Alaska

Alpine lakes and forest
Caribou in Denali
Bears

Photo by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan
Forest

Photo by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan
Glacier trekking

Photo by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan
Long-tailed Ducks

Photo by Jerry Goffe, naturephotoworks.com
Sea Otter

Photo by Jerry Goffe, naturephotoworks.com
Grizzly Bear playtime
Mt. McKinley

Alaska’s majestic mountain peaks, green temperate forests, and nearly 34,000 miles of protected coastal waters contain breathtaking scenery and biological wonders. In addition to the expansive grasslands and thick, tundra forests, Alaska also has several active volcanoes and glacier-carved mountains — including Mount McKinley, which, at 20,320 feet, is the highest peak in North America.

The largest and least densely populated state in the United States, Alaska’s culturally diverse residents live in an area approximately one-fifth the size of the land mass of the entire lower 48 states. With approximately 571,951 square miles of land, abundant space remains for cultural and natural history to flourish. Travelers have the opportunity to see polar bears, grizzly bears, humpback whales, sea otters, moose, Bald Eagles, and other wildlife in their astounding natural habitats. Alaska is also home to many different species of birds, including albatross, cranes, and puffins.

Holbrook’s mission is to present you with the opportunity to learn about the wildlife and ecology first-hand. Alaska is a unique and fascinating destination for those wishing to encounter the last frontier, and our experienced guides lead travelers on a stirring adventure with activities, such as skiing, fishing, boating and hiking.

Trips to Plan

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Wild Alaska: Inside America’s Last Frontier

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Buildout

Overview

Environments

Glaciers, mountains, and exceptional natural beauty combine in Alaska, the largest of the 50 states. Alaska’s striking vistas are comprised of 39 mountain ranges, 3,000 rivers, 3 million lakes, and more than 100 volcanoes and volcanic fields. Alaska boasts more national park land than any other state, including Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley. Alaska’s largely untouched terrain and reputation for harsh winters have earned it the nickname of “the Last Frontier.” Endless panoramas of frigid arctic tundra provide a sharp contrast to Alaska’s lush coastal temperate rainforest, boreal forests, wetlands, and 44,000 miles of coastal habitat. Whether studying glaciology while crossing the Copper River Delta to Child’s Glacier, examining the elements of a subarctic ecosystem, or talking with local experts about conservation strategies, Alaska is like nowhere else on Earth.

Wildlife

Alaska’s dazzling scenery is rivaled only by its wildlife, making it an optimal location for nature photography. Moose, beavers, and caribou are all frequently observed in their natural habitats, and black, brown, and polar bears can all be found in abundance. Streams teem with salmon, and the world’s largest population of playful sea otters inhabits Orca Inlet, part of Prince William Sound. For a citizen scientist or budding marine conservationist, no trip to Alaska is complete without visiting the Alaska Sea Life Center on Resurrection Bay. This incredible ocean wildlife rescue center provides opportunities to learn about ocean research from marine scientists, as well as up-close encounters with rehabilitated seals, sea lions, octopus, seabirds, fish, and other marine species.

Birds

Thanks to its pristine habitats, Alaska is a haven for birders. In Cordova, the annual migration of millions of shorebirds, raptors, waterfowl, and songbirds is a natural marvel that must be seen to be believed. Important Bird Areas of both state and global significance can be found across the state, as numerous species depend on Alaska’s protected habitats for nesting. A birding tour in Alaska could produce sightings of puffins, gulls, terns, oystercatchers, sandpipers, ducks, geese, swans, and the majestic Bald Eagle.

Culture

Though the majority of the Alaskan population is of Caucasian descent, approximately 15 percent of Alaska’s population consists of American Indians and Alaskan Natives, among which there are many distinct groups including Inupiaq, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures. The blending of these very distinct cultures has created a state that embraces and upholds its traditions while maintaining its flourishing connection with the contiguous United States.

Whether it’s a half day visit to Cordova, home of the Eyak Indian Tribe, or an in-depth tour of the Alaska Native Heritage Center or Anchorage Museum, we recommend setting aside time to become familiar with Alaska’s fascinating culture, history, art, and heritage.

Travel Info

Entry & Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens need a government-issued photo ID to enter Alaska from another U.S. state. A passport is required if traveling to Alaska through Canada.

If you are not traveling from the United States or Canada, please check with the U.S. Embassy for requirements based on your nationality.

Health Information

IMMUNIZATIONS

The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date on routine vaccinations such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, and your yearly flu shot before every trip.

