Ranking Iceland's Best Guided Tours

   So much to do and see in Iceland but how to choose?  
   
The further you get in your Iceland trip planning the more you will begin to realize that there is so much to see and do that your not going to be able to do it all in one trip. Some people like to base themselves in Reykjavik and do day tours with local companies, while others like to rent a car and drive the Ring Road that circles the entire country and conveniently takes you near to some of Iceland's top sights. We decided to do both.  In 12 nights we did the Ring Road and its most popular attractions as well as 10 different tours/excursions. It was a very ambitious action packed trip.  Listed below are the excursion we did and how I rank them.  This may help someone else if their time or budget is more limited and they can only choose a few.  I do not regret doing any of these tours, but some were better than others. 

I used 5 categories to rank each one of these tours on a scale of 1-5


1. Uniqueness -   How unique is this activity to Iceland?  Is this an activity that could be done on a trip to another location? The higher this number is the more likely it is to be bucketlist worthy. 

2. Fun/Excitement Factor -  This one is pretty self explanatory. Interaction and hands on experiences are key to a high score in this category

3. Ease of Access - I have hiked several miles with a lot of elevation gains to get to some pretty incredible places, but would rather not have to. If a tour can take you to an other worldly place without much effort then it gets a higher score. 

4. Photographic - Does the particular activity render great photo opportunities. Being able to capture youir experience is a high priority for me. 

5. Value - Bang for your buck. How worth it was it compared to the cost

#10 - Ice Climbing on the Falljokul Glacier outlet with "Glacier Guides" in the Skaftafell area

Summary - I love glaciers and I love climbing them, so the fact that I have done this before and have something to compare it to may make my score seem a little jaded. I enjoyed this tour and the great scenery but Ice climbing in Alaska was better. I felt like this specific climb spent too much time and effort actually getting to the glacier and once we got there everything felt a little rushed. Our guide was good and he for sure had safety as his top priority, but there were times where it felt a little too restrictive. Instead of taking pictures while he was setting up the climbs, he made me sit down in the middle of the ice.....Alaska was nothing like that. In Alaska our guides warned us of the dangers, but didnt treat us like children. If you have never ice climbed before, I still would highly recommend going on this tour...but maybe skip it if you have been Ice climbing somewhere else before. Even though this was a private tour, it still did not carry a very high value compared to how much it cost. 

Uniqueness - 3

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 2

Photographic - 3

Value - 2

Total score - 14

#9 - Kayaking in Heinabergslon Lagoon with "IceGuide" 

Summary - IceGuide offers two really good Kayaking opportunities in the Jokulsarlon area and I had a really hard time deciding which one to choose, so I chose both! Heinabergslon was a reasonably priced kayaking trip in a scenic lagoon away from the crowds of Jokulsarlon. It was fun making our way through the icebergs and landing on a glacier. Everything about this tour was good, but the kayaking at Jokulsarlon (reviewed further down the page) was a little bit better in almost every category in my opinion, but you cant go wrong with either one. 

Uniqueness - 3

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 3

Photographic - 3

Value - 4

Total score - 17

#8 - Jokulsarlon Boat Tour

Summary - Probably the most popular tour in this region of Iceland and for good reason. Jokulsarlon is as awesome as advertised and this boat ride does give you a different perspective of the lagoon. I enjoyed Kayaking the lagoon better, but if your not comfortable kayaking then the boat tour is a "can't miss." Tours sell out weeks in advance, so don't forget to book ahead of time.

Uniqueness - 4

Fun/Excitement - 3

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 4

Value - 3

Total score - 18

#7 - Whale Watching in Husavik with "Husavik Adventures"

Summary - A trip whale watching will always vary greatly depending on the experience. Ours was great because we had great weather, calm seas, and many great sightings. Aside from several Humpback Whales we also seen a Blue Whale! I have been whale watching before, but never on a speed boat. The speed boat really makes all the difference and is a no brainer when choosing. Nothing else gives a better view 

Uniqueness - 3

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 4

Value - 3

Total score - 18

#6 - The Blue Lagoon

Summary - Yes, its a tourist trap. Yes, its extremely commercialized and Yes its a must do while in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is very unique to Iceland and unlike any other place. Now that I have experienced it, im not sure that I would do it again, but I would have regret at least not going once. 

