive ice formations. It is a comprehensive way to experience the park's most distant and rugged landscapes.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This guided tour covers the primary landmarks of Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park. You will visit Exit Glacier to see the ice fields up close and stop at "Mile 0" of the historic Iditarod Trail. Throughout the drive, you will have opportunities to view wildlife roaming the nearby mountainsides. The itinerary includes a dog sled ride to experience the region's mushing heritage firsthand. For lunch, you can choose from a full menu featuring 13 different options. All transportation between sites is provided, allowing you to see the area's main attractions without needing to navigate the local roads yourself.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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Launching in 2025, this seven-hour cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park uses a flexible itinerary to reach the best viewing areas. Instead of following a set path, the captain chooses a route based on real-time weather conditions and recent wildlife sightings. This approach allows for more time at active tidewater glaciers and known whale habitats. The extended duration provides ample opportunity to observe humpback whales, orcas, and harbor seals in their natural environment. You will also navigate near massive glaciers to watch for calving ice. By focusing on the day's most active spots, the tour offers a detailed look at the park’s diverse coastal ecosystems and rugged scenery.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Make the most of your time in Seward with a pre- or post-cruise shore excursion through Kenai Fjords National Park. Enjoy a six-hour voyage on Alaska's most popular wildlife and glacier cruise, coasting past alpine and tidewater glaciers amid the fjords of Harding Icefield. You’ll view migratory seabird rookeries in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and keep your eyes out for whales and other wildlife viewing while aboard the boat. Enjoy complimentary lunch and onboard commentary from the captain as you take in the magnificent sights!
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This six-hour evening trip travels into Kenai Fjords National Park, departing after the main daytime crowds have returned to Seward. You will head toward either Holgate or Aialik Glacier, watching for humpback whales, harbor seals, and puffins along the way. Throughout the journey, the captain shares information about the local ecosystem and the park's history. While on board, you will be served a multi-course dinner with your choice of Alaskan salmon, beef, or curry. This cruise offers a chance to see the park's tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife during the quieter evening hours, making the most of the long daylight.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This tour departs from Seward and heads over Resurrection Bay into the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park. From the air, you will see the scale of the glacial landscape, including deep blue crevasses, waterfalls, and massive icebergs floating in the fjords below. After taking in the views, your pilot will land the aircraft near Bear Glacier. You’ll have time to get out and explore the rugged terrain on foot with your pilot-guide, getting an up-close perspective of the ice and the surrounding wilderness. Wildlife is frequently spotted during both the flight and the ground exploration. We often see moose, sea otters, and seals, and occasionally encounter bears along the shoreline or mountain slopes.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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