Alaska National Park Grand Slam Small Group Adventure

Overview

Experience excitement and wonder in its purest form in one of the last true wilderness frontiers. Take a floatplane to see the thundering spectacle of Brooks Falls’ fishing brown bears, spend the night deep in the backcountry of Alaska’s rugged interior, and find yourself high above the Arctic Circle flightseeing in two remote national parks. This is the stuff of adventurers’ dreams. Our epic journey through Alaska’s eight spectacular national parks isn’t about checking boxes, but fully immersing into and experiencing “The Great Land” – glaciers calving, whales breaching, and mountains reaching for the sky.

Join a group of up to eight fellow travelers and an expert naturalist guide for an extraordinary 20-day expedition that blends exceptional comfort with unforgettable, only-in-Alaska experiences. With every detail taken care of, all you have to do is take it all in. Relax in outstanding lodging and dine on delicious meals while diving deep into the wild beauty surrounding you. Take to the sky on breathtaking scenic flights, hike through pristine forests, and watch for whales and puffins in glacier-lined waters. Walk across ancient ice on a guided glacier hike, explore remote landscapes few have ever seen, and soak in Alaska’s vast and untamed grandeur. This the ultimate Alaska adventure!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Juneau, Alaska

Arrive at the Juneau International Airport and settle into your hotel. Tonight, you’ll meet your guide and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Juneau to Gustavus

The first national park on the journey is a wonderland of calving glaciers, floating icebergs, and quintessential Alaskan wildlife. The adventure begins with a scenic seaplane flight from Juneau to Gustavus. Once there, set out on a guide’s choice hike and visit the Glacier Bay National Park’s visitor center.

Day 3: Gustavus and Glacier Bay National Park

The boundaries of the park include over 600,000 acres of protected marine waters. Today, you’ll explore this pristine ocean ecosystem on a full-day guided cruise. See tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountains, drifting icebergs, and abundant wildlife.

Day 4: Gustavus to Anchorage

The morning will be spent out on the water on a cruise to Point Adolphus to see humpback whales, orcas, and other marine mammals. Then, after a scenic afternoon flight from Gustavus to Anchorage, rest up for tomorrow’s scenic flight to Lake Clark National Park.

Day 5: Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park

The scenic charter flight this morning takes you to remote Lake Clark. Your time at the lodge will be full of delicious meals, amazing access to the remote national park, and incredible views and wildlife. This afternoon, you’ll explore Lake Clark National Park’s rugged landscape, active volcanoes, and alpine lakes by floatplane. The journey includes a stop at the historic cabin immortalized in One’s Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey, weather permitting.

Day 6: Katmai National Park

Today’s floatplane flight to Katmai National Park will drop you among brown bears! The plane will touch down for a memorable day of viewing and photographing Alaskan brown bears in their natural environment.

Day 7: Lake Clark National Park

Walk right out your front door for a scenic guided boat tour on 40-mile-long Lake Clark this morning. Then, relax at the resort, visit the park’s visitor center, or take a hike to Tanalian Falls.

Day 8: Port Alsworth to Seward

After a flight to Anchorage, your guide will drive the group to the historic coastal town of Seward. The scenic drive winds along Turnagain Arm before heading into the heart of the Kenai Peninsula.

Day 9: Kenai Fjords National Park

Nestled between the mountains and sea, Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Today, the group will board a boat for a guided exploration of the park’s coastal fjords, remote islands, rugged coastal rainforests, and massive tidewater glaciers. Look for seals, whales, puffins, and more

Day 10: Exit Glacier and Seward to Glacier View

After a memorable hike to the impressive Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, you’ll make the half day drive to Glacier View with guide’s choice stops along the way.

Day 11: Glacier View to McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

A charter flight takes you to McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park this morning. Your home for the next two nights is a historic mining town named after explorer Robert Kennicott. You’ll take a guided tour of the town to learn about its history of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity in the heart of the remote wilderness.

Day 12: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

As far as Alaska day hikes go, today’s Root Glacier hike is hard to top! Enjoy stunning vistas of Mt. Blackburn, see the impressive Stairway Icefall, and hike past fascinating blue melt pools and sculptured glacial ice – then strap on crampons to walk out on the glacier.

Day 13: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to Denali National Park Entrance

The wonderful Wrangell-St. Elias experience concludes with a return charter flight to Glennallen. The day’s scenic drive will include guide’s choice stops as you make your way to the entrance of Denali National Park.

Day 14: Denali National Park

After a stop at the visitor center and a short hike, you’ll board the backcountry lodge’s bus. The park’s road is closed to private traffic so the ride will be an unhurried wildlife-filled journey deep into Denali National Park. When you arrive at the lodge, you’ll know you’re someplace extraordinary.

Day 15-16: Denali National Park

The next two days are yours to enjoy Denali’s rugged beauty. A variety of guided and independent adventures are available out your private cabin’s doorstep – biking, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and more. At the lodge, enjoy delicious regionally-inspired meals, the outdoor hot tub, and the wood-fired sauna.

Day 17: Denali National Park to Fairbanks

Capture your last Denali views on the return bus ride out of the park. After some time to walk the trails at the park entrance, you’ll climb aboard the Alaska Railroad and enjoy panoramic glass-dome views, dinner, and drinks as you ride to Fairbanks.

Day 18-19: Fairbanks, Gates of the Artic and Kobuk Valley National Parks

Your stay in Fairbanks is devoted to seeing both Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley – the last two national parks on your Alaskan journey! Take off on an unforgettable flightseeing adventure with scenic touch downs in both parks. The extra day serves as a flexible flightseeing weather backup, with guide-selected activities and a Fairbanks farewell dinner to celebrate your memorable adventure.