The Ultimate Adventure in Alaska

Get your first glimpses of Alaska as you fly north – you may spot the great national parks of Katmai and Lake Clark out the left-hand window, or the Chugach Mountains out of the right. The sense of a true adventure beginning is palpable as you descend into Alaska, ready for a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will evoke all the great American wilderness stories – from John Muir to Jack London. Muir wrote, "you should never go to Alaska as a young man, because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live". Over the next 10 days, you'll see what he meant. Anchorage is your gateway to the 49th state: your host will meet you at the airport and transfer you downtown to your hotel for the night, before you set off into the wild first thing tomorrow.

Roll out of Anchorage this morning and hit the open road into the great expanse of Alaska's interior. Heading north, keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of North America's tallest mountain – Mount Denali – as you reach the small community of Talkeetna. Gold miners and fur trappers have been replaced by artists and adventurers in this part of Alaska, while the world's best mountaineers plan their ascents up Denali from here, too. Take a look around the town, which looks like a film set for an old Western movie, before heading off for a short hike along the Talkeetna Lake loop. Continue north to your campground outside Denali National Park, pitch the tents and enjoy your first campsite dinner as you settle into the adventure.

Denali National Park is different to America's other national parks for many reasons: one being that there is a single road in and out of the park, which keeps the six million acres of land truly wild. Denali's animals run the place, while human visitation is tightly managed by a network of iconic green National Park buses. These will shuttle you into the vast wilderness in search of grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, caribou, moose, and Dall's sheep. You can hop on and off the bus at various points to stretch your legs and soak up the Denali air. As well as being constantly on the lookout for Alaskan wildlife, if the conditions are clear you'll also get fantastic views of Mount Denali. Back at the park entrance after around four to five hours, you can head out for a hike on a 'front-country' trail to take in the Denali scenery on foot. Recount your tales of epic Alaskan wildlife sightings at a local restaurant tonight.

Kick off the morning with a hike along the Triple Lakes Trail, witnessing more of the Denali ecosystem on display with chances to spot moose and beavers. Hit the road later to travel along the unpaved Denali Highway, crossing open tundra with the epic Alaska range coming into view as you bid farewell to Mount Denali. Reaching the Maclaren River, you'll board a jetboat to be whooshed up the river on an exhilarating journey deeper into the wilderness, surrounded by peaks. Eventually, you'll reach a remote wilderness camp just off the river where you'll settle in for the night. A long, long way from anywhere, it's the perfect spot for telling tales around the campfire beneath the Alaskan summer twilight (if you're travelling in June and early July, you'll even encounter the midnight sun).

Wake up in the Alaskan backcountry, take in the surroundings and tuck into breakfast at camp before hitting the water again – this time in a canoe to paddle your way back to the Maclaren River Lodge, at a slower pace than the jetboat yesterday. Back on the road, you'll journey to Alaska's coast, taking in the relentlessly stunning scenery as you cross the alpine tundra of Thompson Pass in the Chugach Mountains, stopping to explore the Worthington Glacier. The final leg of the road trip leads you in to Valdez, a beautiful location which holds a dark past and an inspiring story of Earth's capacity for recovery (see FAQs for details).

*Please note: while canoes will be available for the return journey on most departures of this trip, due to the remote nature of the wilderness camp, this can't be guaranteed. In the event that canoes are not available, you'll take the jetboat in both directions.

Head down to the harbour to get kitted out for cold-water kayaking by an expert team of guides, who know the waters in this part of Alaska like the back of their hand. Hop in a boat heading out of the harbour and along the coast, passing densely tree-lined mountains on your right-hand side as you sluice through the emerald waters. Glimpse the spectacular Anderson Falls ahead, before turning into Shoup Bay and getting your first sight of its stunning glacier. Hop out of the boat on a beach to switch into kayaks, then push into the bay for the most surreal paddle of your life. Getting closer to the glacier you'll likely hear it rumble and crackle as it calves – an incredible natural phenomenon. Paddle up to a stunningly situated beach for a picnic lunch before getting back on the water, paddling out of the bay to explore the coast of the Prince William Sound. Marine life is abundant in this whole area and you'll be sure to spot seals, sea lions, sea otters and – if you are very lucky – orcas. Eventually, you'll meet the boat again, load up the kayaks and head back to Valdez. Tuck into dinner at camp and maybe a beer in town, to toast an unforgettable day.

