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Go deep into the icy wild on this active adventure

Alaska may be part of the USA, but it feels like another world. Discover incredible mountain ranges, diverse wildlife and shining glaciers on a nine-day Lonely Planet Experience in the coldest and iciest state of the USA. Go deep into the wild through the isolated Denali and Wrangell-St Elias national parks, then reunite with civilisation with stops in Anchorage and Valdez. Look out for moose, caribou and grizzly bears on an Alaskan safari and take a kayak trip past waterfalls and sea life. This active adventure takes you well off the beaten track, so escape from the world and explore the deep wilderness of Alaska.

Start
Anchorage, United States
Finish
Anchorage, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Basix
Theme
Lonely Planet Experience
Code
SSRL
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 13

A powerful partnership

Lonely Planet and Intrepid Travel share the same philosophy: we help curious people explore the world.

Why you'll love this trip

  • Drive across frozen plains and past massive peaks, walk across remote tundras to glacial rivers and canoe in the spectacular waters of Prince William Sound.

  • Go deep into the wild and experience unforgettable scenery on a camping adventure, staying closer than ever before to the mountains and glaciers.

  • Denali National Park is home to an abundance of native wildlife. Visit the park for a unique safari experience to see moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep and wolves in their natural habitat.

  • Get close to sea otters, puffins and humpback whales on an optional kayaking trip in Valdez. You might even see bald eagles in the sky above!

  • See North America's biggest collection of glaciers and some of its tallest and most impressive mountains on your tour of the Wrangell-St Elias National Park.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip involves a partial camping experience, giving you access to more remote destinations at close proximity, and the joy of camping under the night skies and beside a campfire. This is a participatory trip – a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride, but you are part of a team! Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. It’s all about giving your new travel mates a hand, and everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!

  • That teamwork also extends to our optional food kitty of approximately USD 90 per week to cover the cost of meals. This means you don’t have to worry about stuff like where to get food or what exactly sales tax is, and actually helps keep your costs down. Instead of paying individually as you go, it means we can bulk purchase items and cook our own food – though there’s always the chance to use it for the occasional pizza night or s’mores by the campfire! The kitty is optional and for your convenience, so if you've got specific dietary requirements you can opt out to purchase (and cook) your own food.

  • This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and roads in remote areas can be bumpy. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.

  • While Alaska can experience warm summers, you should still be prepared for cold temperatures, especially at night. Warm clothing with you, including base layers, a warm hat, gloves and a thick (waterproof) coat, is essential. The summer months in Alaska also see very long daylight hours, with the sun not completely setting until after midnight so you might want to bring an eye mask to block out the light.

  • Mosquitoes are found across the USA, even in the colder regions. They can be a problem a lot of the time, especially in July. We recommended that you bring insect repellent that works for you.

  • The weather around Denali can be extreme at times. Be prepared for blizzards, ice cold winds and quick shifts in weather. It is Alaska after all!

Map of Explore Alaska including United States Of America
USA, Alaska, brown bear trout fishing
USA, Alaska, moose
USA, Alaska, kayak glacier
USA, Alaska, northern lights landscape
USA, Alaska, Wrangell St Elias NP, Landscape mountains lake
USA, Alaska bear mountains grass
USA, Alaska, bald eagle flying
Alaska_Denali-NP
Alaska_Wrangell-St.-Elias-National-Park_Glacier-hike
usa_alaska_denali-national-park_landscape-forest-view
usa_alaska_valdez_traveller-kayak-iceberg

Itinerary
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Welcome to Anchorage, the most populous city in Alaska with one of the most beautiful backdrops you’ve ever seen! Things kick off this evening with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, but we highly recommend arriving early to see the sights. This is a unique environment; a city in the heart of the wilderness. It's worth spending some time in the cafes and bars and getting to know the hardy locals who have more than a few entertaining stories up their sleeves. After you meet your fellow travellers and leader in the evening, why not join them in town for an optional group dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Leave the city behind this morning and venture into a world of lakes and glaciers in the epic Alaska Range. Head north along the Parks Highway to Denali National Park (approximately 5 hours), keeping an eye out for caribou as you go. Home to the highest peak in the United States known as Denali (Mount McKinley), as well as grizzly bears, wolves, moose and Dall sheep, this national park is a true wilderness with endless snowy peaks.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Denali National Park - Entrance Fee
  • Denali National Park Visitor Centre
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Buckle up for an 8-hour bus safari deep into Denali National Park, visiting the Eielson Visitor Centre as you go. This scenic tour will take you through the park's backcountry, travelling 106 kilometres (66 miles) to the visitor centre. The journey is worth it as the rangers and interactive displays provide great insight and information about the park. The bus driver will help you spot wildlife while answering questions and, if needed, make bathroom stops along the way. Be sure to bring some food and beverages with you as there aren't any available on the bus.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Denali - Scenic bus tour
Optional Activities
  • Denali - Glacier Landing Flight - USD525
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Rest stops occur around every 90 minutes throughout the bus trip. Bus riders are permitted to depart the bus within regulations to hike in the park.

