Alaska Full Circle (10 Days)

A Rich Cultural Immersion 

Your Alaskan adventure begins with a visit to the fascinating Native Heritage Center, which gives you an opportunity to enrich your understanding of Alaska’s indigenous cultures. Departing from Anchorage, your path takes you north to the Matanuska Valley. En route, you’ll explore the Native village of Eklutna, where you’ll witness the unique blending of Native American and Russian Orthodox traditions at a historic chapel and burial site.

Continuing on north to Wasilla, you’ll enter into the Mat-Su Valley, the farming belt of Alaska.

Gold Panning at Hatcher Pass

Soak in the beautiful scenery of Hatcher Pass as you visit Independence Gold Mine, built in the 1900s. We provide gold pans so you can try your hand at striking it rich! A park naturalist is often available to share the history of the mine and knowledge about the area’s unique flora and fauna.

Knik Glacier Boat Tour

Hop aboard an airboat headed to Lake George, the base of Knik Glacier. At 28 miles long and six miles wide, this glacier is one of Alaska’s grandest natural attractions. Born in the Ice Age 600,000 years ago, Knik Glacier appears motionless, but it’s actually in a constant state of change.

Iditarod Headquarters

Have a chance to meet a seasoned musher and his team of dogs as you learn about the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. You can even take a ride around the quarter-acre track.

Towering Mountains

Next, we’ll enter Talkeetna, home to some of the most photographed sites in our state: the majestic peaks of Mt. Denali and the Alaska mountain range. 

Two Activity Options Available

1 – Denali Flightseeing (1 hr activity + travel time)

• Get within six miles of Denali’s summit, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet! 
• Includes window seats for each passenger
• An experienced pilot-guide will highlight points of interest along the way

Available Upgrade to Flightseeing

• Ruth Glacier Landing on the Side of Denali | $100/person

2 – Riverboat (2 hr activity + travel/prep time)

• Adventure down the river on an enclosed jet boat and see unique views of Mt. Denali 
• Visit an authentic trapper’s cabin and see how trappers lived in “bush” Alaska at the turn of the century

Journey Up the River

For your second day in Talkeetna, you can enjoy the Riverboat adventure from Day 3, if you chose to fly yesterday instead. You can also choose to simply relax and enjoy shopping around the local area, or upgrade your tour with a half-day fishing excursion.

One Activity Option Available

1 – Riverboat (2 hr activity + travel/prep time)

• Adventure down the river on an enclosed jet boat and see unique views of Mt. Denali 
• Visit an authentic trapper’s cabin and see how trappers lived in “bush” Alaska at the turn of the century

Available Upgrade

Half-Day Fishing | $150/person

• River fishing offers the chance to catch rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, and salmon
• All fishing gear is provided

Denali National Park 

In the afternoon, you’ll continue your adventure onto Denali National Park, stopping along the scenic drive for spectacular photo ops and a chance to stretch your legs. You’ll cross over Hurricane Gulch on an impressive 254-foot high bridge, one of the tallest in the state. From your vantage point, you’ll enjoy expansive views of the valley beneath. Enjoy the rest of the evening dining, sightseeing, or relaxing in your beautiful accommodations.

Enter a Magnificent Wilderness 

Everything about Denali National Park is larger than life: the beautiful scenery, the mountains, and the animals. While wildlife watching, you may spot bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, foxes, and wolves. Many smaller animals also inhabit the park, such as Arctic ground squirrels, hoary marmots, pikas, snowshoe hares, and beavers. 

Soak in the scenery and experience Denali at your own pace with three different options. Take a 2.1 mile self-guided hike on one of our favorite trails in Denali National Park or elevate your adventure by taking on a 4-hour self-guided E-bike ride to Savage River. Pedal yourself into the park on the only road that exists in the entire National Park. Your bike comes equipped with racks, bear spray, and quality rain suits to adventure in any type of weather.

Our most popular option is to board the Denali Park Shuttle at the Wilderness Access Center and take a five-hour round-trip tour deep into the park. Lunch and a beverage are included. Remember your camera and binoculars! The bus stops regularly for up close animal sightings and about once an hour for restroom breaks. In the afternoon, you can opt to upgrade to a white-water raft adventure on the Nenana River for $140 per person.

Relax and Recharge

Today is a day of leisure. Spend a morning at the Denali National Park headquarters, where you can watch interesting films about the region and its wildlife, or immerse yourself in nature on one of the many hiking trails in the area (which range from easy to challenging). The Murie Science and Learning Center is a treasure trove of fascinating information about this boreal forest, and informative talks with knowledgeable rangers are also available. Just tell your guide where you would like to go!

