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Adventure
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| Maximum Exposure Tour Details | ||
If you want to experience the best of Alaska from the coast to Denali, you'll need at least 9 days. This trip does a good job of providing variety without too much time on the road, adding a 3-day kayak trip in Prince William Sound to our Northern Exposure itinerary to the Matanuska Glacier and Denali National Park. Day 1 – We’ll meet you in Anchorage, and after a gear check and orientation, you'll look for Beluga Whales, bald eagles, and mountain goats as we take one of the most scenic drives in the world. We’ll drive through a mountain to the unique small town of Whittier, the gateway to Prince William Sound. The afternoon will be spent paddling past waterfalls and bird rookeries, a short hike and then on to our campsite in the rainforest. Day 2 - We head into Blackstone Bay where you'll paddle close to several huge tidewater glaciers. It's a full day paddling but we still have time to enjoy ourselves and look for wildlife. Day 3 – Finally we’ll reach our goal. Blackstone Glacier is an actively calving glacier and if you’re lucky while we’re watching for falling ice, we might see some seals playing in the icebergs. We’ll be picked up at a nearby beach by water taxi to take us on a quick ride back to town. Now we’ll head north toward the Matanuska Valley. On the way we’ll stop in Anchorage for dinner at one of our favorite spots. You'll get a shower and a night in a bed at an historic inn in Palmer, about an hour north of Anchorage.
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Day 4 – We’ll drive further up the valley to the huge Matanuska Glacier where you’ll don mountaineering crampons to explore and hike around. Bottomless crevasses and towering walls of ice make for impressive photos. Then, back to our homestead for a big Alaskan barbecue. Our homestead and Base Camp is about halfway between the Matanuska glacier and Anchorage. It's nothing too elaborate but you can sample a little of our "off the grid" lifestyle.We have comfortable cabin tents equipped with cots and foam mattresses and a wood-fired hot tub for relaxing after a hard day on the ice. Our other guests sometimes include moose and bear wandering through our "yard". Day 5 – An early start and we’ll head up into the alpine areas of scenic Hatcher Pass for a great day hike. Traveling fast and light we'll take in some exceptional views. At the end of the day we’ll load up and head north, its about a 2.5 hour drive after which we’ll reward ourselves with a nice meal out, a shower and a cozy bed at an inn in Talkeetna renowned for its local color. Day 6 – After a hearty breakfast at the inn, you’ll have a chance to wander round town. Talkeetna is a quirky historic town that, rumor has it, was the inspiration for the television show “Northern Exposure”. After lunch we’ll head north to Denali to set up camp at an established campground close to the park entrance. Day 7 – There are a lot of options for today. Of course there's hiking in the Denali Park area but few trails so we'll be doing some scrambling and travel up river drainages in pursuit of great views. You could also visit the famous Denali sled dogs or if opportunity arises we might attend one of the educational lectures at the Visitors Center in the evening. |
Day 8 - The bus is far and away the most reliable way to see wildlife in Denali, there is no other vehicular traffic and animals are accustomed to these non-threatening daily visitors. During the ride we’ll be looking for bear, moose, caribou, fox and everything else. A picnic lunch and hike before heading back for dinner out and a comfortable night in an inn or B&B. Day 9 – Our last day, we’ll start with a raft trip on the exciting Nenana River before we head back to Anchorage to say our goodbyes. If the schedule allows we'll try and stop at the Iditarod sled dog race headquarters to break up the drive. Although the trip officially ends when we drop you at your hotel, good restaurants and nightlife are easy to find in Anchorage for those who choose to meet up for a last hurrah!
Challenge Level: 3 - 4; Day hiking and scrambling. Trekking on glacier ice. Some primitive camping while sea kayaking. Read more about Challenge Levels. No experience required but you must be over 18 and in relatively good physical condition. Accommodation: 3 nights at developed campgrounds. 2 nights primitive camping, 3 nights in an inn, cabin or B&B.
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| Cost:
$2670 Make it Exclusive |
Includes: all related local transportation. All meals from lunch on day of pick-up to lunch on last day. With exception of dinner out on Day 8. Accommodation as listed in the itinerary. All guides and instruction. Group and specialized equipment (tents, kayaks, rafts, safety equipment etc.) Not included:
Anchorage accommodation before and after the trip. Personal expenses such
as beverages, etc. Personal gear and clothing (sleeping bag, pad, backpack,
boots, outerwear, all other clothing) Click HERE for more details on costs, payment, and what is and is not included. |
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Choose Exposure for your Alaska Adventure TourExposure Alaska Tel. 907.761.3761 or 800.956.6422 Email is the best way to get in touch with us quickly. |
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Sea kayaking
tours in Prince William Sound. Ice
climbing, glacier treks and glacier
tours on the Matanuska Glacier. All photos and text Copyright 2008, Exposure Alaska LTD |