Tour Overview
Welcome to Alaska! This trip is what adventure travel is all about. The perfect blend of wilderness and comfort, combining bear viewing, flight seeing, hiking and heart thumping whitewater rafting, sea kayaking at the Seacoast Adventure Camp and a day at the “End of the Road”, three nights at remote camps and three nights at the comfortable main lodge.
Day 1: Anchorage, Alaska
Today when you arrive at Anchorage Airport, transfer to your hotel via the hotel courtesy shuttle.
Perched on the shore of Lake Spenard, the Millennium Hotel Anchorage has a lot of Alaskan character and atmosphere. The hotel lobby resembles a hunting lodge with its stone fireplace. The guest rooms are very nice and are decorated in Alaskan themes. There is a restaurant and lounge with a patio facing Lake Spenard.
The remainder of the day is free for you to explore as you see fit, or just to relax.
Millennium Hotel Anchorage
Days 2 and 3: Anchorage-Seward-Kenai Fjords National Park
This morning, take a taxi to the train station to board the Alaska Rail Road for Seward. The train leaves Anchorage at 6:45 am and arrives in Seward at 11:05 am. Sit back and relax and enjoy Alaska’s most beautiful train trip. When you arrive in Seward your guide will be waiting to greet you as you get off the train. Then your adventure begins!
You’ll spend the afternoon on Alaska’s most famous wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. Whales, puffins and otters thrive in this marine wonderland that is bordered by the endless calving glaciers of the Harding Ice Field.
End your day at Adventure Camp, a very comfortable outcamp in a cove, compared in beauty to Yosemite National park. The permanent staff will see to your needs as they guide you in two person kayaks to discover the fjords and animals of this special region.
Lunch, Dinner
Adventure Camp
Days 4 and 5: Lake Clark Bear Camp
Following breakfast you will transfer to the main lodge for showers and lunch, after which we’ll take a spectacular bushplane flight to the Bear Camp.
These two days may be the highlight of your life’s travels! The balance of the day is spent viewing bears. Of all Alaska’s wonders, perhaps none will stamp your memory more deeply than photographing and viewing these magnificent animals. Your 50- minute flight in a 6-passenger Cessna 207 will pass active volcanoes, huge glaciers, alluvial floodplains and rugged mountains before landing on the shoreline near camp. Here we are the visitors and they are the inhabitants.
The Remote Bear Viewing Camp, situated on the edge of Lake Clark National Park, at the foot of Mount Iliamna, will quite simply take your breath away. Cuisine is flown in daily from the main lodge and prepared by your guides. Overnight in comfortable outback tent cabins with twin beds, and propane heat and light. Rise to the waves lapping at our wilderness shoreline, then a hearty breakfast and more time with your guide and the incredible brown bear.
You and very few others will share the camouflaged deck glassing for the 40 bear that call this area home.
Following lunch, your return flight will bring you back to the main lodge on the Kenai River.
Settle into your riverside cabin with private bath. The 3-star Riverfront Lodge is located in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula on 25 acres of prime mid-river property overlooking the confluence of the Kenai and Moose Rivers with a backdrop of the mountains and glaciers of the Harding Ice Field.
Happy hour and dinner will welcome you back to civilization
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bear Camp/Riverfront Lodge
Day 6: Whitewater Rafting
The adventure continues with a whitewater raft trip on the famous river known only as “6 Mile”. It will keep your adrenaline pumping until the final pull out.
We’ll end the day with a return to the lodge in time for happy hour.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Riverfront Lodge
Day 7: Homer
No trip to Alaska is complete without a visit to the “End of the Road” and Homer. En route we will see local art galleries, the world’s largest halibut sport fishing fleet, evidence of the huge earthquake and active volcanoes- and possibly baby moose with their mothers.
Your first view of Homer and Kachemak Bay is truly unforgettable and we’ll spend a fun-filled day exploring the art galleries and uniqueness of the famous boardwalk at “Lands End”.
Return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Riverfront Lodge
Day 8: Sterling- Anchorage
On your last day your guide will escort you on an energetic hike to the base of waterfalls to see salmon leaping to their spawning grounds.
Return to the lodge for showers and good-byes.
Depart the lodge for Anchorage at 2:30pm aboard the floatplane from the lodge’s deck.
Arrangements will be made to shuttle you from the floatplane dock in Anchorage to the Millennium Hotel.
Overnight at one of Alaska’s most interesting hotels.
Breakfast, Lunch
Millennium Hotel Anchorage
Day 9: Depart Anchorage
Check out of the hotel and use the hotels courtesy shuttle to transfer to Anchorage Airport for your flight home.