Uniqueness - 4

Fun/Excitement - 3

Ease of access - 5

Photographic - 4

Value - 3

Total score - 19

#5 - Inside the Volcano 

Summary - Nowhere else in the world can you go inside a volcano. That alone makes this tour spectacular. The hike in is part of the adventure but it does get kind of boring as the scenery never changes. The price tag for this tour is a splurge, but the final result is pretty awesome. I really wish the time spent inside could have been longer, because the time really flies by when you are inside looking up in amazement. When people ask you "What did you do in Iceland" One of the first things you will say is "Went inside a volcano"

Uniqueness - 5

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 3

Photographic - 4

Value - 3

Total score - 19

#4 - Kayaking Jokulsarlon with "IceGuide" 

Summary - There is no better way to experience Iceland's best attraction than kayaking it. The crowds of people in this location take nothing away from the serenity of paddling among massive ice bergs. The passing tourist boats actually give you a sense of scale which makes this a perfect excursion for photography. This activity is also reasonable priced, easily accessible and doesn't take up too much of your day.  This is a tour I would even do again. 

Uniqueness - 4

Fun/Excitement - 3

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 5

Value - 4

Total score - 20

#3 -  Ice Cave Under the Volcano with "KatlaTrack"

Summary - It's a well known fact that ice caves are only accessible in the winter months, right? Wrong. This specific tour takes you to one near Vik that is accessible year round. This Ice Cave may not be quite as spectacular as some of the larger ones found in winter, but for an ice cave in summer you really cant beat it. The tour was fun and the scenery that this specific place is set in is quite spectacular. 

Uniqueness - 4

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 4

Value - 4

Total score - 20

#2 Super Jeep tour to Landmannalaugar with "Try Iceland Tours" 

Summary - If you think Iceland is out of this world, just wait until you see the highlands. When I first seen a picture of Landmannalaugar, I knew that I had to go there. I have never seen anywhere in the world like it. Its a place where glaciers and volcanoes meet to form landscapes so dramatic that they look like something out of Lord of the Rings. To get here you need to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and some experience crossing rivers. A safer bet is to hire a company like "TryIceland" to take you there. A private tour is pricey, but its totally worth it. Our guide Adam, took us around the area for almost 10 hours showing us incredible sights that we would have never been able to see anywhere else.  We were never rushed anywhere that we stopped. To see some shots from some of the locations we went, check them out in the video below. I cannot wait to go back to Iceland and go on another tour with "TryIceland"

Uniqueness - 5

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 5

Value - 3

Total score - 21

#1 - Snorkeling Silfra with "Troll Expeditions" 

Summary - Snorkeling was not typically one of the first things that came to mind when I thought of Iceland, but it is now. Just the thought of snorkeling Iceland sent chills down my spine. This was not an activity that I was really looking forward to, but the price and the weirdness of it made it a must try for me. The rave reviews were right, this is a must-do tour for any adventurer in Iceland. Its truly a one of kind experience to snorkel in the clear water between continents and it was not only comfortable, but also fun and exciting. The guides with Troll Expeditions were also fun and even provided photos of the trip at no extra charge. I wish I would have done more tours with this great company.

Uniqueness - 5

Fun/Excitement - 4

Ease of access - 4

Photographic - 3

Value -5

Total score - 21

Conclusion - From my experience you cant really go wrong with guided tours in Iceland. The guides are excellent and depending on the tour they can take you places that you cant experience on your own. In addition to these 10 tours I had the opportunity to do a lot of unguided exploring all along the ring road including the Golden Circle, Snaefellsness Peninsula, Lake Myvatn, Westman Islands and highlights of the south coast just to name a few. If travelling in summer my advice would be to do self guided tours with a rental car to places that are easily accessible and spend your time and money on tours that take you places that you cant get to as easily on your own. 

