Jewels of Alaska: Birds, Wildlife, and Scenery

A wildlife lover’s dreamland of dramatic coastlines, breathtaking landscapes, charismatic megafauna, and diverse birdlife.

June 5 – 13, 2028

$ 6500 – Double Accommodations
$ 7400 – Single Accommodations
7 participants max

This unforgettable 9-day exploration of Alaska’s wild landscapes travels from the glacier-carved fjords of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula to the vast tundra, boreal forests, and muskeg of Denali National Park and Preserve. Our journey traverses an astonishing range of habitats, each more dramatic than the last. Towering peaks of the Alaska Range and Chugach Mountains rise above sprawling glaciers, while coastal forests give way to open tundra and rugged northern vistas. Few places on Earth offer such a remarkable combination of scenery, ecological diversity, and opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Wildlife is at the heart of this adventure. Offshore, we’ll search for puffins, murres, and other alcids while keeping watch for Beluga Whales and Dall’s Porpoises. Inland, the possibilities include Grizzly Bears roaming alpine valleys, Moose browsing wetlands, and Caribou crossing the tundra. Birders can look forward to northern specialties such as Willow Ptarmigan, Arctic Warbler, Northern Wheatear, and Pacific Loon. Every day brings the chance for memorable encounters, set against a backdrop of some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in North America.

Trip Details

Flow of the Day: The itinerary is designed to maximize our experience with the region’s great diversity of wildlife and ecosystems. We won’t, however, be rushing from place to place to chase the largest species list possible. Our goal is to spend time appreciating the species we encounter at an enjoyable pace. Our days typically begin very early in the early morning. This trip involves longer periods of van travel to access different regions of Alaska. Afternoon plans sometimes allow for some rest time at the lodges, though this is not always feasible when we are transferring between lodges or exploring far from the lodge on a given day.

Physical Expectations: Much of the birding and wildlife viewing on this trip will be along roadsides or easily walked trails, but do expect some hilly and uneven conditions. Participants should be able to hike on moderate terrain up to 3-4 miles per day, and be ready to expect conditions that may be hot, cold, dry, wet, or anything in-between.

Climate: Mid-June brings long days and generally mild conditions across the trip region, but travelers should be prepared for a wide range of weather. In Seward, daytime temperatures typically range from the mid-50s to mid-60s, with frequent clouds, occasional rain, and cool coastal breezes; waterproof layers and sturdy footwear are essential. Denali is usually cooler and more variable, with daytime temperatures often ranging from the upper 40s to mid-60s and nighttime temperatures occasionally dipping into the 30s. Visitors should be prepared for sun, wind, rain, and even the possibility of light snow.

Health Considerations: Dehydration and sun exposure are common issues. Please come prepared to drink plenty of fluids and wear sunscreen. There are no vaccines or other travel-related medications that are typically administered for domestic travel to this destination. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the trip. We will be far from definitive medical care for large portions of this journey, so travelers with certain medical conditions will want to discuss the itinerary with their doctor.

Chip Darmstadt, NBNC’s Birding Ambassador and former founding executive director is an avid birder, naturalist, and guide. Chip has led birding and wildlife trips across the US and around the world for 25 years, observing over 3,000 bird species along the way. Chip now travels to Alaska regularly, helping his travelers fully experience this unparalleled nature-watching destination.

Transportation: We will be travelling in a 15-passenger van. Trip capacity is limited for traveling comfortably in our vehicle. We will have a full-day boat-based tour of the fjords and glaciers around Seward on a ship accommodating 30-50 passengers.

Accommodations: All of the lodges where we’ll be staying are situated in or near wildlife watching destinations. They are chosen for strategic access to great birding and wildlife watching, rather than for the bells and whistles that come with more luxury resorts. That said, all lodges are clean and comfortable.

Meals: We’ll have a hot meal each night for dinner at the lodge or in town. Breakfasts and lunches will be a combination of sit-down meals and picnics, depending on where we are. Like our accommodations, our dining arrangements are selected to have filling, tasty meals without spending our peak wildlife viewing times sitting inside restaurants.

The trip cost includes:

All lodging and meals starting in Anchorage.
All ground transportation throughout the trip in a comfortable van.
Full-day boat trip in Seward.
Expert NBNC guide.
Park entrance fees.
Pre-departure group briefing before the trip.
Use of high quality spotting scopes and binoculars.
Use of field guides.

The trip cost does not include:

Travel insurance.
Airfare to/from Anchorage.
Alcoholic beverages, snacks and other incidentals.
Guide gratuities (the standard recommendation is $10-20/day per guide per traveler).

