Alaska was made for adventure. Kayak along the coast amid volcanoes and glaciers. Hike next to an ice field for the experience of a lifetime. Bike along Turnagain Arm with views of the Chugach Mountains. Search for glaciers while cruising through Prince William Sound. Move through the landscape quietly and 'locals' may show their faces: eagles, moose, sea otters, bears. Even if they don't, you know they're there... and somehow that's enough.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hike the Harding Icefield Trail, a spectacular route alongside Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park

Explore the charms and shops of Homer, one of Alaska's most beautiful seaside towns

Enjoy jaw-dropping views of Cook Inlet, the volcanoes of the Alaska Range and the tidewater glaciers of Prince William Sound Kayak around Yukon Island, keeping your eyes peeled for marine wildlife, including harbor seals and sea otters

ACTIVITY LEVEL: 1-3

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.

DAY 1

Welcome to Alaska! Kick off the trip cycling along bike paths with the surrounding mountains as your backdrop | Enjoy stunning vistas of Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains as we make our way to the little town of Girdwood | Hike along Winner Creek surrounded by America’s northernmost rain forest | Raise a toast to the beginning of our Alaskan adventure.

DAYS 2-3

Prince William Sound, one of Alaska's most famous waterways and a vast unspoiled wilderness, sets the stage for an amazing glacier cruise | Amid a stunning mountain backdrop, glide past towering tidewater glaciers and walk along a rocky shoreline | Journey south to the Kenai Peninsula, a wonderland of rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords and lakes | The Chugach Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for an adventure to Kenai Fjords National Park | Hike along the Harding Icefield Trail to witness up close how glaciers reshape the land | Have your camera ready? Unrivaled vistas of Harding Icefield, Exit Glacier and the Resurrection River Valley await | Keep an eye out for mountain goats, moose and marmots!

DAYS 4-6

Travel to Homer and bike along a route with views of Cook Inlet, the Alaska Range and Grewingk Glacier | Ride along Homer Spit, a narrow finger of land in picturesque Kachemak Bay | Harbor seals and sea lions make frequent appearances outside our waterfront hotel | Circumnavigate Yukon Island by kayak, watching for bald eagles, porpoises and sea otters | Explore a local homestead, complete with animals, herbs, art and views of Kachemak Bay.

ROUTE NOTES

The biking terrain on this trip ranges from level to rolling with a few steep longer climbs and descents. There are limited roads in Alaska and we have found the best available bike routes. The hike to Harding Icefield is very rigorous due to its steep rocky terrain and the possibility of encountering snow. Unpredictable mountain weather can make hiking and biking conditions more challenging. Backroads is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.