Wherever you go in Alaska, wildlife is never far away. The state is home to more than 100 different mammals, almost 500 species of bird and around 1500 plants. Spy giant 3m-tall Kodiak bears fishing in salmon-filled rivers and packs of wolves roaming wild tundra, and watch whales breaching and golden eagles riding thermals over colonies of sunbathing sea lions.

Explore Alaska’s pristine coastline on an eco cruise and take a float plane or helicopter flight-seeing trip into the Misty Fjords National Monument or over the 6km-long Columbia Glacier – the fastest moving glacier in the world. Hike the famous Chilkoot Pass Trail across the Harding Ice Field or the Mendenhall Glacier. Paddle the lakes of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, white-water raft Class IV rapids down the Talkeetna River, fish for halibut and salmon in the Inside Passage and learn the art of ‘mushing’ in Alaska’s favourite sport, dog sledding.

Highlights of Alaska

Anchorage- Alaska's largest city not only serves as a gateway to the Denali National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest and Prince William Sound, but also boasts hundreds of hiking and biking trails, which can be used as cross-country ski trails in winter. Learn more about Alaska's native peoples at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre, home to engaging displays of native dances, photographs and artifacts.

Denali National Park- Explore Alaska’s most accessible national park on foot, by bike or on a park bus. Encounter wild animals roaming a pristine landscape of forested valleys and tundra-topped hills overlooked by the glacier-capped peaks of North America's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley (6193m). Along the way look out for grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, red fox and more than 160 bird species, including golden eagles and the colourful bohemian waxwing. Disembark at a pre-arranged spot and hike or mountain bike through this pristine wilderness of sub-arctic tundra and taiga. Or take the Tundra Wilderness Tour and learn more about the park from the on-board naturalist. In winter, the 2.4-million-hectare park is easily explored by dog sled or on cross-country skis. You could also be adventurous and climb Mount McKinley. Outside the park boundaries lie opportunities for canoeing lakes, hiking tundra, white-water rafting the Nenana River and horseback riding or flight-seeing the rugged Alaska Range.

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge- Watch moose, beavers and muskrats from your canoe or kayak as eagles soar above the more than 70 lakes and 240km of water trails in this 800,000ha wetlands wildlife refuge. Choose from two main canoe routes: the Swan Lake Canoe Route, a 96km network of 30 connected lakes, or the more challenging Swanson River Canoe Route, a 128km-long route through 40 lakes. These routes also offer hiking between waterways deep into the wilderness. Along the way, look out for black and brown bears, wolves and coyotes.

Kenai Fjords National Park- This national park is especially famous for its spectacular sea cliffs, blue tidewater glaciers and ocean wildlife. Head to the Exit Glacier, a 1700km ice cap on the Kenai Mountains, then hike 14km across the Harding Icefield. The 900m-elevation offers panoramic views over the 270,000ha park and provides a good chance of spying local wildlife such as mountain goats and both black and brown bears. Rent a floatplane, kayak or boat to spot sea otters and Steller's sea lions lazing on the rocky shelves along the shore as bald eagles soar overhead.

Prince William Sound- Paddle the calm waters of Prince William Sound, a 3.8-million-hectare protected sea surrounded by picturesque islands, fjords and more than 150 glaciers and forested mountains that are home to a variety of wildlife including brown and black bears, gray wolves and Sitka blacktail deer. Spot whales, fish for salmon, paddle a canoe among otters or hike a mountain trail into Chugach National Forest, the second largest national forest in the USA.

Chugach National Forest-Encompassing nearly 2.5 million hectares, the Chugach National Forest offers a world of outdoor adventures in all seasons. In summer go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating and rock climbing. In winter, take the icy challenges of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, snowmobiling and dog-mushing. Numerous trails offer hours or days of adventure within this pristine wilderness area.

Juneau- Nestled in a rainforest, Juneau is famous for its spectacular scenery of mountains, glaciers, fjords and lakes, as well as its wildlife, native culture and gold mining history. The town was once home to three of the largest mining operations in the world, yielding more than $158 million in gold between 1880 and 1944.

Discover the most easily accessible glacier in Alaska: the Mendenhall Glacier looms above Juneau with several easy-to-follow trails leading to and across the glacier, including a groomed cross-country ski trail. Choose from several hikes such as the downtown climb up Mount Roberts, a 7km-long hike to the 1164m-high summit for great views, or try the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail on Douglas Island for a fascinating walk through the ruins of a former mining complex. Discover the town on a scenic walk along hilly, winding and character-filled narrow streets. Paddle across protect waters to see eagles and encounter porpoises, seals and the occasional humpback whale. See some of the more than 100 species of birds at Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Reserve and be overwhelmed at the number of brown bears on Admiralty Island. Head to the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area to watch bears hunt for salmon in the creek during July and August. In winter, choose from 31 ski runs and 8km of cross-country skiing trails.

Inside Passage-Embark on a small boat cruise to experience the very best of the Inside Passage’s spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, vivid native cultures and fascinating history. Carved by glaciers and blanketed with majestic hemlock and spruce, Alaska's Inside Passage is a region of pristine water, snow-capped mountains, deep fjords and forested islands. With its mild maritime climate, this area is prime habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, porpoise and whales. Highlights of the Inside Passage include:

Glacier Bay National Park-Step back into the Ice Age at this remarkable national park, located at the northern end of the Inside Passage. Glacier Bay is famous for its massive glaciers, which continue to ‘calve’ in this still-forming waterway. In 1794, the bay was hidden beneath a vast wall of ice more than 50km across.