Please consult your physician for additional information and recommendations based on your individual circumstances.

FROSTBITE

Frostbite is damage to the skin from freezing and is due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Symptoms include patches of reddened skin that become white, hard, and swollen; or skin that burns, tingles, or is numb or painful. Severe cases can result in blisters or ulcers forming and may involve deeper tissues. The most common sites for frostbite are the fingers, hands, toes, feet, ears, nose, and cheeks.

To avoid frostbite, dress warmly and in layers but avoid tight clothing as it may reduce circulation. Keep the face and extremities covered. Avoid overheating and excessive perspiration. Change wet clothing, especially socks and gloves.

HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is life threatening. It is caused by cold, wet, or windy weather that causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce heat. Hypothermia can occur in rugged mountain terrain where the weather can change extremely fast, or after being soaked in a stream crossing or a boating accident since most Alaskan waters are very cold all year long.

Symptoms include feeling cold, uncontrollable shivering, clumsiness due to loss of muscle coordination, slurred speech, inability to think clearly, and eventual unconsciousness and cessation of reflexes including heart and lung functions. Many victims in the later stages of hypothermia feel warm and try to shed clothing.

To treat hypothermia, first warm the core of the body before the extremities. Remove any wet clothing. Re-warm the victim slowly; do not warm fast by immersing in warm/hot water. Provide shelter out of the weather. Warm drinks are not necessary, but may help in the psychological recovery. Do NOT give alcohol. Try to keep victim awake as this helps keep the body temperature up.

ANIMAL BITES/RABIES

Avoid wild animals that seem curious or don’t run away from humans. Arctic fox, red fox, wolves, caribou, dogs, and possibly river otters are known to carry rabies in Alaska. In the unlikely event of being bitten, clean the wound and control bleeding. Seek medical attention immediately.

Currency

The currency of Alaska is the U.S. dollar. Communities closer to the Canadian border will accept Canadian or American currency and some local banks will exchange currency.

Electricity

The electrical current in Alaska is 110V 60Hz AC. Travelers from the lower-48 states do not have to use converters.

Time Zone

The time zone in most of Alaska is Alaska Time Zone (UTC-09:00).

Alaska does observe Daylight Saving Time.

Departures and arrivals on flight schedules are always listed in the local time.

Some parts of Alaska are in the Arctic Circle. In places at the very top of the state there is a two-month winter period during which the sun doesn’t rise, but that’s the extreme, and winter’s long nights get shorter the farther south you go. South of the Arctic Circle, every place has sunlight at least part of the day. In the summer, all of Arctic Alaska gets 24-hour sunlight for at least one day at the solstice. Northern cities have continuous daylight for 85 days. South of the circle, every town has a night every day, though sometimes brief.

Communications

PHONES

Alaska has cell phone coverage in most of the larger cities and road systems. However, expect lots of blind spots especially when traveling to more remote areas of the state. Due to power limitations not all features found in the lower United States will work, so contact your service provider for more details.

INTERNET

WiFi access is available at many hotels and campgrounds throughout Alaska, as well as at some visitor centers, libraries, and coffee shops.

MAIL

If you are using U.S. Postal Service, the cost for Priority Mail is no different than shipping to the opposite side of the lower 48 states. However, if using Fed-Ex or UPS to ship packages to or from Alaska there will likely be a surcharge.

Resources

Reading List

FIELD GUIDES

Marine Mammals of Alaska

Kate Wynne

Designed for use in the field, this indispensable guide features large color photographs, key information and detailed range maps for all the whales, seals and other marine creatures of Alaska and the Bering Sea across to Russia.

Alaska, Travellers’ Wildlife Guides

Les Beletsky & Dennis Paulson

A guide to the most commonly encountered birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and marine invertebrates of Alaska featuring 320 handsome color illustrations and descriptive information on each species.

Alaska Birds

James Kavanaugh

A handy, 12-panel fold-up card illustrating the most commonly encountered birds of Alaska.

Alaska Wildlife

Pocket Naturalist

This laminated card features color drawings and short descriptions of commonly encountered birds, mammals and reptiles of Alaska.

Guide to the Birds of Alaska

Robert Armstrong

A handsome photographic introduction to Alaskan birds, illustrating all 443 species.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Jon Dunn

This guide is the veteran's choice for birding anywhere in the United States. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages.

Scats and Tracks of Alaska

James C. Halfpenny

A pocket identification guide to 69 common species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, each with detailed black-and-white illustrations by Todd Telander.

