Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram worth booking?
Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram is a 4-hour experience in Anchorage, United States, from $109 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (8)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $109 per person
Enjoy a scenic ride along Turnagain Arm, one of Alaska’s most picturesque routes, where you'll take in views of towering mountains, sparkling waters, and rugged wilderness. After a stunning drive, spend one hour at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), where you’ll see bears, moose, bison, wolves, and other native species in spacious enclosures. Learn about the center’s vital conservation efforts while exploring its beautiful, natural habitats. After your visit, you'll be dropped off at Girdwood Station, where you can catch the FREE Glacier Valley Transit to the Alyeska Tramway. Ride the tram to the top for panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, and wilderness. At the top, explore the Roundhouse Museum, showcasing exhibits on the region’s history, wildlife, and the tram’s engineering marvel. Be sure to book your return on the Girdwood Express back to Anchorage independently, allowing you the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
What you get
About this experience
Enjoy a scenic ride along Turnagain Arm, one of Alaska’s most picturesque routes, where you'll take in views of towering mountains, sparkling waters, and rugged wilderness. After a stunning drive, spend one hour at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), where you’ll see bears, moose, bison, wolves, and other native species in spacious enclosures. Learn about the center’s vital conservation efforts while exploring its beautiful, natural habitats. After your visit, you'll be dropped off at Girdwood Station, where you can catch the FREE Glacier Valley Transit to the Alyeska Tramway. Ride the tram to the top for panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, and wilderness. At the top, explore the Roundhouse Museum, showcasing exhibits on the region’s history, wildlife, and the tram’s engineering marvel. Be sure to book your return on the Girdwood Express back to Anchorage independently, allowing you the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unforgettable Experience!
Our tour guide was so much fun! She really knew the area and history and we appreciated her stories from living in Alaska. Being from out of town we really didn’t have a good lay of the land but she seemed like she had answers for all of our questions. We only had a group of 4 so she gave us options as to what sights we’d like to see on our way to our destination and made it a fun experience for all of us. We were able to see places off the beaten path, places we would have never found without her. We truly enjoyed our time and know you will love the experience as well!
via Tripadvisor
Alyeska
There was a mix up with the booking but the transport company came up with a remedy. Excellent customer service.
via Tripadvisor
Sit close to Melissa...
Sit close to Melissa because the sound doesn’t project to the back seats. Melissa was very good and was good at pointing out the wild animals when she spotted them. She even stopped to let us take pictures. The Wildlife animal center was very nice even though it rained most of the time. The rain forest was amazing too.
via Viator
ALASKA THE BEAUTIFUL
Gary and captain Mike were awesome. They made us feel like family. We saw beautiful glaciers and a pod of Orcas. Just an amazing way to see Alaska and her true beauty. I would highly recommend the the cruise and white water rafting.
via Tripadvisor
Terrible
Nobody seemed to communicate with each other as far as different drivers. Tried calling for earlier shuttle as this was told to be possible and was the. Told it was not when it came time (only for that to change again minutes later). Shuttle back didn’t listen or use technology to navigate therefore made several wrong turns resulting in a lot of lost time. All in all was very chaotic and will not rebook future tour nor recommend their services.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’d like to clarify something right away: our company operates the Girdwood Express, which provides the 45-minute transportation between Anchorage and Girdwood. We do not operate the FREE Girdwood town shuttle, which is a separate service that only runs short loops within the ski town itself. The FREE shuttle is designed to stop at multiple places in Girdwood—such as the base of the tram, the grocery store, restaurants, and trailheads. It does not provide direct service to Anchorage. For visitors unfamiliar with this system, the frequent stops can sometimes give the impression that the driver is “lost,” but in fact the shuttle is simply following its fixed loop route as intended. Because of this, the title of “terrible” directed toward our company doesn’t accurately reflect the service we provided. To recap your trip: you first joined us on a guided Wildlife Tour, and were then dropped off in Girdwood for the self-guided portion of your tour, where you were free to explore on your own and ride the tram. At 2:00 PM you called to see if you could return earlier than your scheduled 4:00 PM Girdwood Express shuttle. We explained that if another van happened to be coming back sooner, we’d do our best to fit you in. Unfortunately, no earlier return was available, so the next option remained the shuttle you were originally booked on. You kindly thanked us at the time, which left us with the impression you planned to enjoy more of Alyeska—perhaps the brewery, a short hike, or another local activity. As for our drivers, the only ones you had on this trip were your Wildlife Tour guide and your Girdwood Express driver. All of our drivers are locals who know the roads extremely well—there is only one road into and out of Girdwood, and they’ve driven it countless times, even in blizzard conditions—so it isn’t possible for them to “get lost.” We’re sorry if there was any miscommunication about timing, and we truly appreciate your feedback as we continue working to improve the way information is shared between our guests and our team. Reviews are most helpful when they are constructive and honest, as they guide us in finding ways to improve and provide an even better experience for future guests. We also kindly remind guests that reviews carry a lot of weight and can deeply impact a small business—especially if the feedback is directed at services we do not operate, such as the town’s FREE shuttle.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Anchorage.
How much does Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram cost?
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Prices start at $109 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Anchorage usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Anchorage is not rushed.
Is Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Anchorage, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Anchorage can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Anchorage and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Anchorage within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Anchorage?
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Anchorage is the staging point for glacier cruises out of Whittier and Seward, Denali flightseeing, wildlife conservation centre visits, dog sledding and northern lights chases in winter. Long transfer times make itinerary honesty essential. On Outty we rank every Anchorage experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include PRISTINE - Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience in Anchorage, Anchorage Trolley's Deluxe City Tour, Anchorage Trolley's 1-Hour City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Anchorage?
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June to August for glaciers, September to March for aurora. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Anchorage?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What happens to Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Anchorage. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Alaska Wildlife Center and Turnagain Arm Tour w/Alyeska Tram?
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Across 8 reviews averaging 4.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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