2025 Viator Experience Award Winner - Top 1% Nationwide
907-917-8687
850+ verified 5★ reviews across Tripadvisor, Google, and Viator
About Us
Meet the Founder
Hello, my name is James, and I’d like to personally invite you to explore my home. I’ve lived in Alaska for over 40 years and spent more than three decades as a local high school educator. I’m a tribal citizen, private pilot, and experienced guide, passionate about sharing a deeper, more authentic side of Alaska.
You’ll see the iconic landmarks, but also the hidden places that reveal the “real Alaska” - the landscapes, stories, and local moments most visitors never experience.
Alaska gives you things nowhere else does - the midnight sun, the northern lights, moose in the neighborhood and glaciers within a day's drive. My goal is to take your experience further with thoughtfully curated journeys designed for couples, families, and small groups.
If you’re looking for a personalized and unforgettable Alaska experience, Welcome Anchorage is here for you. I look forward to meeting you.
James Bowers
Owner/Operator
Why Us
Why Choose Welcome Anchorage Tours
Welcome Anchorage Tours is an Alaskan-owned, family-operated tour company in Anchorage, Alaska, founded in 2023 by James Bowers. We run small-group and private day tours from Anchorage, cruise transfer tours to and from Seward and Whittier, private VIP airport transfers, and multi-day private tours.
There is no shortage of ways to see Alaska from Anchorage. Here is what sets us apart, stated plainly.
Every guide is an Alaskan
That is company policy, not a coincidence. Every tour is built to teach you something real about this place, and guides have standing permission to change the plan when the day offers something better.
Small groups, never more than 11 guests
Cruise excursions and bus tours travel by motorcoach. With 11 guests or fewer, your guide can stop when a moose steps onto the shoulder, stay longer where your group is enjoying itself, and set the walking pace to the person who needs it.
Anchorage is the destination, not a staging area
Most Alaska tour operators treat the city as a place to land, sleep, and leave as fast as possible. We include and highlight Anchorage in every tour we run, so you experience its history, its neighborhoods, and its place between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet.
Straight answers, even when they cost us a booking
We will tell you what a tour does not include, what the weather can do to a plan, and whether we are the right fit for your trip. Call us and you will get a straight answer, even if the answer is no.
A track record you can check
More than 850 five-star reviews across Tripadvisor, Google, and Viator. The Glacier & Wildlife Adventure won a 2025 Viator Experience Award, an honor Viator gave to roughly 450 of its 400,000 experiences worldwide.
Comfort and safety built in
Small-group day tours include Anchorage hotel pickup, entrance fees, snacks and water, and a local Alaskan guide, all in late-model vans. Lunch and guide gratuity are not included, and we say so up front.
What We Offer
Full-Service Alaska Experiences
Private & Small-Group Tours
Customized wildlife & glacier tours from Anchorage
Cruise Transfer Services
Seward & Anchorage, Anchorage to Seward & Whittier to Anchorage
Private Airport Transfers
Custom day sightseeing can also be arranged
Concierge Travel Services
Including insights into popular local spots
Late-Model Tour Vans
For comfort & safety, guided by local Alaskans
Straight Answers
Are We the Right Fit for Your Trip?
Most tour companies will take anyone's booking. We would rather you end up on the right tour, even if that means pointing you somewhere else.
A good fit if you are...
- A cruise passenger who wants to see Alaska on the way to or from Seward or Whittier
- A couple or family who wants a small-group or private day
- A multi-generational group that needs the pace set to the slowest walker
- A traveler who wants door-to-door service with a local guide
We may not be the right choice if you want...
- The cheapest possible ride
- A guaranteed wild animal sighting
- A packed, big-bus style tour
We carry child seats and walkers, but every guest needs to be able to get into a standard van seat, with help if needed. Tell us what you need and we will give you an honest answer about whether we can make it work.
Still not sure? Call or text 907-917-8687. We will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is no.
Our Promise
Our promise is to always deliver, to the best of our ability, excellent service and memorable experiences, and to put people first over profit. We are a local, Alaskan-owned family business. We are in this business because we love Alaska and hospitality. We desire to share the joy of this beautiful place whenever we can! Best, James and Jen
Best, James and Jen
