tundra tour denali

• Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour

A fully-narrated excursion to see quintessential wildlife and big landscapes within the borders of Denali National Park.

• Denali National Park
• Things to Do in Denali Park

More Details

Rates & dates, departure times, availability.

Add to My Trip

Among the great many things that make Denali National Park such a unique destination is just how little of it is accessible by road. A single gravel road goes into the six-million-acre park and only travelers on trips like the Tundra Wilderness Tour have the chance to experience it. This fully narrated guided tour takes visitors 42 scenic miles along the Park Road to the historic Murie Cabin.

Explore the park with a certified naturalist guide.

Guests on the Tundra Wilderness Tour enjoy a half day with a certified naturalist guide/driver on a modified school bus outfitted with coach seats. With all eyes peeled, chances are good for spotting several of the park's wildlife residents along the road: A shaggy grizzly sow watching over rambunctious spring cubs, a lone bull moose browsing in thick willows, a rare full-curl Dall sheep bedded down high upon a craggy ridge.

Along the way the tour stops for ample photo opportunities as well as scheduled rest breaks. Picturesque highlights include the craggy cliffside of Cathedral Mountain, wildlife rich Sable Pass, and braided wash of the East Fork River. Your turnaround point is the East Fork Cabin. Also known as the Murie Cabin, you'll have time to explore this rustic shelter and learn about its unique history before making the scenic return trip.

The Tundra Wilderness Tour is fully-narrated by a naturalist guide/driver. The ticket price includes the park entrance fee (adults only). Seats are first-come, first-serve. The tour runs about 5 to 5.5 hours.

What to Bring

A light snack and bottled water is provided, but passengers should bring additional food as there are no concessions available in the park. Bring all gear necessary to comfortably enjoy the Alaskan outdoors, including a rain jacket and pants, warm layers, and insect repellant. Don't forget a camera and binoculars.

Special Instructions

Alaska State Law requires children under age 8 and below 65 pounds to be in a car seat on the bus. A paid ticket is required for all children and infants. Wheelchair accessible buses are available upon request when the reservation is made.

Transfers & Meeting Points

The Tundra Wilderness Tour picks up passengers at many Denali Park area hotels and the Denali Bus Depot. Departure times are assigned 48 hours prior to the tour. Generally, morning tours depart between 4:30 AM and 11:50 AM, while afternoon tours typically depart between 12:10 PM and 4:50 PM. Upon check in at your Denali hotel, ask the front desk or tour desk representative for departure information on your park tour. The tour desk staff will give you the departure time, location, and bus number for your Tundra Wilderness Tour.

Denali Bus Depot Park Rd, Mile 1 Denali National Park and Preserve, AK 99755

Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.

Child rates apply to children under the age of 16.

Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.

The departure time listed below is NOT your actual departure time. Your official tour departure time will be assigned 48 hours prior to your tour date. Morning tours generally depart between 4:30 AM and 11:50 AM, while afternoon tours typically depart between 12:10 PM and 4:50 PM. Click the More Details tab for additional information.

• Collapse All

SHOW MAP >

Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.

Book Now >

Quick Facts

• Duration 5.5 Hours
• Options AM, PM
• Operating Dates Daily from 5/20/2024 to 9/12/2024
• Activity Level Less Active

What's Included

• Superb wildlife and mountain viewing opportunities.
• Roundtrip bus tour into Denali National Park.
• Full narration by naturalist guide/driver.
• Snack and bottled water.

Guest Feedback

"Incredible! We saw moose, grizzly bears, sheep, arctic squirrels, magpie birds, caribou, and other animals. The snack box was very good."

~Chloris from Illinois~

Photo Gallery

• 1-855-932-1711
• My Account Hello Credits My Account Exclusive Offers Log out

Tundra Wilderness Tour

Alaska’s Denali National Park is where beauty is untamed and majestic animals roam their wide-open habitat as they have for millennia. On a Tundra Wilderness Tour, included in all Holland America Line two- and three-night Denali stays, travel deep into the heart of Denali for the adventure of a lifetime. 

This comfortable, comprehensive and fully narrated, 5- to 6-hour excursion takes you 43 miles into the Park’s unspoiled wilderness, for up-close views of Mt. Denali. It offers your best chance to see Alaska’s marquee animals—grizzlies, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and wolves—in a setting of incomparable grandeur.

Experience The Real Alaska

Travel Deep Into Denali Park

Don’t forget your camera, explore wild alaska in comfort, details at a glance.

• Port DENALI
• Excursion Type SIGHTSEEING
• Cost INCLUDED IN ALL DOUBLE & TRIPLE DENALI JOURNEYS
• Duration 6-6.5 HOURS
• Activity Level LIGHT
• Wheelchair Accessible YES
• Minimum Age NONE
• Meals SNACK INCLUDED, BOX LUNCH AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

• Park History
• Points of Interest
• Seasons at Denali National Park
• Current Weather
• Getting Here
• Courtesy Shuttle
• Green Travel Tips
• Cornell Lab Bird Tracking
• Photos & Videos
• Denali Lodging Experience
• Denali Dining Experience
• Gold Rush Dining Room
• Lucky Miss Saloon
• Quigley's Coffee Corner
• Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre
• The Denali Tour Experience

Tundra Wilderness Tour

Denali natural history tour, kantishna experience tour, eielson excursion tour.

• Explore Denali Experience
• Wilderness Run Rafting Trip
• Canyon Run Rafting Trip
• Triple Lakes Trail
• Rock Creek Trail
• "Steps Through Time" Trail
• Sample Itineraries
• Denali Area Activities
• Upcoming Events
• Group Travel
• Request for Proposal
• National Park & Ranger Programs
• Lodging Specials
• Member Programs
• Email Sign Up
• Retrieve Reservations

Your Guide to Adventure

In an effort to preserve the fragile ecosystem of Denali National Park & Preserve, the National Park Service has limited access on the park road for private vehicles. To experience the best of the Park, we suggest taking one of our fascinating and awe-inspiring interpretive land tours. The land tours give you the opportunity for full-time wildlife spotting – and also allow you the chance to sit back, relax and listen to your Interpretive Guide share stories about the history, culture and geography that surrounds you.