Discover an array of emerging primitive plants, such as algae, lichens and mosses that cling to the wet ground, and see wildlife roaming the now mature forests of willow, alder and cottonwood. From a small boat or sea kayak (easily hired from the town of Gustavus) look out for seals basking on floating icebergs, playful orcas and, if you’re lucky, a breaching humpback whale. As bald eagles swoop overhead, spot blue and brown bears roaming the shoreline hunting for salmon. The bruce and hemlock rainforest at Bartlett Cove offers a network of hiking trails.

Sitka-Examine historical exhibits and photos of Tlingit native culture at the museum in Sitka National Historical Park, then watch native artisans demonstrate silversmithing, weaving, woodcarving and basketry at the nearby Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Centre. Wander the shoreline of Sitka Sound past native totem poles to see spawning salmon. Learn more about the Russian – Tlingit conflict in this former Russian enclave on a themed walk led by knowledgeable park rangers. Later, take a wildlife tour to St Lazaria Island to watch sea otters, humpback whales, tufted puffins and murres, as well as storm petrals competing for air space with clouds of bald eagles.

Wrangell-Hidden in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, Wrangell is the third-oldest community in Alaska. Stroll in the footsteps of John Muir amid historic buildings and totems scattered around the town and admire ancient rock carvings at Petroglyph Beach. Raft the furious waters of the Stikine River or try a jet boat tour upriver through rich grasslands teeming with wildlife such as brown and black bears, deer, moose and beavers. Take a boat ride to Anan Wildlife Observatory and watch black bears hunting pink salmon between July and August. Sea kayak Earl West Cove or rent a bike and cruise forest trails along the coast and inland. Choose from a number of hikes, including Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to a tumbling cascade and an alpine lookout, or the Salamander Ridge Trail for off-trail hiking on sub-alpine terrain.

Skagway– Discover the gateway to the Klondike and Yukon Territory in the gold rush of the 1880s and home to the famous White Pass and Chilkoot trails. Ride the antique White Pass and Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces past Deadhorse Gulch and imagine what it was like back then. Choose from 10 marked hiking trails, including the famous Chilkoot Pass Trail, a 50km trek into gold rush history. Or rent a bike for a scenic ride along the hilly 16km-long coastal road linking Skagway and the ghost town of Dyea – just watch out for brown and black bears.

Ketchikan-Explore the nearby misty fjords by floatplane and the pristine wilderness on a hiking, bicycle or kayaking tour. Enjoy a stroll through the town, which sits atop steep hills and is supported on wooden pilings, with numerous boardwalks, staircases and totem poles. Choose from several hiking trails through primeval rainforest in the Ward Lake Recreation Area or try the Deer Mountain Trail (located close to town) for great views of the ocean and Ketchikan from a 900m-high alpine summit. Discover islands, coves and channels around Ketchikan by sea kayak or hook up a charter for salmon and halibut. Get up close to bald eagles and watch salmon swim against the current at Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Centre. Then admire up to 160-year-old native totem poles at the Totem Heritage Centre.

Things to do

Choose from an endless palette of activities: hike, bike, canoe and raft or combine all these activities for an unforgettable day-long or multi-day adventure through untamed wilderness teeming with wildlife.

Hiking-Alaska is a hiker’s paradise. Most trails are easily accessible, including those in Chugach National Forest near Anchorage. Other hikes may need skills such as crossing rivers or glaciers and are best taken with a guide. Try: the Harding Icefield Trail, a day-long hike in the Exit Glacier region of Kenai Fjords national Park; the Kesugi Ridge Trail, a 32km-long, two- to four-day hike through the alpine country of Denali State Park; or the Resurrection Pass Trail, a three- to six-day hike over an alpine pass and through the lake-dotted Kenai Mountains.

Biking-You can rent bikes in almost every town in Alaska with a range of paved and unpaved routes practically everywhere. In particular, Anchorage offers an excellent network of bike routes. Try the Upper Russian River Trail – a 33km-long trail that skirts the Harding Ice Field – before descending into the Russian River Valley. Take to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to Kincaid Park, where you can continue on across numerous hilly tracks overlooking Cook Inlet, or cycle part of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, which was built during Alaska’s historic gold rush era. Several routes along the Denali Highway lead to many scenic spots including Denali National Park, as do others around Fairbanks and along the Chena River.

Sea kayaking – Aleuts (indigenous inhabitants of the islands stretching 1800km from the Alaskan mainland) invented the kayak to fish and hunt sea mammals, so it’s not surprising to find numerous kayak adventures waiting for you along the entire Alaskan coastline. Some of the best regions include the protected waters of the Inner Passage, Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park.

Canoeing-One of the best ways to explore the Alaskan wilderness is from a canoe. Paddle the lakes of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge or head to the Copper River Delta near Cordova.

Fly-fishing-Hook up a salmon, halibut, steelhead, cutthroat or rainbow trout. When the salmon are running, head to the remote rivers around Bristol Bay, renowned for the prolific salmon fishing.

White-water rafting-Choose from numerous regions and rivers to see breathtaking wilderness and wildlife as you race downstream. Try the Class IV rapids of the Talkeetna River, the longest continuous rapid in North America and one of Alaska's premier wilderness white-water trips. Both the Class V rapids along Sixmile River and the Class 111 rapids of the Nenana River in Denali National Park also offer great rafting adventures.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is between June and early September. During summer (June to August) the average temperature is 20˚C, with a high of 26˚C.

Best buys

Native crafts. Look for ivory carvings, spirit masks, dance fans, baleen baskets and jewellery crafted by the Inuit peoples. The Tlingit peoples sell wares such as totem poles, baskets and hats woven from spruce root and cedar bark. Baskets and carvings can be bought from the Tsimshian and Haida Indians, while decorated fur garments, beadwork and bark carvings from the Athabascans. Grass basketry considered among the best in the world can be sought from the Aleut, a maritime people who live in south-west Alaska.