NEW TRIP
Kodiak, Katmai & Kenai Wilderness
Exploring the Aleutian Islands
Overview
The Aleutian Islands brim with rugged scenery, dominating cliffs, and diverse wildlife, including sea otters, whales, seabirds, fish, and more than 10 million birds that rest on the islands each summer. Though small in size, these volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean are a treasure trove of sights and experiences. From stunning parks to fascinating wildlife and a wealth of human history, they are a captivating destination for travelers seeking adventure and natural beauty. On this expedition voyage aboard the 36-guest Safari Explorer, discover their riches on guided hikes, kayaking excursions, cruises by Zodiac, and paddleboard. You'll be accompanied throughout by expert naturalist guides who help you make the most of your adventure.
Arrive: Whittier, Alaska
Depart: Unalaska, Alaska
Highlights
- Explore volcanic fields
- Beachcomb rocky shorelines and hike beneath a glacier
- Navigate along the least-visited shores in coastal Alaska
- Search for wildlife—whales, orcas, eagles, puffins, sea otters, seals, and sea lions
- Kayak, paddle board, and skiff in hidden coves and narrow fjords
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Your adventure begins in beautiful Whittier, Alaska, your gateway to Prince William Sound. You'll take a scenic motorcoach transfer from Anchorage to Whittier and enjoy bird's-eye views as you prepare to embark on your journey. Meet your crew and familiarize yourself with your home for the next 11 days.
Welcome to the mesmerizing glacial wonderland of Kenai Fjords National Park. Established in 1980, this park safeguards Alaska's glacial wilderness. Covering over 600,000 acres, it boasts stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and magnificent tidewater glaciers. The park's 936-square-mile Harding Icefield feeds these glaciers, creating awe-inspiring fjords where land and sea intertwine.
Embark on a wild and untamed journey to Kodiak Island and the breathtaking beauty of rugged landscapes and pristine waters. Paddle through calm bays on kayaking excursions, keeping an eye out for playful sea otters and majestic eagles soaring above. Each day presents new activities for water ops and wildlife watching for nature's pure magic. View spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain to the Inside Passage, an essential habitat for marine mammals and some 40 million seabirds, representing more than 30 species.
A landscape is alive underneath your feet, filled with creatures that remind you what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
Alaska Peninsula Refuge presents a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra, and rugged, wave-battered coastlines. When the salmon are running, Ugashik Lakes and streams attract brown bears in great numbers.
No lines, no waiting! Given its remote location and challenging weather conditions, Aniakchak is one of the most wild and least-visited places in the National Park System. This landscape is a vibrant reminder of Alaska's location in the volcanically active "Ring of Fire," as it is home to a massive six-mile wide, 2,500-foot-deep volcanic crater formed during a massive eruption 3,500 years ago.
Exposures of petrified logs and stumps along the shores of Unga Island are remnants of a sequoia or metasequoia forest buried as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. The petrified forest tells the story of the passage of species between Asia and America, and helps portray the climate and environment of the Aleutian Arc before humans inhabited Alaska.
Today's adventure will take you to either King Salmon or False Pass. The location of sandbars and channels can shift significantly because of the movement and melting of ice, seasonal sedimentation, and erosion in the area; making every visit unique. Skiff, kayak, or hike in these unique landscapes.
Today's adventure will be a fiery one. Welcome to Akutan Island, home of the active Mount Akutan volcan, which erupted most recently in 1992. The recent volcanic activity makes Akutan Island an amazing destination for ecotourism. Hiking on the island offers a diverse landscape where wildflowers and berries abound on hills and mountains.
Today, you'll explore Unalaska, the largest town in the Aleutian Islands (but with a population of only 4,760 residents!). The ship docks in Dutch Harbor, the final stop of your trip. But the adventure doesn't end here. Take in the sights of the Church of the Holy Ascension, a national landmark and the oldest church building in Alaska. Hike and explore the Dutch Harbor, best known for being the home harbor of Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch.
One last breakfast with new friends before you begin to head back to Anchorage. After breakfast take your included transfer to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor airport for your flight to Anchorage (flight to Anchorage is not included in trip cost).
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.