Bears, Whales and Glaciers: Lake Clark and Kenai Fjords National Parks

Download Detailed Trip Brochure (1 MB pdf) ›

Available Dates:

July 15-22, 2023 - SOLD OUT FOR 2023 (WAITLIST ONLY)

8 days/7 nights

Minimum/Maximum: 8 guests/14 guests

Itinerary Highlights

• See Alaska’s legendary wildlife
• 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
• Explore on foot, via kayak or canoe
• 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
• Get a behind-the-scenes look from NPCA and our partners on how NPCA is building strong partnerships to protect the Kenai and its marine and coastal animals from climate change
• Stay at the only wilderness lodge within Alaska’s 700,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park and enjoy naturalist walks, sea kayaking and enjoy views of nearby Pederson Glacier

Itinerary

Day 1: July 15 - Arrivals into Anchorage: Plan to arrive in Alaska by at least 2:00 PM in the afternoon today and make your way to the Lakefront Anchorage hotel. Courtesy shuttles from the airport are provided. At 4:00 PM this afternoon, meet your 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 16 – Anchorage to Seward and Exit Glacier: Meet your Trip Leader and fellow travelers promptly at 8:00 AM in the hotel lobby. 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 today 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. This afternoon, we’ll learn about Alaska’s amazing coastal environment with a special visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center, a marine wildlife and maritime museum. The Center’s spectacular 2-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 a fabulous dinner at Resurrection Roadhouse. Seward Windsong Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 3: July 17 - Kenai Fjords National Park and Glacier Lodge: 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 you to explore the rugged coastlines. Enjoy lunch in front of a calving glacier before arriving at your exclusive lodge destination: Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Nestled in a protected tidal lagoon area, the Glacier Lodge offers miles of pristine beachfront for exploring and enjoying views of the stunning Pedersen Glacier. This afternoon, meet your guides for a lodge orientation and settle into your private cabins. Enjoy dinner and evening presentations.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge (B, L, D)

Days 4 & 5: July 18-19 - Kenai Fjords National Park: Explore the wild delights of Kenai Fjords National Park for two full days. After breakfast in the main lodge, choose from a wide array of activities that are best suited to your energy level and interest. Guided options include naturalist walks, 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 — cozy up with a good book and let your worries drift out with the tide! Upon return to the main lodge, share stories from your 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 20 – Kenai Fjords National Park to Anchorage: Savor another morning in the wilds of Kenai Fjords National Park. A morning outing allows for another opportunity to kayak, canoe, hike or beach comb for a half-day before boarding our boat for the return wildlife cruise to Seward. Along the way, 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. Enjoy the spectacular scenery on your rail journey, with Gold Star seating in domed viewing cars; a delicious dinner will be served on board. You’ll arrive at the downtown Anchorage depot by 10:15 PM and overnight at Lakefront Anchorage. Lakefront Anchorage (B, L, D)

Day 7: July 21 - Bear Viewing in Lake Clark National Park: Starting from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, prepare for an exciting day of adventure to Lake Clark National Park to view bears in this incredible habitat. Enjoy a scenic 1-hour and 10-minute stunning flightseeing tour via floatplane from Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Your expert pilot will land at Redoubt Mountain Lodge located on the incredible blue Crescent Lake where you will spend your day. Upon arrival you’ll meet your knowledgeable bear viewing guide who will escort you by covered pontoon boat to lakeside areas where bears feed on spawning wild Alaska salmon. While you observe the important relationship between the world-famous brown bear and wild Alaska salmon, you’ll have an opportunity to hear about NPCA’s priorities in protecting these iconic species. Situated at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is an epitome of the Alaska wilderness landscape. At four million acres, the Park encompasses volcanoes, jagged mountains, glaciers, wild rivers, waterfalls and diverse Alaska wildlife populations. You’ll never forget your visit to one of America’s most inaccessible and breathtaking national parks. This unforgettable park and the surrounding landscape provide crucial wildlife habitat and subsistence resources for Alaska Natives, but the looming threats of mining continue to put the people and wildlife of this critical area at risk. Your NPCA staff expert will share details about the decade-long fight against proposed mining in the region. Return to Anchorage this evening and overnight at the Lakefront Anchorage.
Lakefront Anchorage (B, L, D)

Day 8: July 22 – Departure for home: After breakfast this morning, 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 in which 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: This itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions and park closures related to COVID-19.

---

NPCA TRAVEL ELIGIBILITY: NPCA is the only independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of the National Park System. Over 70% of our funding comes from donations from individuals like you. NPCA trips are an exclusive NPCA member benefit. One traveler per group must be an NPCA member to participate in an NPCA trip. An annual membership starts at $15 per person. Please make dues payable to NPCA by check or credit card at npca.org.

TRAVEL SAFE WITH NPCA: Your safety is our top priority. NPCA has worked diligently with each of our travel partners to develop important safety measures for all our trips. As guidelines and protocols evolve, we are committed to creating flexible options for those interested in rescheduling or booking new travel. For more information, check out our COVID-19 Travel Update.

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) ›

MAKING RESERVATIONS: To secure your space on this NPCA trip, please contact our Educational Travel Program team at 1.800.628.7275 or email the Travel Program at travel@npca.org.

TRAVEL PROTECTION: We strongly recommend purchasing important optional travel insurance that will cover you for a variety of travel-related contingencies, such as trip cancellation, interruption, and/or delay; baggage loss, theft, damage or delay; accident and/or sickness medical expenses; accidental death; as well as evacuation/repatriation coverage. Please note that a Pre-Existing Condition waiver is available if you purchase the policy within 21 days of making your initial trip payment. Also consider the optional “Cancel for any Reason” protection. All questions regarding the plan’s coverage should be directed to Travel Insurance Select through USI Affinity at 1-800-937-1387 or by visiting their website.

Check out NPCA’s full tour lineup at www.npca.org/trips