Clothing: Pack field clothing of neutral colors. Bring several pairs of long pants and comfortable, long-sleeved shirts. Layers are a must! Long underwear, fleeces or wool sweaters, and wind-and-rain-proof outerwear are important. A small umbrella is also recommended. Be sure to have a pair of comfortable, waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots, plus a second pair of light tennis shoes for long van rides and/or around town. You may want more casual clothing for traveling or dinners. A small washcloth and handkerchiefs will be helpful.

Equipment: Bring a pair of binoculars, a field guide, and a camera with extra batteries. The guide will carry a spotting scope. Pack sunglasses and sunscreen, a small flashlight or headlamp, a small alarm clock (a smartphone will work), insect repellent, a small daypack, and a small folding stool if you get tired standing for long periods observing birds and other wildlife.

A full packing list can be provided as the trip approaches. Your guides will carry spotting scopes.

NBNC is proud to announce that all of our trips are 100% carbon-neutral. This includes each traveler’s flights to and from this destination, as well as carbon emitted during the trip. We’re proud to be working directly with the Northeast Wilderness Trust’s Wild Carbon program. The carbon credits we purchase to offset our carbon emissions are used to permanently conserve forestland as wilderness. Learn more about this program at our Adventures Afar landing page.

Full Itinerary

Day 1 (June 5) – Arrive Anchorage: We arrive in Anchorage in the afternoon and transfer to the Holiday Inn Express. A couple of local parks (Northwood Park and Westchester Lagoon) are just a short distance away and may provide our first looks at Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Violet-green Swallow, Boreal Chickadee and Red-necked Phalarope. The trip starts with dinner, but we’ll do a little local birding if we have the energy!

Day 2 – Explore Anchorage area in the morning and head to Denali: After breakfast we’ll take some time to explore Anchorage, birding Westchester Lagoon and the Knik Arm waterfront where we’ll likely see nesting Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane and Red-necked Grebe, as well as Arctic Tern, Steller’s Jay and Orange-crowned Warbler. If the tides are favorable, we may find Hudsonian or Bar-tailed Godwit on the mudflats. In the late morning we head north to Denali, where we’ll spend the next 3 nights.

On route to Denali National Park and Preserve, we’ll explore a portion of the Denali Highway, a dirt road that passes through wonderful habitat for Trumpeter Swan, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Pacific Loon, nesting Semipalmated Plover and breeding waterfowl. If we’re lucky we may find Three-toed Woodpecker or Northern Hawk Owl. We’ll also want to have some time to explore the grounds of our inn and wander down to the shore of Lake Otto. The lake often attracts Bufflehead, scaup, nesting Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as Moose! Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 3 – Exploring Denali National Park: We’ll have two full days to explore Denali NP, perhaps the most beautiful and wildest of our national parks. A landslide has blocked the road that cuts deep into the park, but between the extensive trail network near the visitor center and the road and surrounding area out to East Fork, there is still plenty to enjoy. Birds here are plentiful and accustomed to people. Willow Ptarmigan are often seen right along the roads, while Rock Ptarmigan frequents the more rocky tundra away from the willow thickets. Arctic Warbler nests in the NP and will be in full song. The Arctic Warbler is the sole nesting species of the Old World warblers in the United States. Golden Eagle, and the much scarcer Gyrfalcon, nest on craggy mountainside, while Wandering Tattlers and American Dippers frequent rushing streams throughout the park. You’ll also enjoy some amazing landscapes and abundant mammals, including Caribou, Moose, Dall’s Sheep and Grizzly (Brown) Bear, often seen from the bus that transports visitors into the park. Of course, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for sunny, clear weather and an opportunity to see the majestic peak of Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 4 – Exploring the Denali region: Today we’ll explore more of Denali NPP and the local area, perhaps concentrating on finding birds we’ve missed. Has Arctic Warbler eluded us so far? Or perhaps a nesting Pacific Loon will provide an amazing photo opportunity. Walking one of the braided streambeds in the park may yield nesting Wandering Tattler or a more rigorous hike on the Savage Alpine trail could turn up nesting Long-tailed Jaeger or Surfbird. We’ll also make sure we get some quality time with birds of the boreal forest – Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, Canada Jay, Bohemian Waxwing, Blackpoll Warbler and Swainson’s Thrush. Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 5 – Denali to Wasilla: We’ll explore some birding areas on our way to Wasilla, or if time allows, we’ll spend the afternoon birding Independence Mine and Hatcher Pass. The rocky slopes of the pass are a good location for White-tailed Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, displaying American Pipit and Wandering Tattler. Independence Mine showcases the historic gold mining of the region. It’s also a good place to look for Golden-crowned, Fox, White-crowned and Savannah Sparrow, frequenting the thickets on the mine property. At times Northern Wheatear or Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch may be seen on the rock-studded slopes. As we descend in elevation we’ll check the stream crossing for American Dipper and Harlequin Duck. Overnight Wasilla, Grand View Hotel

