What's included in this experience?+
• Assistance available via toll-free phone, chat, and email
• User-friendly: Pre-download and access the tour offline
• Trip planning resources: Available in-app, online, and in PDF format
• Location-aware: Automatically playing stories, tips, and directions
• Offers an app-based self-guided experience, eliminating the need for a physical guide
• One-time purchase with no expiration and includes complimentary updates
• Customizable routes: Recommended itineraries or the option to design your own
• GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) audio tour featuring over 290 points of interest
What's NOT included?+
• Admission fees, National Park access passes, bookings
What should I know before booking?+
• Suitable for all levels of physical fitness.
• Access Instructions: After your purchase, you will receive an email and text message containing instructions (search for “Download Audio Tour”). Follow the link in the email/text to log in with your Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code in advance.
• Download The GuideAlong App: The free app can be downloaded using WiFi or cellular data. Log in with the same Apple or Google account.
• Download The Tour: Access the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' using WiFi or cellular data.
• Start The Tour: Launch the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview starting locations, the tour route, and the trip planner, or to initiate the tour.
• Location-Based Stories: The audio commentary activates automatically while driving, utilizing your phone’s GPS. You will hear relevant stories and tips based on your location and direction.
• Flexible Travel Dates: These tours are a one-time purchase without expiration or specific date/time constraints. If schedules change, there is no requirement to modify your travel date.
• Tour at Your Own Pace: With GuideAlong, you set the pace. You can start, pause, and resume the tour any day, at any time, fitting it into your itinerary.
• Driving Tours: Group Savings: One purchase encompasses everyone in the vehicle, providing a cost-effective way to explore.
• Works Offline: No internet connection or cellular service is necessary once the audio tour is downloaded to your device, allowing for a relaxed offline experience.
• Bring A Charger: It is recommended to carry a USB/C car charger for charging and easy audio connectivity, and ensure your device is fully charged.
• Technical Support: The GuideAlong support team is accessible every day via toll-free phone, online chat, and email.
• The app's audio will play through your car's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto system, while the app's map will be visible on your phone. Connecting your phone via Bluetooth allows you to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.
What's the cancellation policy?+
To receive a full refund, cancel a minimum of 24 hours prior to the planned departure time.
What's the itinerary?+
• The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center provides care for injured or orphaned animals and supports important research and education about Alaska's wildlife.
• Beluga Point offers breathtaking views where the steep Chugach mountains meet the silty waters of Turnagain Arm, and in mid-summer, beluga whales can sometimes be seen surfacing.
• Bird Point presents panoramic views of Turnagain Arm surrounded by mountains and glacial valleys. Sculptures, interpretive signs, and viewing scopes educate visitors about marine life and the region's geology. The area reveals ancient glacier marks on the rocky shoreline and connects to the Bird to Gird Pathway.
• Cooper Landing, at the Kenai River's headwaters, is known for salmon fishing, rafting, and its bright turquoise waters. Anglers seek the area for sockeye, coho, and trout, while rafting trips navigate beautiful canyons and glacial currents.
• Girdwood is a lively mountain town set amidst forests and Chugach peaks. It hosts Alyeska, Alaska’s largest ski resort, and offers year-round activities including glacier hikes and dogsledding. The Alyeska Aerial Tram provides easy access to stunning alpine vistas.
• Baycrest Overlook provides one of Homer’s best views, located high above the town, delivering vistas of Homer Spit, Kachemak Bay, and the Kenai Mountains. On clear days, whales and sea otters may be spotted in the waters below.
• Homer Spit is a 4.5-mile-long gravel bar that is a vibrant destination featuring cafes, art studios, and beaches, as well as various tour operations offering bear viewing and fishing trips. It is teeming with wildlife, including bald eagles and sea lions.
• The Kenai River is renowned for its bright turquoise hue and exceptional fishing, hosting nearly 40 species of fish. It is known for thrilling whitewater rafting through scenic canyons and is a key location for salmon fishing.
• Mount Iliamna is an impressive volcano in Lake Clark National Park, marked by its classic cone shape and multiple glaciers. Though it hasn't erupted significantly since 1867, it is still active with occasional ash emissions reported.
• Ninilchik, a coastal village with views of Cook Inlet, has a longstanding salmon fishing tradition. The small boat harbors are bustling in summer, and visitors often see wildlife such as whales and eagles. The Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church is a noted landmark.
• Potter Marsh, within the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Refuge, is a favored spot for birdwatchers, home to various wildlife including moose and trumpeter swans. A half-mile boardwalk allows for close views of the marsh, created by redirected creek flow due to early 1900s railroad construction.
• Russian River Falls is an excellent site for observing salmon migrating upstream, especially during late June and July. The flat, scenic trail features platforms for viewing, and bears are often seen fishing nearby.
• Soldotna is a lively center on the Kenai River, known for its strong salmon runs and accessible fishing spots. Boardwalks at local parks offer opportunities to fish or observe. The Visitor Center showcases notable salmon catches, while summer events like markets add to the town's appeal.
• Sterling is the entry point to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and offers varied canoe routes amidst its waterways. The area's rich peatlands are home to vibrant flora, providing a peaceful contrast to nearby highways.
• Tern Lake is a beautiful spot with mountains, wetlands, and calm waters that attract a variety of wildlife, including swans and bears, with clear views for wildlife observation from an accessible platform.