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Have you ever dreamt of taking a voyage to one of the most majestic and untamed places in the world? The answer is Alaska! Whether it’s your first time in Alaska or you’re a returning visitor, our 10 day journey will take you on an unforgettable exploration of this wild and breathtaking Last Frontier. Join us as we embark on a thrilling adventure with our comprehensive first time Alaska itinerary, made up of 10 days filled with majestic mountains, vibrant wildlife, and unique Alaskan experiences.

A First-Timer’s Guide to Exploring Alaska in 10 Days

Planning a first time Alaska itinerary can be overwhelming due to the sheer size of the state. In fact if you combined the area of Texas, California, and Montana, it would still be smaller than the state of Alaska. Despite the plethora of options, this 10 day Alaska itinerary will take you on an incredible journey through a beautiful part of the state.

Alaska Itinerary 10 Days Overview

• Day 0 – Arrive in Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Day 1 – Depart on your Alaska Cruise
• Day 2 – At Sea
• Day 3 – Ketchikan
• Day 4 – Juneau
• Day 5 – Skagway
• Day 6 – Glacier Bay (Scenic Cruising)
• Day 7 – College Fjord
• Day 8 – Arrive in Whittier, Take Transfer Tour and stay in Talkeetna
• Day 9 – Denali/Flightseeing
• Day 10 – Glacier Hike, Depart for home

First Time Alaska Itinerary Tips & Questions

• Is a cruise the best way to see Alaska? The best way to visit Alaska is based on personal preference. However, I would propose that an Alaska cruise is the best way to get a great sampling of Alaska which is perfect for a first time Alaska itinerary. Additionally, taking a cruise takes away a level of planning and logistics to allow for an easier trip.
• Should I do a round trip cruise instead of a one-way cruise? While a round trip cruise may be easier to manage from a flight logistics standpoint, the one-way option allows you to see more and maximize your time.
• Can I do a cruise in any season? The cruise season is April-October. If you would like to visit outside of the cruise season it is best to consider skiing or a road trip.
• How far in advance should I book my cruise, excursions, rental car, or flights? As soon as your plans are solidified, go ahead and book. Things in Alaska can be quite pricey and the tourist season is popular and busy. It’s worth it to plan ahead when you can.
• Is there cell service in Alaska? This is probably a trick question. There were several times during the trip while on land that we would have several bars of signal only for it to not be functioning. There were also times when we had cell service and others had nothing (and vice versa). Overall, don’t plan on the reliable cell service from home, even in port.
• Do I need a passport for my trip to Alaska? For this itinerary, it is necessary to have a passport since the cruise starts in Vancouver. However, there are cruise routes that start in Seattle and on those you may be able to avoid needing a passport. Additionally, some of the excursions can cross the border into Canada.
• Should I extend my trip beyond a cruise while in Alaska? The answer to this question entirely depends on the amount of time that you have. While you are able to see quite a bit from a cruise, this still barely scratches the surface of this vast state. With more time, you can see much more.

How to Get Around Alaska

You have several options for navigating around Alaska – boat, plane, car, and train. The best way to get around Alaska will depend on your preferred activities. For this itinerary, we used boat, plane, and car. However, there were many chances to utilize trains that we just didn’t quite take the opportunity to ride.

Cruise Specifics

We booked via Princess Cruises on the 7 Day Voyage of the Glaciers Northbound route. This was only the second time that I booked a cruise with the first being over 10 years ago so it is difficult to compare cruise lines. However, the food, service and amenities were all great.

We booked a balcony room. If you are able to splurge, this option is highly recommended as we were able to enjoy the views (particularly the scenic cruising portions) from the privacy and comfort of our room.

The Best First Time Alaska Itinerary

Now on to planning the trip of a lifetime. Please note that several of these tours were hosted but the opinions reflected below are my own.

Vancouver

Vancouver is lovely, especially in the summertime. It is packed with lively restaurants and there is also a significant amount of nearby outdoor adventures. If you have a few days, Vancouver Island is accessible via ferry that takes about two hours.

