I would like to visit Alaska, but any advertised trips involve cruises. I don't mind a few days on board, but don't like the idea of a huge liner with holiday camp-style entertainment. Can I go as an independent traveller, staying on land, but taking boat trips around natural beauty spots and to view the wildlife? Kim Devlin, via e-mail

Times travel expert Julia Brookes responds: For a short cruise, try Cruise West (01483 500005, www.cruisewest.com), which operates coastal journeys on small ships, including three and four-night trips out of Juneau to Glacier Bay. You can add on land trips - one of the most popular is flying into Anchorage and driving or taking the Alaska Railroad through Denali National Park to Fairbanks. Three-night cruises start at £530pp, based on double occupancy.

Alternatively, Explore (0845 01371537, www.explore.co.uk) has a 16-night tour staying in hotels. It includes hiking around the Kenai peninsula and cruising the Harding icefield, viewing humpback whales, sealions, sea otters and puffins. The tour's May 16 departure next year costs £2,045, plus a local payment of £200. The supplement for single occupancy of a room starts at £580.

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