Unparalleled Guided Alaska Backpacking Trips
Knowledge and experience intersect with Alaska’s unique raw wildness to provide you unparalleled adventure. Impeccable safety protocols combine with proficient trip planning and fluid itineraries to ensure your trip experience is the one you’re looking for.
How Our Guided Alaska Backpacking Trips Work
Bush plane access is standard for us. We fly in, set up a base or move camp every few days, and spend our time hiking, exploring, and dealing with whatever the Alaskan landscape throws at us. Trip length varies from 5-14 days depending on the route and your schedule. Most trips involve 7-10 days in the backcountry (not counting travel days to and from the trailhead).
We can customize trips based on your experience level and what you can handle. The degree of difficulty each trip involves varies significantly. The skills and experience of the participants matter.
Beginners are welcome on easier routes. Experienced backpackers who want something harder can get that too. We match the trip to the people, not the other way around.
Popular Backpacking Trips
Explore our most popular trips available. Whether you want to scale rugged peaks, explore wild river valleys, or trek across endless Arctic tundra, we have a trip for you. Take a look, see what you like, and we’ll help you make it happen.
Gates of the Arctic
Gates of the Arctic spans over 800 miles east to west across the Continental Divide. This roadless wilderness features glaciated valleys, jagged peaks of the Brooks Range, and endless Arctic tundra. Fly in, backpack, kayak, and enjoy the Gates of the Arctic.
$5,400 Per Person
Wrangell-St. Elias
Many people have never heard of the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. The park gets fewer than 40,000 visitors a year. Home to 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the US, Wrangell offers adventure and stunning views of Denali which is clearly visible from much of the park.
Starting $3,300 Per Person
Denali
We fly from Talkeetna directly into the Alaska Range backcountry, accessing terrain few backpackers ever see. You’ll explore the high country, traversing ridges and walking up valleys. The hidden gems of the area are right outside your tent.
$4,400 Per Person
Arrigetch Peaks
The Arrigetch Peaks area is a world-famous region for climbing, hiking and photography. We’ll not be climbing. We’ll be backpacking, photographing and exploring the landscape. We’ll keep our feet on the grand and stick to terra firma.
$5,400 Per Person
Turquoise Twins
It’s a superb backpacking route, a near perfect introduction to Alaska backpacking trips. Just the right balance between a challenge and a saunter. Jaw-dropping scenery. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Campsites for the ages.
Starting $5,700 Per Person
Custom Trips
We also run custom backpacking trips and guide an exploratory trip each summer. These trips are great for those hardy folks with some experience looking for something a little bit different. Inquire for details.
Starting $5,000 Per Person
Why Choose Expeditions Alaska?
Our tours revolve around you. Trip plans are tailored to match your interests and schedules. Itineraries are adjusted for clients of all levels of experience, fitness and skills. We continually revise and update safety plans and protocols. We review and refine trip outlines and logistics. We maintain a genuine commitment to the environment.
We have continued to refine our experiences based off feedback our clients over the past 25 years. This is an essential ongoing process that helps us steer everything forward.
Latest Reviews
Hear what other clients have to say after their Alaska backpacking adventure!
Wow, Alaska is beautiful and we got to see it up close and personal! In early Sept, the willow leaves were golden and the ground was covered in a patchwork of fall colors from green, orange, and white to red! Skolai pass is surrounded by picturesque formations. After it snowed, these were outlined even better! For our trip, we did a 10 mile hike on Day 1 when the weather was perfect. Our hikes were shorter, but still nice on days it rained or snowed. We got to see three seasons in one week! Our guide, Jared, was fantastic. From making us feel comfortable in the back country (with the possibility of bears) to baking cinnamon rolls for breakfast, he was a perfect leader for our group. I learned a lot about myself on this trip with plenty of time away from social media and work email to think! It was certainly an experience I won’t forget.
What to Expect
Small Group Size
We mean actually small. Maximum 5 guests. Many companies call 8-10 guests plus multiple guides a “small group”. With Expeditions Alaska, small means small. Five people. Many trips run with fewer.
