See Gorgeous Landscapes & Summit Vistas
Enjoy the tastes of Alaska
Learn the Rich History of This Unique Region
Day Trips from Anchorage into Alaska’s Pristine Wilderness
This full-day tour in the Matanuska Valley will show you the sights, sounds, and wildlife of Alaska that most other tours simply don’t offer. On our Matanuska guided tours, you experience stunning views as you drive through the Alaskan landscapes on your way to the Matanuska Valley.
Take a short hike through the forest to a stunning waterfall, watch for wildlife, potentially kiss a moose, and visit spots prized by locals.
We believe in engaging all the human senses on our Anchorage day tours. Visit the Palmer Reindeer Farm for a tour, and climb Boltonburg Butte for perfect pictures of Pioneer and Matanuska Peak! In addition to the sights, sounds, and smells of the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, this excursion also features a delicious food tour in the city of Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska.
After exploring nature and enjoying some seriously tasty food, you’ll leave us happy, with a full belly, and in awe of Alaska. And to top it off, this tour is all-inclusive! We take care of the transportation, entry fees, and food tour costs — including a beer!
Join our Matanuska tour and experience Alaska like a local. Our guides are gifted storytellers, so expect to be regaled with the fascinating history of this incredible region and tales of the characters who have called it home.
If you have any questions about this Matanuska hike and food tour, please feel free to get in touch.
Are you looking for more Anchorage day tours to Alaska’s hidden gems? Check out our Half-Day Anchorage Wildlife Tour with Lunch.
Matanuska Tour Highlights
Enjoy a short hike to South Fork Falls through a beautiful forest along South Fork Eagle River. Snap spectacular photos of this scenic waterfall up close and personal.
Visit a Reindeer Farm in the Matanuska Valley, where you can feed and interact with the 100 reindeer on site and maybe even give a kiss to Rocky, the moose!
Climb the Bodenburg Butte, a trail that leads to a mountain top with phenomenal views of the surrounding farmland and mountains.
Refuel after hiking with a food tour of the city of Palmer and enjoy tasty Alaskan eats from locally owned and operated establishments on this all-inclusive tour.
Everybody’s welcome! Alaskan Sights & Bites takes pride in welcoming all no matter their race, color, religion, sex (including, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, or disability*.
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Trip Details
Matanuska Tour Info
Price
$220.00/Person
(A 6% processing fee is added at checkout by the booking software company)
Departure time
8:00am
Meeting point
The Kobuk
504 W 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
*Please make your way to the back patio
Availability
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, May 1st – September 30th
Duration
8 hours
Group size
Minimum of 4, maximum of 14 guests per group
*Our tours generally meet the required minimum, but occasionally we must cancel or reschedule a tour if we don’t have enough guests to meet that minimum.
Included
- Two hour food tour with one beer included
- Transportation
- Pick up & drop off from downtown Anchorage
- Entry fees
- Expert Alaskan guide
Not included
- Guide gratuities
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Cash
- Camera
- Bottled water, if desired
- An appetite!
Participation Agreement
Tour Services Agreement
What to Expect on Our Matanuska Guided Tours
This tour begins when you join your certified Alaskan guide at our meeting point in downtown Anchorage. We ask that guests arrive 15 minutes early so we can head out on time and take advantage of our day together. From downtown Anchorage, we’ll take off in our van and head for a hike to South Fork Falls in Eagle River, Alaska, where you’ll see beautiful views of the iconic Alaskan forest and the lively rushing waters of South Fork Eagle River.
After our hike to this scenic waterfall your fun and knowledgeable guide will regale you with fascinating facts and history of the area.
Next, we’ll see some sights in the Matanuska Valley and stop by a reindeer farm which, in addition to the 100 reindeer they have on site, is home to two elk, a bison, yak and moose. Meet, feed and interact close up with the reindeer. You just might get a chance to kiss Rocky the moose, too!
At the reindeer farm, we’ll take a break from farm life to hike the nearby Butte trail to the Bodenburg Butte mountain top which offers 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and rich farmland below.
We will then head into Palmer, Alaska where we’ll do a full food tour of the city. We will spend two hours visiting locally owned and operated eateries, tasting the best of what small town Alaska has to offer.
If time permits we will stop by Reflections Lake for a quick photo.
After a full day of seeing waterfalls, meeting reindeer, hiking, and eating our way through Palmer, we’ll drop you back off at our meeting point downtown to end the tour.
Things to Know About these Matanuska Tour
*This tour is not wheelchair accessible as our van is not able to accommodate wheelchairs at this time. People with hip problems, knee issues or other mobility problems should not take the tour.
We ask that guests arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their tour departure time.
Warning: We are not responsible for any food allergies or restrictions. If you have any, it is up to you to make sure that the food you eat on our tours doesn't trigger your allergies. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Unfortunately, we are unable to cater to those with special dietary restrictions (e.g. vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc.). The locations we visit and food we offer change frequently and sometimes with little notice. This makes it extremely difficult to make sure alternatives are available.
This tour operates regardless of weather, except in the case that an extreme weather advisory has been issued by state or federal authorities, or an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control. Please be prepared for all weather conditions.
This tour is available starting in May 2023. Check out our Downtown Anchorage Walking Food Tours to book a tour for the current season.
