Alaskan Wildlife & Wilderness (Homer)
Alaskan Wildlife & Wilderness (Homer)
Alaskan Wildlife & Wilderness (Homer)
14 Days Starting and ending in Anchorage
Visiting: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska Range, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, McCarthy, Valdez, Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass, Seward, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Fjords National Park, Homer, Alyeska
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PAWE2
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 13
Physical rating:
Low, Medium, Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
16 to 99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This all-encompassing Alaska wilderness tour definitely delivers the 'wow factor'! This is the ultimate Alaskan wildlife adventure complete with bear viewing, wildlife cruises and wilderness walks. Alaska contains glaciers, forests, lakes and rushing rivers as well as some of the most beautiful hikes on the continent. The wildlife is legendary, thriving both in the sea and on land. With Alaska being one of the last bastions of true wilderness, it's the perfect place to see animals in their natural habitat. Visit the vast expanse of peaks and glaciers in Wrangell-St Elias and Denali National Park, where you'll hike in the shadow of the highest peak in North America, Mount Denali. Enjoy excellent opportunities to see marine life in Kenai Fjords National Park and take an optional float plane excursion into the wilderness to search for Black and Grizzly Bears on this once in a lifetime wildlife holiday.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Anchorage.
Location: Anchorage
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ramada Anchorage (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Welcome to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with only 300,000 people and a city which has undergone quite a change since the earthquake of 1964. Now a bustling city fuelled by the oil boom and tourism, it wasn’t that long ago that Anchorage was the last outpost before heading into the ‘Last Frontier’, this is a city mixed with metropolitan luxuries and unrivalled natural wonders. It’s not uncommon to find bear roaming the outskirts of the city, this is one truly wild place. A great way to spend your day is to wander around town getting a feel for the 49th state, speaking to the locals and checking out some of the great cafes and restaurants. A welcome meeting will be held at 18:00 hrs for you to meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions.
Optional Activities:
• Alaska Native Heritage Center US$25
• Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center US$15
• Tony Knowles Coastal Trail US$free
• Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum US$10
Day 2 : To Denali N.P. Via Talkeetna
Location: Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Preserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Anchorage, you enter the wilderness pretty much instantly and make your way towards Talkeetna where you stop for the opportunity to try a local delicacy, reindeer sausage, before arriving in Denali National Park. Home to the highest mountain in North America, legendary Mount Denali (6,194m), the park covers six million acres and houses some of the most unspoiled wilderness and spectacular scenery in the whole of Alaska.
Optional Activities:
• Dogsled demonstration in Denali US$free
• Mountain biking in Denali, US$20-$57
• Whitewater rafting in Denali US$92-$187
Day 3 : Optional Activities In Denali N.P.
Location: Denali National Park and Preserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy two full days exploring the park with an included bus pass on the Elison Shuttle - the only way to get out into the incredible (and vast) wilderness. Try to spot Alaska's 'Big Five'; Caribou, Dall Sheep, moose, Grizzly Bear and wolves. Denali is one of the only national parks where you are encouraged to find your own path off the trails, great for those of you looking for pure unadulterated adventure. There are plenty of optional walks and activities in Denali. As the trails are wild and unmarked, the hiking opportunities are endless. Your tour leader will suggest some local spots of scenic beauty and the best spots to view wildlife.
Day 4 : Another Day Of Optional Activities In Denali N.P.
Location: Denali National Park and Preserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we get to discover more of Denali National Park and its vast wilderness, exploring the many optional walks in this spectacular location.
Day 5 : To The Alaska Range
Location: Alaska Range
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head into the heart of the Alaska Range to spend the night camping at the Maclaren Lodge. With spectacular views of the surrounding valley, this campsite provides the ideal setting for an authentic Alaskan experience. Its remote location is something to savour with the chance to look out for grazing caribou near the quiet lakes of the tundra. This is also a birder's paradise with many species often sighted.
Day 6 : To Wrangell-St Elias N.P.
