Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Alaska Denali & Kenai Fjords Hiking
Day 1 Welcome to Anchorage
Arrive at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) where you will take a complimentary hotel shuttle for transport to the nearby Lakefront Anchorage Hotel, your lodging for the night. Get settled at the city's only lakeside property, admiring the lobby's extensive display of Iditarod memorabilia and watching float planes landing and taking off from the hotel's expansive viewing deck. Afterwards, gather in the lobby for a welcome meeting with your expert guides and fellow travelers, then kick off your trip with a group dinner and rest up for the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: The Lakefront Anchorage
(D)
Day 2 Summit Lion’s Head for Matanuska Glacier Views
1.5-hour private van transfer
3 hours/4 miles hiking with 1,000' elevation gain and loss
After a hearty breakfast, drive through towering mountain peaks, expansive, glacier-carved valleys, and a mix of alpine and glacial landscapes, offering a stunning visual introduction to the Alaskan wilderness enroute to Glacier View. On arrival, enjoy a picnic lunch and a sneak peek at the phenomenal scenery you are about to hike into. Trek to the top of Lion's Head, ascending through a changing terrain of dense forests and alpine meadows. This steep climb rewards you at the summit with a spectacular panorama and bird's-eye views directly over the Matanuska Glacier—a massive, 27-mile-long ice field that's also the largest road-accessible glacier in North America.
Accommodation: Majestic Valley Wilderness Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Head into Denali’s Great Wilderness
2.5-hour private van transfer
7-8 hours/12 miles hiking with 2,500' elevation gain and loss
Travel deeper into the state and Denali National Park and Preserve, encompassing six million acres of Alaskan wilderness. Along the way, keep an eye out for caribou, moose, and grizzly bears and get your first glimpse of 20,310-foot-tall Mt. Denali, the continent's tallest peak. Today's out-and-back hike follows the Little Coal Creek Trail to Kesugi Ridge and offers some of the best alpine hiking in Denali. You'll traverse vast tundra and rocky ridges while enjoying sweeping panoramic views and occasional wildlife sightings, such as Dall sheep and marmots. After an exhilarating day on the trail, settle in for a cozy evening, sipping drinks around the firepit overlooking the river.
Accommodation: McKinley Creekside Cabins
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Tackle Two Summits in One Day
1-hour private van transfer
Morning 5 hour/6 miles hiking with 1,700' elevation gain and loss; Afternoon 1.5 hours/2 miles hiking with 1,100' elevation gain and loss
Today begins with an ascent through dense spruce forests and alpine meadows. Reaching the tree line, the views open up across the Denali wilderness as the trail climbs via switchbacks to Mt. Healy Overlook where magnificent panoramas await. Celebrate your accomplishment with a picnic lunch at the summit (weather permitting) before retracing your steps down the mountain. In the afternoon, get ready for your second climb of the day, a short, steep trek to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain culminating with marvelous Denali vistas. The route's rugged and unmaintained trail is ideal for adventure-seekers. Enjoy a fresh, locally sourced Alaskan dinner at The Perch, a popular eatery that sits "perched" atop a gravel moraine left behind by a glacier.
Accommodation: McKinley Creekside Cabins
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike Triple Lakes and Enjoy Free Time in Denali Town
15-minute private van transfer
5 hours/9 miles hiking with 1,000' elevation gain and loss
Fuel up on a homestyle breakfast before embarking on a full-day hike along Denali's point-to-point Triple Lakes Trail. This trek traverses dense forests, crosses rolling hills, and passes three crystal-clear alpine lakes. Bask in the beauty of their reflective waters while looking and listening for local wildlife, including moose, caribou, and various avian species. After a day of hiking, choose to relax or enjoy some down time in Denali, browsing the shops, perusing art galleries, or enjoying a snack at one of the local cafes. Enjoy a hearty dinner where Alaskan dishes and craft beers are the norm.
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Traverse Curry Ridge & Travel to Girdwood
3.5- to 4-hour private van transfer
3.5 hours/8 miles hiking with 1100' elevation gain and loss
Start off the day with a morning hike along Curry Ridge Trail through alpine meadows and spruce forests, offering spectacular views of the Alaska Range—including Denali itself—as you go. Along with its staggering panoramic vistas, summertime wildflower blooms make this out-and-back trail one of the park's most alluring hikes. Depart Denali for Girdwood, stopping to enjoy a casual lunch in the quirky town of Talkeetna, known for its creative arts scene. The drive along the Turnagain Arm offers breathtaking views of coastal mountains, glacial rivers, and the waters of Cook Inlet. Check in at Girdwood's Alyeska Resort and sit down to a delicious dinner before turning in for the night.
Accommodation: Alyeska Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Hike Old-Growth Forest & Ride an Aerial Tram
2-hour private van transfer
2 hours/3.5 miles hiking with little elevation gain and loss
Enjoy a morning hike along Girdwood's Winner Creek Trail. This scenic route winds through a splendid old-growth forest filled with towering spruce and hemlock trees. Board the Alyeska Aerial Tram right at the end of the trail fand ride to the mountain top for unparalleled wilderness views, including hanging glaciers and surrounding peaks. Refuel with a hearty lunch 2,300 feet above sea level, then settle in for the drive to Seward. Pass glacial lakes and wildflower-filled meadows on the way to this stunning coastal town that serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Dinner tonight is at a local favorite, where we enjoy delectable seafood and striking views over Resurrection Bay.
Accommodation: Seward Windsong Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Hike the Epic Harding Icefield Trail & Exit Glacier
10-minute private van transfer
6-8 hours/8.2 miles hiking with 4,000' elevation gain and loss
Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail alongside Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park is one of Alaska's most iconic backcountry adventures. Climb through mossy forests, alpine meadows, and along the edge of the 700-square-mile glacier, keeping an eye out for mountain goats, black bears, and various avian species en route. Once at the top, pause to admire awe-inspiring views of the vast Harding Icefield, brimming with crevasses, moraines, and snow-covered peaks bursting through the ice, and its surrounding mountains. Time permitting, explore Seward—browsing its independent gift shops, viewing its outdoor murals, and sussing out local sea life on your own. Then join your fellow adventures for a farewell dinner, savoring local-sourced seafood and produce while swapping stories of an unforgettable trip.
Accommodation: Seward Windsong Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Walk Along Resurrection Bay & Depart Anchorage
2.5-hour private van transfer
1.5 hours/3 miles hiking with 250' elevation gain and loss
Begin your final day with a morning hike to Caines Head, passing through mossy forests and along rocky coastline as you go. Enjoy views of the stunning Resurrection Bay, colorful wildflowers, and occasional wildlife. Drive to Trail Lake and cap off the trip with a picnic lakeside?one last moment in the quiet beauty of Alaska's wilderness. Continue to Anchorage, where the trip ends. Catch homebound flights or travel onward with memories of awe-inspiring glaciers, ancient forests, majestic wildlife, and the soaring peak of Denali.
(B, L)
