Alaska
Alaska has a way of making everywhere else feel small. I learned that firsthand, working my way through Alaska's lodges and cruise ports before becoming a nature guide aboard the Alaska Railroad, pointing out moose in the willows and waiting for Denali to step out from behind the clouds. Some days it did, and the whole car would go silent.
Since then, I've designed well over 200 Alaska journeys, and I still get a thrill building every one. I love starting in the wild Interior and traveling south toward the coast, finishing aboard a small expedition ship where the glaciers and whales feel close enough to touch.
A Note from the Field:
Piper
Moments Worth the Journey
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![Ski plane on the Ruth Glacier beneath the peaks of Denali National Park, Alaska]()
Land on a Glacier Beneath Denali
Fly from Talkeetna into the heart of the Alaska Range and touch down on the Ruth Glacier, surrounded by granite walls and the vast summit of North America's tallest peak. I'll time your flight for the clearest weather window and can arrange an overnight on the glacier itself for the truly unforgettable version.
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![Alaska Railroad train winding through the mountains and boreal forest of Alaska]()
Ride the Rails Through the Interior
The Alaska Railroad's GoldStar dome cars wind through boreal forest and braided river valleys with the Alaska Range rising ahead. Having guided these very routes, I know exactly which side of the train to sit on.
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![Brown bear fishing for salmon in a river in Katmai National Park, Alaska]()
Watch Brown Bears Fish for Salmon
Take a floatplane into Katmai or Lake Clark National Park and watch brown bears fish the rivers just yards away. I'll plan around peak salmon runs in July and September for the best viewing.
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![Wilderness lodge, Tutka Bay, on the forested shore of Kachemak Bay, Alaska]()
Retreat to a Backcountry Lodge
Fly or boat into a wilderness lodge like Tutka Bay, tucked into a fjord of Kachemak Bay and reachable only by water or air. Spend your days kayaking hidden coves, hiking coastal rainforest, and watching for sea otters, then gather in the evening for chef-driven meals made from the day's catch and local ingredients.
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![Tidewater glacier meeting the sea in Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, Alaska]()
Cruise the Glaciers of Kenai Fjords
From Seward, sail past tidewater glaciers calving into the sea while orcas, humpbacks, sea otters, and puffins appear around every bend. A private or small-group charter keeps you close to the action and far from the crowds.
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![Green northern lights dancing over the boreal forest near Fairbanks, Alaska]()
Chase the Northern Lights in Fairbanks
From late August through April, Fairbanks sits beneath one of the most active auroral zones on Earth. I'll pair your nights under the lights with a soak in natural hot springs and a warm lodge to come home to.
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![Sled dogs pulling a team across a snowy trail in Alaska]()
Mush a Dog Team on a Summer Glacier
Helicopter onto an icefield near Juneau and meet a team of sled dogs who spend their summers training on the snow. It's pure joy, for you and for them.
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![Carved and painted totem pole face with turquoise and red details in Alaska]()
Connect with Alaska Native Cultures
Alaska is home to more than 200 federally recognized tribes, each with its own traditions, languages, and art. I'll connect you with cultural experiences led by Alaska Native guides and centers, from Anchorage to the totem parks of Sitka.
Continue the Adventure
The Signature Journey
Alaska Untamed
Cross the last frontier by rail, small plane, jetboat, and open road, from Denali's roadless wilderness to the calving glaciers of Kenai Fjords.
From the Field Journal
The Alaska Issue
Pack smarter, travel deeper, and give back. The Alaska issue includes a curated packing list, wildlife field plates, a conservation highlight, and reading recommendations for the journey ahead.
Pair this trip with:
The Yukon
Ride the historic White Pass railway from Skagway into the Klondike, where Gold Rush boardwalks and aurora-lit skies carry Alaska's wild spirit across the border.