If I went on a 2nd trip.......Here's the other tours I would try

1. Northern Lights Tour (Fall-Winter)
2. Winter Ice Cave Tour
3. Super Jeep to Thorsmork 
4. Paragliding out of Vik 
5. Into the Glacier
6. Snaefellsjokul Glacier Tour
7. Kerlingarfjöll Highlands Tour
8. Vidgelmir Lava Cave Tour


If the "Land of Fire and Ice" isn't on your bucket list, then your bucket has a hole in it. I have proclaimed Iceland the "mile for mile most beautiful country in the world" I cant think of anywhere else with so much diverse scenery packed into a relatively small location (Its about the same size as the state of Kentucky in the US) Iceland's combination of wild remote undeveloped lands mixed with great accessibility and a well organized tourism industry makes it a truly remarkable destination. 

The Bucket List 2 (2017 Version)

When you accomplish half of your travel bucket list in 3 years, It's time for a re-fill. A little over 3 years ago after a life changing 3 day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon I wrote a blog outlining 10 bucket list travel destinations that I would like to experience in my lifetime. At the time my travel experience was somewhat limited in comparison to what it is now. At the time I thought the list was quite ambitious, but as my travel knowledge grew and the possibilities of future trips began to reveal themselves I begin to realize that there were far more places I was interested in going than there were places I had already been. The more experiences you have under your belt the more you start to understand what is most appealing to your own self. For me I put a priority on natural beauty and unique experiences that cant be experienced anywhere else but that place.  With that being said the #1 thing I've learned is that it's not where you go, it's what you do when you get there. With this new list I will attempt to explain my reasons why I find the different locations appealing.


#18 Bora Bora

Bora Bora is considered by many as the most beautiful island in the world. That alone makes it a worth while bucket list item. It looks like it has lush mountain scenery like Hawaii and water as clear as the Caribbean. With that being said, I don't know what else it has to offer. What can you do here that you can't do in Mexico, the Bahamas, or Hawaii? maybe someday I will find out, but until I find out some other unique trait about it, its going to remain last on my list.




#17 Oregon Adventure

Things to do in Oregon -

1. Columbia River Gorge

2. Snake River Rafting

3. Crater Lake National Park

4. one of the most scenic coastlines in the continental US

#16 Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are a chain of islands not far from the UK. I Have not known about this place long enough to research specifics but the scenery looks incredible. 

#15 Machu Picchu

A journey to Peru and the Andes to witness the scenery of this past Incan civilization would be a truly unique adventure both visually and culturally. 

#14 New Zealand

No list would be complete without including Middle Earth....The Milford Sound and glow worm caves would be awesome to see.  With that being said I think the fame of the Lord of the Rings has made New Zealand a little bit overrated, especially considering how far away it is from the US. The country is also very spread out which means you would need a month to explore it properly. Both Iceland and Norway offer better scenery and are much easier to get to and for that reason, New Zealand is not so high on my list....

#13 Son Doong exploration

The largest cave in the world wasn't even explored until 2009. If they re-wrote the 8 natural wonders of the world...Son Doong would be on the list.The cave is so large that is has a rain forest growing inside of it. Of all the things on my list this one is probably the least likely I will be able to do. It requires a serious amount of conditioning and im not getting any younger....but its on the list anyway in case of a mid-life crisis. 

#12 Grand Canyon 7 Day

The 3 day trip we did on the lower Grand Canyon was spectacular. I wouldnt expect anything less on the upper end, but the rapids are supposed to be even bigger.

