Awesome Alaska Camping

Welcome to Alaska's largest city, often mistaken for the state’s capital. Anchorage is the most populated area in Alaska, yet it's home to wildlife such as bears, moose, and wolves. Our tour commences at 18:00 with a welcome meeting, so make sure you arrive in time to meet the group and your tour guide. We are staying in a hotel in Anchorage tonight.

Please note: This tour has a flexible itinerary, and the below is a general guide of what you can expect on tour. Your tour guide may alter certain night stops to maximize your enjoyment; maybe you opt to visit a local event or stay longer in a certain place. The beauty of a small group tour is that the itinerary can also be adapted to suit the group’s preference! We encourage you to relax and go with the flow!

Anchorage - Seward - Kenai Fjords National Park - Seward. This morning after breakfast, we depart Anchorage in our overland truck, bound for Seward. Our destination is located on the eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula and Resurrection Bay. Seward is known as the "Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park" and is about a half-day drive from Anchorage. In the afternoon, we will have some free time to explore Seward’s scenic waterfront.

On day 3, we’ll embark on a wildlife cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. We’ll have the chance to spot diverse wildlife such as beluga whales and orcas, as well as being able to view the dramatic calving of glaciers.

No visit to Seward is complete without a hike along the picturesque Exit Glacier, which we enjoy on day 4. We may even spot local black bears feeding on berries. The 13.2-kilometre round trip to the Harding Icefield is a spectacular day hike. Starting from the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes through meadows filled with heather, and climbs above the tree line to reveal a breathtaking view of the Harding Icefield. The top of the trail provides a glimpse into past ice ages, with a horizon of ice and snow stretching as far as the eye can see. For those not up for the full hike, shorter trails with equally stunning views are available. If you’re seeking additional adventure while in Seward, you can speak to your guide about arranging a half-day or full-day kayaking excursion, fishing trips, or even a karaoke session, all of which are available for an extra fee.

For our three nights in Seward, we will be camping. On this tour, all camping equipment is provided at a full service campground with electricity, Wi-Fi, hot showers and flush toilets. You will need to provide your own sleeping bag, or can hire one for $40 per person per tour. Must be booked in advance, please let us know at time of booking.

Seward - Homer. This morning after breakfast, we will make our way from Seward to Homer. Situated on the western side of the Kenai Peninsula and Kachemak Bay, Homer will be the starting point for our two-night luxury camp tomorrow. However, don’t overlook this artist-inspired town, with its many galleries along the spit. We will have some time to explore the picturesque town and its fishing culture. You could take in the Salty Dawg Saloon, a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink.

On our way to Homer, we’ll have plenty of opportunities for scenic photo stops and short walks. Depending on the time of year, we might stop to watch the salmon run up Russian River or visit one of the orthodox churches with stunning views of the volcanoes across the bay. We will be camping in Homer.

If you are looking for more excitement while in Homer, you can discuss with your guide the option of going halibut fishing in the halibut fishing capital of the world, or arranging a bear viewing trip to Lake Clark/Katmai, which lasts approximately 5 hours. Both experiences are available for an additional fee.

Homer - Seldovia. On day 6 we travel by boat from Homer to Seldovia, a journey that takes us about half an hour. We arrive at a lovely and relatively untouched beach on the peninsula. For the next two nights we are "luxury camping". Our accommodation will be in canvas tents, fully equipped with beds and all the essentials. There’s a beautiful main house where we’ll enjoy our meals, with comfortable chairs and a constant supply of coffee and tea. From here, we can explore the beaches, keep an eye out for eagles and other marine wildlife, or take a walk to uncover hidden coves and scenic viewpoints.

Day 7 sees us embark on a half day sea kayaking adventure around Jacklof Bay, which is home to sea otters and harbour seals, while bald and golden eagles soar above us. During one of our nights in Seldovia, the camp owner, Tony, will even cook us his famous salmon dinner.

Seldovia - Homer - Hope. In the morning after breakfast, we’ll take a water taxi back to Homer before continuing along the coastline to Hope. This quaint little town overlooks Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm and is only a short drive from Anchorage.

During the summer weekends, we might even catch a live concert at the local fishermen's bar, adding to the town's charm. In Hope, we will be bush camping, so there will be fewer facilities available. Don't worry, the guide will ensure we have everything we need!

