Bears, Whales and Glaciers: Lake Clark and Kenai Fjords National Parks (WAITLIST ONLY)

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Available Dates:

July 13 - 20, 2024

8 days/7 nights

Minimum/Maximum: 8 guests/14 guests

Itinerary Highlights

• Hear from NPCA’s Bear Coast expert Jen Christopherson, a former ranger for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service
• Get a behind-the-scenes look from NPCA and our partners on how we’re building strong partnerships to protect the Kenai and its marine and coastal animals from climate change
• Enjoy a flightseeing tour over snow-covered volcanoes and jagged mountains to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, one of the hardest-to-access national parks in the United States
• Stay at the only wilderness lodge within Alaska’s 700,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park and enjoy walks with a naturalist, sea kayaking and views of nearby Pederson Glacier
• From playful puffins to feeding humpbacks: observe Alaska’s extraordinary wildlife and intricate ecosystems
• Embark on a guided hike to an otherworldly, massive active glacier and explore the sharp, rocky landscape its retreat reveals

Itinerary

Day 1: July 13 - Arrivals into Anchorage: Plan to arrive in Alaska no later than 2:00 PM and make your way to The Lakefront Anchorage hotel. Courtesy shuttles from the airport are provided. At 4:00 PM, we’ll meet our NPCA Trip Leader and fellow travelers in the hotel lobby for introductions, followed by a visit to the Anchorage Museum to get an overview of this incredible destination. After the museum tour, we’ll gather for a special reception and dinner at a well-known local restaurant for Alaskan infused cuisine and enjoy an orientation of the days ahead.
Lakefront Anchorage Hotel (D)

Day 2: July 14 – Anchorage to Seward and Exit Glacier: Today, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive south through Anchorage and along Turnagain Arm and the Chugach National Forest to the stunning seacoast town of Seward. Our destination will be Exit Glacier, the only section of the Harding Icefield that is accessible by road. We’ll make a stop at the Exit Glacier Nature Center before embarking on a guided hike of the area to learn more about Alaska’s fascinating glaciers. In the afternoon, we’ll learn about Alaska’s coastal environment with a special visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center, a marine wildlife and maritime museum. The center’s spectacular two-story aquarium allows visitors to watch playful and charismatic puffins dive and “fly” underwater with grace and ease. We’ll recap the day’s activities during dinner at Resurrection Roadhouse.
Seward Windsong Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 3: July 15 - Kenai Fjords National Park and Glacier Lodge: We’ll bid farewell to Seward and board a small boat bound for Kenai Fjords National Park — home to an array of glaciers and marine wildlife, including whales, Steller sea lions, sea otters, puffins and more! A half-day marine wildlife cruise will allow us to explore the rugged coastlines. We’ll enjoy lunch in front of a calving glacier before arriving at our exclusive lodge destination: Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Nestled in a protected tidal lagoon area, the Glacier Lodge offers miles of expansive beachfront and views of the stunning Pedersen Glacier. In the afternoon, we’ll meet our guides for a lodge orientation and settle into our private cabins. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner and evening presentations.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge (B, L, D)

Days 4 & 5: July 16-17 - Kenai Fjords National Park: For two full days, we’ll explore the wild delights of Kenai Fjords National Park. After breakfast in the main lodge, choose from a variety of activities best suited to your energy level and interest. Guided options include walks with a naturalist, sea kayaking, group canoe paddles and more. In the spirit of adventure and to take advantage of tidal and weather patterns, guides will discuss specific nature outings and options with our group this morning. All activities are suitable for beginners and require no previous experience. For those seeking a more relaxed approach, the main lodge offers ideal comfort with direct views of nature. Curious sea otters and seals frequent the lagoon, just steps from the main lodge deck. In a nearby meadow, we can sometimes glimpse bears and other wildlife from a safe distance. The natural history library offers amazing resources and interesting reads. Upon return to the main lodge, we’ll share stories from our day’s adventure with other guests and join local expert guides or guest speakers for a natural history presentation this evening.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 6: July 18 – Kenai Fjords National Park to Anchorage: We’ll savor another morning in the wilds of Kenai Fjords National Park. A morning outing allows for another opportunity to kayak, canoe, hike or explore the beach for a half-day before boarding our boat for the return wildlife cruise to Seward. Along the way, there will be ample opportunity to photograph the sheer cliff walls teeming with birds, plants and other vegetation and scan for more marine wildlife. As we try to spot feeding humpback whales or harbor seals sunning themselves on ice chunks, we’ll learn how NPCA is building strong partnerships to protect the park and its marine and coastal animals from climate change. We’ll return to Anchorage this evening aboard the historic Alaska Railroad and enjoy the spectacular scenery on our rail journey, with Gold Star seating in domed viewing cars, with a delicious dinner served on board. We’ll arrive at the downtown Anchorage depot by 10:15 PM and overnight at The Lakefront Anchorage (or equivalent). Lakefront Anchorage (or equivalent) (B, L, D)

Day 7: July 19 - Bear Viewing in Lake Clark National Park: Starting from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, we’ll prepare for an exciting day of adventure to Lake Clark National Park to view bears in this incredible habitat. We’ll take a scenic 1-hour, 10-minute stunning flightseeing tour via floatplane from Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Our expert pilot will land at Redoubt Mountain Lodge located on the incredibly blue Crescent Lake where we will spend our day. Upon arrival we’ll meet our knowledgeable bear viewing guide who will escort us by covered pontoon boat to lakeside areas where bears feed on spawning wild Alaska salmon. While we observe the important relationship between the world-famous brown bear and wild Alaska salmon, we’ll have an opportunity to hear about NPCA’s role in achieving a recent victory over the proposed Pebble Mine. Situated at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is an epitome of the Alaska wilderness landscape. At 4 million acres, the park encompasses volcanoes, jagged mountains, glaciers, wild rivers, waterfalls and diverse Alaska wildlife populations. We’ll return to Anchorage this evening and overnight at The Lakefront Anchorage (or equivalent).
Lakefront Anchorage (or equivalent) (B, L, D)

Day 8: July 20 – Departure for home: After breakfast, we will conclude our adventure with a visit to the renowned Alaska Native Heritage Center, featuring amazing exhibits and an opportunity to meet local artisans from bush Alaska, a remote region of Alaska where Indigenous populations and local communities mostly rely on subsistence hunting and fishing. Shuttles to the Anchorage International Airport will start at noon; earlier or later departures can be accommodated through the hotel’s 24/7 shuttle service. (B)

Please note: Accommodations and activities are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond NPCA’s control.

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MORE INFORMATION: For full details on this trip, including inclusions, exclusions, accommodations, terms and safety protocols, please download the detailed trip brochure.

Download Detailed Trip Brochure (1 MB pdf) ›

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