Guided Backcountry Adventure Tours

Experience Alaska at its most beautifully remote on a fully outfitted float trip with Aniak Air Guides. Whether your passion is rafting, fishing, hunting, backpacking, wildlife and outdoor photography, or gold panning, Aniak Air Guides can set you up with everything you need, then fly you to the perfect location to DIY the trip of a lifetime.

Experience the thrill of flightseeing in areas that most tours can’t reach. Go with Golden Eagle Outfitters and enjoy fully customized flightseeing tours from Kotzebue or Delta Junction—or take advantage of their air-taxi drop-off and pickup service to access some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Alaska.

Traverse Alaska can craft fully-guided custom adventures, or set you up on a trip into the Alaska wilderness arming you with some know-how—and providing you with the independence to freely explore. Traverse Alaska’s owner, Joe and his local team can help facilitate stays in lodges, cabins, tents or yurts, and provide the necessary gear and instructions for anything from hiking to packrafting, sea kayaking to glacier trekking, on an independent or fully-guided trip.

Get a unique view of the Alaskan wilderness on a four- or seven-day backpacking trip through the backcountry. You’ll be trekking on Kesugi Ridge in Denali State Park, with magnificent views of Mt. McKinley and of course plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. Your experienced naturalist guide will be with you the whole way, cooking up great meals at your campsites. You should be fit enough to carry a pack up moderate hills, though you’ll sometimes be dropping it off for side hikes to explore secret spots with your guide.

St. Elias Alpine Guides have a long history of sharing the wilderness with travelers—whether the activity involves hiking a glacier, backpacking, rafting, skiing, or even doing some extreme mountaineering—there’s something for everyone! You can also take advantage of the option to customize your trip.

Traverse the majesty of Exit Glacier by ice hiking or ice climbing, or opt for a nature hike in the gorgeous terrain around Seward, Alaska. Never ice climbed or hiked on a glacier? Not a problem. All trips include instruction to get you started.

The unique trips offered by Infinite Adventures begin with transportation in a converted school bus that’s been transformed into a spacious, comfortable chariot for 16 travelers. Accommodations are mostly in tents, and itineraries have been designed for camping lovers (and those who would like to try it). Plus, the owners run most trips themselves—a husband and wife who are passionate about showing off Alaska!

Sockeye Cycle offers fabulously in-depth trips that stretch across the state, and even into Canada, and last anywhere from 3 to 12 days. Cycling around Alaska is special in a few ways.  The roads can sometimes be quirky, and sometimes a little more rugged than a freshly paved road somewhere else. But on the other hand, you‘ll likely get the road to yourself, so you can relax and spend more time enjoying the scenery. These multi-day trips offer a rewarding way to explore the Northern frontier, but with enough comforts that you never feel like you’re roughing it.

Alaska bear camp is magically hidden in a rare Critical Bear Habitat in the wilderness of Lake Clark National Park. Instead of hundreds, only 16 privileged guests observe the wonder of up to 50 brown Bears living out their daily drama. Due to the beauty of the location and the exceptional bear population, the deluxe camp, with en suite biffies, beds with mattresses and food flown in daily, was used as a base camp for the Disney movie Bears. Transfers available from Anchorage or Great Alaska Adventure Lodge in Sterling.

See the bears of Lake Clark and Katmai National Park on their own turf at this blissfully remote cabin-based eco lodge. This is a glamping experience with incredible views—both of the bears living in their own habitat, and of the natural scenery that you get from your hosts, who also run Homer’s only helicopter-based adventure safari company.

Sprawling Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has huge mountains, North America’s largest concentration of glaciers, and thousands of rivers—but just two roads. That’s why taking to the local rivers is such an excellent way to explore the park: this operator out of McCarthy offers multi-day adventures that embrace the rugged wonders of the park, while keeping you comfortable enough so that you relax and enjoy it.

Take a boutique, small-group kayaking trip with experienced guides at Liquid Adventures and get close to glaciers in kayaks or paddleboards while looking for whales and other marine mammals. You can even combine your adventure with a jetboat, helicopter, or wildlife cruise. There’s nothing quite like it in all of Alaska!

Kayak Adventures Worldwide guides small groups on sea kayaking excursions in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Paddle along with the heartbeat of the water, enjoying marine wildlife and Alaska's impressive glaciers. Guides focus on safety, education, and eco-awareness for maximum enjoyment with minimal impact.

Guided sea kayaking in Alaska’s Southeast opens up the magical world of water-based touring. Glide through a marine environment with gorgeous views in every direction, and many opportunities to spot wildlife – from eagles and salmon to bears, whales and sea lions. Options include day tours for busy schedules and multi-day immersions, all under the expert guidance of naturalists who help you understand the complex workings of a unique and amazing environment.

