In Whatsapp and Facebook parlance, this is "#latepost"! We visited Alaska back in August. 2016. But I keep getting requests and questions about how did we plan for Alaska and what did we do there. So here it is.
Day 1
Late evening arrival at Anchorage.Day 2
A scenic 4 hr drive to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward. This is a great drive, part coastal, part inland. But you are never away from the mountains. We then embarked upon what became one of my most remarkable hikes till date: Harding Ice field Trail. It climbs up 3300 ft., in about 4 miles. Where does it take you? Over Exit Glacier. You will start to see the glacier by midway of that hike. But the view from the top is unparalleled. Then, drive back to Anchorage. |
| Hike to the top of Exit Glacier... Isn't is breathtaking? |
Day 3
We took it easy. After a nice brunch, off we went to Alaska Native Heritage Center. Its a beautiful as well as informative attraction to know about the local Alaskan tribes. Understand how they lived in harsh weather, see and experience their primitive home, and if you time your visit right, you may also be able to see some authentic Alaskan tribal dance steps! We actually spent more than couple of hours here.For a relaxed afternoon/evening, we went to a beautiful and serene lake called Lake Eklutna.
Day 4
It was the day to experience the famed Alaskan Railroad. We took the same destination, Seward. But boy, did that route leave us spellbound! The train chugged along some splendid vistas: snow capped peaks, lush green valleys and vibrant meadows. The landscape's beauty magnifies, if it is coupled with some clouds, and the right amount of fog and Sun! The train had refreshments, so you can enjoy the view from the comfort of the "lounge", sipping coffee! :) |
| The railroad goes pass some superb snow-clad peaks and lush green valleys |
Reaching Seward, we did a 6hr long cruise to explore glaciers and see its calving. No guarantees you will see that, but luck indeed favored us! On our return leg, we said hello to our aquatic companions: whales! The return journey to Anchorage was also on the railroad and it was equally enthralling.
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| Beautiful layering of rocks, off the shore of Kenai Fjords NP |
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| Right to the mouth of a glacier! |
Day 5
We explored Alaska by rail and by water. It was time to explore it by road. Our first 6.5 hour journey to Valdez: the same sleepy town that became infamous after that Exxon oil spill.Believe me when I say this: I am truly short of words to describe the scenic drive. You can witness the glaciers up close (Matanuska Glacier), hear the enchanting sound of water falling and hitting rocks (Bridal Veil Falls) or find yourself humbled in the towering walls of the Keystone Canyon: all accessible via the highway. A truely breathtaking ride. We didn't plan anything else on that day so we took our own sweet time to reach Valdez.
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| Some random vista during the drive... |
Day 6
A day of experiencing an unique Alaskan adventure... kayaking in ice caves! We selected Anadyr Adventures as our guide. A fantabulous experience. We spent close of 30 mins inside the ice caves and around "icebergs". The kayaking time was of course much more. Taking a break, the same guide took us to some interesting hiking *on* a glacier. Super fun! Considering transfer times, instructions, kayaking and hiking, keep the entire day aside for this activity. |
| No words! Kayaking under ice! |
Day 7
Being in Alaska, it would be blasphemy not to go to Denali. Why commit a sin? ;) Valdez to Denali: this road trip to Alaska made us realize why its called The Last Frontier. We drove for 6 hours on unpaved (yes, unpaved) Alaska 8 Highway and didn't see a car or any human being. It was as secluded as it can get. It was as remote as it can be. The vistas were serene magnified by howling of winds and chirping of birds.It was also a reminder to be self sufficient when you travel, always. Nevertheless, it also energized and vindicated us for our reasons of travel.
Day 8
In Denali NP, a bus ride to the end of the road is a must-do. Private automobiles can go only upto 15 miles into the park. If you choose to do so, your entire day is pretty much reserved. Majestic scenery and wildlife await you. Be ready to be enthralled by the towering views of Mt. Denali. Although shrouded in clouds for vast majority of time, who knows when luck favors you! Be prepared to be enchanted by the valleys and canyons carved by Alaskan glaciers. And of course, how can you ignore the rugged peaks? |
| The splendid scenery of Denali NP |
Day 9
I wanted to explore Denali NP by foot. But with limited route finding skills and with hardly any marked trails, the remoteness of the park compelled me to sign up for a 4 hr guided hike up to the Cathedral Peak. Although strenuous, climbing on a very steep incline and loose gravel, the hike was a challenge in itself, nonetheless rewarding. Very rewarding. The vistas were so majestic, it would be an injustice to even try to describe them. |
| From the top of Cathedral Peak. |
Bhavika, in the mean time, chilled out at a cafe with her books. We left Denali in the afternoon to catch up our late night flight to head home.
Few things to note:
+ Alaska is BIG and REMOTE. Notice the caps there. Do not take it for granted. It requires clearer and better planning than your other trips.
+ Because of its size, do not squeeze in multiple destinations. Pick a region and explore it. Alaskan government's official travel planner is a very good place to start. And of course, then there's Google, TripAdvisor, etc. You can always ask questions to us! :)
+ Except in well-developed areas/towns, cellphone network is almost non-existent. So you may download Alaska's map onto your phone via Google Maps, so you can use it for navigation, PoI, etc. in absence of an internet connection. The other option is to buy the MilePost: a very information regional map with all the details about the services, including gas stations, medical centers, etc.
+ In my opinion, a road trip in Alaska is must. You will get the thrill as well as solitude of being geographically isolated!
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