Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Adventure

Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Adventure 6 Days

From $3295 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

2 reviews

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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 6 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 60.0%
Trip ID: 70566
Start Location: Anchorage, United States
End Location: Homer, United States

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Primary Activities: Walking Tour
Other Activities: Whale Watching, Waterfalls, Arts & Crafts, Glaciers, Historical Sites, museum, river rafting, Wildlife, sightseeing, Local Markets, national parks, nature, galleries, picture, boating, Marine Life Encounters, Local Food

The Kenai Peninsula offers a range of wonderful walking options that don't require "bush" skills. There's the world's most northerly rain forest...Exit Glacier where a scenic path allows us to experience its awesome scale up close, Resurrection Bay with its humpback whales and orcas, the wildflower meadows too far from shore to ever be spotted by a landing party. With Classic Journeys, you'll see it all—and you'll meet native Aleuts, local fishermen, gold mining experts, naturalists and other friends. Accommodations include historic lodges and hotels. Even if we don't offer a 2 a.m. dessert buffet, we think you'll take home equally happy memories of a lakeside salmon-bake followed by fresh picked blueberries. And then you'll know you've truly touched Alaska.

Itinerary

Day 1: Beluga Point / Girdwood

We meet at the Captain Cook Hotel before departing Anchorage for famous Beluga Point, the start of our first spectacular walk of the week. It's here that we often see pods of Beluga whales that make the Turn-again Arm their home. Our walk follows the route of the an old wagon road which has been transformed into an excellent nature path with views of the Kenai Mountains, Alyeska and the flats of Turn-again Arm. Have your camera ready, we often see a variety of Alaskan wildlife, and with a bit of luck, we may even spot moose.

Late this afternoon we arrive in the quaint resort town of Girdwood, our home for the night. After the chance to relax and take in the surroundings, we enjoy a festive welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Girdwood. Meals: D

Day 2: Girdwood / Seward

Our morning walk begins at the site of Alaska's richest gold mine, built in 1898. Eight of the buildings have been restored and are on the Register of National Historic Places. After a short exploration of the mining camp, our guide shares with us Alaska's fascinating mining history. Even today, locals and visitors come to the mine to relive the days of the gold rush and recover some of the precious metal that has been left behind. From here, we depart on a morning walk along our favorite section of the historic Iditarod Trail through tall spruce and hemlock forests and past a series of small waterfalls. Lush ferns, devil's club, blueberry bushes and horsetail line the route, and along the way our guide points out the local fauna, including moose, bears and a variety of songbirds. A highlight of the walk is the hand-tram that carries us across the Winner Creek Gorge.

In time for lunch, we board the Mt. Alyeska tramway for the spectacular ride 2300 feet above the valley floor. Here we enjoy lunch of local specialties like moose chili and salmon chowder high atop Mt. Alyeska with panoramic views of the rugged Chugach Mountains, Turnigan Arm and Seven Glaciers. After lunch, we have time to explore one of the various trails ideal for capturing the beautiful Alaskan scenery.

Late this afternoon, a scenic drive brings us to one of Alaska's oldest towns, Seward, our home for two nights. After dinner, relax at our lodge hotel, furnished with rustic pine furniture, or set out to explore the local shops and galleries that line Seward's charming streets. Overnight: Seward. Meals: B, L, D

Lodging: Windsong Lodge
Description: This charming Alaskan Lodge is nestled among the trees along the banks of Resurrection River just outside of Seward. Guest rooms are decorated with artwork by local artisans and feature beautiful pine log furnishings and oversized bathrooms. Each room provides impressive views of the surrounding mountains or river.

Day 3: Seward

Just a few miles outside of Seward is landlocked Exit Glacier where we follow an easy path to the face of this slow moving sea of ice. The 3-mile-long glacier, fractured and crackling, pours 2,500 feet down out of the Harding Ice field. Our walk takes us up to the face of the glacier where we are dwarfed in its enormous shadow. If you like, continue on a more rugged footpath that leads up glacier-scoured rock from the moraine to a beautiful vista of the glacier, waterfall and ice fields; a truly Alaskan view.

We return to Seward in time for lunch at one of the town's seaside cafes. After lunch, we've arranged a special visit to the unrivaled Alaska SeaLife Center. The world's first cold water marine institute, the SeaLife Center is dedicated to the research, rescue and rehabilitation of Alaska's marine environment. On arrival, we meet with a marine biologist for a private, behind-the-scenes tour where we'll learn about the center's current projects and hear stories of the most recent newcomers.

Early this evening, we board a local boat for a spectacular excursion into Kenai Fjords National Park for an up-close view of the marine wildlife and magnificent glaciers. Along the way, we explore the shoreline and coves of Resurrection Bay. In addition to the breathtaking vistas and awesome glaciers, we have the opportunity to see the wildlife that makes Alaska famous, including bald eagles, puffins and the endangered stellar sea lions. With a bit of luck, we may also see humpback whales and orcas. Overnight: Seward. Meals: B, L, D

Lodging: Windsong Lodge
Description: This charming Alaskan Lodge is nestled among the trees along the banks of Resurrection River just outside of Seward. Guest rooms are decorated with artwork by local artisans and feature beautiful pine log furnishings and oversized bathrooms. Each room provides impressive views of the surrounding mountains or river.

