ALASKA 7 DAYS + Extensions

Embark on an Alaskan adventure visiting the vibrant city of Anchorage, the charming historic village of Talkeetna, and the majestic landscapes of Denali National Park. Your journey continues with the awe-inspiring Kenai Fjords National Park, plus rugged Katmai National Park, and a visit to picturesque Juneau, nestled in the Alaskan Panhandle.

Alaska, the largest state in the United States, boasts a diverse economy fueled by fishing, natural resources, tourism, and oil. Over half of Alaska is federally owned public land, including expansive national forests, pristine parks, and protected wildlife refuges.

When it comes to scenery, visitors will be amazed by the glaciers and fjords, mountains, lakes, rivers and waterways. When it comes to wildlife, you will witness salmon, moose, caribou, bears, whales, puffins, and much more.

Tips:

• Alaska Guidebooks: Fodor’s Alaska and Lonely Planet-Alaska and Moon Alaska, Denali and the Kenai Peninsula.

• Travel Alaska website provides valuable insights.

• What type of clothing should you pack?

  • The general rule is casual, comfortable clothing that can be worn in layers. Even during summer, make sure you bring clothing that protects you against rain and wind. Comfortable walking shoes or water repellent hiking boots are essential.

  • For day cruises we recommend an extra layer including a scarf, hat and gloves, as it can be chilly on the boats.

  • Mosquito repellent is a must. A face mosquito net will come in handy in the Denali area.

• Buy Bear Spray when you arrive.

  • How to use bear spray. <Watch video>

  • According to the National Park Service, the odds of being attacked by a bear are 1 in 2 million.

  • Essentials facts about bears.

• Mosquitoes-what you need to know in Alaska.

• Download the All-trails app to your smartphone for finding the best hiking trails.

• If your interest is the Northern Lights, the best time is from October to March.

  • The areas of Eklutna Tailrace, Girdwood, and the Knik River region are all popular spots close to Anchorage for viewing the shifting colors. <directions>

• Flight time to Alaska from various cities: New York~7 hrs. / Chicago-5.5 hrs. / Dallas-6.5 hrs. / Los Angeles-5 hrs.

• Car rental is the best option. It saves time and you discover more.

DAY 1

• Arrive at Anchorage airport and transfer to your hotel.

• Anchorage the largest city in Alaska, serves as the entry point to the vast wilderness and mountainous regions of the state.

• If you have the time and energy, we recommend taking a stroll along the Anchorage Tony Knowles Coastal trail.

  • This trail is a paved path that stretches for eleven (11) miles in one direction, offering an ideal route for activities like biking, walking, and even wildlife observation. While on the trail, it's not uncommon to encounter majestic creatures such as eagles and  moose.

    The trail begins in downtown Anchorage and extends all the way to Kincaid Park. Along the way, it meanders alongside coastal marshes, providing breathtaking views of the scenic landscapes that surround Anchorage.

  • <Trail map> GPS coordinate: 61°13'04.2 N 149°54'29.8 W

    • Various Parking and Trail Access:

      • Elderberry Park (1297 W. Fifth Ave.)

      • Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park (1824 W. 15th Ave.)

      • Lyn Ary Park (2009 Foraker Drive)

      • Earthquake Park (5101 Point Woronzof Road)

      • Point Worzonof Overlook (9700 Point Woronzof Road)

      • Kincaid Park (9401 Raspberry Road)

• Overnight: Anchorage

DAY 2

• Embark on an exciting journey from Anchorage to Denali National Park.

  • The highlight of the park is Denali, (aka Mount McKinley), at an impressive height of 20,310 feet. It is the highest peak in North America.

  • The park is home to abundant wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.

• Talkeetna - is a pleasant stop (located halfway between Anchorage and Denali) where you will find several quaint shops, restaurants and local breweries. Some of the most popular activities are Mt. McKinley flightseeing tours (only worth it on a clear day), historic riverboat tours & jet boat rides on a glacier-fed river.

  • Talkeetna (Mahay’s) Adventure tours.

