Category Kayaking, Rafting & River Tours

Anchorage · KAYAKING, RAFTING & RIVER TOURS

The 11 Best Kayaking & Rafting Tours near Anchorage

11 reviewed

Sea kayaks among the icebergs, a raft down a glacial river, a paddle to a hidden WWII fort: the water around Anchorage runs cold and clear. These are the best kayaking and rafting tours, with skill level, time on the water, gear provided, and which suit complete beginners.

Kayak and Hike to Historic WW2 Army Fort in Alaska!

Kayak and Hike to Historic WW2 Army Fort in Alaska! - Getting Fitted: Included Kayak Gear Makes the Day Way Easier

1.Kayak and Hike to Historic WW2 Army Fort in Alaska!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) Our pick

Kayak Resurrection Bay to Caines Head, hike to WWII Fort McGilvray, then paddle back to Miller’s Landing with wildlife spotting.

“My friend and I were a little hesitant because we had never kayaked before, but Emily and Issac were wonderful. They were encouraging, excellent at helping us with tricky waves, and how to make the most of our time in the water. I was really fascinated by the WWII fort. There are so many paths and buildings for storage that are still left. I kept wondering how hard it must have been to haul all the materials up by jeep or small truck, and having to create a wide enough road first! I recommend that you should be in pretty good shape--and not to do any trail riding the next…”

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Tonsina Point Kayak and Exploration

Tonsina Point Kayak and Exploration - Resurrection Bay Paddle + Rain Forest Walk: Where Wildlife Shows Up

2.Tonsina Point Kayak and Exploration

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $225

Kayak Resurrection Bay to Tonsina Point for wildlife, ghost-forest views, and a picnic lunch from Seward. Small group, 7 hours.

“This was my husbands and mine first time kayaking in the ocean, let alone first time kayaking ever. Erin our tour guide was awesome! She has an obundance of knowledge.. Very kind and helpful. We will definitely be going again! Two thumbs up!”

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Glacier Blue Kayak & Grandview Tour

Glacier Blue Kayak & Grandview Tour - The early start: Anchorage to Grandview in one long day

3.Glacier Blue Kayak & Grandview Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $415

Kayak Spencer Lake by Spencer Glacier, then ride the Alaska Railroad to Grandview with lunch included on a full-day small-group tour.

“Unbelievable views and staff what an adventure! We’ll worth the trip you won’t be disappointed! Enjoy the experience”

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Rafting Adventure on Resurrection River from Seward, Alaska

Rafting Adventure on Resurrection River from Seward, Alaska - Small-group format: teamwork feels real

4.Rafting Adventure on Resurrection River from Seward, Alaska

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $340

Paddle the Resurrection River from Seward with a top guide, gear included, and glacier views near Kenai Fjords National Park.

“What an awesome adventure. We could not have asked for a better day. Our guide Cohan was outstanding. He taught us the ins & outs of rafting and we set off. We saw eagles along the way. It truly was an outstanding tour.”

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Glacier Blue Kayaking – Knik Glacier Day Tour from Anchorage

Glacier Blue Kayaking – Knik Glacier Day Tour from Anchorage - Why the Off-Road Drive Feels Like Part of the Experience

5.Glacier Blue Kayaking – Knik Glacier Day Tour from Anchorage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $599

Knik Glacier day tour from Anchorage with off-road thrills and a guided two-hour kayak on an iceberg-filled lake for small groups.

“We travel a lot and have done all sorts of tours in various places. This was hands down the BEST tour we’ve ever done. The off-roading was fabulous, but the kayaking was phenomenal! We were the only people on the water - had the whole lake to ourselves. Fen stayed close as we kayaked, but let us go where we wanted. Daniel sent us the most amazing photos and videos - and then went above and beyond when my son left his headphones in the back of one the jeeps. So logistics - they picked us up and dropped us off, they had sandwiches, snacks and water. And slip on…”

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Denali State Park: Guided Byers Lake Kayaking Tour

Denali State Park: Guided Byers Lake Kayaking Tour - Where You Start Near Trapper Creek (and Why MilePost Matters)

6.Denali State Park: Guided Byers Lake Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 2h 30m · from $119

Paddle Byers Lake in Denali State Park with a small guided group, stable kayaks, wildlife spotting, and possible Denali reflections.

“Brian, our guide was by far the best part about this. So knowledgeable about Alaska and you could really tell he had such an appreciation for the land here. Gave great recommendations about different areas, places to go, things to do, he made it worth it. On our tour we saw some wildlife but was amazing to see red salmon coming in to spawn. Even on a rainy cloudy day, it was fun. On a clear day you can get the reflection of Denali on Byers Lake.”

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Anchorage: Knik Glacier Helicopter and Paddleboarding Tour

Anchorage: Knik Glacier Helicopter and Paddleboarding Tour - The Dry Suit Setup: Why This Gear Changes Everything

7.Knik Glacier Helicopter and Paddleboarding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours · from $1,415

Helicopter onto Knik Glacier, gear up in a dry suit, then paddle calm glacier pools and take safe cold-water jumps in a small group.

“I recently took a helicopter tour to a glacier, and it was an unforgettable experience. Everything about the trip was perfect, from the breathtaking views to the smooth flight. The pilot was professional and knowledgeable, making us feel safe and informed throughout the journey. The sights were absolutely stunning, and landing on the glacier was like stepping into another world. I highly recommend this adventure to anyone looking for an extraordinary experience. Definitely a 10/10! And girls who assist us on the glassier were so friendly and give us amazing experiences of swimming and hiking on there, also be sure that u will have more then enough pictures from them,…”

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Hope, Alaska: Six Mile Creek 2 Canyon Whitewater Rafting

Hope, Alaska: Six Mile Creek 2 Canyon Whitewater Rafting - Gear and Comfort: Dry-Suits, Helmets, and River Shoes

8.Hope, Alaska: Six Mile Creek 2 Canyon Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $159

Class IV Six Mile Creek rafting near Hope, Alaska with a dry suit, swim test, and two canyon run with expert guides.

“I would recommend to do full trip ($179) because if you book this trip they will ask you when you on the raft that you wanna go to the 3rd canyon if you wanna go pay more $75/person that way expensive than this app anyway the trip was so fun. it’s quite dangerous but it worth it”

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Talkeetna Lakes Park: Sit-On-Top Kayak Tour

Talkeetna Lakes Park: Sit-On-Top Kayak Tour - Price and Value: What $109 Gets You (and Why It’s Fair)

Knik River Lazy River Float Trip

Knik River Lazy River Float Trip - The start in Palmer: meeting at the Reflections Lake access

10.Knik River Lazy River Float Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours · from $200

Guided lazy river kayak float on Alaska’s Knik River near the Chugach Mountains. Includes snacks, warm gear, and wildlife-spotting.

“My friends & I loved this trip! Our two guides communicated well with everyone in the group. Safety was a priority. They provided snacks, drinks (hot or cold), hand warmers, and even warm clothes if we needed it. We were lucky enough to see wildlife.”

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Full Day Guided Kayak Tour on Knik River

Full Day Guided Kayak Tour on Knik River - Stop-by-stop: what each part of the route is really doing

11.Full Day Guided Kayak Tour on Knik River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $350

Full-day Knik River guided kayak tour with glacier scenery, wildlife chances, portages, and lunch, starting from Jim Lake and Reflections Lake.

“This kayak trip took us through lakes, rivers and past a glacier. The scenery and wildlife were absolutely amazing. Our guide was knowledgeable and went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time. It was truly a highlight of our Alaska trip.”

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