Our Tours are led by seasoned and expert guides who will provide in-depth narrative of the flora and fauna of Denali National Park. Please see our chart below to help select the right tour for you. Remember-the more time you spend in the park, the greater your chance of seeing the "big five" wildlife (Dall Sheep, grizzly bear, caribou, moose and wolf). 

Tour buses are comfortable, offering bucket seating and tours are ADA access available. We recommend pre-booking your boxed lunch. Park entrance fees are included in tour prices. 

Guest Favorite!   Offers the best opportunities to view the park's wildlife inhabitants, choose from two tours; the Tundra Wilderness Full Tour and the Toklat Shoulder Season Tour. 

Highlights : **Best for viewing wildlife!** Denali views (weather permitting). Buses equipped with cameras for zooming in on animals.

Length/Miles: 5 - 5.5 Hours / 43 Miles (one way)

Focusing on the rich natural and cultural history of the park, this 4 ½ to 5-hour tour travels to Primrose Ridge.

Highlights: Savage Cabin, Primrose Ridge, rich overview of Denali's history. 

Length/Miles: 4.5 - 5 Hours / 17 Miles (one way)

Not offered in 2024

Follow in the footsteps on Fannie Quigley to the old gold town of Kantishna on this all-day adventure to the end of the Park Road.

Highlights: Full length of park road, all day tour. Kantishna, Wonder Lake, only tour featuring NPS Interpretive Ranger. ​

Length/Miles: 11-12 Hours / 92 Miles

The Eielson Excursion is a Tundra Wilderness Tour which goes further on the Denali Park Road to the Eielson Visitor Center! 

Highlights : A great option for viewing wildlife and the Eielson Visitor Center.

Length/Miles : 8-9 Hours / 66 Miles

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Thing to Do

Sightsee on a Denali Tour Bus

Denali National Park & Preserve

Denali is a unique park in many ways.

There is just one road in the park, and traffic on most of it is regulated to prevent congestion, preserve a wilderness experience for sight-seers and reduce stress on wildlife. Travel on the road is mainly limited to a variety of bus trips.

• Tour buses are narrated.
• Tundra Wilderness and Kantishna Experience Tours include a box lunch and hot beverage.
• Restroom breaks occur about every 90 minutes
• Wildlife viewing stops will occur any time animals can be seen.

Comparison of Tour Bus Choices

Natural history tour.

• Duration : ~5 hours
• Destination : Mile 27, Teklanika River
• Description : Focusing on the rich natural and cultural history of the park, this tour travels to Teklanika River (Mile 27)

Tundra Wilderness Tour

• Duration : 7 to 8 hours
• Destination : Mile 53, Toklat River
• Description : Variations of this tour have been in existence since 1923, with the first concessioner offering bus trips as far as the road extended at that time. Today, it is a 7-8 hour excursion into the park with a certified driver-naturalist. Going to at least Toklat River (mile 53), this tour provides in-depth information about the history of the park, while maintaining a keen eye in search of wildlife and photography opportunities. It may travel a bit farther than Toklat RIver if conditions allow a good view of Denali from Stony Dome, a few miles farther west from Toklat. 

Kantishna Experience Tour

• Duration : 12 hours
• Destination : Mile 92, Kantishna
• Description : Follow the trail of pioneer Fannie Quigley to the old gold town of Kantishna on this all-day adventure to the end of the Park Road. Your driver is a Certified Interpretive Guide and a National Park Service interpretive ranger joins you roughly halfway through your journey on this immersive experience. You will spend time in Kantishna learning about its interesting history and role in Interior Alaska

When you buy a tour bus ticket, you'll choose how long of a trip to undertake. Choices are 5, 8, or 12 hours round-trip. Durations include stops for wildlife viewing, bathroom breaks, and more. 

On a narrated tour bus, your driver is a trained naturalist who will share stories about the natural and cultural history of Denali. Restroom breaks occur about every 90 minutes. The bus will pause any time wildlife sightings occur. 

There are no minimum ages; but state of Alaska child safety laws mean that kids under age 4 must be in a car seat. Car seats are not provided by the bus company, so please bring your own.

Pets are not allowed on buses.

Ticket prices vary depending on the duration of the trip. Please visit the tour bus company's website to find current prices.

Tour buses start from many different locations. Please check your ticket or inquire with the tour bus company for your starting location. 

If your visit will be short (e.g., 3 days or less), reservations are strongly recommended.  Please visit  the tour bus company's website  to book in advance. 

Visitors who will be in the Denali area for more than a few days may find it more convenient to wait until arriving and purchase tickets in the park, at the Denali Bus Depot.

The summer season in Denali is from May 20 to mid-September. There are short tours occasionally available a few weeks before and after summer; contact the tour bus company for details.

Bus trips operate all day, though most departures are before noon. 

• Several buses each day are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Please be sure to notify the bus company of this need when making reservations.
• Rest areas where buses stop offer wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
• Most of the park road and rest areas are well-compacted gravel surfaces. Only the first 15 miles of the park road are paved.
• denali national park & preserve

Last updated: December 31, 2020

Musings of a Rover

Should You Book the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour? [Review]

This popular bus tour into Denali National Park is considered one of the main ways to see the park. But is it worth it?

The main way to access Denali National Park is via the Denali Park Road. And since private vehicles can only drive the first 15 miles, buses are your main way into the park. The main ones being the tour buses and transit buses . During our trip to the Denali area in June 2022, we opted for the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour.

The tour came highly recommended via almost anything I found online. And I had high expectations. But did the tour live up to them. Ehh…kind of. I saw what I wanted to see, but the rest…eh.

