Alaska

Day 1: AK Range & River – The Ultimate Arctic

No region offers the quintessential Alaska quite like the Arctic. A truly unique landscape barely touched by human development, though inhabited for thousands of years, the endless open expanses of basin and range will certainly enlarge your concept of true wilderness.  Though the Arctic is known for its brutally cold  and dark winters, the state’s northernmost region  is much more than a frozen wasteland. Impressive mountains give way to vast treeless plains that slope towards the Arctic Ocean in a habitat composed of a varied mosaic of life that bursts alive in a short and busy summer of regeneration and migration.

Day 2: Glaciers and Wildlife Tour

On this “Glaciers and Wildlife” Alaska vacation, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery while traveling via a combination of comfortable motor coach and rail on the Alaska Railroad through Alaska’s coastal and interior regions. See two of Alaska’s most famous national parks, including Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park. These two iconic Alaska destinations provide the best opportunities for viewing Alaska’s famous wildlife on both land and by sea. Be wowed on a whale watching and marine life cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park, then travel to Denali for two days to explore this iconic wildlife habitat.

Day 3: Alaska Flightseeing Tours

Flying is a way of life in Alaska. One percent of the state’s population holds some form of pilot certification, which is nearly four times the national average. Aircraft carry mail, groceries, and people around a vast landscape with less than 3,000 miles of actual road, illustrating perfectly that planes are not a luxury, but a necessity. One of the most popular activities among Alaskans and visitors is a flight across a remote, roadless stretch of the state, looking down upon soaring mountains, icy glaciers, and green tundra. You can fly to go fishing, look for bears, take a hike on a mountain ridge, or even land on a glacier. Alaska’s aircraft provide access to places many visitors only dream of seeing.

Day 4: Alaska Kayaking Trips

Kayaking offers an immersive experience of Alaska. Whether paddling a peaceful mountain lake or a glacial fjord, visitors can be assured of an experience like no other. All tours feature an experienced naturalist guide who will assist you with gear, technique, and information about the area you visit. No experience is necessary for most trips.

The community of Seward is a popular place to kayak thanks to an abundance of sheltered coves and bays, many with massive glaciers standing tall at the far end. For those new to paddling, or with a tight schedule, the Resurrection Bay Kayak Tour is the perfect option. Explore the Caines Head State Recreation Area, keeping an eye out for seals, whales, and sea otters along the way.

For a longer paddle, the Northwestern Fjord-Aialik Bay Day Trip is a full-day experience inside beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park. The trip is limited to 12 people and is the perfect adventure for those wanting an intimate view of the wild coastlines of Alaska.

Day 5: Bear Viewing Tours

There are several ways to view bears while on a visit to Alaska, the most popular being a fly-in experience across Cook Inlet to places like Chinitna Bay, Katmai National Park, or Lake Clark National Park. Many bear viewing trips are day excursions from Anchorage.

Each bear viewing tour has a season based on when salmon and other food sources are abundant at that location. Our reservation agents can help direct you to the best tour to take depending on when you will be in Alaska. Here’s a general guide.
Bear viewing by bus and on foot
The Chinitna Bay Bear Viewing Tour is a six-hour adventure from Anchorage’s Lake Hood Seaplane Base, over scenic Cook Inlet, and past Mt. Redoubt. Your plane will land on the beach at Bear Mountain Lodge where you’ll hop into modified buses for the short drive to viewing areas around Chinitna Bay. Here you can watch bears feed on clams, sedge grass, and fish among the waving meadow grasses and sandy wetlands. Experience a similar by slightly shorter excursion out of Homer via helicopter.