Itinerary Expand allAnchorage to Anchorage Day 1 Start Anchorage.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. Optional Activities:• Alaska Native Heritage Center US$25• Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center US$15• Tony Knowles Coastal Trail US$free• Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum US$10Accommodation: Ramada Anchorage (or similar) Day 2 To Denali N.P. via TalkeetnaLeaving 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.Optional Activities:• Denali scenic flight US$524• Dogsled demonstration in Denali US$free• Mountain biking in Denali, US$20-$57• Whitewater rafting in Denali US$92-$187Participatory Camping Meals included: Lunch Dinner Day 3 Optional activities in Denali N.P.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 or you can take to the skies on a scenic (and highly recommended) glacier landing helicopter flight. 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.Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Another day of optional activities in Denali N.P.Today we get to discover more of Denali National Park and its vast wilderness, exploring the many optional walks in this spectacular location.Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 To the Alaska RangeHead into the heart of the Alaska Range to spend the night camping at the Maclaren Lodge. With spectacular views of the surrounding valley, this campsite provides the ideal setting for an authentic Alaskan experience. Its remote location is something to savour with the chance to look out for grazing caribou near the quiet lakes of the tundra. This is also a birder's paradise with many species often sighted.Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 To Wrangell-St Elias N.P.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.Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Wrangall-St Elias National ParkToday 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. Optional Activities:• Ghost Town tour - Kennecott Copper Mill US$28• Scenic flight US$120-$270Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 8-9 To Valdez; via the Worthington Glacier and Thomson Pass in the Chugach Range.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. Optional Activities:• Valdez Sea Kayaking US$259Accommodation: Best Western (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 10 Ferry to Seward.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.Participatory Camping*Please note for 2023 departures, the ferry company will release the 2023 schedule between November-January. If a ferry doesn't operate on the correct day for a specific departure, we will arrange an overland transfer instead. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 11 Full day wildlife cruise around Resurrection and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeSet 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! Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 12 Walk the Harding Icefield Trail to Exit Glacier; to Homer.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. Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Float plane flight for bear observation.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.*Please note availability for these flights cannot be guaranteed and we recommend booking once your booking is confirmed and the trip is guaranteed. Optional Activities:• Floatplane Bear Viewing Tour (Smokey Bay Air) $725• Kayaking $40Participatory Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 Walk at Alyeska; to Anchorage; end.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. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
United StatesBritish, New Zealand, Swiss and most EU passport holders do not need a visa (and enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program), provided they are in possession of an onward air ticket when entering the USA. Visas for the USA are required by some nationalities and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies. All passengers travelling to and from the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are required to hold a machine-readable passport (MRP). A MRP has the holder's personal details, e.g. name, date of birth, nationality and their passport number contained in two lines of text at the base of the photo page. This text may be read by machine. The US now charges $14 for the visa waiver program and must be paid by credit card. The US authorities have introduced a mandatory requirement for all passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to register for an Electronic Travel Authority. As of 21 January 2016, any person who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationalities of these countries, may no longer qualify for the VWP. For additional specifics about the VWP please consult the VWP information on the U.S. Embassy London website. More information and all necessary Internet links can be found on our USA visas page.
Participatory Camping & Multi-Share CabinOur US camping tours use national and state park campsites and also a wide assortment of private campgrounds. Most will have flush toilets and hot showers. Please note your campsite in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is more basic in nature without showers and has a long drop toilet. The campsite in Seward charges an additional fee of $1-$3 for showers. The Denali campground offers close proximity to the park, but is close to the highway so can be quite noisy. If you are a light sleeper, it is recommended you take earplugs. You will sleep in high quality, heavy-duty tents which single travellers share with one other passenger of the same sex. Our camping equipment also includes field kitchens, inflatable sleeping pads, food storage and camp lanterns. Most campsites have a quiet time from 22:00 hrs to 07:00 hrs. Please respect your fellow campers who are there to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of camping.CAMP DUTIESAn essential part of a camping tour is helping out with the day to day camp duties and every one will assist with the setting up and packing up of the campsite. Your Tour Leader will provide guidance on what to do, and typically it will only take 15 minutes to set up or break down the tents and camp kitchen. Before you know it you’ll be enjoying ‘home sweet home’ in the great outdoors. Your tour leader will also co-ordinate and assist the group with food shopping, preparing meals and cleaning up. Sharing the camp duties is a great way to bond with your fellow travellers and the group camaraderie is all part of the experience.
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