Best Selling Trips

Luxury Alaska Vacations & Adventure Travel

We could just call these trips our “classics”. After all, they have become our most popular Alaska itineraries for a reason: all incorporate experiences so quintessentially Alaskan that they’re not just our travelers’ favorites, but also the favorites of our travel planners. Every travel program we’ve designed in Alaska probably incorporates one or more element from among them. In short, they represent the very essence of Alaska.

Wilderness Adventure

Yes, there are wonderful urban centers that offer exploration, but discovering the “true Alaska” is more often about the state’s spectacularly pristine backcountry and the sorts of activity it invites: observing humpbacks, orca whales and other marine wildlife around Point Adolphus on National Parks Journey; bear viewing in Redoubt Bay on Heart of Alaska-Wilderness Lodge Retreat; hiking remote rainforests on Multi-Sport Adventure Wilderness Lodge Retreat; observing magnificent Mt. McKinley from both land and air on Denali at a Glance; sea kayaking among glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park on Land and Sea – Discovering the Great Land; river rafting and sport fishing on Wildlife and Wilderness; dogsledding atop the Juneau Icefield on Inside Passage Retreat; and glacier trekking in the Midnight Sun on South Central Express.

Luxury Alaska

Exploring remote wilderness does not have to come at the cost of luxury accommodations. Yes, some lodges run toward the “rustic”—but most are considerably more elegant. Gourmet dining is emphasized at many of the wilderness lodges we use, and even the most eco-friendly offer accommodations that we consider “locationally” sophisticated. At Winterlake Lodge—located on the famous Iditarod dog sled race route—individual guest cabins are complemented by a hot tub and wood-burning sauna. Favorite Bay Lodge features Alaskan cuisine with meals of halibut, spotted prawns, king and silver salmon. Glacier Bay’s Bear Track Inn comprises 14 guest rooms in hand-crafted log accommodations, while The Lodge at Whale Pass offers exceptional service in one of the world’s most spectacular settings. Most everywhere, you’ll find extensive wine lists, cozy fireplaces, mini-spas, and hosts that treat you like family.

Bespoke Travel

As often and as successfully as we’ve run each of these Best-Selling Trips as presented, we’ve mixed and matched activities and lodges to suit travelers’ tastes, time frame, ages and interests. In fact, we consider most every program we create to be a custom experience—tailored in big ways and small, depending on you. Just tell us your vision of Alaska, and we’ll get started.

Helicopter Hiking at Winterlake Lodge

Hiker in Denali National Park

Whale Watching in Southeast Alaska

Kayaking in Southeast Alaska

• Denali at a Glance

  This 5-day/ 4-night trip is designed to showcase the dramatic landscapes and wildlife of Denali National Park. With a night in Anchorage at each end of the trip, the middle two nights are spent at accommodations amid the wilderness just north of the park’s entrance—allowing for easy access into the park during the day. Trip highlights include the train journey to and from the park aboard the luxurious Alaska Railroad GoldStar dome train, and a flightseeing journey over Mt. McKinley. Perfect for those who want to experience extraordinary views of the highest mountain in North America in comfort.

  Denali at a Glance
• Heart of Alaska – Wilderness Lodge Retreat

  This 8-day/ 7-night trip is perhaps the ultimate Alaskan wilderness experience. A three-lodge program with stays at Winterlake Lodge (named one of America’s best by Travel + Leisure magazine) Tutka Bay Lodge and Redoubt Bay Lodge, provides lots of opportunity for enjoying pristine Alaskan backcountry—walk on a glacier, check out the Iditarod trail, sportfish by helicopter, spot black bears and more. Everywhere, hikes and sea kayaking allow access to exquisite landscapes and chances to spot wildlife such as whales, sea otters, moose, bears, and wolves. Float planes deliver you from one perfectly rustic lodge to the next, and days offer endless opportunities for communing with nature—either from a deck chair on your private log cabin, wine glass in hand, or through physically rigorous activities.

