Updated March 2024.
A trip to discover the beauty of Alaska is a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll remember forever. Explore the boreal landscape on this perfect 7 day Alaska itinerary and watch raw nature at its finest.
One theme consistently emerges when you ask travelers what they love about Alaska. It’s always related to nature. With its unique coastline, towering mountains, and variety of glaciers, Alaska boasts such dramatic scenery that it’s downright awe-inspiring. Pair this with an abundance of wildlife and the Northern Lights and you have a destination that should be on any nature lover’s bucket list.
A common question when planning a trip to Alaska is what time of year to visit. The answer is anytime! While summertime in Alaska is a popular time to visit due to the amazing weather and long days, traveling during the other seasons has its perks too. Spring provides amazing waterfalls, fall brings stunning colors and winter features the famous Northern Lights.
The following 7 days Alaska itinerary can be used year-round and includes winter variations for a few activities that are unavailable during that time.
So where is a nature lover to begin? Why visit Alaska? Glad you asked!
7-day Alaska Itinerary for Nature Lovers
Authored by local travel expert Michele Wilson.
Overview: Nature Lover’s 7-day Alaska Itinerary
Day 1: Fly into Anchorage, bike by the coast, enjoy dinner with a view;
Day 2: Day trip to Seward, take a boat tour of the Kenai Fjords;
Day 3: Hike on Matanuska Glacier, explore Talkeetna;
Days 4-6: Stay in a remote wilderness lodge in Denali National Park;
Day 7: Drive to Anchorage, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, fly home.
How to Plan this Alaska Itinerary
A quick note on how to book this trip to Alaska. Like most places, some of the most unique Alaskan experiences have the lowest availability. In order to get away from the crowds and truly commune with nature, you’ll need to plan ahead.
The most limited experience in this itinerary is staying at a wilderness lodge in Denali on days 4-6. Each lodge has limited space and will fill up quickly. It’s highly recommended that you book these dates first and then plan the rest of your trip around them.
Below is the recommended order for booking the experiences included in this itinerary.
- 3-night stay at your preferred wilderness lodge in Denali National Park (pick from The Skyline Lodge, Camp Denali, Kantishna Roadhouse, or Denali Backcountry Lodge);
- Roundtrip train ticket from Anchorage to Seward, with Kenai Fjords boat tour excursion;
- Round-trip airline ticket to Anchorage, arriving as early in the day as possible and departing as late as possible;
- Rental car (picking up and dropping off in Anchorage, days 3-7);
- Hotel in Anchorage;
- Cabin for Talkeetna;
- Glacier hike on Matanuska.
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Day 1 in Alaska
Fly into Anchorage, bike by the coast, and enjoy dinner with a view.
Nature Highlights: Alaskan mudflats and panoramic views of the Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains.
Welcome to Day 1 of your Alaskan itinerary! You’ll start your day by flying into the state’s capital city of Anchorage. Once you arrive, take a rideshare service or taxi to your accommodations for your first 2 nights.
Since you won’t need a car for your first 2 days, it’s recommended to stay downtown so you can walk to your planned activities. The Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa is a great choice, however, any hotel or vacation rental in the downtown area will work.
Once settled in, your first Alaskan activity will be a walk or bike ride on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Stretching 11 miles, one-way, this trail is flexible for a short stroll or a 2-3 hour bike ride, depending on your schedule. If you would like to bike this trail, drop into Pablo’s bike shop to grab a rental by the hour.
During your ride, you’ll pass by Westchester Lagoon where you can stop and look for a variety of waterfowl. Next, you’ll enjoy a clear view of the mudflats, which make up Anchorage’s “beaches”. Unlike most beaches, these are made of glacier silt. They are beautiful to look at, but should not be walked on, due to their unstable nature.
After that, you’ll wind through an old-growth forest, where moose sightings are common. Finally, the trail ends at Kincaid Park where you can rest your legs before heading back the way you came.
