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7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna
Our 7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna tour was crafted with glacier enthusiasts in mind. This 7 day, 6-night adventure takes you to an abundance of awe-inspiring natural wonders. Our local Alaskan guides will take you off the beaten path to view memorable vistas in Anchorage, Seward, Girdwood, Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Denali National Park and Palmer.
7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna offers the chance to view calving glaciers and cascading moulins by airboat, glacial trekking, aerial vistas of Denali’s snow-domed peaks, catamaran rides through Prince William Sound, panoramic views from the Chugach Mountains, wildlife viewing, and opportunities to learn about Athabaskan traditions and gold mining culture.
7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna Itinerary
Our 7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna tour was crafted with glacier enthusiasts in mind. This 7 day, 6-night adventure takes you to an abundance of awe-inspiring natural wonders. Our local Alaskan guides will take you off the beaten path to view memorable vistas in Anchorage, Seward, Girdwood, Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Denali National Park and Palmer.
7 Days in Matanuska-Susitna offers the chance to view calving glaciers and cascading moulins by airboat, glacial trekking, aerial vistas of Denali’s snow-domed peaks, catamaran rides through Prince William Sound, panoramic views from the Chugach Mountains, wildlife viewing, and opportunities to learn about Athabaskan traditions and gold mining culture.
Unwind with this glacier-focused tour where your comfort and safety is our priority.
Day 1 - - Anchorage: (Meals Provided: Breakfast)
With beautiful scenery and wildlife right in town, Anchorage provides visitors with an undeniable charm. The 24 hour shuttle will take you straight to your downtown hotel where you have easy access to artisan shops and local cuisine. A short walk out of downtown can land you on a variety of trails, most notably the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which allows for seasonal sightings of beluga whales or moose.
Day 2 - - Seward & Resurrection Bay: (Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Embark on a narrated cruise to Fox Island for a rare opportunity to view calving glaciers and migrating whales. Beautiful pebble beaches line the shore along with sculpted cliffs and quaint coves. Upon arrival, you’ll have the chance to paddleboard and kayak for an intimate experience with the environment. A fresh salmon bake awaits for lunch.
Afterwards, a visit to Seward's Sealife Center, a $56 million project towards study and restoration of Alaska's marine wildlife provides the opportunity to witness massive 2-ton Stellar sea lions, resting harbor seals and puffin. Alaskan king crab, sea star and the Giant Pacific Octopus are some of the centers most unique exhibits, with live demonstrations performing regularly.
Later, jagged cliffs and great alpine glaciers can be viewed from Resurrection Bay, while Crow Creek Mine offers visitors rich history and beautiful natural scenery of one of Alaska’s largest producing gold mines. Hugged between the Chugach Mountains, Crow Creek Mine’s unique blend of historical buildings, antique and rare mining equipment, motley gardens and variety of hiking trails offer an ethereal moment for visitors eager to get rich off its cultural relevance or its still-producing mines.
Day 3 - - Seward & Prince William Sound: (Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Spend a day amongst colossal glaciers and Alaska’s rugged wildlife on the most luxurious catamaran in Alaska, the Klondike Express. Cruising through the calm, kaleidoscopic waters of Price William Sounds, giant visages of glacial ice surround you, while migratory whales can be a common sight. With narration and wilderness insights provided by the U.S. Forest Service Rangers, the Klondike Express is an amazing opportunity to professionally explore Alaska’s arctic waters. (Operates seasonally: May—September)
Afterwards, Big Game Alaska Rehabilitation Center provides first-hand sights of some of Alaska’s renowned wildlife. Providing care to injured and orphaned wildlife, Big Game’s residents are continuously rotating, but provide an opportunity to witness moose, grizzly bear, muskox and wolves. Entirely self-supported and reliant on the endeavors of its visitors, Big Game is a unique chance to participate in the preservation of Alaska’s unique wildlife.
Day 4 - - Talkeetna & Iditarod Race Headquarters: (Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
The day begins at Iditarod Race Headquarters, an Alaskan heritage and cultural sight. Historically renowned for its role as a trade and delivery route, this was once Alaska’s lifeline to medication, supply and post from the mainland. Today, Iditarod Race Headquarters maintains the tradition of mushing with the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You’ll have the rare opportunity to experience a real dog-sled ride and the chance to mingle with the huskies afterwards.
Afterwards, the quaint and quirky town of Talkeetna provides “Old Alaska” rustic charm. Stroll through the town’s artisan shops or grab lunch at the locally-renowned Road House for hearty frontier food and drink. With opportunity to see and do in each direction, Talkeetna’s private flights offer rare, aerial views of Alaska’s lush valleys and snow-domed mountains. For those who prefer to stay grounded, horseback riding and river boat safari provide an intimate opportunity to get immersed in the rugged environment. (Advanced Arrangement Required)
Day 5 - - Denali National Park & Cabin Nite Dinner Theater: (Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
With over 365 acres of wild frontier, Denali provides you an excellent opportunity to see why Alaska is famous for its wildlife. Panoramic views descend upon you from all directions, with rugged crags, snow-domed mountains and vast spans of wild Alaskan range. The tundra is home to wildlife such as the infamous grizzly bear, Dall sheep, moose, wolves and caribou. For the adventurer who yearns to see the rugged wilderness, Denali is not to be missed.
Additionally, add on the option of dinner at the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater to get a taste of early 1900s Alaska. Enjoy buttery drop biscuits and delectable Alaskan salmon while you join the heroine Fannie Quigley in this larger-than-life Gold Rush tale, ending with an additional night’s stay in Denali National Park.
Day 6 - - Matanuska & Knik Glaciers: (Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
An airboat shuttle to Knik Glacier allows you to see crystal blue icebergs floating quietly in serene Lake George. Previously covering the entirety of the Anchorage Bowl and Cook Inlet, Knik Glacier is famous for its historically cataclysmic floods.
Today, viewing opportunities continue with the chance to witness towering moulins that cascade through the gapping fissures of the ice, deep canyons and distant, snow-capped mountains along the Matanuska River, opening up to the Matanuska Glacier. As one of the few trekkable Alaskan Glaciers, this 3-hour hike with Mica Guides across Matanuska Glacier provides a rare opportunity to gain insights into glaciology, geology and natural history.
Day 7 - - Eklutna Historical Park & Anchorage: (Meals Provided: Breakfast & Lunch)
The village of Eklutna provides visitors a cultural opportunity to learn about the Russian Orthodox Church and its influence on native Alaskan culture. From the onion-shaped domes of New Saint Nicholas Church to the vibrant swaths of color speckled across the Athabaskan spirit houses, nowhere else does secular religion blend with native tradition in this way. Afterwards, a hike along the Eklutna River grants views of deep river gorges and plummeting, vibrant white waterfalls at Thunder Bird Creek.
Our trip culminates with our return to Anchorage. It’s advised to book return flights for after 1:00 P.M. for ample time to view its historic downtown and nature trails. If time permits, the Native Heritage Center and Anchorage Museum will introduce you to Alaskan art, culture and heritage.
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