Welcome to Alaska! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 9 am this morning in Anchorage. It’s recommended you arrive early, as after the meeting, you’ll head out and drive the scenic Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to the charming ski resort town of Girdwood. Stop along the way for photo ops and then arrive at Alyeska ski resort, where you’ll go on your first hike in Alaska. Take the North Face Hiking Trail and start by hiking up the mountain to the top, where you'll get incredible views over the Chugach Range and a whopping seven glaciers. You’ll start nearly at sea level, so you don't need to worry about acclimatising to the altitude. There will be time at the top to grab a bite to eat at the café for lunch, perched on the mountain top, before taking the Aerial Tram back down. Tonight, head out on an optional group dinner in Anchorage to celebrate your first hike together.
Embark on a scenic drive along the Glenn Highway towards the town of Palmer this morning – a trip that’s packed with gorgeous mountain vistas and plenty of time for photo ops. You’ll eventually reach the famed Matanuska Glacier – Alaska's largest road-access glacier. It’s a jaw-dropping 27 miles long and 4 miles wide and has some of the most accessible walking areas of any glacier in the state! Don your ice cleats and helmet (included) and begin exploring the glacier on foot with the help of an Alaskan guide and glacier expert. Marvel at the ice that formed thousands of years ago, high in the Chugach Mountains. Amazingly, every day is unique at Matanuska, due to the dynamic nature of the glacier. Similarly, your tour will be customised to suit your group’s interests. After, enjoy a picnic lunch with stunning glacier views and surrounding scenery before heading to Wasilla for the night.
This morning, you'll do a short ascent of The Butte (as the locals call it) for some incredible views over the mountain-fringed Matanuska Valley. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way of local farms and the Knik River below as you walk among pine trees surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and birdlife. Then, continue to Talkeetna, where you’ll head out on a leader-led orientation walk. After checking in to your hotel, you'll have some free time to do an optional hike, or perhaps book a scenic flight. This evening, head out for a beer tasting at a local brewing company, followed by a delicious group dinner – what a great way to fuel up and get ready for your Denali National Park hikes in the coming days!
Today, hit the road for the gorgeous Denali National Park – a park and preserve with six million acres of Alaskan wilderness featuring North America’s tallest peak – Denali. This park is Alaska’s most popular land attraction, as its diverse landscape of tundra, mountains, spruce forests and glaciers are home to various wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and sheep. When you arrive, your leader will choose a hike in the park based on the group's abilities and interests to warm you up for tomorrow’s full-day hike. Take in the scenery and enjoy a night off at your accommodation.
Today you’ll set out for the trip's most challenging (and rewarding) hike – the full-day Triple Lakes Trail. You’ll start by the Denali Visitor Centre and then trek through spruce forests, hillsides, mountainous landscapes and the three lakes where the trail gets its name. Walk along Riley Creek and ascend for beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Along the way, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch with the group and enjoy a breather while you listen to the sounds of nature. Look out for the birdlife that calls this park home (this is a popular trail for birdwatching) and spot the bright colours of local flora. After the hike, unwind and reset at your accommodation or enjoy a group dinner to swap stories, highlights and photos.
Make the most of your time in Denali National Park by squeezing in some free time in Denali where you might join a ranger-led hike or check out a sled dog demonstration. Head back to Anchorage this afternoon, arriving by 3 pm, where your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Alaska, just speak to your booking agent.
