Itinerary
- Day 1
Anchorage
You'll land in Anchorage at your own pace, and a driver will pick you up at the airport to take you to your hotel. Once there, your guide meets with you to go over what activities are available during the week ahead.
- Day 2
Anchorage to Homer
The drive to Homer takes about 4.5 hours across the Kenai Peninsula. You'll stop to hike the Summit Creek Trail, a 6-kilometer route that climbs past the tree line into alpine tundra with views of small lakes and creeks. Later you pass through areas where you can see active volcanoes like Iliamna and Redoubt across Cook Inlet. If the weather cooperates, there's time for a short walk at Anchor Point Beach before you check in at your Homer hotel.
Included Activities
- Hike on Summit Creek Trail (approximately 6 kilometers to mountain top)
- Stop and explore at Anchor Point Beach
Landmarks/POIs Turnagain Bay Kenai Peninsula Chugach Mountains Kenai Mountains Mount Iliamna Mount Redoubt Cook Inlet Anchor Point Beach - Day 3
Homer
Starting early, you take a water cab out to Kachemak Bay State Park for the Grace Ridge Trail hike. This route goes through old-growth spruce forests and up into alpine terrain with views of the bay below. You're back in town by late afternoon, leaving time to grab a drink at the Salty Dog Saloon on the harbor, walk along the beach, or check out Homer's evening scene.
Included Activities
- Water cab to Kachemak Bay State Park
- Hike on Grace Ridge Trail
Optional Activities
- Visit Salty Dog Saloon
- Beach stroll
- Explore Homer nightlife
Landmarks/POIs Kachemak Bay State Park Kachemak Bay Salty Dog Saloon - Day 4
Homer
You've got flexibility here. The main draw is a bush plane flight over Cook Inlet to Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, where brown bears congregate. You could see 25 to 40 bears from various distances with an experienced guide and pilot. If bears aren't appealing, options include another hike in Homer Bay, visiting the Pratt Museum or Homer Art Gallery, biking, halibut or salmon fishing, kayaking, bird watching, or a day trip to Gull Island and old Seldovia. Don't skip Homer's seafood restaurants.
Optional Activities
- Bear watching flight in small bush plane (Katmai and Lake Clark National Park area)
- Hike in Homer Bay
- Visit Pratt Museum
- Visit Homer Art Gallery
- Rent special bikes for the beach
- Halibut or salmon fishing
- Kayak tour of surrounding bay
- Wildlife and bird watching
- Day trip to Gull Island
- Day trip to Old Seldovia and small fishing village across from Kachemak Bay
- Dine at famous Alaska seafood restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Katmai National Park Lake Clark National Park Cook Inlet Homer Bay Pratt Museum Homer Art Gallery Gull Island Old Seldovia Kachemak Bay - Day 5
Homer to Seward
After breakfast you drive toward Seward through the Kenai Mountains with a quick stop in Soldotna. You'll hike about 5 kilometers to Skilak Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, then head to Russian River Falls where thousands of salmon run seasonally (bears sometimes show up here too). Before reaching Seward, you hike 5 kilometers through coastal rainforest at Lowell Point to reach Tosina Beach, a good spot for seeing silver salmon and bald eagles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike through Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to Skilak Lake (approximately 5 kilometers)
- Hike to Russian River Falls
- Hike from Lowell Point through coastal rainforest to Tosina Beach (5 kilometers, 40 meters elevation gain)
Landmarks/POIs Kenai Mountains Soldotna Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Skilak Lake Russian River Falls Lowell Point Tosina Beach - Day 6
Seward
Seward is yours to explore at whatever pace works for you. Museums, shops, and seafood restaurants fill the downtown area. If you want something more active, the famous Kenai Fjords National Park boat tour leaves from the harbor and gets you close to humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, and hundreds of bird species while traveling through fjords to massive glaciers in Aialik Bay. You could also try kayaking in Resurrection Bay or take a boat or helicopter into the park to paddle around Bear Glacier's icebergs.
Optional Activities
- Explore museums in Seward
- Shop at souvenir stores
- Dine at seafood restaurants
- Kenai Fjords National Park boat tour (tour of Aialik Bay with glacier viewing)
- Kayak tour through Resurrection Bay
- Boat or helicopter tour to Bear Glacier with kayaking among icebergs
Landmarks/POIs Kenai Fjords National Park Aialik Bay Resurrection Bay Bear Glacier - Day 7
Seward
The Harding Ice Field Trail takes you through spruce forests and alpine grassland directly to Exit Glacier and a viewpoint overlooking 30 different glaciers and the Harding Ice Field spanning almost 2,000 square kilometers. Black bears forage in the grassy areas, so you might spot one. This hike ranks among the best glacier experiences in the region. You'll be back in Seward by afternoon to soak in the quiet coastal setting.
Included Activities
- Hike on Harding Ice Field Trail to Exit Glacier with views of 30 glaciers
Landmarks/POIs Kenai Fjords National Park Harding Ice Field Exit Glacier - Day 8
Seward to Anchorage
On your way back to Anchorage, you stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a facility that rehabilitates injured and endangered wildlife. The center successfully reintroduced wood bison to Alaska after they were completely gone from the state. You'll see grizzly bears, black bears, wood bison, caribou, and musk oxen in a farm-like setting backed by mountains. After reaching Anchorage, your Kenai Peninsula tour wraps up.
Included Activities
- Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Landmarks/POIs Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