• Overnight: Denali National Park (3 nights)

  • Where to stay: Most park visitors stay somewhere outside of the park. The nearest towns are Healy, located about 11 miles north of the park entrance, and Cantwell, located about 30 miles south of the park entrance.

    • The highway leading to these towns is Highway 3 (George Parks Highway).

  • <Lodges outside the park> <Lodges inside the park - limited>

• Distance:

  Anchorage —-> Talkeetna, 2 hrs.

  Talkeetna —-> Denali Park, 2.5 hrs.

• Check into Park Ranger Programs and Field seminars.

  Flightseeing:

  • Several flightseeing companies operate from Talkeetna, Denali Park, Healy and Kantishna with offices just outside of the park.

  • While many companies offer fly-over tours, these companies have permission from the National Park Service to land on glaciers within the park: Fly Denali (866-733-7768), K2 Aviation (800-764-2291) and Talkeetna Air Taxi (800-533-2219).

    • Visitors on these tours land on a snowy strip inside the park.

    • These companies only fly on clear weather days.

• Overnight: Denali.

DAY 5

• Depart for a lengthy drive from Denali to Seward.

  • You will pass the scenic shorelines of  Turnagain Arm and the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains.

  • Bordered on one side by the scenic Seward Highway, Turnagain Arm is a spectacular setting for wildlife watching and nature photography.

• Learn more about <Turnagain Arm> and <Chugach State Park>

• Arrive in Seward. Known as the Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, it is a picturesque harbor town worth exploring before or after your park visit. Despite its small size, the town offers a range of dining, shopping, and lodging options, with a focus on local seafood. The main areas, Small Boat Harbor and Downtown, are connected by the scenic Seward Waterfront Trail, providing beautiful views of Resurrection Bay.

• Overnight: Seward (2 nights)

• Distance:

  • Denali ---> Seward, 7 hrs. 363 miles.

DAY 6

Visit Kenai Fjords National Park.

• Why visit ? Kenai Fjords offers some of the best whale watching opportunities in Alaska.

  • Whales can be seen in the area year-round, but the best time for whale watching is March – October.

• Kenai Fjords is known for its outflowing glaciers, coastal fjords and islands. It can be a challenging place to visit, with much of it only accessible from the water. The best way is take a tour. Reserve your seats on a boat cruise. During the summer season, park rangers provide narration on many of the cruises—offered by Major Marine Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours. 

• Visit Exit Glacier. It is a glacier in the Kenai Mountains and is the only part of the park which is accessible by road.

  • You can park you car at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. The Glacier Overlook trail begins here.

    • Directions: Turn on to Herman Leirer Road (commonly called "Exit Glacier Road") off the Seward Hwy- AK-9. Drive 8.6 miles. The road will end at the parking lot for the Nature Center.

  • The Glacier Overlook Trail is a well maintained 2-mile trail which provides views of Exit Glacier. Follow the trail to the Exit Glacier Overlook and view the glacier in the carved valley. <Trail map>

• Overnight: Seward.

DAY 7

• Depart to Anchorage.

  Three (3) options to consider upon your arrival to Anchorage.

1. End of trip and depart for your flight home.

2. Diversion—journey to Katmai National Park. Add 2 days.

3. Extend trip to Juneau, Alaska. Add 4 days.

• Distance: Seward to Anchorage, 2.5 hrs. / 127 mi.

• Explore Glacier Bay National Preserve.

  • Rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords describe Glacier Bay National Park —one of the world’s largest international protected areas. 

  • A Glacier Bay Day Tour is a popular choice by visitors. <Learn more>

    • Each morning during the summer season a National Park boat departs at Bartlett Cove for a full day tour to the glaciers. Along the way a National Park naturalist points key interests and facts. Kayakers may choose to get dropped off by the tour boat at designated camper drop-off locations.

    • Passengers on the day boat tour typically stay the night before in Gustavus or at Glacier Bay Lodge but it is possible (weather permitting) to fly from Juneau the morning of the tour.

