Welcome to Anchorage, the population capital of Alaska! Surrounded by the Kenai, Talkeetna, and Chugach mountain ranges, this city serves as the gateway to Alaska’s wilderness. With the largest population in the state, Anchorage is home to over 1,200 moose, 250 black bears, and 60 brown bears. You'll also find world-class attractions like the Coastal Trail, Anchorage Museum, and Ship Creek salmon fishing.

After arriving at the airport, take a taxi or Uber to downtown Anchorage to your hotel. Your first night of the trip includes a 6 pm pre-departure meeting and group dinner, giving you the chance to meet your leader and fellow travelers for the upcoming journey ahead!

Overnight at the Clarion Suites Downtown Anchorage. 

Take note, this is an adventure trip!
Please understand that this trip is a true adventure and requires the ability to walk 2 miles (approx 3km) to Denali View Chalets. Various hikes are offered, with adjustments in length and difficulty to suit different fitness levels. However, for an adventure trip in Alaska, it's important that your fitness level exceeds that of a daily commute or neighborhood walk.

Regarding meals, breakfast can be eggs, yogurt, granola, and fruit, lunch is almost always a sandwich heaped high with a healthy salad and assorted fillings, sometimes with fruit to follow. Dinner might be a BBQ, risotto, or pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some local food - especially salmon and halibut. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. 

Though this is a lodge-based program, and you will be sleeping in beds, accommodations are still considered more ‘rustic’. You will likely share rooms and facilities with others at some of the yurts and cabins. Private rooms are not available. 

After breakfast, your journey takes you down the scenic Seward Highway along the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm to Resurrection Bay and the renowned Kenai Fjords National Park. You'll visit Bear Lake Weir, a man-made waterfall that gathers spawning salmon returning to restock Alaska's lakes and rivers. After visiting the weir, you'll experience another animal essential to Alaskan life: sled dogs. At the Seavey Homestead, you'll meet these joyful creatures and enjoy a 1.5-hour Wilderness Dog Sled Ride and Tour.

Upon returning to your accommodations, indulge in relaxation and rejuvenation with options like enjoying the outdoor hot tub and wood-fired sauna on beautiful Bear Creek, or perhaps opt for a delightful picnic in the gazebo with a gas-fired grill.

The next day, prepare for an exceptional adventure aboard a catamaran exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. During the 6-hour wildlife cruise, you'll have the chance to see humpback whales, orcas, stellar sea lions, calving glaciers, and more. The experienced captain will narrate your journey, highlighting the spectacular sights and providing information on the area's wildlife, history, and geology.

Stay in the secluded Stoney Creek Inn right in the woods close to Bear Creek, where you can unwind amidst nature's beauty and enjoy the comforts of your surroundings.

After breakfast, we'll start with a hike along Exit Glacier, offering three options: a Ranger-led hike, Marmot Meadows, or The Cliffs. After your hike, you'll journey up the road to Moose Pass, where you'll experience kayaking across Trail Lake to end with a short hike to your remote camp for the next two nights. 

Nestle into the Moose Pass Yurts for a good night's rest. 


 

The day starts with a delicious breakfast, preparing you for another exciting kayak and hiking expedition on Grant Lake. You'll explore a local waterfall and enjoy the stunning scenery. After your paddle, relax and appreciate the breathtaking views with your Moose Pass adventure guides.

Sleep well in the Moose Pass Yurts under the Alaskan night sky. 
 

Talkeetna is the starting point for hundreds of yearly climbers of Mount Denali. Even though you won't be climbing Mount Denali on this trip, there are plenty of fantastic optional activities in this small historic town. Jet boats on "Devils Canyon", float trips on the Talkeetna or Chlitna rivers, or salmon fishing charters are a few of the many options. 

Overnight in the Talkeetna Northern Guest House. 

The next two days will be spent at the Denali View Chalet, situated in the southern foothills of the Alaska Range. Just 40 miles south of Denali, it is a true wilderness lodge with no road access. This means you'll be completely off the grid. No generator noise, as the lights are solar-powered. The living room offers a great view of Mts. Denali, Foraker, Hunter, and the other massifs in the Alaska Range. The sitting area is centered around an enormous woodstove to toast your toes on cool summer nights. Hearty and wholesome meals are served in the communal dining area and a wood-fired sauna with a hot shower. 

Overnight in the wilderness at Denali View Chalets.

To get to the Denali View Chalet you will have to hike 2 miles on potentially wet terrain and carry some gear for two nights. 
 

Today, depart Denali View Chalet early to catch the shuttle to the East Fork River in Denali National Park. With luck, you will spot grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and many other beautiful creatures that call Denali home. Along with the shuttle ride, you can choose a hiking adventure in the park's 6 million acres of wilderness, specifics will be shared en route.

Overnight at Denali cabins close to the park entrance. 

As you leave Denali National Park, surrounded by the magnificent Alaskan mountain range, with its glorious glaciers and breathtaking vistas. Traveling along the historic Denali Highway, which has been used by humans for over 10,000 years, make your way to Maclaren River Lodge. 

Upon arrival at the lodge, we will venture out to a remote camp by jet boat and sleep in walk-in canvas tents with cots. This is your true wilderness adventure - experience the sound of wind and the river, no cell phone reception, no vehicles - just nature!

Your morning begins with a delicious pancake breakfast (dietary restrictions may be accommodated), followed by a canoe trip down the Maclaren River back to the lodge. Despite heading downstream, you'll still need some navigation skills! Braided rivers change daily, so do your best to avoid getting stuck on a gravel bar. After the canoe trip, spend the rest of the day chatting with fellow travelers or listening to the tall tales of seasoned Alaskans.

Stay overnight at the Maclaren River Lodge, enjoying the tranquility of Alaska. 

Today, you'll finish the Denali Highway, connecting with the Richardson Highway, the North Pole, and "The Land of the Midnight Sun." Favorite middle-of-the-night activities include hiking, running, golfing, and even baseball. The midnight sun season is teeming with activity as people are energized by the everlasting sunshine. The evening will end with a soak in the Chena Hot Springs, fed by water that circulates deep underground for thousands of years, picking up natural heat from the earth, and then surfacing through cracks and fractures in the granite rock below.

Stay overnight at the Bridgewater Hotel, resting up for your last day of adventures.

Today marks the end of your journey, but first, why not delve into some gold panning? Your day starts with a bag of paydirt from Fairbanks Gold Co., promising more than just gold, you might uncover ice age fossils and unique minerals like pyrite, quartz crystals, and garnets! Some even walk away with woolly mammoth ivory!

This journey concludes with goodbyes with your fellow travelers and guide. You have now completed a remarkable true Alaskan adventure! 

Note: The day typically ends around lunchtime in Fairbanks. If you are planning flights out of Fairbanks, please make sure don’t book them
earlier than 3 pm.