Alaska is home to some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people travel to Alaska to take tours of its wilderness and witness its majestic vistas. But every Alaska tour is different, and many vacation-goers have a hard time determining which Alaska tour best suits their needs and desires.

When in the beginning stages of planning an Alaska tour, the first step is to outline a set of goals for the trip. What kinds of things do you want to see? How much of the state do you want to travel across? What kinds of activities do you want to engage in during the tour? Answering these questions will help you not only determine what part of the state you should fly into and when, but how much traveling you’ll be doing over the trip. Remember: Alaska is very, very large, and traveling between cities can be very time consuming. Before you can determine where to go, you’ll need to know what you want to be doing there.

The second step is to start researching Alaskan tour packages. Many tour companies put together complete travel packages for vacationers that cover everything from transportation within the state to meals and camping equipment. This is a great option if you’re low on time and want to have a well rounded experience. Many tour companies operate both winter and summer tours.

If you want a more customized experience or have very specific activities in mind, you should begin mapping out exactly how you want your Alaska tour to unfold. This involves choosing a starting point and mapping out a route throughout the state. Decide which activities you want to engage in and begin researching companies that offer those activities in Alaska. Many times the same companies that offer package tour deals also offer one-off adventure trips, such as single-engine airplane flights and fishing excursions.

Remember that an Alaska tour doesn’t necessarily have to take place on land. Many cruise liners offer excellent Alaska cruises that travel all around the state. Some port for days at a time, allowing travelers to visit the major coastal cities.