Departure Dates
This itinerary is available from June 1 to September 15. Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.
Prices
2010
$4,395 per person, double occupancy, based on two persons traveling together.
Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of September, 2009. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.
Inclusions:
· Accommodations in a Standard Room at the Millennium Hotel Anchorage for two nights.
· Alaska Rail Road Anchorage to Seward, standard service.
· Three nights accommodations at remote camps and three nights accommodations at the main lodge.
· All meals from lunch on day 2 through lunch on day 8.
· Floatplane transfer from Sterling to Anchorage on day 8.
. 3% Kenai Peninsula Borough Tax
Exclusions:
· Flights to and from Alaska and related costs.
· Travel insurance.
· Arrival and departure transfers in Anchorage- use of hotels courtesy shuttle.
· Any meals not specified in the program.
· Items of a personal nature.
· Alcoholic beverages.
· Gratuities.
· Fishing licenses.
These trips are priced assuming two travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is creditable towards the final trip price.
Group Discounts
The more people you bring on your next iExplore adventure, the more you save. Learn how with iExplore Group Discounts.
All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
Trip Information
Packing information
We have chosen to travel to remote locations so that you may experience the true Alaskan Wilderness… you will experience both the comfort of the lodge and the native splendor of the unspoiled Alaskan country. Your clothing should reflect this as well. Lightweight, pack able clothing that dries quickly is a must. Don’t pack heavy- pack smart! The general idea is to be able to get your gear into one soft-sided duffel and one mid-size day pack. Start with good “new generation” long underwear, add pants, shorts and finish off with a good gore-tex style rain suit. (Latex or nylon will work in a pinch but perspiration is often a problem). Good footwear is also a must; plan on water resistant, high top hiking shoes with a solid sole and good tread.
Papers: Airline tickets and/or confirmations; Photo ID and credit card. Small bills for tipping.
Luggage: Be sure to have a mid-sized day pack for excursions and day trips. You will be able to leave any larger bags at the lodge.
Clothes: A few light weight, easily washable items for travel and daily wear. Supplex is a great new fabric that wears well, stays neat and packs incredibly. Note: an inexpensive laundry service is provided, so you can keep what you have to pack and carry to a minimum.
Outerwear: Waterproof, breathable rain jacket and pants.
Footwear: Sturdy, lightweight (broken in) waterproof boots with aggressive tread and running or walking shoes or sandals for general wear.
Other items: Headlamp with extra batteries and bulb, pocket knife, water bottle, sunglasses and retainer strap, sun block and lip balm, insect repellent, personal first aid kit, toiletries, Ziploc plastic bags for your wet items, camera, film, battery, waterproof disposable camera, reading & writing materials, bandanna, hat, binoculars.
Weather: May and June averages range from the low 50’s to mid 60’s. July averages mid 60’s to mid 70’s. August from the 40’s to 60’s and September 40’s and 50’s,
Bugs: Not a problem a little bug spray can’t handle.
Alcohol: Happy hour is complimentary as is wine in your room when you arrive. Additional beverages are available at a nearby package store. Ice and coolers are available for your room if desired.
Gratuities: We are often asked, “What is the standard tip?” In the interest of information only, here is the typical range for gratuities:
Guide: $10-$25 per person, per day
Housekeeping: $3-$5 per day
Kitchen staff: $3-$10 per person, per day
Other staff: $1-$2 per day
Here are some things to keep in mind when spending time at Bear Camp:
· Bring a small daypack or back pack for your things. The weight limit is 20 pounds per person.
· The weather is generally cooler so bring an extra sweater/jacket and a waterproof outer layer.
Communications to/from the lodge
The lodge has a wireless connection and there is a guest telephone at the lodge. The dedicated guest line is outgoing only and is located in a common, yet private, area of the lodge. Guests can make calling card calls over this line. Please advise family, friends and associates that in order to speak a guest at the lodge it is necessary for them to call the business line at (907) 262- 4515 and leave a message and the guest will call back on the guest line. Email access is available upon a computer at the lodge from 6:30 to 9:30 pm only.
Liquor
The lodge does not have alcohol available for purchase. However, a selection of beer, wine and spirits are provided complimentary during the nightly happy hour. An order form with a wide selection of fine red and white wines, generally about 20 choices will be available at the lodge. This local liquor distributor will deliver your purchase to you at the lodge. You are welcome to bring your own favorite brand of liquor, beer or wine and you can keep it in your room or it can be kept behind the bar.
Alaskan Fishing Licenses
State of Alaska fishing licenses and salmon stamps are not included in your tour price. They are available for purchase at the lodge and the cost is as follows: Non-resident license for 3 days is $20 and for 7 days is $30
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