Know Before You Go

On your way to Alaska? Awesome! Here are some travel tips to make your private journey even easier.

We recommend a minimum of six months in advance, but we will certainly do our best to accommodate your needs until the last minute, assuming space permits.  If you have a specific ‘must see’ list, we recommend planning an individualized visit to Alaska as early as possible to ensure the best availability of accommodations and excursion options for your dream Alaska visit.  But when this is impossible, our experienced Travel Designers are adept at working with our vendor partners to create the most amazing Alaskan experience based on your parameters.


The best time to visit Alaska depends on your interests. Some visitors are all about Summer, while others prefer Winter getaways. But note that in Alaska, many travel and tour options are only available during the summer months, from mid-May through mid-September. Summer is, therefore, the most popular time to visit, with July being the busiest month. The warm weather and long daylight hours allow you to enjoy all Alaska offers. The state and national parks are open, the fishing is fabulous, and the bears are out of hibernation.

Then, Alaska turns into a beautiful winter wonderland from November through March. Numerous unique outdoor activities are available during these winter months, including dog sledding, skiing, and venturing out for prime Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) viewing. You will also find many unique Alaska winter events, such as the Iditarod and the World Ice Art Championships.


Not if you are a U.S. citizen. If, however, your itinerary travel through Canada via ferry or cruise ship, a passport will be required even for U.S. citizens. All non-U.S. citizens will need a passport (and possibly other documents) to enter Alaska. We recommend you check with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration when planning your visit to Alaska.


Alaska has its own time zone — Alaska Time Zone — and participates in daylight savings.

Generally speaking, Alaska is:

  • 1 hour behind Pacific Time Zone
  • 2 hours behind the Mountain Time Zone
  • 3 hours behind the Central Time Zone
  • 4 hours behind the Eastern Time Zone
  • 10 hours behind most Western European countries




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