Skip to main content
Kayaking through the icy Shoup Bay - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Kayaking through the icy Shoup Bay  | Jake Hutchins
Trekking the beautiful Denali National Park - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Trekking the beautiful Denali National Park  | Jake Hutchins
Sailing the icy waters of the Prince William Sound - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Sailing the icy waters of the Prince William Sound  | Jake Hutchins
Exploring Root Glacier in Wrangell St Elias National Park - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Exploring Root Glacier in Wrangell St Elias National Park  | Amanda Mallon
Wild Grizzly walking the local roads - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Wild Grizzly walking the local roads  | Jake Hutchins
Looking out across Denali National Park - Great Alaska Adventure, United States
Looking out across Denali National Park  | Jake Hutchins

Great Alaska Adventure

Active adventure in Alaska's wilderness

United States

 12 reviews

11 Days from

$ USD

Trip Code: DNW
View dates to Book
Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement
$1720 USD
Duration
  • 11 Days
Activities
  • 7 Day hikes
  • 2 Days Paddling
Accommodation
  • 10 nights hotel/lodge/cabin
Meals
  • 10 Lunches
  • 9 Breakfasts
Difficulty Grading  
3 / 10

Introductory

Carbon Footprint  

63kg of CO2-e PP per day

(634kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

  • Experience true Alaskan wilderness
  • Keep an eye out for sea lions, curious seals and otters, porpoises, whales, caribou, moose, and bear
  • Hike, raft and go on a nature tour in Denali National Park
  • Canoeing on Maclaren River
  • Walk atop a glacier and cross Prince William Sound by ferry
  • Take a scenic bush flight into incredible Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
  • Explore the Chugach Mountains
  • Hike and paddle amongst mountains, glaciers and turquoise lakes

Overview

Alaska’s greatest asset may actually be its diversity and the state’s superlatives simply defy the imagination. Alaska is home to Prince William Sound – a diverse maritime complex of tidewater glaciers and deep fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias – America’s largest National Park and home to 9 of the 16 highest peaks on the continent, Denali – the highest peak in North America at 20,320’, and to countless treasures that fill the pages of coffee table books around the world. Our popular itinerary will allow you to sample the wonders of Alaska by hiking, kayaking, rafting, cruising and flying through its vast wilderness all while enjoying the hospitality and character of rustic, yet comfortable lodging. If you want to actively experience and participate in the “real” Alaska but would prefer not to camp, then this 11-day itinerary is the quintessential adventure.

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Arrive in Anchorage and make your way to the group hotel. Settle into your room, and explore wonderful downtown Anchorage. The hotel offers complimentary airport shuttles for ease and convenience. NB: If you wish to spend more time in Anchorage then we are able to book additional nights for you. Accommodation: Coast Inn Hotel or similar

Meals: Nil

We'll meet in the morning at the hotel lobby in Anchorage for a short tour briefing before heading north into the vast Alaskan Interior. We’ll stop along the way for a hike and picnic lunch in Denali State Park. This is a really great 3-4 hour alpine hike and, if the weather is kind, we may enjoy our first views of Denali (Mt. McKinley) and the rest of the mighty Alaska Range. That evening, we will check into our comfortable lodge at Denali National Park (3 nights). Total drive time is approximately 4-4.5hrs total, with the hike about mid-way through.

Meals: B,L

A fun day of activity today as there are a few short hikes to choose from in the morning (from 1.5 to 3 hours in duration) and then enjoy a half-day (approximately 2hrs) rafting trip on the mighty Nenana River. The Nenana is an exciting Class III/IV whitewater river and our expert guides will take us through canyons and rapids as we enjoy spectacular views of the peaks of the Alaska Range. Rafting the Nenana is a true classic.

Meals: B,L

We’ll enjoy an delicious early breakfast at the lodge before boarding the park shuttle bus. The park road we travel is closed to regular vehicle traffic after the initial 15 miles. The shuttle bus provides the only way to visit the park’s amazing interior. Along the road corridor, keep your eyes peeled for Denali’s famous furry inhabitants carving out their existence amidst the some of the most amazing scenery in North America. Probability is high that you'll see caribou, moose, wolves, grizzlies, and Dall's sheep. And If the weather is kind, numerous chances to view Mt. McKinley – North America’s highest peak at 20,320’ - will greet you at every turn!

