Alaska Wildlife & Wilderness

Those on the group flight will be met at Anchorage Airport and transferred to our hotel.

Welcome to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with 300,000 people and a city that has undergone quite a change since the 1964 earthquake. Now a bustling city fuelled by an oil boom and tourism, it wasn’t so long ago that Anchorage was the final outpost for explorers heading into the Last Frontier. This is a city mixed with metropolitan luxuries and unrivalled natural wonders. It’s not uncommon to find bear roaming the outskirts; this is one truly wild place.

Depending on the group flight arrival time, a welcome briefing may be held this evening or tomorrow morning.

Accommodation: La Quinta Inn & Suites Anchorage Airport (or similar)

Welcome to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with 300,000 people and a city that has undergone quite a change since the 1964 earthquake. Now a bustling city fuelled by an oil boom and tourism, it wasn’t so long ago that Anchorage was the final outpost for explorers heading into the Last Frontier. This is a city mixed with metropolitan luxuries and unrivalled natural wonders. It’s not uncommon to find bear roaming the outskirts; this is one truly wild place. A great way to spend your day is to wander around town and check out some of the great cafes and restaurants.

Depending on the group flight arrival time, a welcome briefing may be held this evening or tomorrow morning.

Accommodation: La Quinta Inn & Suites Anchorage Airport (or similar)

Leaving Anchorage, we enter the wilderness almost instantly and head towards Talkeetna where we’ll stop to stretch our legs and pick up a local delicacy, reindeer sausages, to try later on. Our destination is Denali National Park, home to legendary Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America (20,321ft/6,194m). The park covers six million acres (2.43m ha) and protects some of the most unspoiled wilderness and spectacular scenery in Alaska.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a 30-minute sled dog demonstration. Travelling by sled is a traditional Alaskan mode of transport and the park rangers show how they train and work with the Alaskan huskies, who love to be outdoors and run. There is also a chance to tour the park kennels.

Accommodation: Denali Grizzly Bear campground

Enjoy a full day exploring the park with an included bus pass on the East Fork Shuttle – the only way to get into the incredible (and vast) wilderness. Try to spot Alaska’s Big 5: caribou, Dall sheep, moose, bear and wolves. Denali is one of very few national parks where you are encouraged to find your own path off the trails, great if you’re looking for unadulterated adventure. There are plenty of optional walks and activities in Denali; as the trails are wild and unmarked, the hiking opportunities are endless.

Your tour leader will suggest some spots of scenic beauty and the best places to view wildlife. One of the most popular walks is to Horseshoe Lake, a scenic two-hour hike that gives good opportunities to see beavers and plenty of birdlife.

Accommodation: Denali Grizzly Bear campground

Today we discover more of Denali National Park and its vast wilderness using our included shuttle bus ticket. For those looking for a little more adventure, there are several optional activities available, including mountain biking and white-water rafting.

Optional activities:

• Mountain biking in Denali: US$85-US$100
• White-water rafting in Denali: US$92-US$187

Accommodation: Denali Grizzly Bear campground

Today we depart from the Alaska Range and travel south, making our way to Cooper Landing at the heart of the Kenai Peninsula. We stop to stretch our legs and for photo opportunities along the way.

There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity today to experience Alaska from above on a bush plane flight over Denali National Park. Fly past Denali’s summit then descend into the incredible Ruth Amphitheater and Great Gorge. Discover the Tokositna Glacier, the hanging glaciers clinging to Mount Hunter and the famous Moose’s Tooth. It’s also possible to add a landing on Ruth Glacier for a truly memorable experience. Prices start from US$420 and this experience is subject to availability/local weather conditions. Please speak to your sales representative for more details.

Accommodation: Russian River campground (or similar)

The adventures come thick and fast today as we first embark on a moderate hike through the Chugach National Forest to Russian River Falls, where we can see sockeye salmon leaping upstream to spawn.

In the afternoon, we have another wildlife-spotting opportunity as we take a two-hour river safari along a non-motorised stretch of the scenic upper Kenai River through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Our guide will regale us with tales of the wildlife, native inhabitants and early settlers while we float down the river amidst spectacular scenery, all the while keeping our eyes peeled for moose, eagles, Dall sheep, beavers and bears. Afterwards, we make our way to camp for the evening.

Accommodation: Russian River campground (or similar)

Take a deep breath and enjoy Alaska at your own pace with a free day in Cooper Landing. Your tour leader will have recommendations for how to spend the day – you may like to take a hike to Crescent Lake, where moose, goats and bears are often spotted, or take a kayaking excursion across the sparkling waters of Kenai Lake, surrounded by imposing mountains. Cooper Landing is best known for its world-famous fishing. You’ll be sure to spot fishermen trying their hand at catching rainbow trout or salmon throughout the summer months. You may even want to give it a go yourself!

In the late afternoon, the group comes together to transfer to the small fishing town of Seward, which sits on Resurrection Bay.

Accommodation: Resurrection South campground (or similar)

The staggeringly beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park offers wonderful wildlife- and bird-watching opportunities amid dramatic fjords and glaciers. Within the park is the huge Harding Icefield, claiming 300sqmi (775sqkm). If weather conditions permit, take a spectacular walk along Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield for views of deep crevasses and huge seracs. At an elevation of 2,950ft (900m), we eventually reach a lookout point over the icefield for out-of-this-world views. The walk is strenuous and entirely dependent on weather conditions; if there is too much snow and ice on the trail, it may be impassable. There’s an easier option available if you prefer, using an accessible trail to reach a different viewpoint of the glacier. Afterwards, we return to Seward.

Accommodation: Resurrection South campground (or similar)

Set off on a full-day wildlife-viewing cruise around Resurrection Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. To maximise the experience, the captain of the boat provides a detailed commentary on the wildlife we see and the area. On previous trips, travellers have spotted Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters and an endless variety of seabirds including puffins and eagles. Orcas often appear and, if we’re lucky, humpback whales may grace us with their presence.

Accommodation: Resurrection South campground (or similar)

After breakfast and packing up camp, we return to Anchorage. Containing around half the state population, Anchorage in some ways looks just like any other sprawling American town, and after nearly 10 days in small towns and villages, the bustling streets will feel somewhat different.

This tour ends at Anchorage Airport. If you wish to spend additional nights in Anchorage, please speak to your sales representative.

After breakfast and packing up camp, our adventure comes to an end and we return to Anchorage Airport.