#11 Yosemite, Sequoia and Death Valley National Parks

Of what I consider the "Big 5" US National Parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion & Glacier) Yosemite is the only one I haven't experienced and I cannot count how many people have told me that they liked Yosemite the best....along the way you can also go to Death Valley National Park & Sequoia National Park on the same trip 

#10  Canyon Lands, Arches, and Monument Valley

Moab is considered the "Adventure Capital of the West" and its easy to see why. This surrounding area is a heaven for outdoors enthusiasts. 

Things to do

1. Raft Cataract Canyon

2. Hot air balloon over Canyon Lands

3. Arches National Park

4. Moab Canyoneering

5. Cliff Rapelling

6. Jeep offroading

7. dead Horse State park

8. Goblin Valley

9. Monument Valley

10. Page, Arizona

11. Yant Fant

#9 Patagonia 

Spreading across Argentina and Chile, Patagonia offers epic views, glaciers and world class hiking. I haven't researched the specifics of this trip quite yet, but it looks to certainly be bucket list worthy.

#8 Hawaii Adventure - Kauai & Big Island

There are several islands that make up Hawaii with Maui and Oahu being the most popular tourist destinations, but it didnt take me long to decide which islands I would rather travel. Between the Hawaii'n islands of Kauai and the Big Island there is enough adventure and exploration opportunities to justify making a trip. Kauai is considered by many as the most scenic of the Hawaiian islands. It is where Jurassic Park was filmed and is home to the Napali Coast: the most beautiful shore line in the world. The Big Island of Hawaii offers great snorkeling and is home to the most active volcano in the world.

Things to do Kauai & Big Island

1. Napali Coast Tour

2. Waimea Canyon

3. Tunnels Beach

4. Night Manta Ray Snorkeling

5. Lava Boat Tour

6. Lava Chasing

7. Volcanos National Park

#7 Galapagos Cruise

No place in the world like the Galapagos. Traveling from island to island on a yacht and exploring the unique wildlife on all the islands has long been on my list of things to do. Swimming with sea lions, seeing massive land tortoises and snorkeling with marine Iguanas are just a few of the things that you cant do anywhere else.

#6  Norway 

Considered by many as the most beautiful country in the world, the Fjords of Norway should be on everyone's list. Norway is a very large country that may take more than one trip to thoroughly explore. Norway is also home to some of the most epic hikes in the world. 

Things to do in Norway

1. Cruise or Kayak the Gerainger Fjord

2. Visit the Lofoten Islands

3. Hike the Troltunga

4. Hike Kerag

5. Hike Pulpit Rock

6. Several other fjords

#5 The Wave

Located here in the US, "The Wave" is the most protected hike in the world. It is located somewhere along the border of Utah and Arizona. Only 20 people per day are allowed to hike, so there is a lottery system in place. It is very low odds to get selected, but anytime im in the area, im going to try. 

#4  Arctic Cruise

Tracking polar bears, whales and walrus in Spitsbergen to go along with amazing scenery would be a trip of a lifetime. There are very many different cruise options for this but the trips are very expensive. It would be a nature experience unlike any other. 

#3 South Africa

no bucket list is complete without a trip to experience the wildlife of Africa. You could fill an entire bucket list with only trips exploring the continent of Africa, but for my first trip I will focus solely on South Africa

Things to do in South Africa

1. Great White Shark Cage Diving 

2. Kruger National Park

3. Big 5 Safari

4. Cape Town

5. Table Mountain National Park

6. Ukatula Lion Park

#2 Iceland

The land of fire & ice is a landscape photographers dream world. Nowhere else on earth packs in as much diverse landscapes in a small area. Iceland's size is comparable to the state of Virginia and can be traveled in a week. It has a road called the "ring road" that goes completely around the country making it the greatest road trip on earth. Its a destination that is only a 6 hour flight from New York making it the most convenient place in Europe to get to.  Anybody that has New Zealand on the top of their list probably is not aware of what all Iceland has to offer and how much closer it is in comparison. 