Meals: B,L

Today, we pack up and head east along the even more remote Denali Highway, paralleling the scenic southern side of the Alaska Range. This unlikely gravel 'highway' passes through some of the wildest, most remote, road-accessible country on Earth with amazing mountain, glacier, tundra, and river valley views. A beautiful short hike at the pass/divide is next, with tremendous 360-degree views of the mountains, rivers, and glacial lakes that are all about. There are lots of rare and interesting birds as well as moose, foxes, Arctic ground squirrels, beavers, muskrats, and occasionally grizzly bears to be seen throughout the whole area. In the afternoon we will check into our rustic and friendly, riverside lodge for the evening. Total drive time is approx 3.5hrs with breaks in between for hiking and photos.

Meals: B,L

Today’s itinerary features a drive over Maclaren Pass (1,463m/4,800ft), but first, the morning begins with a canoeing adventure. We will be transported upstream to the put-in in the lodge’s air boat, an adventure in itself. We’ll float downstream (calm waters), on the lookout for wildlife. Afterward, we’ll continue on to the Copper River, where small planes will meet us for a scenic flight across the volcanic and glacier-clad Wrangell Mountains into immense Wrangell-St.-Elias National Park, the largest in the USA and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our destination is the historic Copper Rush boomtown of McCarthy (pop. ~100), everyone's favourite ghost town! We’ll spend three nights here in our rustic lodge accommodation at the foot of the mighty Kennicott Glacier, deep in the heart of the park (twin share accommodation with shared facilities). 16,390' Mt. Blackburn looms up the glacier and other huge peaks are all about. Four major mountain ranges, 9 of the 16 tallest peaks in thee US, and the largest non-polar ice field on Earth all converge in this little-known and seldom-visited gem of a national park.

Meals: B,L

After breakfast, we’ll strap on some crampons and venture out onto the ice with a local mountaineering guide to explore the blue crevasses, moulins, and the rest of the fascinating glacial geography. The walk starts from the small town of Kennicott and follows the lateral moraine of Kennicott Glacier out to were the blue ice begins. The more adventurous can challenge themselves with an optional introductory ice-climbing course on the glacier (at additional cost + and an additional 2hrs). Other optional extras include flight-seeing over the immense fields of glacial ice, various ranger-led activities, and/or the Historic Kennicott Copper Mine tour. Our glacier hike is suitable for beginners and is an amazing adventure on a real moving glacier.

Meals: B,L

Today, we hike up to the abandoned Bonanza Mine (1,798m/5,900ft) for incredible mountain and glacier views. This vigorous hike is the consensus favorite of both clients and guides, year after year. Less strenuously, you can either hike along the lateral moraine of the Root Glacier, along the old Wagon Road, or out to the toe of the huge Kennicott Glacier, where you can witness it actually moving, depositing the boulders and debris it has carved and carried from the mountains into the terminal lake it has formed (headwaters of the Kennicott River). Or, if you prefer, take a day off to simply relax and soak up the mountain village ambiance. You won't want to leave McCarthy!

Meals: B,L

Driving out of Wrangell-St. Elias NP, we'll cross yet another tremendous range: The heavily-glaciated Chugach Mountains. The Worthington Glacier, a Natural Historic Landmark, is a spectacular glacier that tumbles from the Chugach Mountains. At alpine Thompson Pass, we can hike either to the toe or up the sweeping moraine to stunning views of the blue ice and crevasses of the glacier and magnificent vistas of the mighty Chugach. Dropping down and out of the mountains toward the picturesquely-set town of Valdez, we'll get our first taste of magnificent coastal Alaska. The young and geologically very active Chugach range rises up literally out of the sea, ringing super-scenic Prince William Sound. Glaciers are all about, some of them spilling their loads of ice directly into the sea. Tonight choose from Valdez’s many restaurants. This walkable town offers many options just steps from our hotel, the centrally located Totem Hotel and Suites. Total drive time is approximately 4-4.5hrs broken up by the hike and other scenic stops en route to Valdez.

Meals: B,L

Today we'll experience some of the best sea kayaking anywhere - in calm and spectacular, glacier-carved Prince William Sound. Timing with the tides, the trip will begin with an orientation by our sea kayaking guides, followed by a water taxi ride down the Valdez Arm. We'll continue to the face of incredible Columbia Glacier and enjoy lunch at the foot of the ancient tidewater glacier.

