Itinerary
- Day 1
Fairbanks to Denali National Park
Your Alaska adventure kicks off with a hotel pickup in Fairbanks followed by a quick breakfast. From there you'll drive south toward Denali National Park where you'll see the park's working sled dogs and get close to them on a hike. After that comes a rafting trip down the Nenana River before checking into your cabin for the evening. You'll meet up with the group for a hot dinner and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hot dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Visit Denali National Park sled dog kennels
- Hiking to sled dog facilities (5.5 miles)
- Rafting the Nenana River
- Dinner at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Denali National Park Nenana River - Day 2
Denali to Talkeetna Mountains
After breakfast and checkout, the route heads south from Denali for a ridge hike that offers views of the Alaska Range. Weather permitting, you might catch sight of Denali mountain itself, though clouds often hide it. You'll continue south to your next lodge located at the edge of the Talkeetna Mountains where you'll stay for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ridge hike with views of Alaska Range (7 miles)
- Breakfast at lodge
Optional Activities
- Views of Denali mountain from ridge (weather dependent)
Landmarks/POIs Alaska Range Denali Talkeetna Mountains - Day 3
Talkeetna Mountains to Kenai Peninsula
The path continues south through the Chugach Range on another hiking day. As you move toward the Kenai Peninsula (known locally as Alaska's Playground), you'll notice the forest changing with bigger trees as the landscape shifts. The difference between coastal and interior forests becomes really noticeable. By evening you're at a lodge positioned in a glacially carved valley with mountains close by, which sets you up nicely for seeing glacial fjords in the days ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hiking in Chugach Range (7.5 miles)
- Breakfast at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Chugach Range Kenai Peninsula - Day 4
Kenai Peninsula to Halibut Cove
Today's a different kind of day without hiking. Instead you'll raft the Kenai River's turquoise glacial-fed waters while crossing the Kenai Peninsula toward Homer. Arrival at Homer Spit (nicknamed 'the end of the road') leads to a short water taxi ride across Kachemak Bay to your secluded cabins on Halibut Cove's shores. Evenings here feature beach time and home-cooked meals without the typical tourist atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Rafting Kenai River
- Water taxi across Kachemak Bay to Halibut Cove
Landmarks/POIs Kenai River Homer Spit Kachemak Bay Halibut Cove - Day 5
Halibut Cove
Following breakfast, a water taxi takes you to your trailhead where puffins, cormorants, and thousands of other seabirds can be spotted. This 8-mile hike with significant elevation gain is the highlight of the week. You'll traverse Grace Ridge to a high point with views of surrounding mountains, glaciers, and bays all around. A picnic lunch happens at the summit, then a scenic boat shuttle brings you back down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at summit)
Included Activities
- Water taxi to trailhead with seabird viewing
- Grace Ridge hike (8 miles)
- Picnic lunch at summit
- Water taxi return to cabins
- Breakfast at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Grace Ridge Kachemak Bay - Day 6
Halibut Cove to Seward
After eating breakfast, you'll hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake to see one of the massive glaciers up close. A quick water taxi returns you to Homer, then you drive across the peninsula toward Seward and Resurrection Bay for your final few nights. Your lodge sits in the hills above the bay. If seafood interests you, dinner's a chance to try fresh halibut, salmon, and crab from local waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Fresh halibut, salmon and crab)
Included Activities
- Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake (4 miles)
- Water taxi from Grewingk to Homer
- Dinner at lodge
- Breakfast at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Grewingk Glacier Lake Grewingk Glacier Resurrection Bay - Day 7
Seward
An early start gets you to your trailhead south of Seward before the tides become an issue. The coastal hike leads to historic Fort McGilvray where you'll learn about Alaska's military history. Lunch happens on the beach with chances to watch for humpback whales, sea otters, and bald eagles. Since tides will be too high to use the original route back, a short water taxi from Miller's Landing takes you return instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on beach)
Included Activities
- Hike to Fort McGilvray along coast (5-9 miles)
- Lunch on beach
- Water taxi return from Miller's Landing
- Breakfast at lodge
Optional Activities
- Wildlife viewing: Humpback Whales, sea otters, bald eagles
Landmarks/POIs Fort McGilvray Miller's Landing - Day 8
Seward to Anchorage
Your closest glacier experience comes today when you head into the mountains to reach Kenai Fjords National Park. You'll hike along the lateral moraine of Exit Glacier, the only glacier here accessible by foot. The route continues to cliffs above Exit Glacier where views of Alaska's most well-known glacier are unmatched. From there you drive to Anchorage, wrapping up your Alaska adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hiking along Exit Glacier lateral moraine (5.5 miles)
- Hike to cliffs with views of Exit Glacier
- Breakfast at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Kenai Fjords National Park Exit Glacier