Things to do in Iceland

1. Drive the ring road

2. Go inside a volcano

3. Snorkel between two continents at Silfra

4. visit the highlands of Landmannaluger

5. Glacier Climbing in Skaftafell

6. The Blue Lagoon

7. Visit Jokusarlon Glacier lagoon

8. Explore the westman Islands

9. Snafelsness Peninsula

10. East Fjords - West Fjords

#1 Antarctica Expedition

The most wild place on earth where you can see mountain size ice bergs and walk among penguin colonies can only be found in Antarctica. It is the pinnacle of all adventure travel. Nothing else is more extreme and extravagant than an expedition to the white planet. The expense is almost as extreme as the experience, but sometimes you get what you pay for. 

Alaska - A Visual Adventure Trip Report

I'm going to try and keep this blog post to as few words as possible. There are many great trip reports out there that will help you with the logistics of a trip, so I wanted to provide something different. This is a more visual report on the things we did. So many times I see people on the forum that have no clue what it is they want to do and instead focus on how many days they are staying where. We didn't come here to see Alaska, we came here to do Alaska. To adventurers like us where we eat and stay are just minor details. Go big or stay home is our motto. I am someone that is visually motivated, so some of these photos may help others choose on what they want to do or what they don't want to do.

Day 1 - Hatcher Pass & The Drive to Valdez


You  probably won't find "The April Bowl" on the top of any list of world famous hikes, but it's near the top of mine. This was an incredible first impression of Alaska.

    The drive to Valdez was by far the most scenic and enjoyable drive of the trip. If we would have stopped every time we seen a good photo location, we would have never made it there.

                                 

Day 2 - Columbia Glacier Cruise aboard the LuLu Belle - Valdez, AK

There is some confusion on the tripadvisor forums on whether or not the Columbia Glacier cruises out of Valdez gets you close enough to the glacier face to see "calving" I'm here to report that the LuLu Belle does and it is spectacular.

                             

Day 2 Part 2 - Solomon Gultch Hatchery - Valdez, AK 

Most people coming to Alaska want to see wildlife and you are almost guaranteed to see it at the hatchery during July when the salmon are running and it's FREE. At high tide sealions feast on the salmon and at low tide there is a great chance of bears. Bald Eagles are also seen here very often.

             

Day 3 - Valdez Glacier trek and kayak with Anadyr Adventures - Valdez, AK
Pretty cool trek with neat scenery. Pretty cool photo opps. A little tame for my taste, but perfect for families.

Day 3 Part 2 - Worthington Glacier - on the way out of Valdez, AK

This place really blew me away. This is the most rewarding easy hike I have ever done. Within minutes from the parking lot you can reach out and touch a glacier. We went at sunset and were the only ones there. Don't know many places that you can drive up and see waterfalls, a glacier and a sunset.

Day 4 - Matanuska Adventure Trek - W/ NOVA Glacier Guides.

There are several guides and companies that can get you on the magnificent Matanuska Glacier to get the glacier walk experience, but if you want more than just a photo opp and want to get away from the crowds, I highly suggest the Adventure trek by NOVA. There was only 4 of us and I never felt like I was on a structured tour. We kind of went where we wanted to go as long as it was safe. I got to fly my drone, do some climbing and some exploring.

  

                

Day 5 - Exit Glacier Ice Climbing w/ Exit Glacier Guides - Seward, AK 

WOW! There are many companies that like to throw the word "adventure" around, but this tour is legit. It is certainly no country for old men or kids or anyone this is not in great physical condition. I ran bleachers for months preparing myself for this day and it certainly paid off. My wife did not go on this tour and I'm glad; she would not have made it. We did the first 2 miles of the Harding Icefield Trail in 1 hour 15 minutes, so not many stops for air. This incredible experience was worth every step. If you think climbing a glacier may be a top highlight of your trip don't hesitate in booking both Matanuska and Exit glacier climbing...they are both vastly different experiences; but Exit Glacier is on a whole different level of extreme.

