Ultimate Active Alaska
Experience Overview
This two-week journey through Alaska is just the ticket to get you into the land of epic wildlife, soaring summits, and tundra stretching towards the horizon. Journey to the far north and make the most of the longer days by hiking and camping in the Alaskan wilderness. Explore Valdez, hike to a glacier, kayak past icebergs on Glacier Lake, wander through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and get a true sense of the great outdoors.
Highlights
- Marvel at the scenery and Hike in Denali National Park
- See dramatic views of a glacier on the Byron Creek trail
- Hike along the Worthington Glacier
- Grab your paddle on a kayaking excursion on Glacier Lake
- Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- Camp under the stars and enjoy dinners by the fire.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2570
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle, national park shuttle bus, hiking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: NUSM
Starts: Anchorage, United States
Finishes: Anchorage, United States
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- A visit to Churgach National Forest
- A hike up Mount Marathon in Seward
- Harding Icefield Hike
- Talkeetna Lake Trail hike
- A hike up the Mount Healy Overlook trail
- Hike along Horseshoe Lake
- Visit to Matanuska Recreation Site
- Worthington Glacier hike
- Glacier Lake guided hiking and kayaking trip
- Wrangell-St
- Elias National Park visit
- Bonanza Mine trail hike
- Copper Visitor Center trip
- National Park entrance fees
- All transport between destination and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Participation camping (9nts), hotel (1nt), cabins with shared bathroom facilities (3nts).
- 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle, national park shuttle bus, hiking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,274 ($305 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Anchorage/Seward
After a brief welcome meeting with your CEO, travel to Seward this morning for a trip to Churgach State Park. Start out with a rewarding hike on the Crow Pass Trail to Crystal Lake. Keep a look out for wildlife along this 6.2 mile hike teeming with wildflowers. Climb over 2000 ft elevation to the clear waters of Crystal Lake, nestled in the alpine meadows.
Afterwards, the group will transfer to the accommodations in Seward along Resurrection Bay. In the evening, enjoy dinner together around the campfire.
Day 2: Seward
After a camp breakfast, spend the day hiking the Harding Icefield Trail. This spectacular 7.4 mile trail begins on the valley floor and then winds through cottonwood and alder forests, heather filled meadows, and climbs above the tree line for a breathtaking view of the Icefield. It will take 6-8 hours to complete and offers plenty of impressive views along the way to keep you going.
Day 3: Seward
Today is all about Seward. After breakfast, how the day will go is up to you. The morning will consist of a challenging hike up Mount Marathon or free time in town to do as you please if you aren't in the mood for this hike.
In the afternoon, enjoy free time to find a lunch spot in Seward and then opt to walk around the waterfront of downtown, visit the Alaska Sealife Center, watch for otters playing in the water, or rent a kayak and explore Resurrection Bay.
Day 4: Seward/Denali National Park and Preserve
Travel to Denali National Park with the group in the morning. Along the way make a stop to hike the Talkeetna Lake Trail through lush old-growth forest. Search for wildlife in one of the area's most beautiful settings.
In the late afternoon continue on to Denali National Park where you'll be camping with shared bathroom facilities.
Day 5: Denali National Park and Preserve
Breakfast this morning will be boxed so you can eat it on the go. The group will be taking the shuttle bus into the park to experience more of the scenery and wildlife that Denali has to offer.
After a picnic lunch, the group will hike the Horseshoe Lake trail. Highlights of this easy, but rewarding hike include the calm waters of the lake nestled in its forested surroundings and views along the edge of the Nenana River where you could watch whitewater rafters pass by.
Day 6: Denali National Park and Preserve
Wake up at camp this morning and eat a quick breakfast before heading out to explore the park and the surrounding areas today. You'll have free time to enjoy optional front country hikes in the park: Mount Healy Overlook Trail which offers dramatic views over the Nenana Valley and surrounding mountains and ridges and gains 1700 feet of elevation in only 2.5 miles and/or The Horseshoe Lake Trail. Highlights of this easy, but rewarding hike include the calm waters of the lake nestled in its forested surroundings and views along the edge of the Nenana River where you could watch whitewater rafters pass by.
You can also choose other optional activities near Denali like rafting, or scenic flights with or without glacier landing before returning to the campsite in the evening.
Day 7: Denali National Park and Preserve/Anchorage
Settle in for your drive back to Anchorage. Enjoy free time in Anchorage this afternoon and evening before heading out on the next leg of the adventure tomorrow morning.
Day 8: Anchorage/Valdez
This morning the group will leave Anchorage and travel to the Matanuska Recreation Site where you will be able to view the glacier along the interpretive nature trail. After a picnic lunch the group will continue travelling onward to Valdez where you will have the opportunity to walk and visit the Worthington Glacier. Set up camp in the evening and have dinner as a group around the fire.
Day 9: Valdez
What's in store today will certainly be an adventure. After a quick breakfast, you'll have free time to walk, journal, or hang out with friends.
After lunch head to Glacier Lake in Valdez where you'll go on a hike and guided kayak tour of the lake. If you have yet to set your eyes on an iceberg, this might just be your chance. This gorgeous lake in Valdez is often home to large chunks of floating ice coming from the Valdez Glacier. With great views and miles of open water to paddle there's no better way to get in touch with nature.
