Alaska Up Close | Prince William Sound to the Kenai Peninsula

Upon arrival in Anchorage, travel on your own by shuttle to the hotel. With most flights arriving late into the evening, your group will meet for orientation the next morning.

After breakfast and a program orientation, begin your Alaska exploration by meeting with our friends at the nearby Audubon Alaska office for a talk on Audubon Alaska's conservation initiatives and a short hike. After an early lunch on your own, take a shuttle to the airport in time for the afternoon flight to Cordova. Upon arrival, meet your guide and travel to the lodge. Enjoy some initial sights along the way, including swan nests on the Copper River Delta and the Cordova docks and town center. After dinner and another program orientation, participate in an evening talk about plate tectonics and their changes in recent decades, as well as a discussion on climate change.

Start the day with breakfast before heading to Sheridan Glacier for a kayaking excursion. Sheridan Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, so after a short hike through the moraine, visitors are able to witness the dramatic frozen river of ancient ice. After a brief orientation on kayaking, hit the waters to view crystal blue caves and jagged crevasses amid an ever-changing terrain. Have a picnic lunch on shore or on a small island. Then, return to town and visit the Cordova Historical Museum and the Ilanka Cultural Center & Museum to gain a greater sense of the rich history and livelihood of this thriving fishing community.

After enjoying breakfast, take a boat trip to the panoramic Orca Inlet for the opportunity to see the world's largest population of sea otters and observe their interactions within the pod. The guide accompanying you for the day has been involved in sea otter studies for more than 15 years. Afterward, stop at a remote beach for a short hike to explore tide pools before heading to Hinchinbrook Island to enjoy lunch at another beautiful and remote beach. Visit a Kittiwake colony to observe these nesting sea birds. In the late afternoon, take part in a discussion of the life cycle of salmon and their importance to the economy.

Depart for a full-day tour of the Copper River Delta, which includes an unforgettable float down the Alaganik Slough. While traveling through the historic Copper River Highway, which was built on the old railroad bed of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad, take in expansive views of marsh and wetland habitats while watching for moose, eagles, beavers, and the occasional bear. Your guide will point out examples of two geological phenomena, uplift and subsidence, that resulted from the 1964 earthquake and explain how it affected this area. Search for wildlife on the trek to view the mighty Copper River at Mile 27. After a brief break to explore the dunes of the Copper River and participate in a discussion about the salmon habitat and commercial fishing seasons, travel back to Mile 22 and the site of Alaganik, a historical village of the Indigenous Eyak people. Here, visitors can imagine the village as it once was, full of bustling activity around the old trading post, longhouses, and Shaman's Cave that used to inhabit this spot. After a quick introduction to some medicinal uses for local plants, with handouts provided to identify plants on your own, launch canoes with your guide. Float on the Alaganik Slough, watching for wildlife and experiencing the dynamic delta ecosystem up close from this vantage point at water level. See areas where the U.S. Forest Service attempted to help restore the Dusky Canada Goose and Tundra Swan populations by anchoring nest islands in the ponds. After disembarking, stay alert for more wildlife-viewing opportunities on the return trip to the lodge.

Begin the day with breakfast before venturing out to kayak the tranquil waters of Orca Inlet, which is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is home to sea otters and seals. In the afternoon, travel to the airport for the flight to Anchorage, where you will be met by a new guide and driver. Then, travel to Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. If time permits, enjoy a brief hike on a nearby trail with majestic views.

Embark on a 6-hour boat journey into Kenai Fjords National Park to marvel at iconic Alaskan sights, including mountain peaks and tidewater glaciers, as well as fascinating wildlife thriving in this ecosystem, like Puffins, otters, whales, and seals. Have lunch on board, but enjoy dinner on your own in the evening.

Today's adventure starts with a visit to Exit Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in all of Alaska and the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by road. Venture out on a 2.4-mile hike and learn about the geology and biology of beautiful Resurrection River Valley and witness firsthand how Exit Glacier has receded in the last century due to the devastating effects of climate change. This afternoon, head out to the Seward Brewing Company to learn about local beermaking before enjoying a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, depart for the Alaska Sealife Center, the state's premier public aquarium and only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. Enjoy a private talk with a museum staff member to learn about efforts to rescue, treat, and release stranded animals back into the wild. Travel back to Anchorage and have lunch on your own before visiting the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This living cultural center seeks to preserve and strengthen the traditions, languages, and art of Alaska's Native People through collaboration, celebration, and education. Visitors can learn about the art, tools, clothing, and many other items representing all Alaska Native cultures, peoples, and ways of life. Later, travel to the airport in time for your flight home.

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