South Central Alaska Holidays from £751

Southcentral Alaska Holiday Packages

Alaska’s busiest region offers dual opportunities for wilderness exploration and year-round cultural activities.

Southcentral Alaska has half the state’s population, yet there are wide-open spaces to get away from people and enjoy the area’s beautiful natural surroundings. Find culture and excitement in the metropolitan atmosphere of AnchorageOpens in a new window and explore nearby wilderness areas.

With a population of more than 250,000, Anchorage has plenty of restaurants, bars, museums, art galleries, theatres and other urban attractions to provide many days of cultural entertainment for your holiday. Visit Anchorage Museum for extensive information on Alaskan history as well as public art and a planetarium. The Alaska Native Heritage CentreOpens in a new window explains aspects of Alaska's 11 major cultures through stories and dance.

Take an easy bike trip along the 11-mile (18-kilometre) Tony Knowles Coastal TrailOpens in a new window offering views of downtown Anchorage high-rises and Denali to the north. Drive south on the Kenai PeninsulaOpens in a new window to HomerOpens in a new window, often called the “halibut capital of the world.” Boat to Kachemak Bay State Park and Wilderness where you can observe wildlife ranging from puffins to whales. Nearby SewardOpens in a new window is a gateway to the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National ParkOpens in a new window and offers one of the country’s most scenic highways north to Turnagain Arm.

Move east to Prince William Sound, where steep coastal mountains form a pretty backdrop to ValdezOpens in a new window. Kayak in front of glaciers while seals swim nearby in the frigid waters. Travel north to the Copper River Valley and visit the historic mining towns of McCarthyOpens in a new window and KennicottOpens in a new window. From Copper CentreOpens in a new window, access Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and PreserveOpens in a new window, the largest U.S. national park, to see volcanoes and wildlife of diverse habitats ranging from rainforest to tundra.

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley, or Mat-Su, starts only 45 miles (70 kilometres) north of Anchorage. Visit some of the area’s rich farmland with record-size vegetables produced during long summer days. Stop in small-town Talkeetna for access via flightseeing to glorious views of Denali and other Alaskan highlights.

Reach Southcentral Alaska by flying to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport or take a cruise from the lower U.S. or Canada to enjoy rugged shore views along the way.