About this Tour
This 11-day Alaska national parks tour explores Lake Clark, Wrangell–St. Elias, and Denali on a small-group journey through the state’s coastal and interior wilderness. Along the way, enjoy guided brown bear viewing near Chinitna Bay and a scenic ferry crossing of Prince William Sound.
4CanGo Small Group Program
Our 4CanGo departures are confirmed to operate as soon as four guests are booked, with a maximum of ten travelers per departure. Once the minimum is met, your trip goes ahead, so you can plan with confidence and enjoy the attentive pace that only a small group allows.
Online booking is set up for parties of four or more. If you are traveling solo or with a group of three or fewer, please contact us and we will arrange your booking directly. We are glad to build flexible arrangements around your preferred dates, group size, and travel style.
Quality of service is our priority. Every Horizon itinerary is planned by a team led by a founder with more than 20 years in the travel industry, specializing in both U.S. national park tours and international travel. We are committed to delivering a personalized and memorable journey.
About The Alaskan Coast
The Alaskan coast offers a breathtaking mix of rugged mountains, glacial landscapes, and abundant wildlife. From the vibrant city of Anchorage to the coastal charm of Girdwood and the vast wilderness surrounding Denali, this region showcases some of Alaska’s most dramatic scenery and outdoor adventure.
Moments from this Tour
What’s Included
- Accommodation: 10 nights of accommodation as listed or similar (double occupancy basis)
- Meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners
- Transfers and Transportation:
- Ground transportation from arrival to departure
- Bush flight over Cook Inlet to Bear Mountain Lodge
- Road transfer from Seward to Whittier, followed by an Alaska Marine Highway ferry crossing to Valdez
- Guides: Professional English-speaking guides for scheduled sightseeing.
- Included Sightseeing & Signature Experiences:
- Guided brown bear viewing in Lake Clark National Park
- Denali National Park wildlife bus tour
- Admission and guided experience fees specifically listed in the itinerary
What’s Excluded
- Airfare To And From Anchorage, Alaska
- Optional Activities On Free Days (Kenai Fjords Cruises, Sea Kayaking, Glacier Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Ocean Fishing, Horseback Riding, Scenic Flights, Ice Climbing, Etc.)
- Meals Not Listed In The Itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses Such As Souvenirs, Snacks, And Beverages
- Guide Gratuities (Optional)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Anchorage
When your flight (booked independently) arrives at Anchorage International Airport, our guide will greet you at baggage claim and assist with your luggage. You’ll then transfer to your hotel in Anchorage to check in and get settled. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local Anchorage restaurant before turning in for the night and preparing for the adventures ahead.
Day 2: Fly out to Bear Mountain Lodge – Brown Bear Observation
You’ll depart with your guide by plane and fly through the beautiful Cook Inlet where we will see grand views of volcanoes, ocean and mountains. You’ll check into the Bear Mountain Lodge, then enjoy the day with short walks, bear viewing and sitting by the fire in one of the best places in the world to see brown bears.
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 3: Lake Clark National Park
Wake up to one of the most beautiful and remote places in the world, Lake Clark National Park. We will be the only guests in the area viewing bears and the scenery around our remote and comfortable lodge. Our Alaskan guides will take you around the area for the best bear, salmon and wildlife viewing to be had in the area. You may see as many as 40 different bears in a day!
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 4: Lake Clark National Park – Seward
We say goodbye to Bear Mountain Lodge by flying out through the Cook Inlet and back to Anchorage. You will then take a beautiful scenic drive to Seward, where we will spend the night. Time permitting, we will visit the Alaska Sealife Center, Alaska’s only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center. On the shores of Resurrection Bay, visitors to this “window on the sea” have close encounters with puffins, octopus, sea lions, and other sea life.
Day 5: Seward – Free Day for Optional Activities
Enjoy a free day in Seward. Kenai Fjords National Park is known for its breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, and spectacular alpine and tidewater glaciers. Visitors may spot orcas, humpback whales, harbor seals, sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, black bears, brown bears, bald eagles, mountain goats, puffins, and countless species of marine birds. Optional activities may include a Kenai Fjords cruise, sea kayaking, glacier hiking, ocean fishing, helicopter tours, or horseback riding. These activities are not included and must be booked separately, subject to availability, weather, season, and operating conditions.
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 6: Seward – Whittier – Valdez via Ferry
Depart Seward and travel by road to Whittier, where you’ll board the Alaska Marine Highway ferry for a scenic crossing of Prince William Sound to Valdez. Along the way, enjoy views of coastal mountains, fjords, and glaciers, with opportunities to spot marine wildlife and seabirds. After arriving in Valdez, enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary by season and conditions, and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 7: Valdez – Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Enjoy a free morning in Valdez before departing for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States. Along the way over Thompson Pass, we will stop to admire the stunning scenery, waterfalls, glaciers, and wildlife before settling into the Currant Ridge Cabins or similar for the night.
Day 8: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – Kennicott Free Day
Guests can choose their own adventure today by booking one of many exciting optional activities, including a half-day or full-day guided hike, guided rafting, scenic flights, a Kennicott Mine area tour, ice climbing, or a guided glacier walk. Each activity provides a unique way to experience the surrounding wilderness and stunning landscapes. These activities are not included and must be booked separately, subject to availability, weather, season, and operating conditions.
Day 9: Wrangell-St. Elias – Denali National Park
This day begins with a scenic drive into Alaska’s interior, offering views of vast lakes, mountains, and wildlife. We will arrive in the Denali National Park area in time for dinner. Along the way, common sightings include caribou, moose, eagles, and grizzly or black bears.
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 10: Denali National Park Interior
We’ll catch the first bus into Denali National Park to see wildlife in its pristine wilderness. Weather permitting, you may see Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet. Wildlife viewing opportunities may include wolves, grizzly bears, red foxes, coyotes, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, ptarmigan, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles.
Please note: As wildlife roams freely in natural habitats, sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Day 11: Denali National Park – Anchorage
As the tour concludes, we’ll enjoy lunch and shopping in the historic village of Talkeetna, nestled at the base of Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). The town provides spectacular panoramic views of the Alaska Range before we return to Anchorage to say our goodbyes.
Itinerary Note: To ensure the best possible travel experience, the order of visits and daily arrangements may be adjusted by the guide based on local conditions, travel time, visitor traffic, weather, and operational considerations. All key included experiences will be arranged as appropriately as possible throughout the journey.
Age Requirements
Travelers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized adult responsible for their supervision and well-being throughout the tour. All travelers should be able to safely and comfortably participate in the itinerary.