This Alaska Wildland Adventure includes dogsledding, river fishing, a cooking class, and sea life safari
Many people have been on an Alaskan cruise, but they haven’t taken a deep dive into the adventure of beautiful Alaska. You may have seen glaciers and wildlife from the deck of a ship, but have you been dogsledding? For this amazing adventure, I provide the framework and ideas. The details of this 7-night experience are customizable, and can be completely tailored to your interests and schedule.
Day 1 – Arrive in Juneau. You’ll spend 2 nights here, where you can explore this historic town. Juneau is rich in history, art, music, and Native heritage. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, a shopper’s trove, and a food lover’s dream.
Day 2 - Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter and Dog Sledding During your helicopter flight, you will have a bird’s eye view of the lush Tongass Rainforest, soaring mountain peaks, and the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier. As you touch down at the authentic dog mushing camp, you will be greeted by professional dog mushers and their energetic companions, the Alaskan Huskies! Experience the unique thrill as these athletes pull you through the snow that blankets the Mendenhall Glacier. Take turns directing the dogs with your musher and relaxing in the sled. After your exhilarating sledding experience, you will have time to cuddle with puppies and chat with your dog musher before boarding your helicopter to return to the heli-base.
Day 3 – From Juneau, fly to Anchorage, pick up your rental car, and drive to Homer. The drive from Anchorage to Homer is over 4 hours. It is a beautiful, relatively easy drive along the Westernmost Highway in the USA. Stop at one of the many hiking trails, viewpoints or for wildlife spotting. It’s a worthwhile drive with many reasons to pull over and stop along the way.
Homer sits overlooking stunning Kachemak Bay at the end of the Sterling Highway, 200 miles south of Anchorage, and is surrounded by wilderness and ocean. A home base for great fishing (The Halibut Fishing Capital of the World), kayaking, bear viewing, hiking, destination weddings, foodie and art vacations. Homer is known as the Eco and Adventure tourism capital of Alaska.
Stay the night on the water, at the end of Homer's Spit. View whales and sea otters right outside your window or shorebirds as they migrate the shoreline. Wake up to the sounds of the surf and the eagle’s antics. View sunrises and stunning vistas of the Kenai Mountains from your private deck.
Day 4 – Set off for your all-inclusive luxury adventure lodge, where you will stay for 2 nights. The lodge includes three meals per day plus appetizer hour, along with beverages, house wine and beer.
Take the water taxi from Homer to your Adventure Lodge. Explore with a morning hike, sea kayaking or paddleboarding Enjoy a beautiful lunch Visit a local oyster farm Take a one-hour cooking class Evening yoga is optional Sit down for a three-course dinner in your amazing setting Finish the evening off with a sea life safari.
Day 5 – Choose your excursion today: Deep Sea Fishing or Bear Viewing.
Wake to enjoy breakfast at the lodge Lunch will be provided on your excursion Deep-Sea Fishing - Fish for Salmon or Halibut on the Kachemak Bay. Bring your catch back to the lodge for your chef to cook for dinner or have them pack it up to take home with you. Bear Viewing - You will fly over glaciers, volcanoes, and the rugged coastlines of Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park to land on a remote beach. You will walk alongside bears in their natural habitat and depending on the time of year, you can see bears grazing on sedge grass, digging up clams, playing together, courting, resting, and/or fishing. On your return to the lodge: Enjoy a 50-minute massage to relax after your day Evening yoga is optional Sit down for another incredible three-course dinner Set off for an optional sunset paddleboard on the water Gather by the fire and share your big fish or even bigger bear stories from the day
Day 6 –Girdwood
Enjoy breakfast at your lodge and bid farewell as you take the river taxi back to Homer. Pick up your car in Homer, and be sure to stop at the local market to stock up on food for the day’s journey. Excursion: Half-Day of Wild Fishing - Head north to the Kenai River for a half-day of wild fishing (10 am -2 pm). Your guide will provide you with all the gear needed for the day.
Continue on to the little town of Hope and stop at the Seaview Cafe & Bar for some local seafood, beer, and live music To complete your trip of the Kenai Peninsula, spend the night in at a resort in Girdwood, nestled in a lush valley surrounded by mountain peaks. Take the tram up to an award-winning mountain top restaurant for an incredible dining experience with views.
Girdwood is a small Alaskan mountain town that sits amongst lush forest and is surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range. It is conveniently situated only 36 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest metropolis with an international airport.
Day 7 – Anchorage
Take the less than one-hour drive to your final destination: Anchorage. Stay in a luxury hotel located in the heart of downtown Some great sightseeing for your last day in Anchorage: Anchorage Market (Saturday & Sundays) Alaska Zoo Alaska Native Heritage Center
Shopping
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is a gateway to many adventures. With more than 60 glaciers within 50 miles of downtown, a salmon stream in the heart of the city, six surrounding mountain ranges, 300 miles of wilderness trails, and one of the largest state parks, the city has so much to offer.
Day 8 - Today you will bid farewell to Alaska and all the great experiences, and take home lifelong memories. Time to start planning your next epic adventure!
Would you love to have this up-close-and-personal Alaska experience? It is available May through September, and can be booked with a deposit, and paid off closer to your travel dates.
I love this itinerary! If you love it too, let me know! Or, if you have any other travel-related question, I’d love to be your go-to person.