Hiking in Denali National Park

Welcome to Alaska! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 9 a.m. this morning in Anchorage. It’s recommended you arrive early, as after the meeting, you’ll head out and drive the scenic Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to the charming ski resort town of Girdwood. Stop along the way for photo ops and then arrive at Alyeska Ski Resort, where you’ll go on your first hike in Alaska. Take the North Face Hiking Trail and start by hiking up the mountain to the top, where you'll get incredible views over the Chugach Range and a whopping seven glaciers. You’ll start nearly at sea level, so you don't need to worry about acclimatizing to the altitude. There will be time at the top to grab a bite to eat at the café for lunch, perched on the mountain top, before taking the Aerial Tram back down. Tonight, head out on an optional group dinner in Anchorage to celebrate your first hike together.

Please wear sturdy shoes, layered non-cotton clothing, and a light hat and gloves. Sunglasses are a must as well. This trip starts on Day 1 at 10 a.m. in Anchorage and travels to the Matanuska Glacier immediately after the welcome meeting. If you are at risk of being late, please consider arriving a day earlier and staying in Anchorage before your tour begins.

Included Activities:

• Girdwood - Mt. Alyeska Hike & Aerial Tram

Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. Your trekking distance will be approximately 3.5 km (or 2.2 miles) with an elevation gain of 610 m (or 2000 ft).

Embark on a scenic drive along the Glenn Highway towards the town of Palmer this morning – a trip that’s packed with gorgeous mountain vistas and plenty of time for photo ops. You’ll eventually reach the famed Matanuska Glacier – Alaska's largest road-access glacier. It’s a jaw-dropping 27 miles long and 4 miles wide and has some of the most accessible walking areas of any glacier in the state! Don your ice cleats and helmet (included) and begin exploring the glacier on foot with the help of an Alaskan guide and glacier expert. Marvel at the ice that formed thousands of years ago, high in the Chugach Mountains. Amazingly, every day is unique at Matanuska, due to the dynamic nature of the glacier. Similarly, your tour will be customised to suit your group’s interests. After, enjoy a picnic lunch with stunning glacier views and surrounding scenery before heading to Wasilla for the night.

Included Activities:

• Matanuska - Guided glacier trek

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your trekking distance will be approximately 4.8 km (or 3 miles).

This morning, you'll do a short ascent of The Butte (as the locals call it) for some incredible views over the mountain-fringed Matanuska Valley. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way of local farms and the Knik River below as you walk among pine trees surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and birdlife. Then, continue to Talkeetna, where you’ll head out on a leader-led orientation walk. After checking in to your hotel, you'll have some free time to do an optional hike, or perhaps book a scenic flight. This evening, head out for a beer tasting at a local brewing company, followed by a delicious group dinner – what a great way to fuel up and get ready for your Denali National Park hikes in the coming days!

Included Activities:

• Palmer - Bodenburg Butte Hike
• Talkeetna - Denali Brewpub Pizza & Beer Dinner
• Talkeetna - Leader-Led walk

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. Your trekking distance will be approximately 3.7 km (or 2.3 miles) with an elevation gain of 220 m (or 721 ft).

Today, hit the road for the gorgeous Denali National Park – a park and preserve with six million acres of Alaskan wilderness featuring North America’s tallest peak – Denali. This park is Alaska’s most popular land attraction, as its diverse landscape of tundra, mountains, spruce forests and glaciers are home to various wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and sheep. When you arrive, your leader will choose a hike in the park based on the group's abilities and interests to warm you up for tomorrow’s full-day hike. Take in the scenery and enjoy a night off at your accommodation.

Included Activities:

• Denali National Park - Leader-led hike

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your trekking distance will depend on the group but will be no more than 6.5 km (4 miles).

Today you’ll set out for the trip's most challenging (and rewarding) hike – the full-day Triple Lakes Trail. You’ll start by the Denali Visitor Centre and then trek through spruce forests, hillsides, mountainous landscapes, and the three lakes where the trail gets its name. Walk along Riley Creek and ascend for beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Along the way, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch with the group and enjoy a breather while you listen to the sounds of nature. Look out for the birdlife that calls this park home (this is a popular trail for birdwatching) and spots the bright colors of local flora. After the hike, unwind and reset at your accommodation or enjoy a group dinner to swap stories, highlights, and photos.

Included Activities:

• Denali - Triple Lakes hike

Your trekking distance will be approximately 14.8 km (or 9.2 miles) with an elevation gain of 604 m (or 1981 ft).

The tour ends after breakfast and you’re free to depart at your leisure or stay and explore more of Anchorage on your own.