The Nature of Alaska

James Kavanagh

This clearly presented field guide to mammals, birds, seashore life, fish, trees, shrubs and wildflowers features 300 color illustrations.

MAPS

Alaska Explorer Map

Ocean Explorer Maps

An informative, well-illustrated map of Alaska and Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula at 1:3,800,000 at a scale of 1:3,800,000, geared cruise and expedition travelers in the region.

Alaska Map

ITMB

A detailed travel map of Alaska, including the Aleutians, the Bering Strait, and much of neighboring Siberia, at a scale of 1:2,500,000

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Map

Trails Illustrated

This folded, full-color map covers Glacier Bay and the surrounding area (1:94,000), including Chichagof Island and the Alexander Archipelago.

GUIDEBOOKS

Insight Guide Alaska

Insight Guides

With hundreds of photos and maps, this guide features concise essays by well-regarded authors on nature, history, peoples and culture.

Alaska By Cruise Ship

Anne Vipond

A compact illustrated guide to ports of call, excursions, and sightseeing, from Seattle to Anchorage. With a short overview of the culture, nature and history of Alaska, a full-color pull-out map and excellent town maps.

NATURAL HISTORY

The Great Alaska Nature Factbook

Susan Ewing

Perfect for Alaska-bound families, this new edition of Ewing's pocket encyclopedia gathers facts and figures on the 49th state's natural history, with short illustrated essays on everything from murrelets to volcanoes, bears and salmon.

Treasures of Alaska, Last Great American Wilderness

Michael Melford & Jeff Rennicke

A beautifully illustrated, magazine-style portrait of the Alaskan wilds in the National Geographic Destinations series.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Coming into the Country

John McPhee

A superb introduction to the state, McPhee’s lyrical portrait blends history, issues and interesting facts, including sketches of frontier life and some unforgettable Alaskan characters.

Alaska's History, The People, Land and Events of the North Country

Harry Ritter

A lively pocket history from settlement and discovery to the gold rush and present.

Native Cultures in Alaska

Tricia Brown

This brief portrait of Alaska's diverse indigenous populations, published by the Alaska Geographic Society, includes 90 color photographs.

From the blog

Big Bad Alaskan Wildlife

Alaska is by far the largest state, being the size of half of continental US. It comes as no surprise, then, that Alaska is home to some of the...

From the blog

Photo of the Month: February 2015

There had been an unusually extended stretch of heavy rain during the two weeks before we arrived in Alaska. In addition to the grizzly bears we...

From the blog

Photography in Alaska: Tips to Prepare Like a Pro

Though beautiful and largely untouched, Alaska’s vast terrain can make photography seem intimidating for the uninitiated. Jerry Goffe has visited the...

Alaska

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Trips to Plan

Adventure

Buildout

Environments

Wildlife

Birds

Culture

Entry & Exit Requirements

Health Information

IMMUNIZATIONS

FROSTBITE

HYPOTHERMIA

ANIMAL BITES/RABIES

Currency

Electricity

Time Zone

Communications

PHONES

INTERNET

MAIL

Reading List

FIELD GUIDES

Marine Mammals of Alaska

Kate Wynne

Alaska, Travellers’ Wildlife Guides

Les Beletsky & Dennis Paulson

Alaska Birds

James Kavanaugh

Alaska Wildlife

Pocket Naturalist

Guide to the Birds of Alaska

Robert Armstrong

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Jon Dunn

Scats and Tracks of Alaska

James C. Halfpenny

The Nature of Alaska

James Kavanagh

MAPS

Alaska Explorer Map

Ocean Explorer Maps

Alaska Map

ITMB

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Map

Trails Illustrated

GUIDEBOOKS

Insight Guide Alaska

Insight Guides

Alaska By Cruise Ship

Anne Vipond

NATURAL HISTORY

The Great Alaska Nature Factbook

​Susan Ewing

Treasures of Alaska, Last Great American Wilderness

Michael Melford & Jeff Rennicke

HISTORY & CULTURE

Coming into the Country

John McPhee

Alaska's History, The People, Land and Events of the North Country

Harry Ritter

Native Cultures in Alaska

Tricia Brown

From the blog

From the blog

From the blog

Custom comes standard

At Holbrook Travel, you’ll never pay extra to take your own path. Our travel consultants can customize any itinerary to meet your needs.

Susan Ewing

At Holbrook Travel, you’ll never pay extra to take your own path.
Our travel consultants can customize any itinerary to meet your needs.