Meals: B,L

This morning, we'll board the Alaska state ferry for a beautiful crossing of Prince William Sound, on the lookout for whales, bald eagles and other wildlife. Following a short hike (time permitting), we'll drive back to Anchorage (approximately 1hr). On some trips (depending on the ferry schedule), a flight over the glacier-clad Sound from Valdez back to Anchorage may be substituted, but the ferry is preferred. Either way, the trip will end in Anchorage around 5pm. Please schedule homebound flights to depart after 8pm.

Meals: L

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 10 breakfasts and 9 lunches
  • 10 nights twin share accommodation in lodges and hotels with mostly private bathrooms (shared facilities in McCarthy)
  • Scenic bush plane flight to McCarthy
  • Private transport in good quality vehicles throughout
  • Anchorage hotel airport shuttle
  • Denali National Park wildlife-viewing shuttle
  • Prince William Sound ferry (or over flight)
  • Guided hiking and paddling as described
  • Professional guide throughout
  • All group gear and safety equipment
  • All park permits and fees

Not included

  • International airfare and airport taxes
  • Transportation to and from Anchorage
  • Travel Insurance (mandatory)
  • Dinners/meals not listed in inclusions
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Optional activities (see itinerary)
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, etc
  • Tips & Gratuities (see pre departure notes for guidelines)

Reviews (12)




Alaska had been on my bucket list for years. This trip was everything I hoped it would be--plenty of varied activities, scenery and opportunities to see wildlife. Alaska is a huge place, and this trip allowed me to see many of the must-see areas with a great group of like-minded participants led by a knowledgeable and helpful guide. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who would like to experience the best Alaska has to offer.

William|Michigan, United States
14 Sep 2025


Great trip and fantastic experiences. A very small group which made the experience even more personalised

Darren|QLD, Australia
26 Aug 2025


Had an amazing time. Jam packed with activities and very well organised. Our guide was very helpful and always concerned for our wellbeing. This is my third trip with WE and would recommend them any time

Dawn|United Kingdom
13 Aug 2025


Everything was just perfect, from the excellent and friendly guide, to the trips, excursions, hikes, lodges etc.

Not a moment was wasted but also didn't feel rushed.

A perfect tour of a very big and beautiful country.

Paul|United Kingdom
12 Aug 2025


A great adventure- rafting, kayaking, floating, glacier hiking, all were excellent. Well organised and professional. The Bonanza mine hike would be classified a level 3 hike with some parts level 4, for those Australians who want more detail on what "strenous and challenging" means.

Rosemary Lovell|Penrith, NSW Australia
9 Aug 2024


We had a great trip, with a fun group of people, including our informative, multi-talented and hard working guide. We saw a great range of landscapes and wildlife and enjoyed the range of activities and not being stuck in the van most of the time. Particularly enjoyed the energetic hike to the Bonanza Mine and the view from the tops. Staying at the same accommodation for several nights made things more relaxed. The flight into Wrangell-St.Elias was good, despite the poor weather, and probably would have been great with better weather.

We were disappointed that our request for twin beds had not been passed on to the accommodation providers, which resulted in a couple of poor nights sleep. We raised this with the guide the first evening, who contacted the company owner who was going to try to sort it out for the rest of the trip. Put at one of the later accommodations I was told that they had had no contact from the company about providing twin beds for us and when they contacted the company got a reply along the lines of "Oh, I thought I'd contacted you about it".

We were also disappointed with the rooms at the Inlet Tower Hotel. The first room we were shown when we arrived had no working blind on the largest window, which would have made it very difficult to sleep with the long daylight hours. The blind was sitting on the window sill and had dirt and fly droppings on it, which suggests it had been like that for some time. We were given an alternative room which had two leaking taps, one in the same room as the beds, and one of the set of taps only had hot water. The room we had at the end of the trip also had a leaking tap in the room with the beds and only had a venetian blind on the largest window, which still let in a considerable amount of light.

Peter Nicholas Eman|Christchurch, New Zealand
12 Jul 2023


we had a great trip, Nicole our guide was organised, fun and wealth of information, Alaska is a huge state , we had an amazing adventure over 10 days

Ruth Isobel Tramschek|Christchurch, NZ New Zealand
11 Jul 2023

Susan|United Kingdom
9 Aug 2026

Bradley Betker|Florida, United States
11 Sep 2024

Responsible Travel

Extra trip info

Guaranteeing A Great United States Trip

Pioneering World Firsts
Quality equipment
Quality accommodations
Innovative itineraries
Custom built, reliable transport
Our all inclusive approach

Multi Award Winning Adventures

Responsible Travel

Adventure Experts Since 1975

Search Filters