Alaska's Glaciers & Coast Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
Alaska's Glaciers & Coast Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Casual Hotels
2025: Jun-Aug2026: Jun-Aug
Mountains, National Parks & Wildlife from Prince William Sound to Homer
It feels like the ends of the Earth... a place that few humans have seen. Ancient glaciers plunge down mountains to waters brimming with sea life. Kachemak Bay's dramatic weather. Rushing waterfalls and summer showing of dazzling wildflowers on the Kenai Peninsula. Your sense of the wilderness will never be the same after our Alaska hiking tour.
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 through the northern boreal forest to the amazing Grewingk Glacier and its glacial lake
- Visit the enchanting coastal towns of Homer and Seward, brimming with charm and classic Alaskan character
- Watch for black bears, marmots, caribou and moose, among many other spectacular wildlife
StartHomer
EndAnchorage
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
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 starting point of our trek to Grewingk Glacier • Our trail is 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.
Nights 1-2
Commune with eagles, otters and seals where land meets sea on Kachemak Bay.
Days 3-4
Trek through a dense spruce forest 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.
Nights 3-4
An Alaskan wilderness retreat with contemporary finishes nestled in the woods of the striking Resurrection River Valley.
Days 5-6
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.
Night 5
This stylish hotel with an aerial tram to the top of Mount Alyeska has earned accolades from Travel + Leisure. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Alaska is a land of rustic and rugged beauty, and the accommodations on this trip are much simpler than is typical of Backroads lodging. Properties are built to withstand the harsh Alaska weather and have minimal seasonal renovations. Service standards at the hotels and restaurants on this trip can seem slow and casual when compared with the more refined hospitality found on other Backroads trips.
Alaska’s cuisine is characterized by an emphasis on simple, hearty dishes ideal for Alaska’s cool climate and adventurous lifestyle. Meals often reflect the state’s limited growing season and rely primarily on local ingredients like fresh seafood, unique offerings such as bison and game meats, and berry-driven summer desserts and jams. This means less variety as compared to most other regions, and please note that options for vegetarian, vegan and low-carb meals may be limited and substitutions may not be available.
Alaska’s variable winters make it a unique and special place to visit. For that reason, our itinerary may change based on the prior winter and road and trail status. The upper portion of the Harding Icefield Trail is often covered with snow through early July. Hiking even a short distance up the trail provides views of Exit Glacier and the valley. The Crow Pass Trail may not be accessible due to snow levels through early July. Alternate trails used will be determined by which trails are open.
Hotels
Adventure-Ready Hotels
Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Casual Hotel
Commune with eagles, otters and seals where land meets sea on Kachemak Bay.
Nights 3-4
Casual Hotel
An Alaskan wilderness retreat with contemporary finishes nestled in the woods of the striking Resurrection River Valley.
Night 5
*Premiere Hotel
This stylish hotel with an aerial tram to the top of Mount Alyeska has earned accolades from Travel + Leisure. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 20 customers
Trips like no others
Backroads never disappoints days are full and busy and interesting and there is time to rest and recuperate. Lots of options. Lots of choices truly a personal vacation planned for you and the benefit of others to engage with if you like
Fantastic
What a perfect way to explore a small chunk of Alaska. It was our first glimpse into this amazing place and our first backroads trip. The atmosphere and the group were amazing and everything we had hoped for. We explored and got to see so much in so little time. We loved it and were already looking at where we can explore next.
Fantastic Trip!
We very much enjoyed this trip to Alaska – our third trip with Backroads. The scenery was incredible and we saw a variety of wildlife, including otters, seals, and eagles – and one of the guests saw a bear. There was a nice range of options for hiking most days, so people who wanted to stretch their legs with longer, more difficult hikes could do their thing while others could take more easy-going hikes. The lodging and dining were great, as were the picnic lunches provided by our phenomenal trip leaders. We lucked out with sunny weather and a fantastic group of fellow guests. Lovely experience!
This was our first Backroads experience
Our expectations were continually exceeded! No detail was overlooked. The guides were both professional and fun to be with. They were extremely knowledgable and helpful.
Fabulous Trip
The leaders were exceptional. It was truly evident that their top priority was to make each guest feel welcomed and have the best experience possible. They were engaging, funny, smart, articulate, well versed on the area and just really fun to be around. Highly recommend Backroads!!!!
Our 50th State and Backroads didn't let us down.
From the pre Arrival arrangements to the routes and specifics this was an outstanding trip for my wife and me. Our team leaders Emma and Sarah were incredible as was their support Braden. So much so we're going to Provence in September b
Alaska hiking trip
MY husband and i had an amazing trip to Alaska - when we all met for the first time Emma the guide said "for the next week we got ya" She meant it - everything was take care of beautifully and seamlessly - i know our group will keep in touch - there was so much laughter and support for each other - I think back now and smile thinking of the some of the funny things that happened - what an experience to come together with 15 people and have EVERYONE get along
Backroads Walking/Hiking Tour June 27- July 2
I had the best vacation ever with Backroads! Our leaders- Emma, Abby and Sarah were beyond amazing! They made this entire experience so incredible! The 3 of them all had the best personalities/ attitudes and just made the trip the best it could possibly be! It was so astounding to me that these young women were such great leaders and were full of so much knowledge about about everything that they were so eager to share with all of us. They really made us excited to hike and motivated us to want to do it more! Thank you so much Emma, Sarah and Abby, you 3 are rockstars and I will definitely be doing another Backroads tour!
A wonderful way to see Alaska with the best guides
What a wonderful trip and a great way to experience Alaska. The routes were amazing. The trip leaders went above and beyond to give us a wonderful experience.
Best way to see Alaska, by far!
We wanted to see Alaska - but didn't want to cruise the coast and watch the scenery from a distance. We wanted to spend time in the towns, and climb that scenery! And we did just that! Our guides were fantastic, and it was obvious they truly know and love Alaska. And the group we traveled with was amazing - like summer camp for adults! This was an incredible experience we will be talking about for decades!
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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