Immerse yourself in a multi-day Alaskan adventure that promises incredible views and jaw-dropping bear viewing in Katmai National Park, along with a warm camaraderie that only a small group expedition can create. Explore from your home base on the Island C, a research vessel that gets you close to the action while providing comfortable lodging and delicious meals.

Explore Alaska’s Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park fully with a three-day/two-night custom adventure perfect for families or couples. Alaska Fjord Charters guides you to the best mix of kayaking, glacier viewing, whale watching, and fishing, all in one leisurely tour. 

Set sail for 7 days and 6 nights with the crew of the M/V Sea Star for small ship adventure cruising in Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula or along the Inside Passage. The well-appointed yacht accommodates just 12 guests, allowing for a personalized experience where you are the explorer! Unplug from day-to-day life and soak up the wonders of Alaska’s amazing coastline. All meals prepared by an on-board chef and featuring fresh local ingredients.

Hop aboard the M/V Gambler and cruise out to Resurrection Bay for a relaxing and personalized outing with locally-owned Alpenglow Charters. Couples and families will relish their time together exploring Seward’s enchanting coastline, guided by an engaging and knowledgeable crew. Options fit into the busiest of schedules: from a 4 hour lunch cruise, a remote overnight, to a 2-day land and sea journey.

Spend a few days or more exploring the waters of Resurrection Bay and Prince William Sound aboard the M/V Caroline, a beautiful custom-built yacht set for adventure! It’s the perfect setting for a family or small group vacation, guided by the energetic team at 60 Degrees Adventure Charters. Fill your days lounging on the flybridge, fishing, kayaking, strolling beaches and cruising to your next fantastic destination – all on a relaxed timetable.

This Southeast Alaska-based tour operator will leave you with a new definition of what it means to have a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska cruise: You sail on an intimate vessel—often getting to steer yourself, under the supervision of an experienced licensed captain—while exploring away from the crowds, and getting a wonderfully up-close view of the wildlife and scenery. Sailings from Juneau and Sitka. 

Set sail for 7 days and 6 nights with the crew of the M/V Sea Star for small ship adventure cruising in Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula or along the Inside Passage. The well-appointed yacht accommodates just 12 guests, allowing for a personalized experience where you are the explorer! Unplug from day-to-day life and soak up the wonders of Alaska’s amazing coastline. All meals prepared by an on-board chef and featuring fresh local ingredients.

Outside of pitching a tent on a beach with the bears, you can’t stay any closer to the heart of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. The Glacier Bay Lodge, with its massive timbers, huge stone fireplace, network of boardwalks and rooms tucked into the trees, is the only lodging available within park boundaries. Fabulous views, a full-service restaurant, trails through the rainforest, camping and kayak drop-offs, mountain-bike and fishing-gear rentals, shuttle service, and more. 

Experience true remote Alaska at this fly-in wilderness lodge northeast of Denali National Park. Your adventure begins as you take off in a bush plane from Healy, a town just north of Denali. Upon arrival, check into one of the 12 cabins on the property, each with its own en suite bathroom and plenty of privacy. This slice of wilderness is yours to explore; hike, fat-tire bike, or wander down to the pond to watch for moose. Then, enjoy the hearty meals served family style in the main lodge. 

This fly-in wilderness lodge on a private lake in the Talkeetna Mountains is a great place to unplug. Choose from 3 private cabins and enjoy home-cooked meals served family style with other guests. Take guided walks to look for wildlife or wild berries, or just relax and enjoy the peace and blissful views.

Experience complete immersion in the wonders of wild coastal Alaska, and stay in spacious, bright yurts (circular, reinforced tent-like structures) on a private one-acre island. Inside, the yurts are warm and comfy, outside you'll find private decks, as well as boardwalks and fire rings. They also provide complimentary sea kayaks, rowboat, and fishing gear. All of this is just a 9-mile boat ride from the Seward Boat Harbor.

Exploring Alaska’s backcountry lakes, forests and rivers is a phenomenal experience.  Wilderness Place Lodge—tucked away on a remote river northwest of Anchorage—offers excellent access to nearly any freshwater fish you came to Alaska for, along with a unique eco-travel experience that comes with a high level of service, a variety of non-fishing activities and the mellow freedom to create an Alaskan experience that suits your own taste.

Located within a 1700 acre native-owned wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park, the central lodge and 16 guest cabins of Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge have full views of Pedersen Glacier and easy access to wildlife-viewing adventures. The elegantly rustic lodge and secluded guest cabins pair modern comfort and environmental stewardship.

Kantishna is a historic goldmining district in the backcountry of Denali National Park. Among the most remote areas of the park, you can stay in a cozy cabin and spend your days playing, exploring and relaxing in the wilderness. Kantishna Roadhouse is the only lodge in the area with a full-service saloon.