Below I’ll break down what I liked and, more importantly, what I’d change if we were to re-do or go back.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 2022 & 2023. Due to a landslide along the Park Road, the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour turns around at MM 43. In fact all buses (tour or transit) turn around at MM 43. This is roughly just halfway along the road and significantly shortens the tour. There is a chance the road will not be fixed for the 2023 season. ALWAYS check the current conditions via the National Park Service.

What Is the Tundra Wilderness Tour?

Under normal conditions, the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is one of three tour buses operated by the park . It’s, you could say, the middle child. Longer than the short Natural History Tour, but several hours shorter than the 12 hour Kantishna Experience which takes guests all the way out to the end of the road.

The Kantishna Experience is not currently offered due to the road being out.

The Tundra Wilderness tour offers great scenery and, hopefully, chances to see wildlife and Denali . (Note that the mountain is only visible about 30% of the time, so there’s a good chance the weather won’t cooperate during your time in the park.)

This is also a narrated tour, so your tour guide will talk to you about the history of the park and the road. They’ll also point out (and stop) for wildlife and provide information on anything you may see along the way.

Plus you’ll be provided with a little snack pack and some water (though I would recommend bringing your own reusable water bottle as well).

The tour does make a few pitstops along the way. Usually for restrooms but also for a couple scenic views as well.

In 2022, the tour lasts for about 5ish hours and costs $128 per person. It runs everyday from about mid-May to mid-September. You can book via the Reserve Denali .

You can find all the important information (like about pick up times and locations) on Reserve Denali too. Read it thoroughly.

What I Liked About the Tundra Wilderness Tour

There were two main things I wanted from Denali’s Tundra Wilderness Tour. I wanted to see Alaska’s big Five (moose, bear, dall sheep, wolf, and caribou). And I wanted to see Denali.

And I did. We saw lots of wildlife and we actually saw the mountain.

Now I wish we could have seen Denali from the Eielson Visitor Center or Wonder Lake. But that wasn’t possible (due to the road closure). So I will take what I can get. And we saw Denali.

In terms of wildlife, first we saw two moose. Both were smaller juveniles so they were not nearly as big as they could have been. But they were right next to the road. Literally one of them walked right out onto the road next to the stopped bus and circled back behind it.

We also spotted several caribou cooling off in the snow. They were a bit further away, but there were a couple of them and we saw them running even.

And lastly, a couple of people spotted some dall sheep, but they were high up in the mountains and not as visible. We didn’t spot wolves (which I expected) or bears (but I had already seen them on our cruise ).

So the Tundra Wilderness Tour did deliver on the main things I wanted. But what about the rest?

What Would I Change

I’ll go over the things I didn’t like first before digging into the details on what I’d change.

And well, the booking process for the Tundra Wilderness Tour wasn’t super smooth . When I went to book the tour in March, it seemed it was completely full for the whole summer except on Sundays. I reached out to Reserve Denali to enquire but they brushed me off.

This annoyed me. I work in website development, I know a bug when I see one. But they ignored my comments.

And what would you know, a couple months later, it was fixed and we were able to book the tour. So yeah, the booking experience wasn’t great. And the customer service was eh too.

Also if you are staying at a large hotel or resort, there may be several tours coming by to pick up people . At our hotel, three separate tours were leaving within 10 minutes of each other and it was confusing to everyone about who belonged on each one (because of course some of the buses were late).

Tensions were high and people were yelling. It was helpful that each bus tour guide had a list of names, but that didn’t stop people from swarming the bus.

And the buses will be full. Like we were the last ones on the bus so we were in the back of the bus. And these are cramped school buses. They are not comfortable. And if the wildlife happens to be on the wrong side of the bus from you, you will have to lean over your seat mates.

It was also disappointing that we had to turn around when we did. Like I get it. There was a landslide and the road is out. There’s nothing we could have done differently. But I felt like just as we were starting to see more wildlife and get better views of Denali, we had to turn around.

If the longer Kantishna Experience tour had been available, I would have preferred it . 12 hours on a school bus doesn’t sound fun. But being able to go further into the park would have been worth it.

But the main thing I’d change? I’d try to spend 2-3 full days in the Denali area.

This is because I think doing one of the tour buses is a good idea. It will give you a good introduction to the park. Even with the disappointments above, I’d still do a tour (preferably the Kantishna Experience). But either tour will take all day.

And this tour is more like a teaser. By the end of it, I wanted to go back into the Park and go hiking . We only had one full day in Denali National Park, and I realized that was not enough.

For starters, there are a lot of trails around the Visitor Center and Park Headquarters . And a few even out along the road (this is where the transit buses come in handy).

Getting to the Visitor Center may be tricky if you don’t have a car, but some hotels have shuttles to it.

But basically the main thing I’d change is that I’d like to spend more time away from people. On the bus you are surrounded by lots of people. And I wish we would have spent some more time on our own in the park.

So for now, I’ll just have to start planning my next trip to Alaska and Denali National Park.

Planning Your Alaskan Trip?

Interested in a cruise? Check out my review of Uncruise Adventures ! This small-ship cruise line will help show you the real Southeast Alaska.

Want to see two amazing national parks in just one week? My 7 day Alaska itinerary has all the details you need to know!

Headed to Denali National Park? Read my review of the popular Tundra Wilderness Tour to see if it will work for you!

Fly in a helicopter. Land on a glacier. Go dog sledding. My experience dog sledding in Seward was the highlight of our trip.

Want to see wildlife like orcas & puffins? How about 2 massive tidewater glaciers? My review has all the details about our Kenai Fjords National Park boat tour .

Related Posts

The Best Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise

Epic 7 Day Alaska Itinerary: Denali & Seward

Uncruise Review: The Best Alaskan Cruise?

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

A REAL Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour Review!

Denali National Park will meet any expectations you have for it. How you see the park is up to you, but the park’s bus tours are a popular, efficient way to make it happen.