  Heart of Alaska – Wilderness Lodge Retreat
• Inside Passage Retreat

  This 7-day/ 6-night trip features four nights at remote Favorite Bay Lodge on Admiralty Island—where humpback whales, bald eagles and brown bear are the rulers of the land. It’s a truly special experience, giving you the chance to experience the Inside Passage in very memorable ways; trophy fish offshore or on seasonal runs teeming with salmon; commune with whales and other wildlife; sea kayak, hike, and explore pristine landscapes. To round out your Alaskan experience, you’ll spend two nights in Juneau, where a helicopter excursion sees you soaring over the backcountry before touching down on a glacier for a once-in-a-lifetime dog sledding experience.

  Inside Passage Retreat
• Land & Sea – Discovering the Great Land

  This 10-day/ 9-night trip will introduce you to both interior and coastal Alaska. Highlights include the train journey to Denali National Park aboard the luxurious Alaska Railroad GoldStar dome train, a flightseeing journey over Mt. McKinley, and cruising among the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park. A combination of drives and hikes (independent or expert-guided) offer opportunities to view quintessential terrain and awesome wildlife on land, while time in the fjords will see you discover tidewater glaciers and secluded coves—and possibly spot orca, humpback, gray and fin-tail whales, plus sea otters, harbor seals, Dall’s porpoise, and Steller sea lions.

  Land & Sea – Discovering the Great Land
• Multi Sport Adventure

  This 10-day/ 9-night trip is designed for the active explorer. Discover quintessential Alaska as you go dog sledding, observe bears feeding, listen to loons, spot whales, and cast a line in pristine rivers teeming with fish. You’ll view wildlife galore while enjoying as much or as little activity as you like: hike, mountain bike, fish, canoe, or kayak. Traverse glaciers, paddle among icebergs, and raft down a wild river. Each night, authentic wilderness lodges provide ideal accommodations. Two helicopter trips facilitating such backcountry adventures as glacier trekking, dogsledding, and sport fishing are trip highlights.

  Multi Sport Adventure
• National Parks Journey

  This 8-day/ 7-night trip focuses on two of Alaska’s great national parks—Denali National Park & Preserve and Glacier Bay National Park. The former is home to majestic Mt. McKinley and myriad wildlife, offering countless opportunities for hiking, fly fishing, and enjoying the stunning Alaska Range by foot, air, and rail. Accessible only by air or water, pristine Glacier Bay is a marine wilderness characterized by snow-capped peaks, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, whales and seabirds galore. When you’re not witnessing glaciers calve and humpbacks cavort, you’ll be dining on such local specialties as Alaskan spotted prawns, halibut, and Dungeness crab.

  National Parks Journey
• South Central Express

  This 8-day/ 7-night trip combines some of Alaska’s most special and iconic experiences. You’ll strap on climbing harnesses and crampons to traverse a glacier, receive a personal introduction to the sport of dog sledding and “The Last Great Race on Earth”, and stand among granite peaks as you take in the immense scale of the mountains surrounding you. You’ll view Mt. McKinley up close on a flightseeing tour, and travel 60 miles of river aboard a jet boat, spotting nesting bald eagles, beaver, and moose along its banks. Everywhere, you’ll enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. With three nights each at Hotel Alyeska and Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, your days will be full but the pace will be kept leisurely.

  South Central Express
• Wildlife & Wilderness

  This 9-day/ 8-night trip includes three nights at North Face Lodge, allowing you to experience Denali National Park and towering Mt. McKinley itself from myriad vantage points. Highlights include a flightseeing journey, the luxurious train ride from Fairbanks, and a seven-hour wildlife tour deep into the park. Over three nights at Winterlake Lodge, you’ll be immersed in an entirely different landscape. The isolated oasis, a fly-in lodge, overlooks Finger Lake and the Tordrillo Mountains. Guided walks and leisurely explorations are complemented by such helicopter-supported activities as river rafting, sportfishing, and glacier trekking. Finally, a stop at Redoubt Bay Bear Sanctuary en route to Anchorage allows for up-close brown bear viewing.

  Wildlife & Wilderness