Day 4: Homer

After a leisurely morning, we bid farewell to Seward on a spectacular route through Kenai National Wildlife Refuge watching for Alaska's big game, including moose, bear, caribou, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Our first stop is the tiny town of Cooper Landing. Here we have two exciting options. Join our guide on a beautiful riverside trail through spruce forest and wildflowers to a beautiful vista overlooking the Russian River Falls. Here we often see spawning red salmon leaping out of the water as they make their way up the falls to Russian Lake. Or, if you prefer, enjoy a gentle rafting excursion down the Kenai River with the Kenai Ridge and Cecil Rhodes Peak as a breathtaking backdrop. As we float down the calm river, our rafting guide will share with us the local natural history of the area's glaciers, as well as the history of the Kenaitzi Tribe who made its life on the river's shores.

We arrive in Homer late this afternoon where we enjoy spectacular views of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountain Range from the terraces of our lodge hotel located at the end of the Homer Spit. If you like, take an early evening walk along the Spit as the local fishing boats return from sea to unload the day's catch. Tonight, dinner is on our own, affording you the opportunity to immerse yourself into this small Alaskan community and enjoy one of several exceptional local restaurants. Overnight: Homer. Meals: B

Day 5: Homer

After a leisurely breakfast, we take a spectacular boat ride across the bay for an exciting day in the Kachemak Bay State Park. En route, we pass a local rookery where we often see a variety of seabirds including puffins, cormorants, kittiwakes, murres and even the rare fork-tailed storm petrel. Our path follows the coast where commercial fishing operations can be seen seining (fishing with a large net) for salmon next to the beach and then turns inland through stands of spruce and cottonwood trees with views of Grewingk Glacier and the surrounding Alaskan wilderness. Our walk brings us to the banks of a glacier-fed lake for a chance to rest our feet and enjoy a delightful picnic of Alaskan specialties and a driftwood fire. After lunch, our return route along a saddle trail offers spectacular views of Halibut Cove, Grewingk Glacier and lower Cook Inlet. Early in the season, we're treated to colorful wildflowers and later in the summer the wild berries are abundant along the trail.

Late this afternoon, we return to Homer with time to relax at our lodge or explore the town's shops and museums. You may like to pay a visit to the Pratt Museum, offering an exhibit on the 1989 Prince William Sound oil spill as well as a delightful path through a wildflower garden and new pioneer, Russian and Alaska Native displays. Another of our favorite stops is the Alaska Wild Berry Products Plant for a sampling of Alaska's tastiest berry products including jams, jellies, chocolates, sauces and syrups made from wild berries handpicked on the Kenai Peninsula. But don't spoil your dinner; tonight we've arranged a special farewell seafood feast at our favorite restaurant in Homer! Overnight: Homer. Meals: B, L, D

Day 6: Homer

Homer is renowned throughout Alaska as having one of the most active communities of artists in the state. The area's natural beauty is a source of inspiration for potters, painters, print-makers, jewelers, weavers, sculptors and stained-glass workers from all over the world. This morning, you can browse the art galleries and stop in for a visit to the Alaska Wild Berry Products building, within a short walk of the galleries. If you would rather spend the morning enjoying the natural surroundings, our guide can arrange for a beach walk with a chance for some tide-pooling (dependent upon tide schedules). Spend the rest of the morning exploring the nearby shops and enjoy a leisurely lunch before parting company in Homer in time for afternoon flights back to Anchorage. Meals: B

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

First class accommodations
All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners
Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip, handle behind-the-scenes logistics and are there to help with anything from haggling for a rug to buying a tube of toothpaste
Support vehicle(s)
Admissions to tastings, historic sites and other scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary
Gratuities for hotels, meals and baggage
Trip literature
All land transportation during the trip, whether by bus or boat

Trip Excludes

Trip ID#: 70566

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Reviews (2)

Bert and Jo Ann E., Red Lodge, MT

“Classic Journeys excels in providing exceptional guides familiar with the local area. Mark was a good case in point. He was great at adapting to the interests and abilities of the group and seeing to it that everyone had a good time.”
- Overall Rating
  70%
- Guide Rating
  90%
- Value Rating
  80%
- Itinerary Rating
  80%
- Accomodation Rating
  70%
Bonnie H., Charlotte, NC

"Every day was different with new things to see and explore, as well as different ways to see them (sightseeing boat, water taxi, rafting, walking, sealife center, etc). The variety was great!"
- Overall Rating
  80%
- Guide Rating
  80%
- Value Rating
  80%
- Itinerary Rating
  90%
- Accomodation Rating
  70%

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