Before and After a photography trip

Question

Hi All

My friend and I have just booked a photography trip to Alaska from Australia for a few years time and we are super excited!

We always try to have a few days at our destination before a tour starts in case things go wrong with flight a, to get over jet lag and to see the area. At the end it’s usually at least 2 nights to relax etc. At the moment we aren’t thinking of getting a car but are happy to look into it if needs be. Below is our current itinerary and would love some advice of what to do before and after the tour (this is for the end of July for 2 adults).

Day 1 - Drive from Anchorage to Seward via Turnagain Arm

-photography stops at Beluga Point, Girdwood rainforest, Virgin Creek Falls, Byron Glacier and Exit Glacier

Day 2 - private boat tour to Holgate Glacier

Day 3 - Drive to crescent lake and take a seaplane to crescent lake and hopefully do some brown bear photography from a private skiff boat then a scenic flight over Redoubt volcano

Day 4 - scenic flight over Chinitna Bay and brown bear photography

Day 5 - drive to Valdez

-photography stops at Matanuska glacier, Thompson Pass, Worthington Glacier and Keystone canyons

Day 6 - boat tour to Columbia glacier then kayaking

Day 7 - drive back to Anchorage with stops on the way

We love wildlife and want to make the most of our trip given how long the flights are!

Answer

Your planned photography itinerary is already one of the most spectacular combinations of Alaska landscapes, glaciers, and bear-viewing opportunities. Because you’re traveling all the way from Australia and your main tour begins immediately with long drive days and photography stops, adding thoughtfully planned “before” and “after” days will make your trip smoother, let you adjust to jet lag, and give you more wildlife chances without rushing.

Below is a detailed breakdown of suggested activities for before the tour, after the tour, and considerations about transportation, pacing, wildlife, and photography.

BEFORE THE TOUR (Arrival + 2–3 days)

You’ll want a mix of gentle wildlife-focused activities that don’t require long drives, plus time for rest. Anchorage and its surroundings offer excellent photography opportunities without renting a car, but having a car for 1–2 days will give you more flexibility.

Option 1: Explore Anchorage Wildlife + Coastal Areas
Anchorage is surrounded by wetlands, coastal bluffs, and forests—great for birding and wildlife photography. Ideal for low-effort days after long flights.
Option 2: Potter Marsh + Turnagain Arm side trip
Only 15 minutes from downtown Anchorage and excellent for birds, moose, and reflections. You can pair this with Beluga Point or Windy Corner if you feel up to a short drive.
Option 3: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC)
About 1 hr from Anchorage. You can hire a shuttle or use a rental car. Great photographic access to brown bears, black bears, bison, musk ox, wolves, and raptors—excellent practice before your real backcountry bear trips.
Option 4: Anchorage Coastal Trail (Tony Knowles Trail)
Walk or bike; potential sightings of moose, bald eagles, red fox, and beautiful sunsets along Cook Inlet with views of Denali on clear days.
Option 5: Half-day flights or scenic experiences
You could do a warm-up scenic flight around Anchorage, Knik Glacier, or Lake George—shorter and easier than what you will do later in the trip.

Recommended schedule if you want something structured:

Day B1 (arrival day): Easy day — walk the Coastal Trail, photograph moose near Airport Heights, explore Ship Creek or Earthquake Park.

Day B2: AWCC + Potter Marsh + Turnagain Arm (easy warm-up day, but very rewarding). Car recommended.

Day B3: Short scenic flight around Knik Glacier or free time to recover before starting your main tour.

AFTER THE TOUR (2–4 days)

Your planned itinerary ends with a drive back to Anchorage after a fast-paced week that includes glaciers, flights, bears, and long drive days. For after-tour days, consider activities that are slower paced but still high-quality for photography.

Option 1: Denali National Park Extension (2–3 nights)
Even though the road inside the park currently has closures, the front-country and bus-accessible areas still offer moose, caribou, bears, and great mountain views (weather permitting). You can take the Denali Park transit buses for deeper wildlife photography opportunities.
Option 2: Talkeetna (1–2 nights)
Great for flightseeing around Denali (the best Denali flights in the state). Moose and beavers often show up near lakes. Smaller town = relaxing after your big adventure.
Option 3: Back to the coast — Whittier or Girdwood
Stay in Girdwood for luxury relaxation + short hikes + possible bear sightings near Crow Creek Road. You could take another glacier cruise from Whittier if you want more ice photography.
Option 4: Katmai (Brooks Falls) day trip if budget allows
Late July is peak bear season at Brooks Falls. Extremely expensive, but one of the world’s most iconic wildlife photography opportunities.

Recommended post-tour schedule:

Day A1: Recover in Anchorage + museum visits (Anchorage Museum or Native Heritage Center). Photograph moose in Kincaid Park if active.

Day A2–A3: Talkeetna for Denali flightseeing OR a Denali National Park 2-night extension.

Day A4 (optional): Day trip to Brooks Falls (Katmai) for the ultimate bear photography finale.

TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERATIONS

Your main tour involves several long drives (Anchorage → Seward; Seward → Crescent Lake; Kenai → Valdez; Valdez → Anchorage). Renting a car for these segments is essential—these routes have limited public transport and you need the freedom for photography stops.

Do you need a car before the tour?
Not strictly, but it adds flexibility for wildlife, AWCC, and Turnagain Arm.
Do you need a car after the tour?
It depends: if you visit Talkeetna or Denali, the Alaska Railroad or shuttle options are available; no car required unless you prefer it.

PHOTOGRAPHY & WILDLIFE TIPS

July is peak wildlife season — moose with calves, salmon starting in some streams, eagles, puffins, harbor seals, bears.
Expect long daylight hours — up to 19 hours of usable light; golden hours are late night and early morning.
Bring telephoto lenses (100–400mm or 150–600mm ideal).
Weather changes fast — waterproof protection for gear is essential.
Bear flights can be weather delayed — allow buffers before flights home.

OVERALL RECOMMENDED ADD-ON PLAN

To maximize wildlife and photography while giving yourself buffer days on each end, here is a great structure:

Before the tour (2–3 days): Anchorage area wildlife, AWCC, Potter Marsh, Turnagain Arm, optional short scenic flight.
After the tour (2–4 days): Talkeetna or Denali for additional wildlife and mountains, or splurge on a Katmai bear day trip.

Final Thoughts

You already have a phenomenal itinerary with world-class glacier and bear photography. Adding a few Anchorage-based days on each end will keep you rested and maximize wildlife opportunities. If you'd like, I can help tailor your pre- and post-tour days based on your photography style (e.g. bears, birds, landscape sunsets, macro work) and preferred pace.

Before and After a photography trip

More Anchorage Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions