Anybody making an attempt to convey the grandeur of an Alaska wilderness journey is aware of how troublesome it’s to articulate the majesty of the place. With 17 of the 20 highest peaks in North America, 100,000 glaciers, greater than 12,000 rivers and three million lakes, Alaska helps an enormous wilderness. It’s residence to moose, caribou, Dall sheep, whales, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters and 30,000 brown bears.

Though the state is attractive in every single place you flip, not all Alaska excursions supply the identical wow issue. At Nat Hab, we veer from the usual tourism routes to discover this pristine area from as many views as doable.

Whether or not taking a helicopter flight to Denali Backcountry Lodge, a personal cruise in Kenai Fjords to {photograph} marine life up shut, strolling to platforms to look at brown bears fishing for salmon in Katmai Nationwide Park, or crossing the Kenai Mountains by rail in a dome automobile providing panoramic views, our naturalist guides can’t wait to share lesser-known Alaska with you.

Beneath, discover 5 of our favourite methods to discover Alaska by land, air and sea!

1. Experience the Historic Alaska Railroad Via the Kenai Mountains to Seward

You’ll really feel like a pioneer who has traveled again in time once you board an Alaska Railroad dome automobile for a prepare journey by means of the rugged Chugach and Kenai ranges, preserving your eyes peeled for moose, mountain goats and presumably black bear. The Alaska Railroad, constructed within the early twentieth century, affords one of many world’s most spectacular rail routes, connecting Fairbanks within the north with Seward within the south, with stops alongside the way in which in Denali Nationwide Park, Talkeetna and Anchorage. We board the prepare close to Girdwood on Turnagain Arm, touring the Coastal Traditional Route by means of lush temperate rainforest and into the backcountry wilderness of the Kenai Mountains earlier than crossing Moose Cross to achieve Seward on Resurrection Bay.

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2. Take a Chartered Helicopter in Denali Nationwide Park

On the park entrance, we board a chartered helicopter for a spectacular aerial journey to Denali Backcountry Lodge, remoted in an enormous expanse of wilderness. Spending two nights right here is an unique expertise only a few guests to Alaska get. As we fly over the tangled veins of glacier-fed rivers, broad valleys and steep mountainsides, search for wildlife alongside the sting of the spruce forest and on the braided gravel river bars—we regularly see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzlies and sometimes wolves, “Alaska’s Huge 5.”

3. Kayak Round Fox Island to See Marine Life Up Shut

Alaska is already distant, however we take you to the subsequent degree of distant! From our secluded base on non-public Fox Island, uncover the prolific marine lifetime of Kenai Fjords by kayak. Fronting a wild pebble seaside backdropped by steep forested mountains, Fox Island reveals the pristine aspect of Alaska most guests miss. The Kenai Fjords area is famed for its sea kayaking, and a paddling tour is more likely to reveal among the space’s prolific marine life at eye-level, which incorporates humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles and seabirds, together with puffins.

Kayaking kayakers travelers Alaska fjords misty mountain evergreens wildlife scenic landscape kayak tour

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Encoun­ters with sea otters, seabirds and spawn­ing salmon are com­mon right here. Humpbacks and orcas are essentially the most generally seen whale species in Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park, whereas grey whales are discovered right here solely within the spring. Simply think about how highly effective and intimate a whale encounter can be from the floor degree of the water!

4. View Large Alaska Brown Bears in Their Pure Habitat

Land by floatplane in Katmai Nationwide Park with its world-renowned Brooks Falls, among the finest locations on Earth to look at Alaskan brown bears of their pure habitat. Katmai has the world’s largest inhabitants of those large coastal bears, with greater than 2,200 people calling Katmai’s 4 million acres of wilderness residence.

Brown bears grizzly bears hunting fish salmon brooks falls Alaska

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Inside Katmai’s protected bounds, the bears dwell undisturbed. From the security of platforms constructed over Brooks Falls, you’ll be able to have the privilege of witnessing, at shut vary, bears standing within the dashing whitewater, jaws broad open, targeted on making an attempt to catch the scrumptious salmon that leap up the falls.

5. Watch Tidewater Glaciers Calve from a Non-public Boat Cruise

From our non-public chartered boat, uncover the place the mountains meet the ocean as we cruise deep into Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park to come back straight in entrance of a large tidewater glacier. Winding all the way down to the water from the Harding Ice Discipline above, glaciers spawn icebergs into the frigid saltwater, and we cease and float for some time, ready in hopes of watching the glacier calve one with a thunderous crash. With a comfy blanket wrapped round your shoulders, there’s nothing like being on deck to witness this gorgeous phenomenon…and your crew could even dip a web to gather ice bits to drop into your drink!

Travelers happily cheers with glass of wine aboard private board exploring glaciers in Alaska fjords

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It’s one factor to discover the fjords by kayak, however a complete totally different expertise altogether taking the sights in from our non-public chartered boat, cozy blanket wrapped round your shoulders and a glass of wine in hand.

Uncover extra methods to discover Alaska, together with our new Alaska Bear Camp!