If you’re looking for a real Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour review to assist in your planning of this impressive place, I’ve got you.

We took the trip at our personal expense and I have a complete rundown on whether the tour is worth the cash.

I also dig into whether it’s worth your time during travel in the Denali area, as sometimes time is an even more valuable resource.

Quick Tips for Your Denali Visit

Your Flight:  Find deals to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport using  Skyscanner . Love deals? Subscribe to  Going .

Your Accommodations:  We stayed in Healy during our trip, but browse Booking.com  or Hotels.com  for more options near Denali. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.

Your Ride: A car will allow for scenic road trips and make your trip more flexible. Book a rental car ahead of time.

Top Spots: This one is all about the narrated bus tour, but don’t miss the Savage Alpine Trail and the pups at the Denali National Park Kennels while you’re at it.

Disclosure: Travel on the Reg uses affiliate links to keep things running around here . At no additional cost to you, I earn a lil’ commission if you make a purchase. Any income earned supports the upkeep of this site . I appreciate you!

Are the Denali bus tours worth it?

The Denali bus tours are worth it if you want a more guided experience in the park. Your only other option beyond Mile 15 is to take the courtesy transit buses.

There’s no guarantee those will stop for wildlife, though. They have a schedule to stick to that doesn’t always involve the wildlife inhabitants that await you in the park.

Out of the tours available in the park, I would highly recommend the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour as a great compromise in Denali.

You can have your guided excursion with time left over for hiking in the park, too.

What is the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali?

The Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali is a guided bus tour that prioritizes the park’s landscapes and wildlife.

You cover A LOT of ground in a limited amount of time, and tour guides are knowledgeable and thorough with experience you can’t replicate on your own.

How long is the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour?

How long your tour goes depends on what’s going on with the park’s roads at the time.

Our tour was a little over five hours long, but that’s because the bus had to turn around at mile marker 43 at the moment. If the road was fully operational, the tour would go for up to eight hours.

Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour Review 

I’ll start off by saying I really enjoyed our tour. Our guide was really good and humored us with stories about living without indoor plumbing in Alaskan winters.

She makes soup to sell throughout the community and showers at her neighbors’ homes when it’s too cold for her outdoor shower, people. 

Most of the criticisms I’ve seen are about the lack of wildlife on the tour. The guides can’t control this.

Denali National Park isn’t a zoo and there’s no tour available that guarantees wildlife sightings. 

That said, I do think the vast majority of tours will see something decent out there.

We were lucky enough to spend some time watching Dall sheep, lots of caribou, moose, bald eagles, ptarmigans, and a hungry grizzly bear munching in a berry patch.

That means we ticked off all of the park’s “big five” with the exception of wolves.

I’d say that’s still a huge success. 

I can honestly say that it’d be hard for me to speak so enthusiastically about our trip if we only saw fireweed, but that just wasn’t our experience.  It’s lovely, but it doesn’t compare to watching animals in the wild.

You’ll cruise through as much of Denali Park Road as possible on your journey. There’s only one road in and one road out of the park, so you’ll share the road with transit buses and other Denali tour buses along the way.

There’s literally no other way for this to happen, so any criticism about the same route for everyone is silly.

Fun fact: This was the first national park to implement a bus system like this to replace vehicle traffic in the park. The only way for cars to get past Mile 15 on Denali Park Road, which is where Adolph Murie lived during his summer research in the park, is to book a campsite beyond that point.

On top of the wildlife we were lucky enough to spot, we learned more than we would have otherwise about the history of the park.

That includes a political history around naming rights in Alaska. 

If you’re not sure what I’m talking about here, Denali National Park & Preserve went by Mount McKinley National Park up until 1980.

Even when the park name was changed, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names decided not to recognize it. “Mount McKinley” lived on until 2015 when it was finally corrected to Denali.

The name Denali comes from the Koyukon form of the word for “the high one.” 

It makes way more sense than naming it after President William McKinley, a guy who was assassinated before he ever set foot in Alaska.

I imagine how much of that history you get depends on your guide, but ours definitely didn’t shy away from the park’s engagement with the Native people here.

You’ll also learn about the geology and geography of the park at rest stops along the way. We made stops at the braided Talkeetna River and a Dall sheep crossing that closes for 10 minutes on the hour. 

Apparently, the park’s researchers are trying to see if a lack of vehicle traffic at set times during the day will embolden the sheep to come down and do their thing closer to water sources.

We only saw them as LWDs, or Little White Dots, so it’s unclear at this point whether their famous research inside the park has been fruitful. 

LWDs are what the guides call them, by the way. I won’t take credit for that one.

Yes, the Denali park tours take up a good chunk of the day if you end up booking one. While I’m generally all about recommending that national park travelers see the parks from their feet, the vast majority of Denali is backcountry.

If you’re a beginner or moderate-level hiker, you’ll likely stick to hiking trails from the main visitor center. You can certainly still do that with the amount of time you have left before or after your bus tour.

READ MORE: I have a guide to my favorite hikes in Denali. Check it out!

Since many of you are visiting the park for the wildlife, the Denali bus tours are the best way to learn about the wildlife in the park and spot animals.

Tour guides are knowledgeable and thorough with experience you can’t replicate on your own.

Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour Pros & Cons

The Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is considered by many visitors as the best bus tour in Denali National Park.

While you won’t get to the end of the road on this one, you’ll get access to great guides who know how to maximize your time in Denali. 

Let’s dig into some pros and cons as you weed your way through Tundra Wilderness Tour Denali reviews.