    

             

Day 5 Part 2 - An unexpected Bear Encounter - Bear Lake Road - Seward, AK

On our way back to Bear Lake B&B my wife urged me to pull over so that she could smoke (she felt it was rude to do it on their property) so I just happened to unknowingly pull over at a creek where salmon run. As soon as we stepped out of the car we heard vicious growling. It was cubs fighting over a salmon about 50 yards away. I was excited! I reached into the car to grab my zoom lens and capture the moment, assuming that Mama bear was probably a little ways behind them. Wrong. As I was setting the focus on my camera I noticed out of the corner of my eye, mama bear about 30 yards away. She stared into my camera and then continued eating her fish. Incredible experience, but I don't care to be that close again.  At nearly the same time we noticed the bear a bald eagle swooped in and landed on a branch about 10 feet from our car. 

Day 6 - Portage Pass, Whittier, Ak 

Our second day in Seward was supposed to be the first day of our overnight Kayaking and camping trip to the Kenai Fjords to see Aialik and Pederson glaciers, but due to katabatic winds the company we were using "Kayak Adventures Worldwide" gave us the option to pull out of the tour because they said there was a good chance that we would not get to paddle at all during the trip. We decided not to chance it. That's a lot of money to spend on a ferry ride. Now we had 2 days to fill and no reservations for anywhere to stay for the night. We decided to drive to Whittier and see if they had any Kayak trips going out to Blackstone Glacier and if they didn't we would hike Portage Pass (which we originally planned for the last day)  Whittier was having the same problem with winds, so we hiked. A very photographic hike once you get past the uphill section. We didn't go all the way to the lake because we had a long drive to Homer ahead of us, but I would have liked to.  

           

Day 7 - Kayaking at Kachemak Bay State Park with St. Augustine's Sea Kayaking - Homer, Alaska

Since our overnight had to be cancelled due to winds I was able to book a full day trip with St. Augustine's Sea Kayaking out of Kachemak Bay State Park (Across the bay from Homer) We were lucky to find a hotel room in Homer so we showed up a day early to be able to do this trip. We had a really great time. This was probably my wife's favorite day of the trip. We seen 4 whales, 10 or more bald eagles, puffins, harbor seals, and otters. The trip includes a 30 minute water taxi ride across the bay, tidepooling if the tide is right and a short but scenic hike where you eat lunch (bring your own) on top of a cliff overlooking the bay. For $150 a person you really cant beat the value. Bummed we missed our overnight, but this was a great alternative.

Day 8 - The Journey to Brooks Falls at Katmai National Park with Bald Mountain Air

I'm pretty sure that this is the most exciting place I have ever been. We had perfect weather and great visibility the entire day. We felt very fortunate because the Bald Mountain Air tour the day before was cancelled due to winds. In all we seen 9 or 10 bears. Not exactly a heavy day for bears, but the Salmon were jumping great and Brooks Falls most popular bear "Ottis" was in his office. He probably caught close to 20 fish while we were there. I would love to come back here and camp for about 3 nights.

                                              

Day 9 - Float fishing on the Kenai River with Alaska Angling - Cooper Landing, AK

On this day we had planned to drive from Homer back to Seward to hike the Harding Icefield trail, but after seeing how tired my wife was while hiking up Portage Pass and by having already done the first two miles of the Harding Icefield on my way to Exit Glacier, I knew there was no way she would make it. We booked a half day float and fish at the last minute in Cooper Landing. It's not as relaxing as it sounds because we were constantly changing from fly fishing to reel fishing. Our guide did a good job, but tt was a little fast paced for my liking. We did catch some trout and the people we were with caught a big salmon. It was a perfect weather day on a beautiful river. Next time we will try Halibut fishing when we have better time to prepare and pick the best charter possible.