Wave goodbye to Alaska's coast as you head back inland along the McCarthy Road, a rugged 60-mile unpaved route. There will be various opportunities to stop and punctuate the journey with short hikes. This route allows you to delve into the history of Wrangell–St. Elias; the largest National Park in the United States. Back in the early 20th century, McCarthy thrived as a bustling town, serving as a place where copper miners from the Kennecott Mines sought leisure activities not permitted in Kennecott itself. After the mine closed in 1938, the town was nearly abandoned. As you travel, you'll come across historic structures that have retained much of their original charm from that era, with only a few permanent residents still living there. You'll set up base for the next few days at a campground near the river with views of the Kennecott Glacier. Stretch your legs with a short hike to the river and across the bridge to explore McCarthy.

Wrangell St Elias is as an adventurer's playground, with its rugged landscape of massive mountains, seemingly endless glaciers, powerful rivers and expansive forests spanning an area that ranges from sea level to 5500m in elevation. The park itself is larger than Switzerland, has the largest concentration of 'fourteeners' (mountains over 14,000 feet) in North America and is home to the largest glacier system in the US. The 4996m Mount Blackburn looms in the background as you explore the area this morning, hiking along the Root Glacier Trail towards the edge of the glacier. After the hike you can enjoy some downtime just soaking up camp or adventuring further: there are so many things to do here and optional activities are a common occurrence for adventurers visiting McCarthy. You can join a guided hike onto the Root Glacier itself to see glacial waterfalls, canyons of ice and magnificent blue pools or a guided walk around the abandoned copper mining town of Kennecott, hearing legends of the tenacious people that lived and worked here. Or maybe the ultimate splurge: take a flight on a classic Alaskan wilderness plane to see Wrangell St Elias's majesty from the air. Your guide will be able to advise on and help arrange any extra activities you'll like to opt for during your time in this part of Alaska.

Enjoy breakfast and coffee at camp, taking in the surroundings one last time before heading off into the wilderness with a hike along the West Kennecott Glacier Trail. Passing through a beautiful forest, you'll reach an epic view over the glacier and have the chance to spot bears hanging out on the lateral moraine below you. Afterwards, you'll pack down camp and hit the road again, making a few pit stops along the Copper River. The red salmon here are top-notch and highly coveted in North America, leading to disputes among commercial fisheries, the State of Alaska, and the Ahtna people who've lived a subsistence lifestyle on the land here for over 5,000 years. The fish wheels along the Copper River tell tales of Russian fur trappers and other outsiders who flocked to this region to exploit its resources. As today's journey unfolds, you'll dig deeper into the history of the Indigenous peoples integral to Alaska and the entire continent.

Settle in for one last drive with spectacular views across the Matanuska Valley and along the Chugach Mountain Range today, before arriving back in Anchorage to say farewell.

What's included?

• Twin sea kayaks and paddles
• Rubber boots and gloves, rain pants and jacket for kayaking
• Twin-share tents, self-inflating mattress, cooking equipment

What do I need to bring?

BAGS

• Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack (main luggage)
• Daypack for hikes (20-30 litres)
• Waterproof liner for daypack
• Small drybag if you wish to take cameras or phones on the kayaks

CLOTHES

• Down jacket
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Breathable wicking layers
• Fleece jacket or similar
• Thermals (merino is best)
• Warm hat
• Gloves
• Buff or neckscarf
• Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
• T-shirts
• Underwear and socks
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunhat
• Something to sleep in
• Hiking boots (worn-in)
• Sandals

SLEEPING

• Cotton or silk sleeping bag liner
• Sleeping bag (3-season, with a 0ºC to –7ºC comfort rating)
• Travel pillow or pillowcase

OTHER

• Universal travel plug adapter
• Power bank or solar charger
• Passports (and visas)
• Travel insurance documents
• Ear plugs
• Insect repellent
• Suncream
• Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
• Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
• Quick-dry towel
• Alcohol hand-gel
• Headtorch or torch
• Reusable water bottle x2 litre
• Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks