The Real Alaska Tour

4.9 / 5 | 7 Reviews Review This Tour

Price: $246.00

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Summary

Shore Excursion Size

Standard

Shore Excursion Type Scenic, Active

Shore Excursion Duration 6 Hours

Activity Level

Moderate

Shore Excursion Leaves From

An approximately 10 minute taxi (not included, approximately $10 US each way) is required to reach your departure location.

Food/Beverage Provided A hearty lunch from a local restaurant is included.

Recommended Dress For all tours in Alaska, we recommend dressing in layers, with the top layer being waterproof. Sensible walking shoes that may get wet are also suggested.

Restrictions All guests must sign a waiver to participate. Guests must be able to walk over paved, gravel, and packed dirt surfaces, some with inclines. Guests must be able to step up onto and off the wheeled dog sleds. The ride can be slightly bumpy, and guests with advanced neck, back or hip conditions may wish not to participate on the ride.

The Real Alaska Tour

The Real Alaska Tour is by far the best way to see Seward in a day, especially for those without included transportation. If you are planning to book the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic train (not included in the price of this tour), this is the perfect tour to complement it.

On this scenic Alaska tour, you'll visit the home of five Iditarod racers since 1963, spanning three generations and 100 champion sled dogs. The real Alaskan adventure begins with a two-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of our amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to our comfortable wheeled sleds. The ride lasts approximately 35 minutes and wheeled sleds can hold up to a maximum of eight guests.

The intrigue of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, also known as Alaska's Super Bowl, comes alive as you mush through the Alaskan wilderness to the base of Resurrection Mountain and along Box Canyon Creek. Your guide will thrill and excite you with stories from the trail as you experience the raw power of 13 Iditarod sled dogs.

Upon return to the kennel, tour the kennel facilities, laugh as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher, and cuddle adorable husky puppies. Your guide offers a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the family's training for the most demanding race on earth.

Then head to Kenai Fjords National Park, where you will walk to Exit Glacier. The walk takes about an hour over moderate terrain. The trail takes you to either an overlook or the face of the glacial ice, but does not continue onto the glacier. Along the trail, watch for mountain goats, moose or bears on the mountainside. During the salmon runs, see salmon swimming upstream to spawn. If, for any reason, you do not want to do the hike, you may stay in the Kenai Fjords National Park Nature Center. You will still be afforded excellent views of Exit Glacier as you can view it on the drive in.

A hearty lunch will be served at a local restaurant before taking in the fascinating history and breathtaking beauty of Seward, known as The Gateway to Alaska and Mile 0 of the Iditarod Trail. See first-hand the effects of the 1964 Earthquake and stand in awe of the mountain that is home to the second-oldest foot race in the United States. In season, your guide may even show you the salmon spawning in Bear Creek Weir. Book now for an exciting and fun-filled day in Seward, Alaska.

PRE-CRUISE: Guests arriving in Seward from Anchorage on the Southbound Coastal Classic train should check their luggage through to their cruise ship when boarding the train in Anchorage. Hand luggage can be taken on the tour bus with you. Your cruise must be departing Seward after 7:30PM for you to take this tour.

POST-CRUISE: Guests disembarking (ending) a cruise in Seward should check with their cruise line about having their luggage delivered to the train depot. If your cruise line does not offer this service, guests will need to bring their luggage to the train terminal for train check-in and luggage storage before the tour. Your tour will end at the train station in time for you to collect your luggage and board the northbound Coastal Classic scheduled to depart at 6:00 PM. Guests overnighting in Seward should check with their accommodations about luggage storage.

4.9 / 5 | 7 ReviewsReview This Tour

Fun

July 02, 2018

This was a fun excursion. We went to see dogs at kennel. We rode on a simulated (wheeled) dog sled. We went to Kenai Fjords to see a glacier. We went to see some of the salmon running; (it was not the season but we did see some).The lunch was awesome. The guide was knowledgeable throughout the entire tour. He took us for a view of Seward and then dropped us off at our cruise ship.

Reviewer: Christine Garling

Exceeded Expectations

August 04, 2017

Despite less than favorable weather, enjoyed everything about this excursion. Highly recommend as an end to a cruise if you have the time. Description for this excursion is lacking detail, including the kennel we visited. Who knew we were headed to the Iditarod-winning Seavy homestead - very cool. Exit Glacier was beautiful to see at such close range and the side trip to see the salmon, although not the ideal time of the season, was still fun and worthwhile. Loved it all but seeing the dogs and being pulled in a golf cart-like vehicle was a favorite, especially after finding out this was not an accommodation for tourists but actually summer training for the dogs, to prepare them for winter racing.

Reviewer: Tim McCoy

Nice tour

July 24, 2017

Since there was no snow, the dog sled trip was on gravel; otherwise, a nice experience. The walk to the glacier was nice and good to see the timeline/history of how it has shrunk over the years.

Reviewer: AB

Varied & Interesting

November 20, 2016

Our back-to-back cruise schedule was ideal for taking this 6hr trip. The tour group turned out to be 8 strong - about right. Todd, our driver and guide was friendly, knowledgeable and informative throughout and the small coach very comfortable. The visit to the Seavey dog-sledding establishment was very interesting with a high ahhhhh-factor when the 3-week puppies were handed round! The sled ride along gravel trails in the woods was enjoyable; nowhere near as nail-biting as some described. The setting is beautiful. Lunch was good (with gluten free option), especially as a member of the race competing team joined us. The hike to and from the exit glacier was gorgeous as well as educational. Not too arduous, but could be a challenge for some. To finish off we visited a salmon stream in some lovely woodland. Very enjoyable.

Reviewer: Nigel & Liane

Seaver's Ididaride

August 07, 2016

Learned the Seavey family history of competing in the Iditarod. Took a ride on a wheeled sled pulled by 16 dogs. Listened to a talk on the preparation and gear required to enter in the race and to protect the musher and the dogs from freezing temperatures. Visited and got to hold the smallest of sled dog puppies (4 weeks old). Had lunch at a nearby resort where we were joined by the oldest Seavey son who regaled us with great stories about sled dogs and racing them. This is an excursion I would recommend to anyone.

Reviewer: Celia Hampson

You will not be disappointed

August 28, 2015

This was one of the best excursions we experienced. We enjoyed all three experiences very much. Absolutely loved learning about the iditarod sled dogs and getting to pet them.

Reviewer: Frank the traveler

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