Why does this matter? Lower environmental impact. More personalized attention. The flexibility to adapt when conditions change. You’re here for wilderness, not a crowd.
Door to Door Service
Alaska is a big state, and getting to your trailhead is often a bit of a mission in itself. Rental cars are expensive and often not allowed on many of the roads must travel on to get to your destination.
Depending on your trip, we’ll pick you up and drop you back at the accommodation of your choice in Anchorage (or Fairbanks).
The price of a rental vehicle to get you to McCarthy, for example, is often in the $1000/week range.
An Unforgettable Experience
Your Alaskan expedition will challenge you physically and mentally, but it will also leave you with an unforgettable experience you will cherish forever. While backpacking in Alaska is far from a relaxing vacation, it is incredibly rewarding and will leave you feeling recharged and reconnected at the end of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's Included?
All trips and trip prices include the following.
* Professional Guide Service: Experience is paramount, as is a friendly, flexible atmosphere for your trip, and Expeditions Alaska, LLC go out of our way to bring that to the backcountry. We know the routes, the natural history and the place as well as anyone, and all the best campsites!
Backcountry camping in Alaska can be intimidating for a novice and even for some intermediate and experienced hikers. A qualified guide service can go a long way to minimizing problems that may come up. Customers returning for seven eight nine ten consecutive hiking trips with Expeditions Alaska speaks volumes for the value of a good guide.
* Travel and Accommodations: Expeditions Alaska, LLC typically offers a complete Door-to-Door service.
For example, for our Wrangell-St. Elias National Park trips, we’ll pick you up from your hotel in Anchorage, drive to McCarthy in our comfortable conversion van, stay the night at the Kennecott River Lodge, enjoy a hot breakfast the following morning in McCarthy, then fly into the backcountry. Backpack and hike for your trip, fly back to McCarthy, have the afternoon in and around McCarthy, exploring the Kennecott Glacier, or the old mines up at Kennecott, spend another night at the Kennecott River Lodge, and drive back to Anchorage the final day, right to your hotel in Anchorage.
For the ANWR trips, we’ll usually travel from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, then fly into the backcountry. Whether we pick you up at your hotel in Fairbanks or not will depend on whether we’re driving or flying north. If we fly, we’ll meet you at the airport. If we’re driving, we’ll pick you up.
For all other trips, check first as to exactly what the plan is.
* Gear: We can provide all cookware with most fuels for the trip. Feel free to let us know if you’d like to bring your own. We can get the fuel you need as it’s not possible for you to fly with any fuel in your luggage. If you would prefer a fully outfitted trip we can accommodate that. You’ll need to bring your personal gear, such as a sleeping bag and backpack. We’ll also provide bear-resistant food canisters and bear spray for the trip. Expeditions Alaska, LLC trips will also provide a cook tent for the trip. We also provide hiking poles for you if you don’t have your own.
* Safety: Any professional guide service puts safety first. This means caution, it means responsibility and it means an excellent knowledge of the area: the terrain, wildlife and travel, backcountry camping and safety. Fully qualified Wilderness First Aid certification. A satellite phone available for emergency backcountry service if necessary and a backup emergency messaging device such as Delorme inReach or Zoleo. We bring a GPS, map and compass on every route we do. This is an owner-operated business and all participants can feel confident knowing they’re not getting an intern or inexperienced guide for their trip.
* Storage: Extra travel items that won’t be needed while we’re in the backcountry (limited space available).
What's Not Included?
Expeditions Alaska, LLC do not provide the following unless otherwise specified.
a) food and camping gear — Expeditions Alaska will outfit your trip if you would like us to. For a minimal addition in cost, we’re glad to supply food and camping gear (you will need your own personal gear, such as a sleeping bag, pad, clothes, pack, etc). Any specific items you may need help with, just send us an email or call us and we’ll work it out for you.
b) travel arrangements to Anchorage from outside Alaska.
c) trip insurance. Our suggestion is Travelex.
d) travel meals. Any hotel or lodge meals we eat in the frontcountry are not included in your price. So if we stop to eat along the road, for example, we do not pick up the tab for that.
d) guide gratuities.