If you’re interested in trying something different, you can speak to your guide about adding a gold panning experience to your itinerary. This optional activity is available for an additional fee.

Hope - Turnagain Arm - Anchorage. After breakfast today, we’ll take a short drive around Turnagain Arm back to Anchorage, stopping at the famous Beluga Point. Here, we may spot Beluga whales or Dall sheep.

This afternoon you have the opportunity to explore downtown Anchorage at leisure. Throughout the summer, there are numerous festivals and plenty of live music every night. Keep in mind that this city lies in the heart of the wilderness, home to over 1,000 moose, 250 black bears, and 100 grizzly bears.

You may wish to visit the Anchorage Museum, the heritage centre, or enjoy biking the coastal trail for an additional fee.

Anchorage - Denali National Park. In the morning of day 10, we set off to the remarkable Denali National Park. Whether you’re here for the flora or fauna, this is the perfect spot to fulfil your hopes of seeing a variety of wildlife, both large and small, in its natural habitat. We’ll set up our campsite, and over the next two days, you’ll have the chance to take a bus ride along the park’s only road, with the hope of spotting bears, moose, caribou, or wolves. We’ll make photo stops and take short walks through the rugged, untouched wilderness of Denali. We can choose to hike its stunning trails or dive into various activities within the park.

For those seeking a more strenuous, heart-pounding adventure, there’s the option to explore the park's vast 6 million acres on foot. No visit would be complete without adding the optional experience of a scenic flight over Denali National Park and around Mt. Denali at an additional fee. In the evenings, we’ll gather around the campfire, listening to the sounds of the night and sharing stories of our day’s adventures.

Denali National Park - Paxson. From Denali, we drive along the lightly travelled Denali Highway. First opened in 1957, this dirt road was the first to provide access to Denali National Park (then known as Mt. McKinley National Park). As we traverse through the Maclaren River Valley, we pass through high alpine country on the state’s second-highest highway pass. Here lies the Maclaren River Lodge, where we will embark on a boat ride up to “The Glacier Camp.”

Now we’re out in the wilderness, completely disconnected from mobile phone reception and roads. We’ll stay overnight, exploring and bush camping in the wild for two nights.

For those interested in more adventure, optional hiking is available around the Maclaren River.

Paxson - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. We spend the next three days exploring the largest National Park in the United States and camping at the “End-of-the-road” campground. Located literally at the end of the McCarthy Road, this once-thriving area was once linked to the copper mines, and it’s often forgotten that this was also the site of Alaska’s last great gold rush.

On days 16 and 17, you have many optional activities to choose from, including hiking, ice climbing, glacier walks, guided mine tours, rafting, and scenic flights over 16,000-foot peaks, 25-mile-long glaciers, and massive icefalls. You can hike on your own in the stunning surroundings, or can choose one of our optional excursions for an additional fee. Perhaps take a historical tour, or try some exciting outdoor adventures like ice climbing, a guided glacier tour, or whitewater rafting.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - Valdez. We travel to Valdez, a scenic drive that will showcase the breathtaking landscapes of this remarkable region, the endpoint of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay and a key gateway to Alaska. Valdez gained notoriety in March 1989 when the Exxon Valdez ran aground, spilling 11 million gallons of oil and causing huge environmental damage. Thankfully, order has been restored, and the stunning Chugach Mountains provide a picturesque backdrop for this charming town. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore as you wish.

Day 19 is dedicated to optional activities. We highly recommend the exhilarating Columbia Glacier sea kayaking, where you can marvel at breathtaking scenery, colossal icebergs, and the chance to spot a variety of wildlife which can be booked at an additional fee.

One of our adventures will take us out to see if we can find bears, eagles, or sea lions feasting on salmon. Valdez is particularly renowned for bears that frequent the local salmon fish hatchery and surrounding creeks.

Valdez - Anchorage. This morning, after breakfast, we travel from Valdez to Anchorage. We will cross the Thompson Pass with stunning views of Worthington Glacier. En route, we'll stop for lunch at Matanuska Glacier before returning to Anchorage in the late afternoon, arriving at approximately 15:00.