Location: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast
The scenery keeps on coming thick and fast and today is no different. Drive through the dramatic Copper River Valley and stop for a short walk on the Liberty Falls Trail, just off the Edgerton Highway en route to the small town of McCarthy (population 40 in the summer, 17 the remainder of the year). This quaint settlement at the centre of a mass of mountains, glaciers and wilderness will be your base to explore Wrangell-St Elias for the next two nights. Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve contains nine of the sixteen highest peaks in the United States, including the second highest, Mount. St. Elias (5,488m), and is the most glaciated region in the North American continent.
Day 7 : Wrangall-St Elias National Park
Location: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we'll have the chance to enjoy more of the optional activities available in Wrangell-St Elias. This imposing area of glaciers, mountains, forest and wilderness has wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities - Dall Sheep, mountain goats, caribou, moose, Grizzly and Black Bear are just some of the parks inhabitants.
Optional Activities:
• Ghost Town tour - Kennecott Copper Mill US$28
Day 8 - 9 : To Valdez; Via The Worthington Glacier And Thomson Pass In The Chugach Range.
Location: McCarthy, Valdez, Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Your journey continues towards Valdez, passing through the Chugach Range. On the rivers, fish wheels have been built to catch salmon migrating upstream to spawn. Stop at the famous Worthington Glacier, adjacent to the Thompson Pass for a short walk. Explore the busy seaside town of Valdez, a return to civilisation after the mountainous isolation of McCarthy. Valdez is a new town, as a major earthquake destroyed the old one in 1964. There are various hiking trails in and around Valdez such as the Mineral Creek Trail or the Keystone Canyon Pack Trail. You can also visit the historical museum to learn about the native culture, gold rush history and the famous pipeline. Why not opt for a sea kayaking excursion to get up close and personal to the glacier?. For the next 2 nights, we will enjoy some home comforts staying at a hotel. On the second day in Valdez, the day is left free to discover this fascinating area.
Optional Activities:
• Valdez Sea Kayaking US$259
Day 10 : Ferry To Seward.
Location: Seward
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Board the Alaska state ferry, leaving Valdez behind and crossing Prince William Sound to reach Whittier (approx. 6 hours). The views of the mountains, bays, fjords and glaciers are unforgettable and the water is home to a unique array of marine life, Harbour Seals and sea lions. From Whittier we will transfer (approx. 3 hours) to the small fishing town of Seward. In its past life, Seward was a railroad port which means there is now plenty of great shopping and a picturesque old-time downtown area.
*Please note for 2023 departures, the ferry company will release the 2023 schedule between November-January. If a ferry doesn't operate on the correct day for a specific departure, we will arrange an overland transfer instead.
Day 11 : Full Day Wildlife Cruise Around Resurrection Bay And The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Set off on a full day wildlife viewing cruise around Resurrection Bay and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. To maximise your experience on board your guide will give a detailed commentary on the wildlife you see and the local area. On previous trips, travellers have spotted sea lions, otters, Dall's Porpoise and an endless variety of seabirds including puffins and eagles. Orcas are often spotted and if you're lucky, Humpback Whales can also be seen!
Day 12 : Walk The Harding Icefield Trail To Exit Glacier; To Homer.
Location: Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Homer
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The staggeringly beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park offers wonderful wildlife and bird watching opportunities amidst dramatic fjords and glaciers. Within the park is the huge Harding Icefield, claiming 300 square miles in its entirety. If weather conditions permit, take a spectacular walk from Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield for views of deep crevasses and huge seracs. At an elevation of 900m you will eventually reach a lookout point over the icefield and the views will be out of this world. The walk is strenuous and entirely dependent on weather conditions; if there is too much snow and ice on the trail, it may be impassable. There's an easier option available if you prefer, using an accessible trail to reach a different viewpoint of the glacier. Afterwards we transfer (3 hours) to the quirky fisherman's town of Homer, our destination for the next 2 nights.
Day 13 : Free Day In Homer.
