Absolute Alaska

See the Last Frontier by Sky, Land, and Sea

Overview

Immerse yourself in the very essence of Alaska! Travel to iconic, awe-inspiring landscapes under the leadership of deeply experienced local guides. Fairbanks, Denali, Kenai Peninsula, and flyout bear viewing anchor this over-the-top journey through the “Great Land.”

Launch from Fairbanks before migrating southward to Denali National Park, travel by helicopter to the interior of the park, like few are able, as you lodge in the foothills of majestic Denali peak, the tallest mountaintop in North America. At your deep interior wilderness lodge, crowds give way to remote solitude against the stunning backdrop of Mount Denali. Enjoy hikes and wildlife excursions in the backcountry with your naturalist guides, canoe Wonder Lake, fish, pan for gold, and photograph the stunning surroundings.

Emerge from Denali, driving south along the Parks Highway, and looking for Alaska’s wildlife along the way. Lodge under the peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range and enjoy a wonderful morning hike before driving onward to the quaint seaside town of Seward. Capture opportunities to hike and view abundant wildlife, including mountain goats, moose, bald eagles, marmots, and grizzly and black bears. Hike to Exit Glacier atop ice formed thousands of years ago and take a boat trip up close to a tidewater glacier and past the abundant wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park.

Onward to Homer and the famed Land’s End Resort. Fly-out bear viewing in Lake Clark or Katmai national parks caps your trip to perfection!

Price From

$15,495 USD
Trip Type

Small Group Adventure
Departure Dates

Jun 12 - 20, 2026
Jun 26 - Jul 4, 2026
Jul 24 - Aug 1, 2026
Aug 8 - 16, 2026
Aug 21 - 29, 2026
Mouse over or tap the departure dates to see trip prices.
Duration

9 days / 8 nights
Trip begins/ends
Fairbanks / Anchorage

*Price per person based on double occupancy. Trip price includes all lodging, meals, ground transportation, guide services and activities as described in this itinerary.

Call Toll-Free 800-445-2995

Do you want to customize this trip?

We customize trips all the time! Email us today: [email protected].

Trip Details

Trip Highlights

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Scenic Helicopter Flight in Denali: Scenic flight to Denali Backcountry Lodge for two nights in a part of the park that is inaccessible by road!
Wildlife & Glacier Boat Cruise: Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a small Alaskan boat to view glaciers and wildlife such as whales, seabirds, marine life, and more!
Fly-out Bear Viewing: Board an Alaskan bush plane and beach land to observe brown bears in Lake Clark National Park or Katmai National Park.

The Essentials

Absolute Alaska

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: North America

Region: Alaska

Trip Price: From $15,495

Single Supplement: $4,000

On-Trip Airfare: $430

Duration: 9 days/8 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Fairbanks / Anchorage

Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Absolute Alaska

The Energy Index for this trip is Nice & Active, at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,500 feet. Activities include hiking 2 to 4 miles, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 800 feet. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip. Contact a Travel Advisor for more details.

Make It Private

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Trip Highlights
The Essentials
Energy Index
Make It Private

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Scenic Helicopter Flight in Denali: Scenic flight to Denali Backcountry Lodge for two nights in a part of the park that is inaccessible by road!
Wildlife & Glacier Boat Cruise: Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a small Alaskan boat to view glaciers and wildlife such as whales, seabirds, marine life, and more!
Fly-out Bear Viewing: Board an Alaskan bush plane and beach land to observe brown bears in Lake Clark National Park or Katmai National Park.

Absolute Alaska

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: North America

Region: Alaska

Trip Price: From $15,495

Single Supplement: $4,000

On-Trip Airfare: $430

Duration: 9 days/8 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Fairbanks / Anchorage

Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Absolute Alaska

The Energy Index for this trip is Nice & Active, at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,500 feet. Activities include hiking 2 to 4 miles, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 800 feet. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip. Contact a Travel Advisor for more details.

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska

Arrive in Fairbanks and enjoy a welcome dinner, complete with local fare and orientation with your guide and fellow travelers. Exploration in the Land of the Midnight Sun begins!

Day 2: Denali National Park

Today we will depart early from Fairbanks to Denali National Park where we will meet up with our helicopter transportation for a scenic flight into the deep interior of the park. From the helicopter, you'll marvel at rugged landscapes and sprawling deep green boreal forests and pops of wildflower color. Our flight brings us to remote Denali Backcountry Lodge and we'll relish in the serenity of the remote backcountry. Once we're situated, we'll embark on the first of several hikes in the area - don't worry, there will be options for easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes during your stay which your guide will help select depending on the group's preferences. Tonight we dine at the lodge.