• It’s one of just two ways to get beyond Mile 15 in the park. (I’m not counting walking there.) 
• It’s a comfortable ride. Yes, it looks like a school bus on the outside, but the seats are much comfier than what you’ll get on the transit buses.
• Tour buses come with a scope to see wildlife up close if they’re too far to see with the naked eye. This is great for elusive critters like Dall sheep. 
• The guides are super knowledgeable. Ours taught us all about the wildlife that calls the park home and life in Alaska.
• You don’t get narration on the green transit buses. They may stop for wildlife sightings, but not for long, as they have to stick to a strict schedule.
• There’s a general time allotted for wildlife tours, but they can be a little shorter or longer depending on what you encounter out there. They’re pretty flexible.
• While you don’t get any guided hikes, our guide let us know that we could leave the bus whenever we wanted for DIY hikes. You’d just need to find your own way back.
• It can be hard to plan around tours in advance, as you don’t receive your pickup time until about 48 hours before your bus tour.
• It’s a long tour. Even though a good chunk of the park is inaccessible, you’ll still fill up half of your day on one of these tours.
• The park’s transit buses are free. If you don’t need the narration, you can hop on one of those to get to the park’s edges.
• You’re not guaranteed wildlife sightings. This isn’t a zoo, but some folks end up disappointed if they don’t get photos of “the big five” in Denali.
• There are a few short breaks on your tour where you can get off the bus for bathrooms and views, but otherwise, there’s no guided hiking involved.
• Your experience can be colored by what you see. If you don’t see Denali (we didn’t on the tour but did on a hike the day after) or much wildlife, you could be bummed.
• Much like an Alaska cruise I imagine, your experience can be colored by people on your tour. We had some entitled folks we had to ignore. Luckily, I have practice.

More Denali Bus Tours

As far as which Denali bus tour is best, I can’t answer that for you.

The Denali bus tour described here was the only one we booked based on its high ratings elsewhere, so we trusted that in our own planning.

It would be wild for me to give you Denali bus tour reviews of tours we didn’t do because…we didn’t do them. 

I’m not here for that and neither are you.

What I can do is give you a rundown of the Denali National Park bus tours offered so that you can compare them against one another.

These are tours run not by the National Park Service but by their official concessioner, the Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture.

Note: You can currently only take buses to the East Fork River at Mile 43, which is about the halfway point at Denali. The reason for this is a biggie. A chunk of the road basically disintegrated beyond that point thanks to warming temperatures. It’ll take some time before a bridge or other fix is put into place to resume operations to the end of Denali Park Road.

At the moment, you’ll be comparing the Denali Natural History Tour vs. the Tundra Wilderness Tour. This is because of the road collapse mentioned above.

Here’s a brief summary of Denali National Park tours available at the time of this guide:

• Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour:  Until the road is returned to its former glory, this is the longest available bus tour into Denali National Park. A guide with expertise in the park’s wildlife and landscapes will take you to Mile 43 and back.
• Denali Natural History Tour: This tour goes to Mile 17 and back. It’s the shortest tour available at about four hours. Denali Natural History Tour reviews are positive if you’re here for a brief natural and cultural history of the park.

In normal times, there are two additional tours promising different experiences. Let’s explore those two anyway in case construction is faster than expected:

• Eielson Excursion: This tour takes visitors to Mile 66 and back. It offers an educational stop at the Eielson Visitor Center. Expect this one to last up to nine hours when it’s running.
• Kantishna Experience Tour: This is the longest bus tour in the park at a run-time of up to 12 hours. It takes visitors all the way to the end of the spectacular road corridor and back. This is a true all-day adventure.

Being limited to half of the park can feel like a huge bummer, especially when you hear that the best views of the mountain are beyond that point.

Fun fact: On a clear day, you can see views of the mountain from Denali State Park, hikes within the national park, and even Anchorage .

You’re also more likely to see more wildlife the further you go. 

That said, we were still very lucky to see quite a bit of wildlife with the access we did have and I didn’t feel any regret about having to turn around at that midway mile marker.

If you’re only able to go to Denali today or even tomorrow, just go. You won’t regret it.

When to Go on Your Denali Bus Tour

There are typically two chunks of time for you to choose from when you decide to book Denali Tundra Wilderness tours.

Some guides will tell you that the animals are more active at morning departure times, but different guides will tell you that the evenings are great for wildlife, too.

We had great luck with our afternoon tour, so if you’re hesitant about missing out on something by going later in the day, don’t be.

The exact timing of bus tours varies. We got our actual departure time about two days before our scheduled trip. You’ll want to arrive about 20 minutes ahead of that pickup time to give yourself time to check in. 

I’d suggest getting in line as soon as you know where your bus will be departing from, especially if you’re traveling with other passengers. There is no assigned seating.

Where does the Tundra Wilderness Tour depart from?

The Tundra Wilderness Tour departs from either the Denali Bus Depot or hotels in and around the Denali Park Village.

If you drive to Denali you may as well drive to meet the bus at the depot. It seemed like everyone on our bus was picked up and dropped off there.

A car generally makes visits to Denali more efficient, even if you get to the park from Anchorage on the scenic Alaska Railroad.

READ MORE: Interested in our Anchorage to Denali road trip itinerary? Check out my guide!

You don’t need anything special when you reserve your car, by the way. Passenger vehicles have to stick to paved roads in the park.

How much is the Tundra Wilderness Tour?

The Tundra Wilderness Tour was $141.25 per person at the time of our booking. All tours include the $15/person entry fee into the park, so you won’t have to pay that upon arrival on top of the cost of your bus tour.

It sounded like a lot to us at the time but felt more reasonable after the fact. Consider how much time you spend with your guide. This is a long day.

I don’t get any affiliate money if you book this tour, by the way!

Denali National Park Tour Tips

If you’re interested in booking this bus tour, I have a few more tips to ensure a positive experience:

• Book tours well ahead of travel. Tour season is limited in the season and these do sell out.
• The park service has access to wheelchair-accessible buses, but accessibility isn’t guaranteed. It’s sad, but you’ll need to advocate for yourself before booking.
• Come early to check in at the front desk of the Denali Bus Depot. You’ll then wait for the bus in a single file line, with no need for printed tickets.
• If you’re traveling with kids, come extra early. You really don’t want to have to barter with people for your seat in the back because you want three seats together.

