Alaska Denali & Wrangell Expedition

Upon arrival in Anchorage, set between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Cook Inlet, make your way to the hotel. As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage offers a mix of urban life and surrounding wilderness, where moose and bears are sometimes seen within the city.

If you arrive earlier in the day, you may wish to explore at your own pace or take in views of the surrounding mountain ranges, with a small chance of spotting Denali on a clear day. Alternatively, if you arrive the day before the start of the tour, you can choose to join an optional full-day bear viewing experience at Brooks River in Katmai National Park is available before the start of the tour.

We begin our journey with a welcome meeting, followed by time to experience Anchorage’s nightlife and get to know our fellow travellers and guide.

Starting point: 4400 Spenard Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99517, United States

Anchorage - Denali National Park. For the next 3 days, we travel to Denali National Park, one of Alaska’s most iconic wilderness areas, known for its vast landscapes and abundant wildlife.

We set up camp and explore the park by shuttle bus along its single road, keeping watch for grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. With over 6 million acres of protected land, Denali offers a true sense of remote wilderness.

We also spend time on foot, with a range of hiking options available, from shorter walks to more challenging routes across the open terrain.
In the evenings, we relax around the campfire, taking in the surroundings and sharing stories from the day. You may also choose to take an optional flightseeing experience over Denali and the surrounding peaks.

Denali National Park - Maclaren River. Over the next 2 days, we travel along the Denali Highway to Maclaren River Lodge, set within a remote alpine landscape surrounded by mountains and glaciers.

We journey by jet boat upriver to our remote glacier camp, where we spend the night immersed in the wilderness, far from roads and mobile signal. Surrounded by rugged scenery, we take time to explore the area and experience this isolated setting.

The following day, we return by canoe along the Maclaren River, navigating its ever-changing braided channels as we make our way back to the lodge. You may also choose to join an optional hike during our time here.

Maclaren River - McCarthy - Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. For the next 3 days, we explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States, known for its vast wilderness, glaciers and mining history.

We travel along the McCarthy Road, following the route of the old Copper River and Northwestern Railway, before reaching our remote campground at the end of the road.

During our time here, we explore the area on foot and take in the remains of the historic mining town. You also have the flexibility to plan your own activities, with a range of optional experiences including ice climbing, glacier hikes, rafting, flightseeing or guided tours of the Kennecott mines.

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park - Valdez. Over the next 2 days, we travel to Valdez, a coastal town set against the Chugach Mountains and known as the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

During our time here, we explore the surrounding area and take in the scenic waterfront, with opportunities to spot wildlife such as bears, sea lions and eagles feeding on salmon near local hatcheries and creeks.

You also have free time to explore at your own pace or join optional activities such as sea kayaking among icebergs, wildlife cruises, cycling or fishing.

Valdez - Anchorage. After our final breakfast, we begin our journey back to Anchorage, travelling through scenic mountain landscapes and glacial valleys.

Along the way, we cross Thompson Pass and pass the impressive Worthington Glacier before stopping at Matanuska Glacier for lunch.

We arrive back in Anchorage in the late afternoon, where our journey comes to an end.