Alaska's Kenai Peninsula (Basix)

Welcome to Alaska! This is an arrival day, and there is nothing planned until a welcome meeting at your hotel at 6 pm tonight. Located in south-central Alaska on the shores of Cook Inlet, Anchorage is a unique urban environment situated in the heart of the wilderness. As there's no time spent in Anchorage on this trip, we recommend you arrive a day or two early to see the sights. If you’d like to spend more time here, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). After your important briefing, why not get together with your travel crew and head out for some dinner.

Journey via the Turnagain Arm (approximately 2.5 hours; 200 kilometres) to the coastal town of Seward and the surrounding Kenai Fjords National Park.  There will be time to explore some of this Arctic wonderland, with its numerous lakes, glaciers and fascinating coastline. The area is also famous for its many anglers, who follow the salmon on their annual migration up the peninsula's many wide rivers. Seward is one of Alaska's oldest towns, as well as one of the most scenic. The town itself boasts galleries, boutique shops and a bustling harbour, but it's perhaps best known as a gateway to exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. Depending on your departure date, you may be camping in town or you may be jumping into a water taxi across Resurrection Bay, where you will spend the next two nights staying in a hostel. This accommodation is so remote it can only be accessed by kayak or water taxi. Our hostel in Resurrection Bay isn't your typical hostel. You may need to climb a ladder to reach your bed, and should note that bathrooms are external to the main building. It's rustic, but that's made up for by the remote location.

Enjoy a free day to soak up stunning surrounds. Maybe hire a kayak and hit the water with the majestic snow-capped Alaskan mountains looming in the background. If you do, remember to look out for porpoises and sea otters in the water. Your lodging is also perfectly situated for exploring the surrounding woodlands, so maybe head off on one of the many trails. 

Today head the 125 kilometres to Homer (approximately 4 hours) to arrive at your gateway to the incredible Kenai Peninsula. Keep an eye on the water as you head south because today you might catch a glimpse of beluga whales breaching off the coast. Again, depending on your departure date, you may be camping in town or you may be jumping into a water taxi across Kachemak Bay, where you will spend the next two nights staying in a hostel.

Make the most of a free day in Homer. Perhaps explore the area by kayak and watch sea otters, or visit the beautiful rock arches, cliffs and remote beaches surrounding the city. Homer is a good place for animal watching, with bald eagles, puffins and moose plentiful in the area. Some of the activities around Homer are expensive, but they are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The Kachemak Bay Adventure includes sea kayaking, a tour of the old Russian settlement of Seldovia and a flight over the bay. The Bear Viewing Flight can sometimes sell out, but if you can afford it, the feedback from previous travellers is that it’s a highlight.

Return along the Turnagain Arm and the National Forest Scenic Byway; this route is around 380 kilometres and takes approximately 5.5 hours but remember it is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. This trip finishes on arrival in Anchorage at approximately 5 pm. For those wishing to stay on in Anchorage, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).