Welcome to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with only 300,000 people and a city which has undergone quite a change since the earthquake of 1964. Now a bustling city fuelled by the oil boom and tourism, it wasn’t that long ago that Anchorage was the last outpost before heading into the ‘Last Frontier’, this is a city mixed with metropolitan luxuries and unrivalled natural wonders. It’s not uncommon to find bear roaming the outskirts of the city, this is one truly wild place. A great way to spend your day is to wander around town getting a feel for the 49th state, speaking to the locals and checking out some of the great cafes and restaurants. A welcome meeting will be held at 18:00 hrs for you to meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions.

Leaving Anchorage, you enter the wilderness pretty much instantly and make your way towards Talkeetna where you stop for the opportunity to try a local delicacy, reindeer sausage, before arriving in Denali National Park. Home to the highest mountain in North America, legendary Mount Denali (6,194m), the park covers six million acres and houses some of the most unspoiled wilderness and spectacular scenery in the whole of Alaska.

Enjoy two full days exploring the park with an included bus pass on the Elison Shuttle – the only way to get out into the incredible (and vast) wilderness. Try to spot Alaska’s ‘Big Five’; Caribou, Dall Sheep, moose, Grizzly Bear and wolves. Denali is one of the only national parks where you are encouraged to find your own path off the trails, great for those of you looking for pure unadulterated adventure. There are plenty of optional walks and activities in Denali. As the trails are wild and unmarked, the hiking opportunities are endless. Your tour leader will suggest some local spots of scenic beauty and the best spots to view wildlife.

Today we get to discover more of Denali National Park and its vast wilderness, exploring the many optional walks in this spectacular location.

The scenery keeps on coming thick and fast and today is no different. Drive through the dramatic Copper River Valley and stop for a short walk on the Liberty Falls Trail, just off the Edgerton Highway en route to the small town of McCarthy (population 40 in the summer, 17 the remainder of the year). This quaint settlement at the centre of a mass of mountains, glaciers and wilderness will be your base to explore Wrangell-St Elias for the next two nights. Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve contains nine of the sixteen highest peaks in the United States, including the second highest, Mount. St. Elias (5,488m), and is the most glaciated region in the North American continent.

Today we’ll have the chance to enjoy more of the optional activities available in Wrangell-St Elias. This imposing area of glaciers, mountains, forest and wilderness has wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities – Dall Sheep, mountain goats, caribou, moose, Grizzly and Black Bear are just some of the parks inhabitants.

Your journey continues towards Valdez, passing through the Chugach Range. On the rivers, fish wheels have been built to catch salmon migrating upstream to spawn. Stop at the famous Worthington Glacier, adjacent to the Thompson Pass for a short walk. Explore the busy seaside town of Valdez, a return to civilisation after the mountainous isolation of McCarthy. Valdez is a new town, as a major earthquake destroyed the old one in 1964. There are various hiking trails in and around Valdez such as the Mineral Creek Trail or the Keystone Canyon Pack Trail. You can also visit the historical museum to learn about the native culture, gold rush history and the famous pipeline. Why not opt for a sea kayaking excursion to get up close and personal to the glacier?. For the next 2 nights, we will enjoy some home comforts staying at a hotel. On the second day in Valdez, the day is left free to discover this fascinating area.

Board the Alaska state ferry, leaving Valdez behind and crossing Prince William Sound to reach Whittier (approx. 6 hours). The views of the mountains, bays, fjords and glaciers are unforgettable and the water is home to a unique array of marine life, Harbour Seals and sea lions. From Whittier we will transfer (approx. 3 hours) to the small fishing town of Seward. In its past life, Seward was a railroad port which means there is now plenty of great shopping and a picturesque old-time downtown area.

Set off on a full day wildlife viewing cruise around Resurrection Bay and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. To maximise your experience on board your guide will give a detailed commentary on the wildlife you see and the local area. On previous trips, travellers have spotted sea lions, otters, Dall’s Porpoise and an endless variety of seabirds including puffins and eagles. Orcas are often spotted and if you’re lucky, Humpback Whales can also be seen!

The staggeringly beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park offers wonderful wildlife and bird watching opportunities amidst dramatic fjords and glaciers. Within the park is the huge Harding Icefield, claiming 300 square miles in its entirety. If weather conditions permit, take a spectacular walk from Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield for views of deep crevasses and huge seracs. At an elevation of 900m you will eventually reach a lookout point over the icefield and the views will be out of this world. The walk is strenuous and entirely dependent on weather conditions; if there is too much snow and ice on the trail, it may be impassable. There’s an easier option available if you prefer, using an accessible trail to reach a different viewpoint of the glacier. Afterwards we transfer (3 hours) to the quirky fisherman’s town of Homer, our destination for the next 2 nights.

There are plenty of optional walks and activities in Homer or you can book a *Floatplane Bear Viewing Tour. Floatplanes are a way of life for many of the more remote Alaskan communities, particularly those who still have no road access and too little space amongst the mountains to build runways. Floatplanes generally seat a maximum of 10 people and you’ll take to the air for a beautiful flight across the Cook Inlet to either Katmai National Park or Lake Clark National Park. You can usually see Brown (Grizzly) or Black Bears here. You may see thousands of salmon pushing upstream to spawn and if you’re lucky, you’ll see bear catching and feeding upon them. This is Alaska at its best, almost completely untouched wilderness with a backdrop of ice-clad mountains and active volcanoes.

After breakfast and packing up camp, you’ll drive for a couple of hours to Alyeska in the Chugach Mountain Range which is ideal for a final wilderness walk before returning to the state’s capital, Anchorage. Containing around half the population of the state, Anchorage in some ways looks just like any other sprawling American town and after nearly two weeks in the small towns and villages the bustling streets of the city will feel somewhat different. Explore the art galleries and craft shops where you can see the beautiful Eskimo handicrafts being made.

This tour ends at our gateway hotel in Anchorage at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book your post-tour accommodation if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs. People booking Flight Inclusive with Exodus will have an extra night in the hotel and depart tomorrow.