Day 6 – Birding our way to Seward: Today we head south toward Seward, where we’ll spend our final three nights. There are plenty of places to stop on route. Potter Marsh, just south of Anchorage, has a wonderful boardwalk where we can look for Sandhill Crane, Swainson’s Thrush, and Wilson’s Warbler. As we head further south towards Seward, we’ll keep watch for Beluga Whale in Turnagain Arm. If the tides are right, the Belugas can be seen right from the roadside. After checking into our hotel and dinner in Seward, we’ll take a stroll along the waterfront, keeping an eye out for Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Wandering Tattler and Pelagic Cormorant. Sea Otters are often seen close to shore in Seward. Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 7 – Exploring Seward: We’ll have a more leisurely day today to bird the local area and visit the Alaska Sea Life Center. We’ll start our morning birding the road to Exit Glacier. Part of the Kenai Fjord National Park, a fairly easy trail in the park leads to an overlook near the foot of the glacier. Many western bird species are near the northern edge of their range in Seward – Townsend’s Warbler, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Rufous Hummingbird.

The Alaska Sea Life Center is a premier aquarium dedicated to marine research and education, and is the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. We’ll have some close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other Alaska marine life. Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 8 – Resurrection Bay Boat Trip: Today we’ll get out on the water with an all day boat excursion in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords. Seabirds are back and starting to nest – everywhere! Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorant, Parakeet Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffin and 3 species of murrelet – Marbled, Ancient and Kittlitz’s – will all keep us engaged and entertained. It’s possible to observe 10 species of alcids on this excursion! And birds are just part of the attraction – the natural beauty of the area is astounding with surreal glaciers, lofty mountain peaks and picturesque rocky islets. Marine mammals are plentiful too, including Steller Sea Lion, Orca, Fin Whale, Dall’s Porpoise, and more Sea Otters. Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 9 – Return to Anchorage and flights home: We’ll have a long drive back to Anchorage today for our afternoon flight home (arrival back to Vermont will likely be the following morning).

Payment Policy

All of our trips have a standard payment plan of an initial deposit plus two installment payments. Our office will reach out with an invoice for the two installments before it is due.

Deposit of $500 required upon registration ($250 of this deposit is nonrefundable).
Half of balance due 180 days before departure (or upon registration if the trip departs in less than 180 days).
Remainder of balance due 90 days before departure (or upon registration if the trip departs in less than 90 days)
Solo travelers will be expected to pay the Single Accommodations rate
Those traveling as a pair will be expected to pay the Double Accommodations rate. If two solo travelers of the same gender are open to having a roommate, we will do our best to place them together and extend the Double Accommodations rates to both travelers.

Cancellation Policies

We understand that incidents and emergencies arise that may force you to cancel your trip. However, NBNC invests considerable time and often nonrefundable deposits to lodges and local contractors to secure our rooms and programming. NBNC aims to be as flexible as possible in our refund policy, but a full refund of your payments may not be possible after the dates indicated. All cancellations must be made in writing.

Cancellation more than 180 days before the trip: Refund of half the $500 deposit, and a full refund of any other payments made up to that point.
Cancellation 90-180 days before the trip: Refund of any payments minus the full $500 deposit.
Cancellation 30-90 days before the trip: No refund guaranteed. If your space is filled by another traveler, we will provide a full refund minus the full $500 deposit.
Cancellation less than 30 days before the trip: No refunds guaranteed.

We advise travelers to purchase independent travel insurance through companies such as Allianz when booking a trip to recover reimbursement in the event of a cancellation that does not qualify for a refund as outlined in the policies above.

Health and Illness Policies

All participants and instructors will be required to affirm negative test results from a self-administered Covid-19 rapid antigen test taken prior to arrival on the first day of the program.
Participants on NBNC’s Adventures Afar and multi-night overnight trips must be comfortable with the possibility that someone may contract Covid-19 (or other contagious illnesses) during the trip, even if they test negative on the first day as required. NBNC will attempt to limit exposure and isolate any such participant, which could include that participant incurring additional expenses such as hotel rooms, meals, or transportation, and missing out on group activities. However, isolation may not be possible at all times on all trips, so all participants should be aware that circumstances may require that a participant with Covid-19 continue to travel with the group.
Participants experiencing respiratory symptoms will be required to wear a mask at all times when around other travelers.
Failure to comply with the health and safety instructions of the trip guides will result in dismissal from the trip.
NBNC encourages all Adventures Afar participants to be honest and transparent about their symptoms, for the sake of their health and the health of those they are traveling with.
NBNC encourages all Adventures Afar participants to secure individual travel insurance.