The 15 National Park Trips That Earn Their Price

1.Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,756 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $265Our pick

From Seward, Major Marine Tours takes you about 100 miles through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Look for Holgate or Aialik Glacier, seabirds at Chiswell Islands, and whales, otters, puffins, and sea lions. Captain Lara and the naturalist team provide narration, binoculars, coffee, and lunch.

“Amazing experience, professional crew, incredibly attentive, immaculately clean vessel. You can’t go wrong”

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2.From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,621 reviews · 7 hours · from $208

Travel from Manapouri across Lake Manapouri, over Wilmot Pass by bus, then cruise Doubtful Sound for three hours aboard the Patea Explorer. English-speaking guides explain Fiordland’s wildlife and weather. Watch for dolphins, fur seals, and crested penguins, and pack for rain, cold, and sandflies.

“This trip is absolutely fantastic - if you’re thinking about going, definitely do! The team are super friendly and informative, the boat is lovely, and the sound itself is just breathtaking. The staff really took the time to make sure everyone was taken care of, and made the trip so memorable. It is 100% worth the money. We were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather which was a bonus, but I imagine it would be just as stunning in the rain.”

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3.Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Tour from Seward

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,036 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $223

Spend six hours cruising from Seward through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Your captain explains the ice, geology, and wildlife while you watch for whales, orcas, puffins, seals, sea otters, and calving glaciers. A warm cabin, lunch, and accessible vessel make this a practical full-day outing.

“We saw whales & wildlife & waterfalls & glaciers! What a great tour. The crew netted an iceberg & made drinks for us. So much fun!”

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4.Seward: Kenai Fjords National Park Catamaran Cruise w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 736 reviews · from $265

Board Major Marine Tours’ stable catamaran in Seward for a six-hour Kenai Fjords cruise. Your captain searches for whales, orcas, sea otters, puffins, seals, and sea lions before bringing you close to a tidewater glacier. Captain Laura, Nicole, and Chris have led recent departures, with lunch and onboard narration included.

“Nicole the captain was excellent, helping us to see as many sights as possible on a very overcast day. The rest of the crew could not have done any more to help, they were all fantastic. I couldn’t recommend this cruise enough, personally I chose the 6 hour cruise over the longer ones as I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on a boat for more time and I was not disappointed. We saw so much. Thank you Nicole and crew, you did an amazing job.”

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5.Full-Day Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 638 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $297

Spend 7.5 hours aboard a heated catamaran from Seward, with naturalist narration, reserved seating, lunch, and binoculars. The route reaches Aialik Bay, Bear and Holgate glaciers, plus seabird and sea lion colonies. Captains and crew vary, but recent sailings featured guides such as Gary, Marcella, Nicole, and Clint.

“Great experience. Beautiful day. Deckhands were great. Captain was informative. Dress warm bc breeze is cold!”

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6.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 490 reviews · from $216

You’ll cross Lake Manapouri, ride a coach over Wilmot Pass, then cruise remote Doubtful Sound with live nature commentary. Look for dolphins, fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins. The trip takes about seven hours, runs in all weather, and can carry up to 135 people.

“It's a hidden gem, expensive yet worth taking this trip but as good as Milford Sound, where I have been many times but Doubtful Sound could also be an activity which can be explored during Queenstown trip.”

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7.Full-Day Kenai Fjords National Park Northwestern Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 341 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $340

From Seward, you’ll cruise with Major Marine Tours into Resurrection Bay, Harris Bay, and remote Northwestern Fjord. Captain John, Captain Justin, and crew members such as Rowan and Scott provide narration, binoculars, lunch, and wildlife searches aboard a small vessel limited to 60 people.

“Unforgettable, must do. We saw almost every animal on the may-see list. The guide and captain were flawless. Great experience.”

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8.From Queenstown: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 314 reviews · 13 hours · from $277

Spend 13 hours traveling from Queenstown to remote Doubtful Sound by coach, boat, and coach again. Your day includes Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass rainforest, and a three-hour fiord cruise with nature commentary. Guides such as Brian, Craig, and Gordon have helped make this long journey lively and informative.