Note: I read some criticisms that it was hard to find the buses to start, but I found everything easy and well-marked. Maybe the critiques were from people who don’t listen to instructions. We were told exactly where to wait for our tour.

• You’ll get snack boxes with each seat, but pack a few more items of your own if you don’t think that’ll be enough. Our tickets came with trail mix, chips, and cookies.
• There isn’t really a bad spot to sit on the bus, but if you want to be close to the monitors, you’ll have a better view of what the guides catch on their scopes.

Where to Stay When Visiting Denali

We stayed in a cabin in Healy during our Denali trip and drove into the park from there. We saved some money and didn’t lose much time vs. staying in the more touristy Denali Park Village.

If you’d like to do the same, check out the map below:

If you want to stay even closer to the park, here are a few more options:

• Grande Denali Lodge
• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
• McKinley Chalet Resort

The park service only runs campgrounds in the park itself. Check out the park’s website for those, as I’m whatever the opposite of a camper is.

Backcountry lodges in the backcountry may be another option once all of the park’s roads have reopened.

Is the Denali Tundra Wilderness tour worth it?

The Denali Tundra Wilderness tour is worth the cost and the time for insider information in the park.

Even if you spend a full day hiking the park and seeing Denali from the ground, you’ll likely be missing some context about what see out there.

That added narration from someone who loves Denali and has chosen to live in this wilderness was so interesting, too.

The tour was good enough that I’d love to return for that extra long one once the roads are all reopened!

Planning more national parks travel? Check out these guides:

• A Guide to Oregon’s Lovely Crater Lake
• Plan to Hike the Best Hikes in Yellowstone
• Don’t Delay Trips to Glacier National Park
• The Best Itinerary for Grand Teton National Park
• Top Sites & Hikes at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

We love the national parks! Here are a few more:

• Hit Some of the Coolest Hikes at Death Valley
• How to Plan Three Busy Days at Sequoia
• Explore the Best of Utah’s Canyonlands
• Planning a Trip to Bryce Canyon? Check This Out!
• Top Hikes and More at Zion National Park

Ready to see more?

Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.

Too much, or just enough?

Agnes Groonwald

Let's make the most of our vacation days!

• Budget Travel
• Packing Lists
• What I’m Reading
• Travel – Misc.
• Privacy Policy

September 28, 2020 / 0 Comments

The Tundra Wilderness Tour in Alaska’s Denali National Park

Showcase of alaska’s interior.

The Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park is my favorite part of our Alaska cruisetour experience.  Read on for why you should include it in your cruisetour itinerary.

I also highlight:

• how many nights you should stay in Denali National Park
• the five animals you’ll be searching to see
• the two most striking geological features
• what to bring
• what to wear

Why it’s Worth your Time to do a Cruisetour in Alaska

Denali National Park is the shining gem in your cruisetour itinerary. Its interior location, vast size, and wildlife give you a unique view of Alaska. Your cruise’s Inside Passage ports indeed provide an expansive overview of Southeastern Alaska. And it’s Denali National Park that delivers the best snapshot of interior Alaska.

By visiting Denali National Park, I felt that I had truly seen Alaska.

But, frankly, there is a way to do a cruisetour that maximizes your experience. Follow my advice below so that your cruisetour makes you say “Wow!” — instead of “That’s it?”

Why you Should Spend Two Nights in Denali National Park

It’s worth using the extra vacation days to tack a cruisetour onto your Alaskan cruise. But you might regret doing so unless you book at least two nights in Denali National Park. The prime excursion in Denali National Park is the Tundra Wilderness Tour. It takes 7-8 hours, and it’s time well spent.

Most itineraries that book only one night in Denali National Park do not afford time to go on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. And in my opinion, the Tundra Wilderness Tour is the whole point of visiting Denali National Park. It gets you deep into the park where the wildlife and expansive scenery await.

The park road in Denali National Park begins in greenery. Expansive views of braided rivers, mountains, and sloping valleys lie ahead.

The “Double Denali” with Holland America

Both of our cruisetours have been on northbound itineraries (cruise 1st, land 2nd) with Holland America , who call their two-night stay the “Double Denali” feature.

On our most recent cruisetour, we arrived after 5 pm in pouring rain. Some folks on our bus were on a different Holland cruisetour package that did not include the two-night stay. They rushed to an excursion that evening, stayed overnight, and departed in the morning. No Tundra Wildness Tour for them. They could say that they had “been to Denali National Park”, but they missed the best part.

Value-Added Feature: If you book a Double Denali stay with Holland America, the Tundra Wilderness Tour is included in the cost of your cruisetour.

If Your Itinerary includes the Natural History Tour Instead

Heads up! Some itineraries include a tour in Denali that is not the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Some offer the Natural History Tour instead. The Natural History Tour goes to mile 27 on the park road while the Tundra Wilderness Tour goes to mile 62.

All tours starts on the eastern side of Denali National Park. How far along the park road your bus travels depends on which tour you choose. (map source: https://www.nps.gov)

The Natural History Tour might be a better option for someone who, for health reasons, isn’t comfortable sitting for extensive periods of time. Of the Natural History Tour’s 4.5-5 hours, one hour is spent off the tour bus. This includes touring the original ranger’s cabin, watching a film, and viewing an Alaskan Native presentation. Personally, I haven’t been on the Natural History Tour; you might find it is a better match for you.

But if you have the time and stamina for the Tundra Wilderness Tour, I recommend it. You can often pay for an upgrade rather than taking the Natural History Tour that’s listed in your cruiseline’s itinerary. Just make sure that you coordinate this with your travel agent ahead of time, much in advance of departing. The Denali tours sell out, so you most likely would not be able to make the upgrade after arriving to Denali. (When my parents upgraded from the Natural History Tour to the Tundra Wilderness Tour on their Princess cruisetour, they did so months in advance.)

