• Seeing the vast expanse of Denali National Park and towering Denali (Mt. McKinley)
  
• Kayaking and hiking on the Kenai peninsula
• Taking the ferry across the spectacular Prince William Sound
  
• Staying in the charming town of McCarthy, walking on glaciers, and rafting the Nizhina River
• Seeing an amazing diversity of wildlife, including moose, bear, Dall sheep, caribou and bald eagles
  
• Driving the Denali Highway, Alaska's most beautiful

Alaska is a huge land, known for rugged landscapes, towering mountains, powerful rivers, and immense glaciers. Although exploring all of it would take months, a sampling of its finest can be seen on a road trip that starts in Anchorage and does a big loop through the interior and over to the coast. June is an ideal time to visit Alaska, with generally excellent weather, very long days, and fewer tourists.   This trip is full. Please contact us if you would like to be on the waiting list.

women in moderate physical condition who want to see Alaska. We have designed the itinerary ensure that there are no entire days of sitting in the van and all activities are moderate. No previous hiking or kayaking experience is necessary. Rating  1  [2]  3  4  5

• One night at a motel in Anchorage, Ak
• Two nights at Talkeetna Cabins
• Two nights in cabins at Denali Grizzly Bear Resort
• One night at McLaren Lodge
  
• Three nights at Ma Johnson's Hotel in McCarthy
  
• One night at motels in Valdez and Whittier, AK
• Three nights at the Alaska Saltwater Lodge
  

• 14 nights lodging 
• all activities on the itinerary, including rafting, flight-seeing, ferries and kayaking
• all meals from dinner on June 5 through breakfast June 19 except for two lunches and two dinners
• all transport within Alaska
• entrance fees to sites that are included in the itinerary

Meet at our hotel in Anchorage on June 5 at 5 pm

We will have you the Anchorage airport at 1 pm on June 19 (this may be modified once flight schedules are known but please do not schedule your flights prior to 3 pm)

you can download the complete trip information here

June 5. SAT Arrive Anchorage. We'll meet at 5 pm at our Anchorage hotel, have a trip orientation and then go out to dinner at a local restaurant. After completing any last minute preparations, we'll get to bed early. D

June 6. SUN : Today we leave Anchorage for Talkeetna. Along the way we visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where we learn about the past and present cultures of the native Alaskans that make up 16% of the state's population. We then stop for a hike in Chugach Mountain State Park. Chugach is the third largest state park in the US and at over half a million acres, its half the size of Delaware! We, however, will only see a small part of it as we hike the Twin Peaks Trail, known for alpine meadows, incredible views, and the bands of Dall sheep that live there. We'll then hop back in the van and continue on to Talkeetna, the main staging area for Denali climbers and fascinating in its own right. Overnight at the Talkeetna Cabins B, L, D

June 7. MON Today we go canoeing in the Talkeetna area. There are several lakes, imaginatively called X, Y and Z, and canoeing is the perfect way to spot some of the abundant wildlife that lives there. If we are lucky with weather, we may also get our first chance to see Denali (Mt McKinley). Talkeetna is a charming town and there will be time to explore it in the afternoon. Overnight at the Talkeetna Cabins  B, L, D

June 8. TUES We leave Talkeetna for Denali National Park, stopping to hike the Coal Creek Trail in Denali State Park. This trail offers a beautiful climb to the alpine tundra, starting in lush vegetation and then quickly ascending above tree line to alpine country and amazing views of mountains and glaciers, tundra flowers, and perhaps some bears. We eat lunch on the trail and then continue on our way to Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins, home for the next two nights B, L, D

June 9. WED We'll board the bus today (the only vehicle allowed inside Denali National Park) and take it to Eileson Visitor's Center. More than just a bus ride, the bus provides an opportunity to see the interior of this magnificent park and lots of opportunity to see wildlife, including grizzlies, caribou, moose and dall sheep. The entire round trip is about 7 hours, and if weather cooperates, there are several hiking options from the Center. We return in time for dinner, after which those who choose can go on a short hike to Horseshoe Lake inside the Park, home to beaver and the occasional moose.  Overnight at Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins. B, L, D

June 10. THURS Today we leave open for you to choose what interests you most. How about a helicopter ride with a chance to walk on a glacier? Or perhaps river rafting is more your speed? Other possibilities include going to the dogsled demo in the park, joining a ranger for a naturalist hike, and walking the 2-mile Savage Loop Trail. We'll leave Denali about 3 pm and start our drive along Denali Highway, widely considered one of the most beautiful highways in the entire US (and for good reason!). Overnight MacLaren Lodge. B, D

