While superlatives strive to convey the grandeur of Alaska, they never quite manage to capture the reality. The “Hidden Alaska” trip does, though. They'll take you far afield from the heavily touristed routes to get you up close to the real Alaska: To the inner heart of Denali. Alongside the face of a calving glacier. At river’s edge, watching giant brown bears fish for salmon. This is Alaska “less discovered”: bigger, wilder, more amazing than you’ve imagined. You’ve got to see it for yourself.
Tour Details
Duration
13 Days
Location
Denali National Park
Season
June - August
Tour Type
Fully Guided
Nearest City
Anchorage
Physical Condition Required
Fair
Destination(s)
Alaska, United States
Accommodations
World famous Brooks Lodge provides one of the best places on earth to easily view grizzly bears at close range! From the rustic cabins, it is a one-mile walk to the falls where bears fish for salmon in preparation for winter's freeze. In the fall, bears are everywhere (not just at the falls) and you may encounter them wherever you go. Accommodations here are rustic but comfortable and require travelers to share rooms for two nights. Here, NHA matchs travelers by gender (or, by couples if that is preferred). The cabins have private facilities. Any inconveniece caused by the shared cabins is well worth it as the grizzlies provide a spectacular show!
NHA's Alaska program differs from most others in that they spend time as close as possible to the wildlife and away from the crowds. After all, their trips are designed for small groups to view wildlife. The Kantishna Roadhouse is one of only three lodges located within Denali National Park, allowing guests to exclusively experience this remarkable area away from tourist crowds. Its private cabins provide wonderful amenities (including private facilities) and its location allows you to explore, view wildlife, walk and hike in the shadows of North America's largest peak. As with all of NHA's accommodations, Kantishna is chosen for its high quality plus its accessability to wildlife and its wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. From Denali, travel by train back to Anchorage which, from its domed observatory car, giving a rare and unique perspective on this spectacular region.
Rates
$7,295.00 - $8,690.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
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Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Fairbanks Meet in Fairbanks, a modern city that retains its frontier flavor with pioneer saloons, paddle wheelers and outlying mining camps.
Days 2-4: Denali – Kantishna Denali National Park – larger than the state of Massachusetts - one of the world’s great wilderness preserves. Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, towers over tundra and taiga below, habitat for wolves, grizzlies, moose and caribou. From the base at historic Kantishna Roadhouse, 92 miles inside the park, you'll have time and space to encounter the wilderness. Hiking, nature walks, biking, fishing and optional flightseeing are available. Early morning and evening offer excellent opportunities to see wildlife in the lodge environs.
Day 5: Denali/Talkeetna Depart Denali by train on a journey through Alaska’s rugged Interior, over Broad Pass and along the Susitna River to Talkeetna. There’s time on arrival to explore this rustic village of log cabins, bush pilots and Far North hospitality.
Day 6: Girdwood/Alyeska Drive south to Alyeska Resort, Alaska’s premier ski area that is replete with summer activities, too. Set in a lush glacial valley in the Chugach Range near the coast, Alyeska offers nature and luxury in tandem. Streamside trails lined with wildflowers beckon at the base, or board the tram to the summit where you may choose to dine at Seven Glaciers, a four-star restaurant with vistas of the ice-bound peaks and Turnagain Arm far below.
Day 7: Fox Island Fox Island, a private island bordering the Kenai Fjords, reveals the pristine side of Alaska most visitors miss, providing accommodations for just 18 guests in comfortable beachfront cabins. The region is famed for sea kayaking, and an easy paddling trip may unveil some of the area’s prolific marine life.
Day 8: Kenai Fjords – Private Yacht Today, cruise through a land where the ice age still lingers. The small yacht allows you to approach wildlife more intimately, and Kenai Fjords National Park provides unparalleled opportunities for viewing humpback and orca whales, porpoises, sea otters, and a large colony of puffins. Here, glaciers pour into the sea, and you may observe icebergs calving with a crash. Overnight in Seward, on Resurrection Bay.
Day 9: Kenai Peninsula/Anchorage The mountain ranges of the Kenai Peninsula rise one after another on your drive to Anchorage. Time permitting, stop at Exit Glacier for a closeup look at this active river of ice. Spend the night in Anchorage.
Days 10-11: Brooks Falls – Katmai National Park Katmai National Park is home to the world’s largest population of brown bears. Fly by small plane to King Salmon, then by floatplane to world-renowned Brooks Lodge, one of the best places to view these coastal bears in their natural habitat. From the safety of platforms built over Brooks Falls, observe this classic spectacle up close, as the bears fish vigorously for salmon swimming upstream to spawn.
Day 12: Katmai/Anchorage After morning activities in Katmai, return to Anchorage.
Day 13: Anchorage/Home Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
This Package Includes
Accommodations
All Meals from Dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 13 (Dinner on Stopovers in Alyeska and Anchorage are Excluded to Provide You with a Flexible Schedule)
Services of NHA's Professional Expedition Leaders
Round Trip Air from Anchorage to Brooks Lodge
Small Boat Cruise on Kenai Fjords
Land Transportation by Bus
Train Trip from Denali to Anchorage
Airport Transfers for Those Arriving on Day One and Departing on Day 13
All Taxes and Service Charges
COMPLIMENTARY VISITOR GUIDES
Click on any visitor guide below to request a free copy.
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