If you want to explore a bit further, you can also consider a drive inland. We visited Joffre Lakes Provincial Park which requires a permit to hike. These beautiful lakes reminded me of my trip the prior year to Banff & Jasper. The Sea to Sky Gondola is also along the way and makes for the perfect side trip from Vancouver.

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Ketchikan

Ketchikan is an adorable town. While we visited, we took a sea kayaking tour which was lovely with Southeast Exposure. They picked us up directly from the cruise port where we hopped into double sea kayaks and headed off to explore. We saw at least 1000 starfish (not kidding), a sea lion, and several bald eagles.

If you aren’t quite up for the more intensive kayaking activity, consider exploring the quaint town. Creek Street is the main feature with little shops built right over top of the creek. And if you are hungry, do not miss Alaska Fish House. It is well-loved by both tourists and locals. Honestly, my mouth is watering just thinking about this spot.

Juneau

There are many options to choose from for your time in Juneau. We opted for a whale watching tour in the morning followed by a helicopter ice fields tour in the afternoon. Both of these choices were quite lovely. If you haven’t had the opportunity to ride in a helicopter or walk on a glacier, this is your chance!

Mendenhall Glacier is not far from Juneau and if you aren’t doing a helicopter tour there are several tours that you can do in this area. A few of my family members also opted for the Mt. Roberts Tramway which was right at port. There were also many shops and restaurants right at port as well.

Skagway

Skagway was my least favorite of the port towns we visited. But just because the town was not as exciting, doesn’t mean we didn’t have a great time. Here we rented a car and drove across the border into Canada.

Once we crossed the border we visited the Yukon Suspension Bridge (which I thought was a bit overrated and rather touristy). Additionally we did two hikes in Canada before returning the car back in Skagway and doing one additional hike right next to the cruise port.

The hikes we did were:

1. Carcross Desert Viewpoint
2. International Falls (my favorite)
3. Lower Dewey Lake (no rental car needed)

Whittier

After our ship arrived in Whittier we took a transfer tour with the company Salmon Berry Tours from Whittier to Anchorage. Whittier is quite small and accessible via a one way tunnel. The transfer tour allowed us to relax while taking in the beauty of several stops along the way including the Turnagain Arm, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alyeska Ski Resort Tram.

If you were limited on time, you could head straight from your transfer to the airport for your trip home, but any extended time would certainly be a highlight. For us, after arriving in Anchorage, we rented cars at the airport and drove north to Talkeetna.

Talkeetna

Talkeetna is an adorable town about 2 hours north of Anchorage. Here we enjoyed dinner and live music and all of the quirky character of this little town. Talkeetna is a great interim stop between Anchorage and Denali National Park.

Our original reason for heading to Talkeetna was for a Denali flightseeing tour with K2 aviation. However, after trying twice with bad weather, we ended up taking the flightseeing tour south to see the Knik Glacier, a backup option that was very stunning.

Then we drove into Denali to see if we could get a view of the elusive mountain and saw it from a distance! Rumor has it only 30% of people are lucky enough to see Denali due to the weather.

Anchorage

We ended with a bang on our last day in Alaska and opted for a Matanuska Glacier Tour with Salmon Berry Tours. We rode in a comfortable van from Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier and got to hike on the glacier itself and drink from the glacial runoff. We both actually enjoyed this experience significantly more than the helicopter tour in Juneau and if we had to choose between the two, this was definitely the right choice. The Matanuska Glacier was certainly a highlight of the trip.

First Time Alaska Itinerary in 10 Days

Now you are all set to explore the wild beauty of Alaska for the first time. From snow-capped mountains and stunning glaciers to rugged coastlines and vast alpine tundra, this guide will take you on an unforgettable adventure through one of the last frontiers. Get ready for an incredible 10-day journey filled with breathtaking sights, exciting activities, and incredible memories as you embark on your epic Alaska itinerary! Have you been to Alaska? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

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