June 11. FRI We finish our drive to McCarthy today, stopping for a short hike along the way. McCarthy was on the verge of becoming a ghost town until recently, when interest in Wrangell-St Elias park and the energy of some entrepreneurs revitalized it. It's still quiet though- the bridge across the river doesn't support autos so the town and the surrounding area have limited vehicles. It's a charming town and we'll have free time to explore the area before dinner. Overnight Ma Johnson's, where we'll stay for the next three nights. B, L, D

June 12. SAT On Saturday we meet our local guide for a 4-6 hour hike out onto the Root Glacier. We will learn how to use crampons (pointy spikes that we strap onto our shoes) to stay steady on the ice, and enjoy a walk around the ice to see features such as crevasses, blue streams and pools, and moulins (holes drilled in the ice by flowing water). We'll have a picnic lunch and return to Kennecott by mid-afternoon. After a short break, we will spend 2.5 hours touring the 14-story mill building, where we will get a chance to see the original machinery used in the milling process and learn in detail about the history and mining processes found in Kennecott during its heyday as a copper mining town B, L 

June 13. SUN We totally change gears on Sunday! We will meet our rafting guides in the morning to get geared up and head down the river. The first part of the river-rafting trip is splashy and fast with spectacular views of the Stairway Icefall. After a big, hearty lunch, we head into the mighty Nizina Canyon, where the river is squeezed tightly between limestone cliffs that cause it to surge around the corners in an impressive show of power. At the end of the canyon we stop for a short hike near the banks of the Chitina River, then cross the river to where our bush plane will pick us up. For a spectacular ending to the day, we enjoy a flight back up the river and over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers with marvelous views of Mt. Blackburn, the Stairway Icefall, and the tiny towns of McCarthy & Kennecott. B, L, D


June 14. MON We leave McCarthy today and drive to Valdez, a small but important port on Prince William Sound. During the drive we often catch glimpses of the Alaska pipeline, the incredible 800 mile pipe that carries oil from the North slope down to the port of Valdez. Stopping along the way to hike Goat Trail and Wagon Road, we stretch our legs on this moderate five-mile hike. We also stop for a look at the Worthington Glacier before arriving in Valdez, where the lodging is basic and a local restaurant is surprisingly excellent.  B, L , D

June 15. TUES Today we take the ferry across the spectacular Prince William Sound, which became a household word with the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Our journey is enhanced by a naturalist on board who willingly shares her knowledge of the area. There is no evidence of damage to the casual observer and the chance to be surrounded by wild beauty and look for wildlife, including whales and puffins, make it an unforgettable day. We'll arrive in Whittier early afternoon and you can choose whether to spend a couple of hours exploring this small town, doing your laundry., and/or going for a short, steep and spectacular hike to Portage Pass. Overnight Whittier. B, L, D

June 16 WED Today we hike along the Lower Russian River Trail to a beautiful falls where, with any luck, the salmon will be running. Nature, of course, is never predictable but the hike is so lovely that it is worth doing regardless. We then continue to Seward, one of the most beautiful towns in Alaska, and our lodging for the next three nights, the Alaska Saltwater Lodge. The lodge is right on the bay and a peaceful place to relax or walk along the beach. Overnight Seward. B, L, D

June 17  THURS Today we combine free time to visit the town of Seward with a visit to Exit Glacier. There will be plenty of time to visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, watch the movie about the tsunami at the local library, and wander this beautiful town with its many interesting shops. Then in the afternoon we drive to Exit Glacier, in time to join a ranger on an interpretative walk. There are several walks possible, designed to give us close up views and an enhanced understanding of the ecosystem there. If we need any more hiking, the original Iditarod Trail starts here and makes a fun out and back. Overnight. B, D

June 18 FRI Having spent yesterday on the land, we spend our last full day on the water. Our trip combines a half day of sea kayaking with a half day wildlife cruise in Resurrection Bay. We start with a short boat transfer to Fox Island where our sea kayaking adventure begins with some instruction for those who are new to the sport. After a salmon bake lunch, we go on a 3-hour boat cruise in search of sea otters, whales, harbor seals and marine birds. We return to Seward in time for a final farewell dinner at the best restaurant in town. B, L, D.

June 19 SAT Today we drive back to Anchorage and we will have you back at the airport by 1 pm. This may be modified once flight schedules are known but please do not schedule your flights prior to 3 pm. Anchorage is a pretty and interesting town and if you have the time, we highly recommend spending a day there before or after the trip. B