• Whale, Alaska

May weather & where to go

In Alaska, the summer starts in May. It’s a land of extremes, with very long winters. Depending on where you are travelling to, you are likely to encounter long dark nights, and during the day the sun may only appear above the horizon for a very short period before heading back down.

May is the start of the summer in Alaska, and the start of bear season…

NEXT STEPS

• Browse our Alaska holidays
• Download our free grizzly bear guide
• Contact our Destination Specialist for advice

Wonder Lake, Alaska

As May draws in, the days become a bit longer and the weather a bit milder, it is a relatively dry month, considered a ‘shoulder’ month. There is no spring in Alaska, the snow melting and resulting mud is called ‘breakup’ and this is something you would encounter in May if travelling further north.

With the summer come the flowers and May can be quite beautiful. The first salmon run is in May, and it may be possible to see grizzly bears taking advantage of the early swarms of tasty fish. If you are planning on a bear safari, you would be better off travelling later in summer for the chances of best sightings. May does have its perks, as prices are cheaper, but some areas outside of the tourist areas may still be shut off to the public, especially at the start of the month.

If you are looking at heading into Denali National Park, you will need to wait until June. In Juneau, humpback whales can be seen in the waters all the way from May to September.

Generally, May can be a good time to travel, as wildlife comes out of hibernation, prices are cheaper, and parks are quieter, however the weather can be unpredictable.

BOOK YOUR ALASKA SAFARI

Contact one of our Destination Specialists to start planning your journey to Alaska. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.

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