“very comfortable coach with a great tourguide, Brian had the perfect balance of great information and opportunity to just enjoy the spectacular scenery in peace. The transfers were quick and smooth.”

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9.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 286 reviews · from $231

From Te Anau, you travel by coach, catamaran, and bus across Lake Manapouri and Wilmot Pass to reach Doubtful Sound. Expect rainforest, alpine views, waterfalls, dolphins, seals, live commentary, and a long but rewarding day in Fiordland.

“Beautiful and informative . We saw a large pod of dolphins swimming towards us and seals . The sunrise was stunning , the guides were interesting and fun .”

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10.From Seward: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 265 reviews · from $272

Spend 7.5 hours aboard a stable catamaran from Seward, cruising Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska to Aialik and Holgate Glaciers. Look for whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, puffins, and seabirds, with lunch, binoculars, and captain-led commentary included.

“The trip was great, the staff were very attentive and fun. Our day was perfect and we saw a lot of wildlife. I especially appreciate the captain slowing down and turning the boat down all sides could see.”

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11.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 242 reviews · from $287

Travel from Queenstown by coach, Lake Manapouri ferry, and Wilmot Pass coach to reach remote Doubtful Sound. A catamaran cruise with live commentary brings chances to see seals, dolphins, penguins, waterfalls, and Fiordland’s quiet forested peaks. Guides such as Blake and Craig add local stories along the way.

“Highly recommend. The entire experience was amazing. Everything was well organised. It wasn't crowded, which meant being able to move around the boat freely. And the scenery was just something that will last in my memory for a long time.”

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12.Back Country of the Fjord and the National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 236 reviews · 4 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $134Best value

Join a small minibus tour from La Baie to Saguenay Fjord National Park and Anse-de-Tabatière. Guides such as Marie, Josée, Natalia, and Denis share local stories, geology, Indigenous history, and flood history before you visit L’Anse-Saint-Jean’s covered bridge, heritage street, shops, and cafés.

“Easy location at cruise terminal for pick up. Fortunately we were in a small group of 8 in the minibus. Very good driver and our guide Natelia was excellent. She gave us lots of information about the area.”

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13.6 Hour: Premiere & Private Acadia National Park with Lobster Pier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Ride in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a local English-speaking guide through Acadia and Mount Desert Island. You’ll see Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, Somesville, and Southwest Harbor, with time for a lobster lunch at your own expense.

“Our guide Bill was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the history of Maine.Cadillac mountain was awesome.”

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14.Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park Guided Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $223

Meet your guide in Seward, ride behind Iditarod sled dogs at Seavey’s IdidaRide, hold puppies, watch salmon at Bear Creek, walk toward Exit Glacier, and enjoy a sit-down lunch with 13 choices. Guides such as Daryl add local stories, and the timing works with the Alaska Railroad and cruise departures.

“Tour operators are very accommodating. We came in on the train from Anchorage, they met us there - no rushing to get from depot to meet them. With advance planning they were able to load our luggage and carry with us as we are staying at an Airbnb not a hotel that picks up from the depot. The tour itself was very informative and touched on a multitude of facets of Seward. The dogs were by far my favorite, im not a cold weather person to the ability to experience being pulled by sled dogs without having to deal with snow and frigid temps was perfect for me. The glacier…”

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15.Seward: Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 76 reviews · 6 hours · from $223

Spend six hours aboard a heated, wheelchair-accessible boat from Seward, with panoramic windows, open-air decks, a hot burrito lunch, and a guide who explains glaciers, geology, and wildlife. Expect seabird cliffs, Harding Icefield views, and a real chance to see whales, otters, seals, and sea lions.

“Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. We saw tail whales, dalls porpoises, steller sea lions, seals, otters. Best chocolate chip cookies to end the cruise. Would do again!”

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