Welcome to Alaska! Individual arrival of participants in Anchorage! You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel at the airport. You will then meet your guide and receive information about the optional activities available for your trip.

The approximately 4.5-hour drive takes us along Turnagain Bay to the Kenai Peninsula and finally to our destination, Homer, in the early evening. Along the way, we'll make several stops to explore this fascinating area on foot. The spectacular views of the mighty glaciers, the snow-capped peaks of the Chugach and Kenai Mountains rising from the sea, the magical milky-blue lakes, rivers, and bubbling streams are just the beginning of a magnificent, outstanding day. Our first planned stop is also our first hike on the Summit Creek Trail. This path leads us to a captivating tundra plain and is considered one of the best hiking trails on the Kenai Peninsula. We quickly pass above the tree line, gaining wonderful views of the tundra valley and its many small alpine lakes and streams. The trail takes us approximately 6 kilometers to the summit, where we can enjoy the panoramic view. We then continue on towards Kenai/Soldotna. Not far from Homer, there are still active volcanoes, such as Iliamna and Redoubt, visible across Cook Inlet. Weather permitting, we'll spend some time at Anchor Point Beach and perhaps take a short walk along the shore before checking into the hotel.

Today, it's time to lace up your hiking boots! Our destination is only accessible by boat or small bush plane, so we'll start our day early with a water taxi to Kachemak Bay State Park, where we'll embark on a fantastic hike along the Grace Ridge. The trail winds through old-growth spruce forests, leading up to a beautiful grassy landscape and above the tree line to a unique viewpoint overlooking Kachemak Bay and the surrounding area. After returning in the late afternoon, the rest of the day offers plenty of time to explore Homer. You could, for example, enjoy a refreshing drink at the Salty Dog Saloon on the harbor, stroll along the beach, soak up the evening sun, or later check out what Homer's nightlife has to offer.

For anyone who's ever wanted to see bears, today's your day! Your tour guide can arrange a bear-watching flight for you. You'll fly in a small bush plane to remote areas over Cook Inlet. The Katmai and Lake Clark National Park area has one of the highest grizzly bear populations in the world. But don't worry, you'll be accompanied by a professional bear guide and an experienced pilot. Guests often report seeing 25 to 40 grizzly bears from a distance of 5 to 60 meters. If these giants aren't your thing, you could also enjoy another hike in the beautiful Homer Bay or take other optional day trips. A visit to the Pratt Museum and the Homer Art Gallery is always worthwhile, or you could rent special bikes for the beach. Go halibut or salmon fishing, take a kayak tour in the surrounding bay, or participate in a wildlife and birdwatching excursion. There's also the option of a day trip to Gull Island, to Old Seldovia, a small fishing village across Kachemak Bay. And you definitely shouldn't miss the great food in Homer. Visit one of the best and most famous seafood restaurants in Alaska.

After a good breakfast, we'll drive to Seward today. Our journey takes us back to the majestic Kenai Mountains. After a brief stop in Soldotna, we'll head east to Stirling City and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. From there, a roughly 5 km trail leads us through beautiful scenery to the vast glacial Skilak Lake. After another short drive, our next stop will be a hike to Russian River Falls, where, depending on the season, thousands of salmon can be seen. These, of course, sometimes attract the occasional black or brown bear. Before reaching Seward, we'll drive to Lowell Point, a small community nestled in a rainforest. With a distance of only 5 km and an elevation gain of 40 meters, the hike through the coastal rainforest to Tonsina Beach is a perfect place to see coho salmon and bald eagles.

Today is a free day to explore this wonderful area. The town and harbor of Seward have a lot to offer. Visit the interesting museums, browse the many souvenir shops, or enjoy the excellent seafood restaurants. If you're looking for a different kind of adventure, we have a suggestion that will thrill you: the famous Kenai Fjords National Park boat tours depart from Seward Harbor. This unique Alaskan experience brings you incredibly close to humpback whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, seals, orcas, and hundreds of different bird species that come here to raise their young in the summer. The tour also takes you through breathtaking fjord scenery directly to the massive glaciers in Aialik Bay. If you'd prefer to be more active, we recommend a kayaking tour through Resurrection Bay. There are many ways to create an exceptionally beautiful trip, e.g. For example, you can be dropped off directly in the National Park by boat or helicopter to paddle along the fascinating icebergs of the Bear Glacier.

Today we'll explore Kenai Fjords National Park on foot, tackling the Harding Icefield Trail. The path leads us through spruce forests and alpine grasslands directly to Exit Glacier and a rocky outcrop offering a magnificent view of the birthplace of the park's 30 different glaciers. The Harding Icefield covers an area of nearly 2,000 square kilometers and also defines the boundary of Kenai Fjords National Park. Black bears can often be spotted in the grassy areas above the trail, foraging for berries, roots, and other vegetation. For anyone fascinated by ice and glaciers, this hike is one of the best experiences! In the afternoon, we'll return to Seward and enjoy our last evening in the tranquil coastal atmosphere.

We're heading back towards Anchorage, but first we have an interesting stop. We'll visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is dedicated to protecting and caring for injured or endangered wildlife in Alaska. The wood bison was once completely eradicated in Alaska, but thanks to conservation organizations like this one, it has been reintroduced into the wild. The center resembles a large farm surrounded by a mountain landscape, providing the perfect backdrop for some final great photos. If you haven't seen enough wildlife on your trip yet, you'll find another fantastic variety here, including grizzly bears, black bears, wood bison, caribou, and musk oxen. After arriving back in Anchorage, our eventful tour of the Kenai Peninsula comes to an end. We hope you had an unforgettable vacation! (Short-notice changes to the itinerary are possible and at the discretion of the tour leader.)