Day 10 - Kenai Fjords Bear Glacier SUP with Liquid Adventures - Seward, AK

With an 8pm flight we could have taken it easy, slept in, maybe hit a view souvenir shops and made an easy drive from Seward to Anchorage...but why do that when you can have one more incredible adventure? SUP at Bear Glacier was awesome! We had originally planned to hike Portage Pass on this day, but since things got turned around and we had already done the hike we were lucky to be able to book this trip on the day before. This was an activity I really wanted  to do, but picked the overnight kayaking instead. I'm really glad I got to do this. I would really like to camp in this location and explore it some more. These Ice bergs were even bigger than the ones we seen on the Columbia Glacier Cruise. This was also our very first time to stand up paddle. I also learned that taking pics and video with gloves on a paddle board in near freezing waters is a new level of difficulty.

The best places we stayed:

1. Bear Lake B&B 

2. Land's End Resort - Homer Spit

3. VRBO Nelchina, AK - Schooner Lake - (45 minute drive to Matanuska Glacier)

Favorite Guided Tours

1. Exit Glacier Guides Ice Climbing 
2. Brooks Falls w/Bald Mountain Air
3. Matanuska Adventure Trek w/ NOVA
4. Bear Glacier SUP w/Liquid Adventures
5. Columbia Glacier Tour - LuLu Belle
6. Kachemak Bay Kayaking W/ St Augustines
7. Valdez Glacier Kayaking w/ Anadyr
8. Float Fishing w/ Alaska Angling

Notes

• The high was in the 70's every single day we were in Alaska and we did not encounter any rain in 10 days.
• We did not stay in any lodging more than 2 nights.
• We usually ate 2 meals a day and some breakfasts were provided by lodging. Spent many lunches eating beef jerky, granola bars, and trailmix from home.  
• Every guide we had was excellent. You could tell they loved their jobs and were very excited about the days activities.
• Alaskans have a lot of state pride and many of them did not grow up there; they moved there by choice. You will encounter many of them on vacation just like you are. They will even be taking lots of pictures just like tourists.They will talk your ear off, but you will probably enjoy their stories. I know I did. 

Next Trip to Alaska

• Aialik & Pederson Glacier Kayaking
• Brooks Falls camping
• Halibut Fishing Charter
• Denali Flight Seeing out of Talkeetna
• Kenai Fjords Cruise
• Blackstone Glacier Kayaking/SUP
• Wrangell St. Elias/ Root Glacier
• Columbia Glacier Flight seeing - VS Helicopters
• Bear Glacier camping
• Winner Creek hand tram
• Alyeska ski lift

Advice

• Before you decide what part of Alaska and how many nights decide what it is you want to do. Three nights in Seward probably doesn't make much sense for someone who doesn't want to fish, day cruise, or hike.
• You can't over plan. I planned for a year and everything went like clock work (except for a cancellation that I was prepared for)
• Have a tentative back-up plan if something gets cancelled due to weather. Being in Alaska costs too much to let a cancellation lead to a wasted day.
• Don't take forum advice as gospel. Everyone has their own likes and opinions. 
•  Alaska is so great that nothing is a "Must See" plan your trip around what YOU want to do. Denali is near the top of many peoples list for Alaska, but it doesn't appeal to me very much. I havent seen many photos that just "wow" me and I'm a very visually stimulated person, so I skipped it. Still had the best 10 day vacation of my life and a more memorable wildlife encounter than 99% of the people that go to Denali. It's also illegal to fly drones in National Parks, so another reason to knock it off my list and a good example of how something could effect me negatively but have no effect on others. If fishing is a high priority for you, spend multiple days fishing.
• If you are a photo or video enthusiast bring your absolute best gear. If you don't own high end gear, rent it! I rented a $2,000 lens for my camera that was worth every penny of the $275 rental at borrowlenses.com. 
• If you want to escape the high lodging prices of Anchorage you can stay in Palmer, Alaska for around $100 a night. You will be only 30 miles from Hatcher Pass when you wake up in the morning. 
• If you cant find the info you are looking for on tripadvisor try facebook. For example if you want to find out about the "winner creek hand tram" type it in a facebook search and instead of clicking on a page just hit search and it will bring up posts made by people on facebook that dont have their posts set to private. You can get a lot of updated info about places this way.