    • How to get to Glacier Bay Lodge(Gustavus) - 3 options.

  1. Plan Your Visit — tips about things to do, places to go, and eating and sleeping.

• Visit Admiralty Island.

  • No trip to Alaska is complete without bears. Just thirty (30) minutes from Juneau by floatplane is Admiralty Island, home to one of the world's highest density brown bear populations.

  • There are approximately 1,600 bears — one for every square mile of the island. The most popular place to see them on the island is Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary. Watch the bears feed on salmon during the peak viewing season which is the months of July through August. The island is also home to the world’s greatest concentration of nesting bald eagles.

  • Tour Operators are you best bet: <Pack Creek Bear Tours> <Above and Beyond Alaska> <Bear Creek Outfitters>

    • Permits are required and the guided tour operators can help provide them and arrange transportation.

  • Getting there: Just 40 miles from Juneau, Pack Creek makes for an ideal day-trip. There are NO roads or accommodations, so the only way to get to the area is by floatplane or boat.

    • A 30-minute floatplane ride provides the quickest method of transport from Juneau (versus a 3.5-hour boat ride).

• Go Whale Watching.

  • Experience a classic Alaska whale watching adventure.

  • Many options are available for whale watching tours, from large catamarans to medium sized jet boats to smaller six-passenger vessels.

  • Most operators guarantee whale sightings, and tours generally last 3-4 hours and include transportation.

• Discover Mendenhall Glacier.

  • The impressive Mendenhall Glacier spans half a mile in width and boasts ice that ranges from 300 to 1,800 feet deep.

  • If you have extra time, immerse yourself in the surrounding natural beauty. The best hike is the Nugget Falls trail, only 2-miles round trip. You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the glacier and its surroundings.

    • Getting there:

      By car: An easy drive from downtown Juneau. There is free parking at the Visitor Center.

      By shuttle: For a small fee, the Glacier Shuttle is quick and easy with one leaving from town every 30 minutes.

      • Pick up and drop off is located at the cruise ship terminal. 

    • By boat: There are several day cruises which combine whale-watching and a visit to the glacier. They will drop you at the glacier following your tour, allowing you time to explore Mendenhall Glacier and its surrounding terrain on foot.

• Explore stunning Tracy Arm Fjord.

  • Forty-five (45) miles outside of Juneau, this scenic destination has it all — mammoth glaciers, towering granite walls, breathtaking mountains, waterfalls, and plenty of wildlife.

  • Tracy Arm is a 30-mile-long fjord — a narrow inlet created by glacial activity thousands of years ago. It winds its way past snow-capped mountains and floating icebergs. At the end of the fjord lies the stunning Sawyer Glaciers. <video>

  • Tracy Arm is also home to a large variety of wildlife including bald eagles, brown bears, goats, and whales.

  • You will have to take a boat tour, which can last an entire day. Adventure Bound Alaska and Allen Marine Tours operate well-reviewed excursions from May through September. Reserve your spot at least a week in advance; space is limited.

• Walk through historic Juneau. <read more>

  • Wander the historic district of downtown Juneau and discover why it is a gem to visit. In just a few square miles, you are able to browse buildings celebrating Alaska's Native heritage, multiple museums and an arts center.

  • Stop by one of Travel Juneau's visitor information sites for a Downtown Walking Tour Map and be your own guide!

• Depart from Juneau airport for your flight home.

• Add-on cost: Prices per person vary from $150-200 for a day cruise, $275-350 for a flightseeing tour and $700-900 for a fly-in bear viewing or for guided fishing. These costs should be added to your total expenses.

• Historical Weather Data.

• The best time to visit Alaska is during the summer months. While our summer season is short, it is the driest, warmest time to visit.

• Starting mid-May and ending mid-September you are sure to see the best the State of Alaska has to offer.

• The driest months are April, May and June.

• Chances of a sunny day: Mainland Alaska 40% probability of a sunny day and in the Juneau region, 31% chance of a sunny day.

• Sunrise/Sunset time.

• Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights map) visible from October to March.