| Duration | Price | When | Destination | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Days | £11300 | Jun - Sep | Alaska | Small Group Safari |
An epic, all encompassing journey away from the crowds in Alaska. This adventure takes you tracking grizzly bears, sea kayaking, exploring wild national parks and whale watching. A true trip of a lifetime.
Alaska is a land of extremes and words such as ‘grand’, ‘epic’ and ‘extraordinary’ fail to even start to describe the reality. Our specialist small group trip takes you far from tourist routes, into the Alaskan wilds and close to its beating heart in Denali National Park. Here you can witness grizzly bears swiping for salmon from the river’s edge, witness glaciers calving before your eyes, watch for orca and humpback whales, and more. We’re proud of our Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Safari, experience Alaska like you’ve never imagined alongside like-minded travellers, and expert wildlife guides.
Today you meet your guide and fellow travellers in Fairbanks, the capital of Alaska’s interior region (considered Alaska’s second capital city). Fairbanks is quite unique; modern, yet with frontier twists, including saloons and paddle wheelers. Take some time to explore your surroundings today and get the anticipation building for your upcoming adventure.
On day two, your journey south begins and you arrive in Denali after about two or three hours on the road. At six million acres, Denali is one of the world’s great wildernesses, and it is home to Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), the highest peak in the whole of North America. Wildlife includes wolves, moose, caribou, grizzly bears and a whole lot more. You’ll have time for some exploration today; with everything from hiking, biking, fishing, and even flightseeing available.
Denali, literally translated from Athabascan Indian, means ‘the great one’, and today you continue exploring this great park with the activities on offer. Bear in mind that with such a harsh climate, wildlife sightings are often exhilarating but transient. Spend the evening cosied up in your log cabin with a mug of hot cocoa and share pictures and stories of the day’s adventures.
Today you depart Denali by train on a journey through Alaska’s rugged interior, over Broad Pass and along the Susitna River to Talkeetna. At the confluence of three rivers, Talkeetna is a rustic town with astounding views of Denali. The economy here thrives on adventure, so there are numerous activities; from rafting and mountain biking, to fishing. Enjoy a delicious dinner, then explore the town, which dates back to the 1900s.
Today you continue your journey south to Girdwood and Alyeska Resort, Alaska’s premier ski resort, and host to incredible activities throughout the summer. Take some time to explore your new surroundings today, including the northernmost temperate rainforest in North America. This evening, you can choose to board the tram up to the summit for some 5 star cuisine with unforgettable vistas.
You board the Alaska Railroad once more, riding the train to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop to enter a lush tract of remote roadless wilderness. Created in partnership with the Chugach National Forest, this rail spur expands access to some of Southcentral Alaska's most beautiful coastal mountain terrain, with views of valley glaciers, waterfalls, deep canyons and dense deciduous forest on either side. Disembark to explore the glittering tableau of iceberg-choked Spencer Lake, then board sturdy rafts for a gentle float trip down the Placer River, turbid with glacial silt, before returning to Girdwood late this afternoon.
This morning, you travel to Seward, on the Kenai Peninsula, before boarding a boat to take you to the private Fox Island. Within the Kenai Fjords, this island truly is pristine, and is missed by a majority of people travelling to Alaska. Take some time this afternoon for a bit of kayaking in search of some of the areas quite prolific marine life. There is just one lodge on the island, and we will have this glorious secluded location all to ourselves.
Overnight: Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge (B, L)
Board a private, intimate charter yacht today for some exploration of an area where it feels the Ice Age still lives on in its glaciers. Being on such a small vessel means wildlife encounters can be close, without disturbing them. This is an excellent opportunity to view humpback whales, orcas, sea otters and porpoises, and there is a large colony of puffins to visit. Back to Fox Island for a last night in this wilderness paradise.
Overnight: Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge (B, L, D)
This morning you’ll have some time to enjoy your wild surroundings once more; perhaps go for a nice walk this morning and get some last photos. Then it is time to head north again and you cross Moose Pass, as well as some of Alaska’s most salmon rich rivers. Hopefully there will be time to stop at famous Exit Glacier for a close up look at this astounding area. Later, you’ll arrive at Anchorage where you’ll spend the night.
This morning, catch your small aircraft flight to King Salmon, then on to the famous Brooks Falls Lodge by floatplane. This is one of the best places in the world to view grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Katmai's 4 million acres of wilderness is home to the world's largest population of coastal grizzlies and provides some of the last pristine habitat for these magnificent carnivores. Head to the viewing platforms built over Brooks Falls where you can watch these awesome bears swiping salmon from the river with gigantic grizzled paws, claws the length of a human finger. At this time, the salmon are headed upstream to spawn, and the bears are blissfully aware that this is the time to feed up. Some will even catch the fish with their jaws as it powers towards its birth spot up the river. Sport fishing is also available.
Overnight: Brooks Falls Lodge (B, L, D)
Enjoy another morning of bear focussed activities, before saying your goodbyes and heading back to Anchorage. This evening you’ll enjoy a delicious farewell dinner with your expedition leader and celebrate the adventures of the last 12 days.
This is the last day of your safari in Alaska, we’ll ensure you are transferred to the airport in time for your next flight, whether it is homeward bound, or onto another destination.
This safari is run on a small group basis and is either 13 or 14 days in length. The 14-day trips are specialist photography departures and include extra time to capture incredible images of the grizzly bears in action. Guest numbers are limited to 14.
Accommodation at Brooks Falls will either be at Gold Creek Lodge or Brooks Lodge.
2021 departures are £11,300 per person, based on twin share.
2022 departures are similar dates at £11,620 per person, based on twin share.
The only accommodation option on Alaska's remote and picturesque Fox Island, Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge offers hiking as well as boat safaris, where travellers can hope to see whales, sea lions, eagles and puffins.
Situated in renowned Katmai National Park, Brooks Falls Lodge offers unique Grizzly Bear sightings as they fish the salmon heading upstream.
Talk to one of our specialists for further details on our tailor-made safaris in Alaska.