Kantishna and Wonder Lake

There is a third tour option that is even longer than the Tundra Wilderness Tour. It’s called the Kantishna Experience, and it goes as far as mile 92, past Wonder Lake, to where the park road ends in Kantishna. This 11-12 hour tour includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and a National Park Service Ranger who joins the tour halfway through.

We haven’t participated in the Kantishna Experience, but we sure hope to do so someday!

Highlights of the Tundra Wilderness Tour

What you’ll experience on the tundra wilderness tour.

The park’s tan tour buses are school buses, not the plush-seated coach variety you might be picturing. There is no restroom onboard, but all tours include restroom breaks at rest stops.

The tour bus for your Tundra Wilderness Tour will pick you up at your lodge. Read on for what to pack for the day.

But being on a school bus for eight hours is better than it sounds. The driver-guide makes the time fly by, and photo opportunities abound. Plus, if you luck out and get friendly fellow bus passengers, you might build a fun camaraderie as you help each other spot the wildlife.

No cars are permitted past mile 15 on the park road in Denali National Park. So often your bus has the road to itself – other than another bus in the distance (center left).

Animals you may see on the Tundra Wilderness Tour

Which wildlife you will see is unpredictable and variable. The big five to watch for:

We’ve been on the Tundra Wilderness Tour twice and have yet to see a wolf. At most recent count, there were more than 70 wolves living in Denali National Park – in an expanse of the park’s over six million acres. Understandably, wolf sightings can be rare.

We have seen caribou and Dall sheep close enough to snap some photos.

Our tour bus stopped so that we could watch these caribou grazing along the park road. But not all wildlife will be this close.

Those light brown specks in the valley are the largest caribou herd we’ve seen yet on the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

Sometimes you have to look up. This Dall sheep was peeking down at our tour bus.

Search for Dall sheep along the side of mountains or nestled atop craggy overlooks.

Any bear sightings were, unfortunately, brownish blobs in the distance. (We saw more bears and in closer proximity on our van trip from Skagway into the Yukon than we have on two Tundra Wilderness Tours.)

We haven’t seen moose yet on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. But we always spot some from the train that we use to get to or from the park.

Your experience may differ, so please comment below if you’ve had wildlife sightings in Denali National Park. I’d love to hear about it!

Sightseeing on the Tundra Wilderness Tour

Your driver-guide’s narration keeps the trip interesting despite much of the initial part of the park road winding along a treeless tundra. And just wait – the really good stuff lies ahead – miles into the park which you can only see via the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

Geological highlights are Polychrome Pass (mile 46 on the park road) and, if you’re lucky, a sighting of Mount Denali.

I was a little white-knuckled on the no-guard-rail switchback turns in Polychrome Pass. Completely worth the view, though!

The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a study in contrasts: light and shadow, volcanic rock and snow-capped peaks, flat tundra and switch-back rises.

Due to the interior’s long winters and late springs, the full Tundra Wildness Tour is only available after June 1. That’s when your bus can travel to Mile 62 on the park road to reach Stony Hill Overlook. That’s where you’ll have your best chance of seeing the summit of Mount Denali on a clear day.

Two-thirds of the time, Mount Denali is obscured by cloud cover – as it was on our visits.

What to bring on the Tundra Wilderness Tour

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of the upkeep of the SureFooted Travel blog!

Both the Natural History Tour and Tundra Wilderness Tour include a snack and bottled water. I recommend packing additional snacks and beverages. There is nowhere along the tour to buy food. This is a day where some gluten-free protein bars come in handy in my day bag .

Do you have the “Passport to Your National Parks” booklet?

This small, navy, spiral-bound booklet is not to be confused with the small, navy, official passport issued to you by the United States government. “ Passport to Your National Parks ” provides a handy way to keep track of which American national parks you’ve visited in your travels. Each national park has a stop (visitors’ center, etc.) where you can use their cancellation stamp to mark your book to show when you were there.

On your Tundra Wilderness Tour, you can stamp yours at the Toklat River Rest Stop (mile 53 on the park road). (You can also use a second, different stamp at the park’s Visitor Center, but I haven’t made it there myself yet.)

What to Wear on the Tundra Wilderness Tour

Dress for comfort and ease of getting on/off the tour/school bus. As you will for all of your days in Alaska, make sure you dress in layers. The weather varies throughout the day. On a recent June trip we saw both snow flurries and rainbows during our Tundra Wilderness Tour!

On our Tundra Wilderness Tour in early June it was snowing in the park’s interior but not at the lodge. Later the day warmed and brightened to give us this rainbow.

The bus ride itself can get chilly as often passengers are lowering bus windows to get better photos. And it can get downright cold at the rest stops as the wind whips across the tundra. So much so that I always bring a winter hat . And since I’m always cold, I wore an insulated winter coat on my most recent visit. You might get by with a base layer, fleece, and windbreaker.

Regardless of the weather, you won’t regret the extra vacation days that you will use to book a  cruisetour   that features the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

I am wishing you lots of wildlife viewing in Denali National Park!

Let’s make the most of our vacation days!

What wildlife did you get to see in denali national park, share this:.

• Author info

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Choose an Unforgettable Alaska Sled Dog Excursion

Previous post

Kindle travel Guide

Administrator

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to SureFooted Travel and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Tundra Wilderness Tour

May 20 – sep 16, $179 per person + $15 tax.

Take the Tundra Wilderness Tour

Denali national park and preserve, ak.

If you’re looking to experience for yourself Denali’s unique landscapes and wildlife, the Tundra Wilderness Tour is your best bet.

In order to preserve Denali National Park as a truly untouched wilderness, there are no public access roads in the whole park. This means the only way to see large swaths of the park (without hiking days out there yourself) is to take one of the guided bus tours available at Denali.