Location: Homer
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Participatory Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
There are plenty of optional walks and activities in Homer or you can book a floatplane bear viewing tour. Floatplanes are a way of life for many of the more remote Alaskan communities, particularly those who still have no road access and too little space amongst the mountains to build runways. Floatplanes generally seat a maximum of 10 people and you'll take to the air for a beautiful flight across the Cook Inlet to either Katmai National Park or Lake Clark National Park. You can usually see Brown (Grizzly) or Black Bears here. You may see thousands of salmon pushing upstream to spawn and if you're lucky, you'll see bear catching and feeding upon them. This is Alaska at its best, almost completely untouched wilderness with a backdrop of ice-clad mountains and active volcanoes.
*Please note availability for these flights cannot be guaranteed and we recommend booking once your booking is confirmed and the trip is guaranteed.
Optional Activities:
• Floatplane Bear Viewing Tour (Smokey Bay Air) $725
• Kayaking $40
Day 14 : Walk At Alyeska; To Anchorage; End.
Location: Alyeska, Anchorage
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast and packing up camp, you'll drive for a couple of hours to Alyeska in the Chugach Mountain Range which is ideal for a final wilderness walk before returning to the state's capital, Anchorage. Containing around half the population of the state, Anchorage in some ways looks just like any other sprawling American town and after nearly two weeks in the small towns and villages the bustling streets of the city will feel somewhat different. Explore the art galleries and craft shops where you can see the beautiful Eskimo handicrafts being made.
This tour ends at our gateway hotel in Anchorage at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book your post-tour accommodation if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs. People booking Flight Inclusive with Exodus will have an extra night in the hotel and depart tomorrow.
What's Included
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Fully Guided
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12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 9 dinners
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Transportation including cruise
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Train Tickets
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All camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags)
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Travel insurance
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Meals – Full Board
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Bear Viewing Float Plane
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Food
12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 9 dinners includedYour tour leader will coordinate local shopping and assist the group in preparing healthy, hearty breakfasts, picnic lunches and delicious dinners. Occasionally, you will eat out in local restaurants. To help you budget for these meals on average hotel breakfasts cost from US$6-$12, lunches from US$8-$15 and dinners from US$13-$30; this does not include alcoholic beverages. Wine costs approximately US$5 per glass and beer US$4 per bottle. Please be aware that a tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices. Please make sure we are aware of any special meal requirements before travelling. We will do all we can to accommodate for various dietary requirements but in certain parts of Alaska, specific food types can be limited.
Accommodation
Our US camping tours use national and state park campsites and a wide assortment of private campgrounds. Campgrounds in Alaska tend to be fairly rustic and remote, but most will have flush toilets and hot showers.
The Denali campground offers close proximity to the park but is close to the highway so can be quite noisy. If you are a light sleeper, you might want to take earplugs.
At Maclaren Lodge in the Alaska Range, we camp on the public land close to the lodge and have access to its facilities.
The campsite in Wrangell-St Elias National Park is basic, without showers and with a long-drop toilet.
The campsite in Seward charges US$1-US$3 for showers (paid locally).
The campground in Homer has beautiful views of Kachemak Bay, but the ground is gravel and also accommodates RV camping.
We sleep in high quality, heavy-duty tents and solo travellers will share with one other passenger of the same sex (unless opting to purchase the single supplement). Our camping equipment also includes field kitchens, inflatable sleeping pads, food storage and camp lanterns. Most campsites have a quiet time from 10pm to 7am. Please respect your fellow campers who are there to enjoy the peace of camping.
Camp duties
An essential part of a camping tour is helping out with the day-to-day camp duties and everyone will assist with the setting up and packing up of the campsite. Your tour leader will provide guidance on what to do; typically it will only take 15 minutes to set up or break down the tents and camp kitchen. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying home sweet home in the great outdoors. Your tour leader will also co-ordinate and assist the group with food shopping, preparing meals and cleaning up. Sharing the camp duties is a great way to bond with your fellow travellers and the group camaraderie is all part of the experience.
Check out our Q&As
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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