At Camp Denali, you’ll immerse yourself in a remote backcountry, but with a cozy bed to settle into each night. Take in the quiet of the surrounding wilderness and enjoy the simple, sustainable amenities for around 38 guests. Here, the balance of “light touch on the land” and providing a comfortable stay is perfected. Refined rustic guest cabins, each of which claims a unique view of Denali, sleep from two to six people.

Whether you're looking to take your family off-grid for a bit of Alaska Adventuring, or for a great fishing spot with your buddies with incredible bear-viewing—or if you’re even an artist looking for inspiration—this lodge made up of newly renovated log cabins offers a customized ideal of bliss.  It’s about 180 miles from the nearest road and offers an idyllic perch for exploring both the wilderness of Lake Clark National Park, as well as other bucket-list destinations in Alaska.

This lodge, like Camp Denali, was homesteaded in the 1950s, but unlike the cabin style lodging, The North Face Lodge is quaintly decorated like a casual country inn. The lodge can hold about 36 guests, who all enjoy multi-day stays complete with cultural history, guided hikes, field trips and evening programs.

Remote and exclusive, this family-owned lodge north of the Arctic Circle offers independent travelers an experience far off the grid. The summer high season brings fabulous hiking, fishing or floating under the Midnight Sun—but you’ll still be able to relax in comfort, and never feel like you’re roughing it.

Staying at the remote Kenai Backcountry Lodge within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge offers a real taste of the wilderness. The lodge, located on a five-acre, private in-holding, began as a river-accessed hunting cabin back in 1935. Years later, the remodeled and expanded property is still road-free, and guests raft into the lodge. Alaska Wildland Adventures pride themselves on a ‘leave no trace’ style of eco-tourism. 

Alaska’s Ridgewood Wilderness Lodge is a premier, full-service destination lodge in Halibut Cove adjacent to the Kachemak Bay State Park. Your hosts understand that experiencing Alaska’s great outdoors is a primary goal for those active in mind and spirit, so they have designed numerous guided adventures to choose from, including hiking, glacier kayaking & wildlife viewing. You can also add-on a fishing charter or bear viewing tour during your stay.  This is Alaska as you imagine it, an exceptional journey from start to finish.

This fly-in-only lodge features two secluded chalets set amid a stunning mixture of sea, forest, and a glacier-formed lake. Enjoy guided walks, custom zodiac tours on the lake, bonfires on the beach, and relaxation at your private chalet. The rate includes transportation to and from the lodge, kayaks, dinner prepared by your hosts, and access to a pantry of items to supplement breakfast, lunch, and snacking. Each chalet is equipped with its own kitchen. 

The Northwoods Lodge is a remote lodge where visitors can find themselves in a 45 minute flight from Anchorage. The lodge specializes in guided fishing, and guests can enjoy 8 to 10 hours of fishing a day if they choose. Guides help you spin or fly fish for trophy king salmon, silver and sockeye salmon, or resident rainbow trout, arctic grayling and northern pike

For a lot of travelers, exploring deep into Denali National Park, far from the crowds, sounds like the ideal way to experience the famous park. But not everyone wants to rough it out there—which is why this lodge is the perfect balance, a comfortable perch in seriously remote wilderness.

The McBride Family has perfected their all-inclusive world-class Alaskan experience. Their amazing local Alaskan team and professional guides will personalize and customize your stay based on your interests, the tides, and the weather. Your days can be quiet and relaxing or filled with action-packed adventures including sea kayaking, hiking, casual beach fishing, tide pooling, marine and wildlife viewing, boat excursions, beach campfires, bird watching, and more! Relish the rustic elegance of the Lodge’s private, deluxe accommodations and gourmet cuisine.

Your own idyllic log chalet —is surrounded by more than a million acres of Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park and Kenai Fjords National Monument. Every day offers a first-class adventure. There are miles of lovely hiking trails and trout fishing supplies are provided. You may ask the pilot to return and take you for a day of brown bear viewing, or other fly-out adventure! Immersing yourself in some of the best of Alaska involves just a 15-minute floatplane flight from Homer or a one-hour flight from Anchorage.

The Ultima Thule Lodge offers you two extremes—though extremes of the best kind possible. This unique and private lodge is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Alaska—they’ve hosted both the rich and famous—but it’s also tucked inside the vast wilds of the nation’s largest, and most remote, national park. Second generation hosts, Paul and Donna Claus (he an internationally revered bush pilot, she a retired ski racer and first class chef) offer a personalized, bush-safari experience that is equal parts plush splendor and authentic adventure.

Alaska bear camp is magically hidden in a rare Critical Bear Habitat in the wilderness of Lake Clark National Park. Instead of hundreds, only 16 privileged guests observe the wonder of up to 50 brown Bears living out their daily drama. Due to the beauty of the location and the exceptional bear population, the deluxe camp, with en suite biffies, beds with mattresses and food flown in daily, was used as a base camp for the Disney movie Bears. Transfers available from Anchorage or Great Alaska Adventure Lodge in Sterling.