The tour is a full day, bringing you a full 60+ miles into Denali’s heart, to the Stony Hill Overlook, which, on clear days, offers one of the best views of Denali Mountain through the Thorofare Pass. Throughout your journey, expect to see plenty of wildlife (from the safety of the bus). Enormous grizzly bears, moose, caribou, sheep, wolves, eagles, falcons, and more will cross your path or be spotted and pointed out by the tour guides, who tend to have a far better eye for wildlife from their decades of experience in Denali. Plus, when there is a close up and personal experience with animals, the guide will stop the bus and get out to film, packaging together a DVD of your experience on the tour with the wildlife, available for purchase later on.

One of the best parts of the day is learning about the complex and interconnected ecosystem of Denali and Alaska from the entertaining guides. The varied scenery, from rainforest to icy tundra to open meadows, is absolutely stunning beyond words.

While you can see much of Denali, there’s always more to see. In total, there are four bus tours available in Denali. Of course, the Tundra Wilderness Tour—what we’ve been talking about—and also:

Denali Natural History Tour, a shorter 5 hours tour to the Teklanika River that focuses on the natural and cultural history of the park. Kantishna Experience Tour, a trip to the old gold mining town famous for Alaskan legend (and star of the Alaska Cabin Night Dinner Theater experience) Fannie Quigley. Eielson Excursion Tour, an 8-9hr trip to the Eielson Visitor Center, with plenty of history and wildlife along the way.

About the Author

Aramark Nation's Vacation

Welcome to Nation’s Vacation by Aramark – a collection of activities, experiences, and places to stay within some of America’s greatest National Parks and protected lands. Our mission is to inspire unforgettable and authentic experiences that reflect the culture that surrounds these once-in-a-lifetime places. So dive in, and make your next vacation a Nation’s Vacation.

Denali Park Village

The cabins at denali park village, denali national park campgrounds, other things to do, glaciers & waterfalls: exploring the cascading....

Elevated Escapes: Top Picks for Your...

Best National Park Wildlife Spottings

The Ultimate Summer Vacation in Denali

Destination Denali: Sights and Sounds of...

5 Family-Friendly Summer Destinations

Earth Day: Conservation of Nature and...

Endangered Species in Our National Parks:...

Bring the Parks to Your Virtual...

Denali Area Activities

Denali Shuttles

See the Wildlife of Denali

Birdwatching in Denali

Camping in Denali

Raft the Nenana River

Hiking in Denali

Alaska Cabin Night Dinner Theatre

• St Petersburg Tours
• Private Tours

Username or E-Mail

Forget Password?

Do not have an account?

Already a member, discover unforgettable travel experiences, free cancelation.

Don’t stress if your plans change. Cancel up to 24 hours before your activity starts for a full refund.

Faster Access

Skip the long ticket lines and get straight to the good stuff in the places everyone wants to visit.

Friendly Help

We’re standing by 24/7 to make your experience incredible. Reach us by phone, email or WhatsApp.

Discover St Petersburg Half Day Walking Tour

• iconic sites, walking

Popular St Petersburg Experiences

• Iconic metro stations, The world's deepest metro station, walking

St. Petersburg Underground

• Vodka museum, vodka tasting

Caviar & Vodka Tasting at Russian Vodka Museum

• Cycle tour, historic landmarks

St Petersburg Bicycle Tour

• bridges, river, white nights, White nights romantic evening bike tour

White Nights Evening Bike Ride

• Boat trip, Gulf of Finland, Visit Lakhta Center Europes highest Skyscraper

Gulf Of Finland Boat Trip

Our recommended experiences.

• Pub crawl, vodka tasting

Drink Vodka With a Real Russian Local

• Jewish History, Synagogue, walking

St. Petersburg Jewish Heritage Tour

• Putin, Revolution, Soviet History

The Russian Revolution To Vladimir Putin Private Tour

St petersburg, st petersburg highlights in hd, let your st petersburg journey begin.

What our Travelers are saying

I had Natalya as a private guide. She was just fantastic… knowing every detail about historical facts … she was also able to follow my wishes. I can just recommend 👍Thank you for this beautiful day in St Petersburg

We really enjoyed our tour around St Petersburg with Anna. This tour takes you to all the main sights. I highly recommend this tour . Anna also took us inside a fantastic tradition Russian store and showed us traditional Russian delicacies. Highly recommend the tour!

I had only one day to tour St Petersburg. After researching many tours, I chose the Discover St Petersburg walking tour. Despite the cold weather, the tour was fantastic. Kate was my guide and was great. She is a walking encyclopedia of history and facts and was able to answer every question I threw at her plus some. Thanks for a great day! PS – opted for the optional professional photos which I highly recommend as well. Well done.

3 out of 5 of our party had never before been to Russia, so the private tours with guide were essential. We experienced St Petersburg as a modern, vibrant city with wide-ranging history, and we were extremely fortunate to have as our guide the excellent Anna, who not only showed us the the best sites, but did so with friendliness, wit, intelligence and passion for her subject. She really made an already awesome experience extra-special

Wonderful Private tour of St Petersburg Must Sees with Anna who was fantastic. So much knowledge and information about this beautiful city!! Also added the Traditional Russian Tea break and Metro Tour which we loved!

Very nice walking tour. Our guide, Svetlana, was very kind and explained to us every aspect of each monument. I really recommend

St Petersburg travel Blog get inspired for your next trip

Bike Tours St Petersburg Russia – Cycling Tours St Petersburg

Top 10 Things To Do in St. Petersburg Russia: Activities in St Petersburg Russia to keep you busy

Guided & Private Walking Tours In St Petersburg Russia

We love St Petersburg! It is our home and we hope you will love our city and enjoy your visit. We want you to enjoy our tours and let us share our knowledge with you about our beautiful home.

All our guides are dedicated to giving not just a tour of St Petersburg but a genuine enjoyable experience mixing with real local residents of St Petersburg. We hope you will return home, remember us and recommend us to all of your friends.

In The Press