Extra Info
Please note: Please note: The ANWR and Gates of the Arctic National Park trips include all travel (return) from Fairbanks to Coldfoot or Bettles, where we fly into the backcountry, as well as rafts, dry bags, etc. Because of the nature of backcountry adventure, trips vary year to year. Each trip is also available for longer or shorter durations, and trip prices vary accordingly. Similarly, group bookings (3 or more participants) can receive substantial discounts.
What Gear Do I Need?
You’ll receive a Trip Departure Packet upon your reservation with a detailed Gear section and a comprehensive Gear Check List for you. Read it carefully and be sure you have the appropriate gear with you. We’ll do a gear review before your trip but you really should contact us with any questions you have you arrive in Alaska.
You’ll find tons of information on gear and related stuff on the blog. You’ll find some extensive commentary there about gear and backpacking and hiking trips, etc. Rain gear and keeping dry, down versus synthetic sleeping bags, and so forth. I update it reasonably often, so do check out the blog posts for information. Here is a link to The Gear Category on the blog.
Can we Book a Basecamp Trip if we Don’t Own Any Camping Gear?
You sure can.
Fully outfitting your trip is a small additional fee. The exact amount will depend on your trip length, as well as what stuff you need.
For single individual items, contact us and we’ll see what you need and work that out.
A tent (1, 2 or 3 person) is $50.00 per person for the trip. If you just want us to handle food and you have all your own gear (tent, etc) we can do that as well.
Longer trips (5+ days) the food costs go up. But most basecamps are not longer.
We do provide sleeping bags or sleeping pads or backpacks (except for the scheduled photo tours we include sleeping pad).
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Alaska?
There is no one best time.
The backpacking season is short this far north and the season changes very quickly. Similarly there is a very large variance of conditions depending on where you go. A trip to the Kenai peninsula in September is very different to Gates of the Arctic NP at the same time. Alaska is wonderful late August/early September, the tundra colors blaze with orange, golds, reds and every imaginable variation of these.
Typically there are fewer bugs later in the year, with late May, June and early July the worst. May/June brings forth cute baby critters, blooming wildflowers, and the vibrancy of spring. It’s largely a matter of deciding what works best for you, what you want to see, and how best to accommodate that.
Snow can fall at any time in of the year, and weather is completely unpredictable. The days are longest during the latter weeks of June and first part of July, but those long glorious evenings last all the way up to late August.
How Much Experience Do I Need?
We work with all levels of backpackers from the novice to the experienced trekker.
In planning trips you should be as honest as possible about your experience and confidence so trips can be organized accordingly.
If you’ve never carried a backpack before or camped in the wilderness, it takes longer to get used to than you think. However we can accommodate your experience by scheduling a trip that works best for you.
Basecamping and dayhiking is a great way to really explore an area and means less time spent carrying the weight of a full pack. Conversely those more experienced may wish to plan a trip that covers more miles, and crosses more difficult terrains, the exploratory trips are great for experienced hikers.
Regardless of your situation, the more preparation you put into your trip the more rewarding it will be.
Why is There No “Book Now” Button Here?
We require a conversation before confirming any backcountry trip.
You should as well.
Alaska wilderness travel isn’t like booking a hotel. The terrain is demanding, the conditions are unpredictable, and there’s no bailout option once you’re flown in. We need to understand your experience level, fitness, and what you’re hoping to get from the trip. You need to understand what you’re actually signing up for.
This isn’t gatekeeping. It’s matching. We want to put you on a trip where you’ll thrive, not survive. Some folks are ready for the Seven Pass Route. Others should start with a basecamp trip or something more moderate. A ten-minute conversation helps us figure that out.
Nobody benefits when someone gets in over their head. Not you, not the other clients, not us.
Call or email. We’ll find the right fit.
Let's Talk More
Interested and want to learn more? Drop us a note and we can talk logistics and start planning how your Alaska backpacking trip might look. If you’d rather talk to a human, give us a shout at +1 (770) 952-4549.