Hike Alaska: Valdez and Wrangell St Elias
Experience Overview
From glacier hikes to old abandoned mining towns, this trip has a little bit of everything. Fall deeper into the wilds of Alaska on this seven-day tour that really gets you out into the varied landscapes of the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. Enjoy a more active pace and set out on hikes that will have you walking on glaciers and witnessing incredible mountain scenery in no time.
Highlights
- Hike along the Worthington Glacier
- Fall in love with the scenery in Valdez
- Get on the water with a guided kayaking excursion on Glacier Lake
- Explore at leisure in McCarthy
- Walk the Bonanza Mine trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- Camp under the stars.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2583
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle and hiking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: NUVM
Starts: Anchorage, United States
Finishes: Anchorage, United States
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Visit to Matanuska Recreation Site
- Worthington Glacier hike
- Glacier Lake guided hiking and kayaking trip
- Stop at Liberty Falls Recreation Site
- Wrangell-St
- Elias National Park visit
- Bonanza Mine trail hike
- Free time in McCarthy for optional activities
- Copper Visitor Center trip
- National Park entrance fees
- All transport between destination and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Participation camping (5nts), Rustic Lodge (1nt)
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle and hiking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,198 ($314 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Anchorage/Valdez
After a brief welcome meeting with your CEO, 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. In the evening, have dinner as a group around the fire.
Day 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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
Reid C. - Traveled, August 2023
Myles is a stellar guide whose passion for travel and exploration are so obvious, I wish I could specifically book another trip with him. He took a group of strangers from 6 countries and quickly made us all feel like friends, while teaching us about the flora, fauna, and environmental science of the places we explored. It added a whole other dimension of fun and wonder to our Alaskan excursion
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/03/2023
Joseph D. - Traveled, July 2023
it suits my travel style and it's more interesting than traditional travel tours by other agents
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/2023
Tatiana T. - Traveled, July 2023
July 23 I had a great time on this vacation. The guide (Megan) was absolutely awesome - organization was smooth, she was taking care of us nicely and on top of that I enjoyed her company. The places we visited were incredibly beautiful and activities were fun. However, the quality of tents is BAD. Throw them away and buy some serious outdoor gear. These tents are not rainproof - neither the bottom, nor the top. We had to fix it with tarps, by putting one tarp inside the tent at the bottom and one tarp on the top of the tent under the rainfly. However, guess what - some tarps had holes in them, so some people got rained into their tents. Alaska is known for rainy weather. We had 2 days with more rain and people got wet clothes, sleeping bags, etc. Most of us got very wet because we had to be out in the rain fixing tents - trying to figure out how to make those tents rainproof. My clothing was drying for another 2 days, what is not fun if it's rainy and cold outside. If it's cold outside and one has wet clothes, that's just a matter of time when one gets sick - this is big big trouble. Especially when we travelled to such remote location as McCarthy where our solutions are very limited. I stayed in tents many nights and I stayed relatively dry even in similar rainy weather - there are tents which can stand in a puddle and stay dry inside. Buy those. I prepared myself for many different conditions. G Adventures was supposed to provide tents. If I'd know the quality, I rather bring my own. I wouldn't recommend anyone going for a vacation where they'don't know whether they',ll stay dry overnight. Shelter is a basic need that has to be provided.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2023
Oliver A. - Traveled, June 2023
Was a lot more driving than expected, wish we stayed at spots longer and drove at night
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2023
Elizabeth C. - Traveled, June 2023
Our guide was nice, but she lacked experience and this meant she didn't provide good insights or suggestions about the activities to allow us to get the most out of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2023
Leigh P. - Traveled, June 2023
G Adventures is great, but I was disappointed that what was billed as a hiking tour did not really have all that much hiking. The web description of the tour also overlooked several long days of travel - that was a surprise. For example the tour description does not mention that days 1 and 7 required very long drives.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2023
Dominic L. - Traveled, June 2023
Camping in Alaska is rough and not many people I know would be up for the challenge.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
Athira S. - Traveled, August 2023
The trip booking process was quite good and easy to follow.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/04/2023
Yinching C. - Traveled, August 2023
It depends on the activity level and some of my friends may not fit for the trip we just took.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/21/2023
Fabienne F. - Traveled, July 2023
G Adventures Tours are a good way for single travelers to explore countries you wouldn't want to be travelling on your own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2023
Carmen B. - Traveled, July 2023
The willingness of the tour guide RYAN to accommodate the different activities people chose.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2023
Chloe Y. - Traveled, July 2023
The way G tailors their trips attracts a certain type of person - in this case for my hike Alaska trip, it wat great meeting like minded people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2023
Chun Pong P. - Traveled, July 2023
July 24 Great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/3023
Fabienne F. - Traveled, July 2023
G Adventures Tours are a good way for single travelers to explore countries you wouldn't want to be travelling on your own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2023
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why Choose Us?
We Work for You
Our goal to make you happy! That means ensuring our travel consultants have the best product knowledge and excellent customer service. A positive customer experience is our #1 goal!
Our Products
We offer an broad selection of travel products, including all-inclusive vacation packages, pre-packaged tours, custom travel itineraries, destination weddings, and luxury vacations.
Escapes Cares
We believe in giving back. When you book with us, you are contributing to tree planting through our partners at Veritree, as well ocean conservation though Oceana Canada.