After experiencing a Denali dog sled demonstration this morning, traverse through high alpine country as you drive Alaska's second-highest highway pass to the Maclaren River Lodge. Kick back with some music and take in the scenery, getting to know your travel buddies along the way. On arrival at the lodge, take a canoe upriver to the remote wilderness Glacier Camp, where you'll spend the night camping out beneath the stars. Explore the frosty surrounds once the campsite is set up.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Maclaren - Wilderness Glacier Overnight Canoe Trip
  • Denali's Alaskan Huskies - Dog Sled Demonstration
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Wake from your peaceful slumber and take a canoe back to the lodge in the morning. Today is a big travel day, with approximately 8 hours total driving time, but it's also a really beautiful drive with plenty of wildlife and some great views along the way. You'll leave the main highway and start to head deep into Wrangell-St Elias National Park: the largest national park in the USA, being almost six times the size of Yellowstone. The evening is free once you've arrived at the campsite, so take a hike and do some exploring, or just kick back and soak up the camp vibes.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

You’re free to explore Wrangell-St Elias National Park today, and there are a whole host of optional activities to take part in. Perhaps take a scenic flight over the park, venture out for a glacier walk on the spectacular Root Glacier, or maybe try your hand at some adrenaline-pumping ice climbing. Your group leader will be able to provide you with other recommendations for the day. Alternatively, spend the day hiking and exploring the park – all 13 million acres of it. Keep an eye out for moose, bears and caribou and then, in the evening, return to the campsite for some much-needed (and well-earned) rest.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Wrangell-St Elias - Scenic flight (50 mins) - USD250
  • Wrangell-St Elias - Ice climbing - USD140
  • Wrangell-St Elias - Scenic flight (90 mins) - USD325
  • Wrangell-St Elias - Full-day Glacier Hike - USD115
  • Wrangell-St Elias - Half-day Glacier Hike - USD90
  • Maclaren - Kennecott Copper Mill Tour - USD30
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Depart Wrangell-St Elias and make tracks for Valdez, a small town on the edge of Prince William Sound. The trip should take approximately 7.5 hours, including a stop at Worthington Glacier en route. Valdez, which is surrounded by the steep, snow-capped Chugach Mountains, is best known as the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. After setting up camp, why not check out the town and grab a bite to eat?
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today is free to do as you please in Valdez. Kayaking is hugely popular here, so take a paddle on Prince William Sound among the glaciers and down the fjords, spotting some wildlife along the way. On land, you could visit the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive for an interesting history lesson of this important port city. Just like Anchorage, Valdez is framed with mountains, so wherever you look, there’s something new to see.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Valdez - Glacier kayak trip - USD270
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

This morning drive back to Anchorage, which will take around 6 hours. This may be a tiring drive, but it's also a spectacular one as you cross the snowy Thompson Pass. After the journey, there are no activities planned and no accommodation provided for the night.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
The arrival time depends on each group, but if you decide to fly out on this day, please don't book a flight before 9 pm. This will give you enough time to catch a shuttle from the city to the airport and be there two hours before departure. If you wish to spend extra time in Anchorage, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Want to tailor this itinerary?
This trip is a Lonely Planet Experience
Our Lonely Planet Experiences include plenty of free time so you can do the things that suit your budget and interests. Between your Intrepid Travel leader’s local knowledge and Lonely Planet’s trusted travel tips and recommendations, your trip will be more epic than ever.

Meals

No meals are included on this tour

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (3 nights), Camping (with facilities) (4 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Included activities

  • Denali National Park - Entrance Fee
  • Denali National Park Visitor Centre
  • Denali - Scenic bus tour
  • Maclaren - Wilderness Glacier Overnight Canoe Trip
  • Denali's Alaskan Huskies - Dog Sled Demonstration

Lonely Planet extras

  • Free access to the Lonely Planet mobile app for one year
  • 25% discount on all items in the Lonely Planet Shop

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Explore Alaska trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. This trip finishes on arrival into Anchorage in the afternoon on Day 9.

2. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip however excludes night 4 (Maclaren River) where you will be in shared accommodation.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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