Alaska The Dramatic Northwest

DAY 1: Arrive Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, and take the free hotel shuttle bus to the group hotel specified in your final tour voucher. You may also elect to have a prearranged transfer that can be organized with us before departure. NB: If you wish to spend more time in Anchorage then we are able to book additional nights for you.

DAY 2: To Seward

This morning, you will meet your guides for breakfast and an orientation at 8:00am. We’ll then drive south from Anchorage through Turnagain Pass to Seward. The drive along the Seward Highway has been called one of the most scenic drives in the world. Beluga Whales cruise the waters of Turnagain Arm and glaciers cling to the rugged mountains of the Chugach Range. Along the way, we’ll stop for a hike along Turnagain Arm in Chugach State Park (approx. 2-3 hours). As we stretch our legs, we’ll be on the lookout for Moose and Dall Sheep along the hillside. After lunch, we’ll continue to Seward, and our home for the next 2 nights. We’ll spend time settling into our accommodations and getting acquainted with the charming character of this coastal fishing town before your guides prepare a wild Alaskan salmon bake along the shores of Resurrection Bay. Our accommodations for the two nights in Seward are the Harborview Inn.

Day 3: Kenai Fjords National Park

After a hardy breakfast at a local cafe, we’ll head out on an amazing hike to the Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield. Considered one of the greatest hikes on the Kenai Peninsula, we’ll experience glaciers and the forces that shaped the landscape up close, while exploring only a tiny portion of the nearly 1 million acres that make up Kenai Fjords National Park. We’ll regroup at our hotel before heading out on an evening dinner cruise, where we’ll experience Resurrection Bay first hand, and savor an amazing dinner at the remote Fox Island Lodge. We’ll be on the lookout for whales, sea lions, eagles, puffins, bears and Mt. Goats as we tour the amazing coastal waterway.

Day 4: To Valdez

We begin the day with a drive to Whittier along the Seward Highway. Along the way we’ll make a short visit to the Portage Glacier Visitor Center. Upon our arrival in Whittier, we’ll board an Alaska State Ferry for the trip to Valdez. Our crossing of Prince William Sound sails right along the face of the Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. As we cross the sound, we’ll be on the lookout for the many creatures that call these icy waters home. With sharp eyes, patience and a little luck, Orca’s, Stellar Sea Lions, Harbor Seals and Puffins will fill the view finders of our cameras. Valdez is also the terminus of the Alaska pipeline.

Day 5: Kayaking in Shoup Bay

Today we spend the day kayaking in Shoup Bay. We’ll squeeze into sea-kayaks and paddle up near the foot of this ancient tidewater glacier as it cracks, grumbles and calves massive blocks of ice into the bay. Sea kayaking among the floating miniature ice bergs makes for a fun obstacle course to test our paddling skills as does riding the swift current of the connecting stream on an outgoing tide. We’ll also paddle past the largest Black Legged Kittiwake rookery in Prince William Sound.

Day 6: To McCarthy

We drive the Richardson Highway to Chitina. We’ll stop for a hike and picnic near the Worthington Glacier. The Worthington, a Natural Historic Landmark, is a spectacular glacier that tumbles from the Chugach Mountains. Our hike will take us up a sweeping moraine and we’ll enjoy stunning views of the blue ice and crevasses of the glacier and magnificent vistas of the mighty Chugach. From Chitina, we’ll make the 40 minute flight through the Wrangell Mountains to the historic town of McCarthy. We’ll check into the Kennecott Glacier Lodge, our home for two nights. This lodge has quite possibly the best view in Alaska and its historic charm, great food and warm hospitality make it one of the premier destinations in the state of Alaska.

Day 7: Glacier hike

After breakfast, we’ll join St. Elias Alpine guides for an interpretive walk through the historic Kennecott Copper Mill before strapping on a pair of crampons and heading out on to the Root Glacier for a full 4 hours of glacier hiking. If time allows, we’ll take an afternoon hike to the Jumbo Copper Mine. Our glacier hike is suitable for beginners and children and is an amazing adventure on a real moving glacier.

Day 8: Talkeetna Mountains

We return by air to Chitina by noon. We then make our way north and west along the Glenn Highway. This beautiful drive gives glimpses of the multiple ecosystems and climate zones of Alaska. Views of Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, the Wrangell Mountains and the Alaska Range will accompany us along the way. We’ll check into Sheep Mountain Lodge where we’ll sleep in log cabins. Sheep Mountain Lodge, nestled in the Talkeetna Mountains, is a favorite destination for Alaskans and tourists alike. Its views and real Alaskan charm make for an unforgettable stay.

Day 9: Matanuska Glacier

Today we make the drive past the mighty Matanuska Glacier and through the fertile Matanuska/Susitna Valley. We’ll stop along the way for a picnic in Denali State Park. If the weather is kind, we may enjoy our first views of Denali (Mt. McKinley) and the rest of the mighty Alaska Range. That evening, we will check into our hotel along the Nenana River near Denali National Park.

Day 10: Denali National Park

Today we’ll board the shuttle bus for the 60 mile ride through the heart of Denali National Park. Along the road corridor, keep your eyes peeled for Denali’s famous furry inhabitants carving out their existence amidst the some of the most amazing scenery in North America. The park is Alaska’s most famous reserve and home to moose, bear, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves, as well as 130 different bird species. Of course, the highlight of the park is the highest mountain in North America – Mt. McKinley, at over 6187m, or 20,000ft. If the weather is favorable, our activities in Denali will provide overwhelming views of one of the most massive mountains on earth. Visible on a clear day is the stunning 18,000ft vertical rise of rock and ice from the mountain’s base to its lofty summit.

Day 11: Rafting the Nenana River

We’ll spend a half day rafting the mighty Nenana River. The Nenana is an exciting whitewater river and our expert guides will take us through canyons and rapids as we enjoy spectacular views of Dall sheep grazing the peaks of the Alaska Range. The rest of the day can be spent exploring more of the park and its facilities, or enjoying simply relaxing to the sights and sounds of this magnificent place.

Day 12: Anchorage

After a leisurely morning enjoying the sights of McKinley village, we’ll board the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star for our 8-hour rail cruise back to Anchorage. A highlight of the journey, the trip south by rail offers wonderful photographic opportunities and amazing views of this vast wilderness. Please schedule homebound flights for after 10pm.