Region Overviews: Alaska Travel Guide: Overview
More than just a state, the “Last Frontier” lives up to its reputation as one of the world’s last great wild places.
Walking & Hiking
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Alaska's Kenai Walking & Hiking Tour
National Park Glaciers, Coastline & Wildlife
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days 5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Casual Hotels
From: $3,599 - $3,899 pp dbl occ
($800 for sgl occ) plus 6% tax
It feels like the ends of the Earth... a place that few humans have seen. Glaciers plunge down mountains to waters brimming with sea life. You marvel at Kachemak Bay's dramatic weather. And at the wildflowers and rushing waterfalls on the Kenai Peninsula. Your sense of the wilderness will never be the same after our Alaska hiking tour.
Alaska Kenai Walking & Hiking map
Alaska
Start Homer / End Anchorage
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Enjoy a sensational hike along Exit Glacier that leads to unforgettable vistas of Resurrection River Valley and Harding Icefield
- Boat across beautiful Kachemak Bay, then trek to amazing Grewingk Glacier, where you may encounter grazing Dall sheep
- Visit the coastal towns of Homer and Seward, brimming with charm and classic Alaskan character
- Watch for black bears, marmots, caribou and moose, among many other noteworthy wildlife
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Casual Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Description
Our journey begins in Homer, one of Alaska's most picturesque towns | Hike with a naturalist along bluffs overlooking Kachemak Bay, famous for its extreme tides | Settle into our comfortable waterfront accommodations located at the tip of the world's second-longest natural spit | A boat ride across Kachemak Bay delivers us to the trailhead for our trek to Grewingk Glacier, where you may spot caribou and Dall sheep | En route to Glacier Lake, you’re surrounded by Kachemak Bay State Park’s 400,000 acres of wilderness, reachable only by air and sea | Sea otters, porpoises, loons and bald eagles may say hello.
Accommodations
Land's End Resort
Homer
| Casual Hotel Commune with eagles, otters and seals where land meets sea on Kachemak Bay.
Days 3-4
Description
Enjoy the wildflowers and spruce forest on a trail to Skilak Lake, fed by a nearby glacier | Wander in scenic Seward | The hike of a lifetime along Exit Glacier leads to amazing views of the Resurrection River Valley and Harding Icefield, a glacier spanning more than 900 square miles and concealing an entire mountain range under several thousand feet of ice | Keep your eyes out for mountain goats, moose and black bears in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Accommodations
Seward Windsong Lodge
Seward
| Casual Hotel An exceptional Alaskan wilderness retreat nestled in the woods of the striking Resurrection River Valley.
Days 5-6
Description
Hike to Crow Pass for a closer look at the Raven Glacier | Experience Alaska's extreme temperatures during a climb to snow-laden heights | Take in the myriad shades of green of America’s northernmost rain forest as the sound of rushing water accompanies you to Winner Creek Gorge, where the creek passes through a narrow granite passage and becomes a deluge.
Accommodations
Alyeska Resort
Girdwood
| *Premiere Hotel This stylish hotel with an aerial tram to the top of Mount Alyeska has earned accolades from Travel + Leisure. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
June 2023
July 2023
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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From our Guests
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Activity Level: 2-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The terrain on this trip includes meadow and forest paths and alpine trails, ranging from lightly rolling to hilly with several steeper climbs. The hike to Harding Icefield is especially rigorous due to its steep rocky terrain and the possibility of encountering snow. Unpredictable mountain weather can make hiking conditions more challenging. Operating under Special Use Permit in the Chugach National Forest. Backroads is an Equal Opportunity Provider. Backroads is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations & Service Standards
Alaska is a land of rustic and rugged beauty. While Backroads has selected the best possible lodging available in the places we visit, simplicity and comfort often outweigh elegance and luxury in this great state. Generally speaking, customer service in Alaska can seem slow and casual when compared with the high standards of hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Patience, a sense of humor and an appreciation for the cultural differences that abound in this population-sparse setting will help to make the most of your experience.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations & Service Standards
Alaska is a land of rustic and rugged beauty. While Backroads has selected the best possible lodging available in the places we visit, simplicity and comfort often outweigh elegance and luxury in this great state. Generally speaking, customer service in Alaska can seem slow and casual when compared with the high standards of hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Patience, a sense of humor and an appreciation for the cultural differences that abound in this population-sparse setting will help to make the most of your experience.
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