Available Upgrades

1 – ATV 4-Wheeler Adventure (1.5 hrs)

• $150 single rider, $250 double rider, $350 triple rider
• Explore 10 miles of varied terrain: coal mining trails, rocky creek beds, hill climbing, and water and mud crossings 

2 – 9-Hole Tundra Golf | $125/person

• Play a round—or several—at Black Diamond, a short but challenging course full of Alaskan hazards like tundra marsh and the occasional moose hoof print

3 – Denali Zipline (3 hrs) | $165/person 

• Your adventure begins with a three-mile trail ride through scenic Alaskan wilderness 
• After gearing up, certified guides will lead you along six sky-bridges and seven thrilling ziplines

4 – Fat Truck Tour (2.5 hrs) | $249/person 

• Travel up an old mining trail to the “upper lookout” where you will see vista views and learn about the geology and history of the area. Test out the amphibious qualities of the truck with your guide!

Travel the Matanuska River

Get ready for one of the most scenic drives in the state! As you head south to Palmer and Glacier View, the Matanuska River winds its way beside you for part of your journey. Several overlook stops offer spectacular views of mountains, valleys, and glaciers.

Three Activity Options Available

1 – Zipline Adventure (2.5 hrs)

• Take on Alaska’s first and only all-tandem side-by-side zipline.
• Soar through 6 zips with a guide and cross over stunning valleys on the suspension bridges.

2 – Horseback Riding (1.5 hrs)

• Saddle up and follow a local rancher as you explore the trails of Palmer.
• Suitable for first-timers and experienced enthusiasts ages 8+

3 – Homestead Ranch Tour (2 hrs)

• Learn about the history of Sunderland Ranch and other original farms in Lazy Mountain. We will walk about a mile to see incredible views and other unique points of interest. One of our touring rigs will pick us up to visit the horse barn.

Visit the Glaciers

After our lunch stop, discover the true beauty of glaciers up close as you walk on the Matanuska Glacier. Ice cramp-ons are provided, and no experience is necessary to join in the fun!

Next, you’ll travel to Anchorage where you’ll have the night to rest up. Early tomorrow morning, you will begin your choreographed two-day railroad Kenai Peninsula adventure.

Available Upgrade

Helicopter Glacier Landing | $269/person 

• This scenic 45-minute helicopter ride lands at a glacial pool on the Matanuska Glacier, which is only accessible by air
• See wildlife and experience the glacier in a spot few have ever visited

Forests and Flights 

The day’s adventure begins at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center, where you’ll join a ranger for an engaging tour through the surrounding forest. 

After a scenic drive to the village of Chitina, you’ll board a small plane for an exciting flightseeing tour over Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Six times the size of Yellowstone, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park encompasses 20,000 square miles of mountain wilderness. Nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S. are within this national park’s borders, the largest concentration of mountains over 14,000 feet in North America. 

You’ll land in the tiny town of McCarthy, then drive up the road to Kennicott, an old mining town, where you’ll learn about the history and settlement of this extremely remote area. You can relax at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Read, play a family game, or choose to take a short walk around town or a further hike to a glacier. That night, sleep in rooms at the lodge that will take you back in time. They’re decorated with antiques, clippings of old newspapers and magazines, and relics from days gone by.

A Colorful History

Choose what you’d like to do this morning. You can walk out to the glacier, stroll around the mining area, or visit the Kennecott Visitor Center to dive deeper into local history. You can also join a ranger for a history talk or nature walk.

Available Upgrades

Guided History Tour | $35/person

• Tour the interior of the impressive historic 14-story Kennecott Mill Building

At noon, you’ll head back to McCarthy, a once bustling service town that is now home to around just 120 year-round residents. Grab lunch to go beforehand from the Kennicott Lodge, or stop by The Potato, a local McCarthy eatery, for their famous hand-cut curly fries. Later this afternoon, enjoy another opportunity to flightsee on your return to Chitina.

Stunning Vistas

Your excursion continues through the Copper Basin, paralleling the Alyeska Pipeline and passing by the stunning Worthington Glacier. Today’s drive is one of the most scenic and beautiful in Alaska. As you travel over Thompson Pass and then into Keystone Canyon, you’ll spot numerous waterfalls and stop at some of the most stunning. In the evening, you’ll arrive in Valdez, where you can enjoy a night of local flair.

Islands, Fjords, and Glaciers

After saying goodbye to your AAU guide, you’ll step aboard a boat charter and spend the day cruising around Prince William Sound. As you sail towards Whittier, a sleepy town nestled against soaring mountains, watch for marine life and sea birds. You’ll pass the Columbia Glacier and many breathtaking waterfalls before arriving in Whittier. 

You’ll depart Whittier on the Alaska Railroad, making your scenic return to Anchorage. As you head north, watch for Dall sheep on the cliffs and other wildlife along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet.