Skagway, Alaska Cruise Shore Excursion Guide

What Are the Best Tours to Take?

This page will help you find the perfect Alaska cruise shore excursion in the beautiful port of Skagway.

For information on excursions in Juneau, click here, and you can find out more about what to do in Ketchikan here.

I was really quite unexpectedly impressed with the town of Skagway.

It's a very quaint town in a beautiful location, and it has a really rich and colorful gold rush history

It's also the gateway to the natural wonders of the Yukon, so you'll have plenty of great shore excursions to choose from at this port.

It's also the gateway to the natural wonders of the Yukon, so you'll have plenty of great shore excursions to choose from at this port.

Finding the right Alaska cruise shore excursion at each port can really enhance your overall cruise experience.

After all, you can see some incredible stuff from the ship, but it's when you get off the boat and explore that you experience the "real" Alaska.

The tours and adventures available in Skagway range from basic sightseeing to some of the most thrilling and exciting adventures you will ever experience.

The following are my picks for the best excursions and tours in the town of Skagway.

VALLEY OF THE EAGLES TOUR - This tour takes you to a river and lake where often literally hundreds of magnificent bald eagles can be seen feeding, especially during salmon spawning season. Brown (grizzly) bears also frequent this area. Along the way, as you follow the fjord to Haines, you can see whales, orcas and other wonderful sea life. The trip usually includes a nature walk and lunch.

YUKON 4x4 WILDERNESS TOUR - An exciting off-road adventure into the wilds of the beautiful Yukon territory. This tour follows the path of the gold rush pioneers, up White Pass and into the Yukon. Bears and mountain goats are very common in this area. You'll pass stunning turquoise alpine lakes and stop at a spot where, on a clear day, you can see 100 miles into the most rugged and beautiful terrain in North America. A stop in the famous gold rush town of Carcross is included, as is lunch. [NOTE: A passport or ID and birth certificate are required to enter Canada].

WHITE PASS RAIL TOUR - This is an incredibly opular Alaska cruise shore excursion. You take the historic White Pass rail into the Yukon Territory. This rail line dates back to 1900 and passes through incredible scenery, including lakes, forest, and mountains. A second version of the trip allows adventurous visitors to take the train up and bike back down through the amazing scenery to Skagway.

EAGLE PRESERVE RAFT TRIP - This tour starts with a scenic ferry ride along a fjord to neighboring Haines. The rafting trip heads along smooth rivers into the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to almost 4,000 bald eagles. The scenery is breathtaking, and the eagles are amazing. This really is a great adventure tour for adults and families.

So those are my picks for the best tours and adventures in Skagway.

But even if you just get off the boat and spend the afternoon exploring the town, I think you will really enjoy yourself.

The shops and restaurants on the main street are quite good, and there are several fun historic sights to visit too.

The best part is, it's all within easy walking distance of the docks - the ships literally pull right up to the small downtown area.

So whatever Alaska cruise shore excursion you pick, you will enjoy your time in Skagway. It's really a wonderful little town.

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