Day 3: Denali National Park

Today is a full day of activity options! Hiking and exploring directly from the lodge. Options to bike backcountry roads, kayak or paddleboard Wonder Lake, fishing, and even gold panning are on today's agenda. Your day ends at the lodge with a family-style meal and the sauna if you choose.

Day 4: Denali National Park to Girdwood

One last morning hike before we re-board the helicopter and depart Denali. Then, we'll take a scenic drive along the Parks Highway before we arrive in Girdwood's Alyeska Resort. Marvel in the majestic backdrop of the Chugach Mountain Range before turning in for the night.

Day 5: Girdwood to Seward

Our day kicks off with a morning hike in the Chugach Range, then we embark on our next scenic drive to the charming port town of Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park! Once we arrive, opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing are plentiful. Look out for whales, porpoise, seals, puffins, and more! We'll explore Exit Glacier on a hike that will present the opportunity to gain a deep knowledge of glacial flows and the unique ecosystem of the area.

Day 6: Seward

Today starts with a private experience at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where we will watch as sea lions glide past underwater viewing windows, observe puffins, and see harbor seals along the rocky beaches. We'll then depart for a scenic boat ride through Kenai Fjords National Park to soak in the stunning views of glaciers and the wild marine life. A stop at a tidewater glacier may result in getting to experience the calving of a glacier into the water below - a sight to be seen!

Day 7: Seward to Homer

This morning we migrate to our final destination of the trip through the Kenai Peninsula, stopping at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to take a leisurely hike. We then arrive to the legendary Homer Spit, where we'll lodge at Land's End Resort with stunning views of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountain Range.

Day 8: Lake Clark or Katmai National Park

Wake up for your quintessential Alaskan day ahead! Today we'll hop on a float plane for a fly-out bear viewing experience in either Lake Clark National Park or Katmai National Park. We'll land along the beaches in these remote wildlands and watch for Alaska's famed coastal brown bears as they dig for clams, fish, and play! At days end, we'll join together for a farewell dinner.

Day 9: Departures Home from Anchorage

This morning will allow for a local activity before we depart for Anchorage for flights home. Possibilities include hiking, tidepooling, or visiting a local artist couple at their beautiful Kachemak Bay property. Note: Flight from Homer to Anchorage is included in the trip price as on-trip air.

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Lodging

Springhill Suites Fairbanks

SpringHill Suites is situated on the banks of the Chena River in the heart of downtown Fairbanks. You can walk out the front door and take a riverside walk on a path, or browse downtown shops and restaurants. The hotel’s Lavelle’s Bistro, one of Fairbanks’ best restaurants, is open for dinner each evening.

Denali Backcountry Lodge

Denali Backcountry Lodge sits beside Moose Creek in the Kantishna Hills at the base of massive Denali. There are thirty comfortable cedar guest cabins, each with heat and a private bath. The two-story main lodge is the gathering place, where you will enjoy hearty, healthy meals with fellow guests. A buffet is offered for breakfast and lunch, and dinner is served family style. There is an informal bar which serves beer and wine. Each day you can choose from a host of guided activities, including naturalist-led hikes, gold panning, wildlife explorations, and flightseeing. There are mountain bikes for guests to use, and a variety of evening programs that you are welcome to attend. We hope that on at least one of the day’s you visit it will be clear enough to see Denali in all its glory, as there is no better location from which to view it.Your helicopter flight to and from the lodge, lodging, meals and daily guided activities are included in your stay here.

Alyeska Resort

Alyeska Resort is a large full service retreat, set in the heart of the Chugach Mountains, right at the foot of the Mt. Alyeska ski resort. There are several great hiking trails right from the resort that will wind you through the lush temperate rainforest surrounding the lodge, or will take you high above the resort, giving you spectacular views of the seven hanging glaciers in this valley. As a full service resort, there are several dining options available for your stay, including the Seven Glaciers Hotel, which is accessed via exciting tram ride and sits at the top of Mt Alyeska!

Seward Windsong Lodge

Just outside the city of Seward, travel down the winding road to Exit Glacier and you'll find your paradise away from home, Seward Windsong Lodge. The towering mountains, fragrant spruce trees and the rush of the Resurrection River awaken your senses on arrival.

Land's End Resort

Situated on the shores of Kachemak Bay at the end of Homer Spit, you can walk out the hotel door to walk the beach, or look for otters, whales, seals, and eagles right from your private deck. Guest accommodations are in 117 modern rooms, each with private bath and deck. Enjoy your stay in—pretty much literally—Kachemak Bay!