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Explore Alaska 9 Days From R33 180
Go deep into the icy wild on this active Alaskan adventure.
Alaska may be part of the USA, but it feels like another world. It is full of incredible mountain ranges, diverse wildlife and shining glaciers, and on your 9-day tour of the USA’s coldest and iciest state, you’ll see it all. Go deep into the wild through the isolated Denali and Wrangell-St Elias national parks, and reunite with civilisation at 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.
Travel dates between June 2021 - August 2021
Why you'll love this trip
Alaska is unlike any of the other states of the USA. 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 either a partial or full 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.
North America is a world of endless possibilities – that’s why our trips are designed so they fit together as (not quite endless) combinations. This means that while you might just be starting your trip, some of your new travel mates may have been travelling together for a week or more on a previous adventure. They will definitely have some great tips for you. Visit intrepidtravel.com/north-america to check out our combination trips and other tours you can add on to this one to extend your journey.
Some of the roads on this trip can be extremely long and fairly bumpy. You could be driving down a remote dirt road for hours at a time, but that's all part of this Alaskan adventure. This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. 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. Bring warm clothing with you, including base layers, a warm hat, gloves and a thick coat. The summer months in Alaska also see very long daylight hours, with the sun not completely setting until after midnight. As most people are likely to sleep before midnight, 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. It’s recommended that you bring insect repellent with you and anything else you think is applicable.
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!
Itinerary
Day 1: Anchorage
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.
Day 2: Denali National Park
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.
Day 3: Denali National Park
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
Notes: 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.
Day 4: Maclaren River
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.
Day 5: Wrangell-St Elias National Park
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.
Day 6: Wrangell-St Elias National Park
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) - USD150
Wrangell-St Elias - Ice climbing - USD140
Wrangell-St Elias - Flightseeing (90 min) - USD270
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.
Day 7: Valdez
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.
Day 8: Valdez
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.
Day 9: Anchorage
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).
Inclusions
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
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.
Standard Terms and Conditions apply.
Ref: IN11008
PLease contact us for more information
luzelle@atravelagent.co.za
