Packing for an Alaska tour is different from packing for an Alaska cruise. Your daily schedule will be more intense, the terrain you visit will likely be more varied, and you will travel to many different places during your trip. Still, you’ll need fewer changes of clothes because you won’t have to dress for dinner (or anything else) during your Alaska tour.
Pack for maximum comfort
Your Alaska itinerary will likely include stops at several different locations. Many tours begin in Anchorage due to its large, modern airport and reasonable driving distance from the Seward cruise port. From Anchorage, you can travel to Fairbanks via Whittier and Valdez or head north to Talkeetna and Denali National Park and Preserve, then turn north and west towards Fairbanks. Your itinerary may also include the 92-mile, six-hour bus ride to Denali National Park and Preserve, either to spend a day walking and seeing Denali or to spend a night or two in one of the lodges at the end of Park Road. .
While packing, emphasize comfort and safety. Bring comfortable walking shoes, jeans, short- and long-sleeved shirts, rain gear, sun gear, and a warm sweater or jacket for Northern Lights wake-up calls. If you are traveling during the summer, you may also want to pack a pair of shorts.
Your shoes must be comfortable without comparison. Bring broken hiking shoes, hiking boots, or whatever makes your feet feel wonderful on uneven, rocky terrain. Use them on the plane, because if you pack them they will take up a lot of space in your suitcase.
Light pack
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to wear a new outfit every day. Change your underwear and socks daily, but you can go back to wearing shirts and jeans at least once during your trip. Depending on your itinerary, you can do laundry, allowing you to pack even lighter.
Most hotels offer hair dryers. Ask if you don’t see one in your room, as some hotels have loaner hair dryers at the front desk. If you prefer to bring your own hair dryer, you can, but it is not an absolute necessity.
People on your tour will not catalog their daily clothing choices. They are much more interested in seeing wildlife, whales, the Northern Lights, and Denali.
Camera Equipment and Image Storage Package
The Alaskan landscape is incredible, and you will definitely find wildlife on your tour. Bring a camera or smartphone that takes great photos. Pack an extra camera in case your battery dies at the worst possible time. Make sure the backup camera is charged and ready to use.
On a week-long trip, you will probably take 50 to 100 photos per day. If your smartphone or camera cannot store that many photos, pack an additional Sandisk or other image storage device.
If you plan to photograph the Northern Lights, consider bringing a tripod and camera that can take long exposure photos.
Covers pack
A chilly morning in Denali National Park and Preserve can give way to a warm, sunny noon hour. If you plan to hike or go on a whale watching boat tour, you will need to wear layers. A windbreaker or light jacket will protect you from the rain, breeze, and cool temperatures. On cold mornings, a sweater or sweatshirt can be your best friend. Later in the morning, you may want to shed those top two layers in favor of a moisture-wicking t-shirt or sports shirt.
Nights can be great; Your sweater or sweatshirt should be your favorite layer if you want to see the Northern Lights or the Milky Way.
Pack some extras
The air in Alaska is dry. If you have dry skin, bring a moisturizer or lotion.
Sunscreen will come in handy if you spend a lot of time outside. Buy small, travel-size tubes at a large store or grocery store. Remember to wear sunscreen if you are flying into a glacier.
While you won’t find snakes or ticks in Alaska, mosquitoes and gnats abound. To be prepared; insect repellent pack. Bring a net if you plan on hiking or camping in the countryside.
Trekking poles can also be helpful. If you are staying at one of the lodges in Denali National Park and Preserve, ask if you can borrow trekking poles during your stay.
The binoculars will help you see bears, caribou and other wildlife.
If you plan to do laundry, pack soaps and dryer sheets. Laundry soap “capsules” are portable and easy to use. Throw one in the washing machine along with your clothes; do not place the capsule in a liquid soap loading compartment on the top of the washing machine.
A map, while not a necessity, can help you get your bearings and appreciate just how big Alaska really is. If space allows, bring a marker and chart your route as you travel. When you return home, you can use the map and your photos to tell family and friends about your trip.
Save space in luggage to buy souvenirs. The bookstores and gift shop shelves in Alaska’s National Park are extremely tempting, and T-shirts and sweatshirts take up a lot of room in suitcases.