Day 10: Valdez/McCarthy
You'll spend time today in a private vehicle en route to McCarthy, but don't worry there will be plenty of epic road trip worthy stops along the way. First up is a stop at Thompson's Pass viewpoint to start the day with stunning vistas. As you continue driving highway 10 there will be plenty of quick stops at worthy viewpoints all along the Copper River. Then enjoy a visit to Liberty Falls State Recreation Site where you can stretch your legs and visit the falls, which plunge 20 ft into the Liberty Creek. Continue along the scenic highway to McCarthy. Stop and see the fish wheels at Kuskulana River Canyon and Bridge, along Gilahina River, and at Gilahina Trestle Wayside. Arrive in McCarthy, visit the town, maybe catch some live music after dinner.
Day 11: McCarthy
Visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and spend the day hiking along the Bonanza Mine trail. A hike that includes stunning scenery, a trek to the top of a mountain and 1930's mining ruins all in a frontier Alaskan setting. Coming in at 9 miles total, the hike is strenuous, but with the views you'll be admiring, you might not notice at all. In the evening relax back at camp and have dinner as a group.
Day 12: McCarthy
Hiking is unique in its ability to nourish the body and the mind, but it's nice to have a free day every now and then to let your body recover and your mind wander. Spend today in McCarthy choosing from a variety of optional activities to keep you busy. Head out on a guided ice walk tour, visit the Kennicott Mills Town on a guided tour, hop on a scenic flight of the national park, or set out on a rafting trip. Unwind at camp in the evening and talk about your adventures.
Day 13: McCarthy/Glennallen
Leave McCarthy behind and travel along a scenic highway to Glennallen. There will be stops along the way to embark on short hikes that lead to lakes, streams, or fishing holes. Visit the Copper Visitor Center and go for short walks in the area while there and make sure not to miss the amazing viewing platform that can be reached from the Visitor Center. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening staying at-and exploring-Alaska's oldest continually operating roadhouse.
Day 14: Glennallen/Anchorage
In the morning transfer with the group from Glennallen to Anchorage, tour ends on arrival.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Hannah T. - Traveled, August 2023
I had a fantastic experience and couldn't recommend the company more.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/03/2023
Fiona C. - Traveled, August 2023
From the very start of signing up for the tour, staff were available to answer questions. CEO?s go above and beyond to help on tour. Also not sure if it was just my tour but really liked age demographic, there were a few my age as well as a few younger. Price and itinerary (do have a few comments about 2nd week itinerary but will note later)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/03/2023
Travis M. - Traveled, August 2023
Great trip leaders, great plan, and it was well executed - I had a lot of fun
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/27/2023
Megan R. - Traveled, August 2023
It was a life-changing experience, with great people and experiences. The trip made traveling to Alaska simple.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Ting Hui T. - Traveled, August 2023
Itinerary nicely planned. Our tour guide Brianna was awesome with superb planning despite our van breaking down. Budget for food was beyond my expectation as well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Kristin S. - Traveled, August 2023
I like the concepts for the group travel and the good size of the groups. You can choose as per preferences if you would like to be more active, cultural oriented and so on. Very good value for the money.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Bernd S. - Traveled, August 2023
Had a good time on every trip I've been taking so far
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Jennifer C. - Traveled, August 2023
Trips are always excellent
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Nicole Z. - Traveled, August 2023
top organized CEO and tours - meeting great new people especially as solo traveller
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Richard C. - Traveled, August 2023
Well organized and a diverse itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Martha G. - Traveled, August 2023
You don't have to worry about camping supplies or how to get from place to place.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2023
Markus L. - Traveled, July 2023
great tour, great stops, overall good service
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/2023
Manuel S. - Traveled, August 2023
G Adventures tours provide a great way for travelling countries in different travel styles (active vs. classic, camping vs. hotels, etc.) and meeting like-minded people that also want to have fun and explore the world.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/2023
08/27/2023 - Traveled, July 2023
On this trip, it was the destination and the group that made the trip good. Everything provided by G (or should I say Windigo!?) and especially the equipment provided as well as the food were mediocre to disappointing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2023
Andrea B. - Traveled, July 2023
I recommend G Adventures but I would not go on another camping trip with them.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2023
Leanne S. - Traveled, August 2023
The tour itself - where it went and the group we were with were amazing! It was let down by poor camping equipment and poor food provided by the company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2023
Karin F. - Traveled, June 2023
it's a good thing
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2023
Emma C. - Traveled, June 2023
I have been on six G Adventures trips now and they have greatly diminished in quality since I first started taking them in 2010. Half of the itinerary for the Ultimate Active Alaska trip is false, or over embellishes or does not prepare you for the fact that some of the hikes that are advertised may not be accessible because the snow pack hasn',t melted yet. I think G Adventures needs to do a better job at setting people',s expectations before the trip and for that reason, I would be hesitant to recommend G Adventures lest my friend take a trip that is barely what was advertised.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2023
Moritz M. - Traveled, June 2023
I met a lot of interesting people The landscape in Alaska was amazing Great CEO Easy to book
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
David B. - Traveled, June 2023
Had an awesome experience with great people
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
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