Alaska trip | Alaska wildlife on Admiralty Island

From the skyscrapers of New York City to the scenic country roads of New England, The United States of America is a place of beauty and of unprecedented diversity. Visit the glorious Golden Gate Bridge, the famous Empire State Building, the Iconic Statue of Liberty and catch a glimpse of the lights of Las Vegas! Not to mention the country's natural treasures: the many national parks with beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The beaches on both the east and west coasts are also well worth a visit. The United States is a country of such vast dimensions that a lifetime in the United States can still feel like you have barely seen any of the country.

Sandwiched between the Gastineau Channel and alpine-covered mountains, Alaska's remote capital, Juneau, has restored historic buildings, fascinating museums and vibrant nightlife. This geographically remote city is the only state capital in America without a road network. It is a popular stopover for cruise visitors, who congregate here for the spectacular natural scenery and to view ancient calving glaciers. The area offers an excellent variety of wildlife, including humpback whales, seals, eagles and brown bears. Juneau offers visitors a plethora of exceptional wilderness attractions, including the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area, Glacier Bay National Park and Admiralty Island National Monument, with the largest national forest in America. Don't miss the huge world-famous Mendenhall Glacier. Other popular activities include kayaking, fishing, hiking and hunting.

Tongass stretches across most of southern Alaska and is the country's largest national forest. It borders the famous Inside Passage and offers unique opportunities to watch spawning salmon, eagles, bears and the stunning vistas of wild Alaska. Visitors can look forward to walking on hiking trails, hiking through Alaskan wilderness, dog sledding on a glacier, fishing in fresh streams or relaxing in a remote forest cabin. Don't miss a visit to the Anan Wildlife Observatory in Wrangell, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Centre and the Steep Creek Bear Viewing Area in Juneau, or immerse yourself in native culture at the beautiful Southeast Alaska Discovery Centre, in downtown Ketchikan. Other highlights include the Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area on Admiralty Island and the Fish Creek Bear Viewing Area in Hyder.

Southeast Alaska spills over into the majestic Alexander Archipelago, which is largely part of the Alaskan Peninsula and runs parallel to the Coastal Mountains on the mainland. The group of more than 1,000 islands is covered in lush temperate rainforests, consisting mainly of Sitka spruce and western hemlock, most of which are part of the incredibly rugged landscape of the Tongass National Forest. Here you will find Glacier Bay National Park, which is home to beautiful, protected wilderness inhabited by abundant wildlife, notably the famous Alexander Archipelago wolf. Visitors can cruise narrow fjords, marvel at the immense LeConte Glacier, hike through dense rainforest, observe hundreds of feeding humpback whales and anchor in quiet, secluded bays.

Part of the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska, Admiralty Island is the seventh largest island in the United States. This rugged island is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America and boasts an abundance of other species. Ancient rainforests cover the picturesque landscape, which also includes alpine tundra and a rugged coastline. Highlights include bear spotting at Pack Creek in the Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary, learning more about the native Tlingit nation, flying a seaplane and kayaking along the Seymour Canal. Other popular activities include fishing, birdwatching and nature photography.