Winter variation:
If there is enough snow on the ground, the coastal trail can be enjoyed via cross-country skiing or a fat tire bike. As a bonus, ice skating will be available on Westchester Lagoon.
After a day of exploring downtown Anchorage and its surrounding nature, you have earned a trip to 49th State Brewing. Make sure to set up a reservation ahead of time to sit on the rooftop deck and enjoy a panoramic view of the Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains.
If you are traveling in the summer, you may have to force yourself to draw the blinds and go to sleep for the evening. Tomorrow will be an early day and full of adventure!
Day 2 in Alaska
Day trip to Seward, take a boat tour of the Kenai Fjords.
Nature Highlights: wildlife viewing from the Alaska Railroad, tidewater glaciers, whale watching, and bird viewing.
Today is your first full day in Alaska. Get ready for stunning views and a variety of wildlife on both land and sea. It’s no secret that one of the best ways to experience the interior of Alaska is via train.
The Coastal Classic Train, operated by the Alaska Railroad leaves downtown Anchorage at 6:45 am and arrives in Seward around 11:20 am. From here you’ll have approximately 6.5 hours before the train leaves Seward and returns to downtown Anchorage at 10:15 pm.
The Alaska Railroad is well renowned for its scenic routes, with the Coastal Classic widely acknowledged as the most beautiful.
Your train ride will start next to the water and run along the coastline for the first half of your trip. Each train has a guide that will narrate the history of the land and help point out wildlife sightings. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, moose, bears, and Dall sheep.
After a quick stop in Girdwood, the route turns into the mountains, giving passengers an up-close view of the Alaskan backcountry. During the summer and spring, this area is full of waterfalls from the winter melt.
No matter what time of year you are traveling, the scenery is a stunning reminder of the pure beauty of untouched nature.
Once you arrive in Seward you’ll join the 6-hour Kenai Fjords boat tour, which can be booked directly through the Alaska Railroad. One of the best-known Alaskan activities, this tour includes many highlights of Alaskan nature.
During your boat ride, you’ll see several tidewater glaciers and a variety of birds, including the iconic puffin. Depending on the day, you will likely see a plethora of marine animals including whales (orcas and humpbacks), stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters.
On your way back, you’ll appreciate more views of the Chugach Mountains and the Gulf of Alaska, while enjoying dinner service and a nightcap, if you would like. Upon return to Anchorage, you are sure to be both tired and happy.
Winter variation:
During the winter months, the train and boat tours do not operate. Instead, take the opportunity to check out the world-famous Alyeska Resort, located just an hour outside of Anchorage. Here you’ll find world-class skiing and a variety of other winter activities.
* Please note, that you’ll need to rent your car a day early to make this trip.
Day 3 in Alaska
Hike on Matanuska Glacier, explore Talkeetna.
Nature Highlights: Matanuska Glacier, glacier moss, views of Mount Denali, and the Sustina River.
Today it’s time to leave the capital city and experience one of Alaska’s most beloved glaciers. Once you pick up your rental car, you’ll enjoy a 2-hour drive to Matanuska Glacier. The drive itself, along the famous Glenn Highway, is stunning.
Make sure to look for the signs for glacier viewing as your approach the turnout for your tour. This viewing area will allow you to see the face of the glacier in its entirety, before getting up close and personal. The final road down to the glacier’s face is unpaved and windy. Don’t worry though, you are in the right place!
For your tour, you can expect to spend approximately 1.5 – 2 hours learning about and exploring the glacier. The tour guides will provide you with crampons (spikes that strap to your shoes) so that you can easily walk on the ice. You can also expect to receive a helmet and safety briefing.
Your guide will point out the different features of a glacier and, if you are lucky, you may find glacier moss. These are small balls of moss that roll around the tops of some glaciers and have been spotted on Matanuska. They function as a home for a host of microorganisms that could otherwise not survive in this harsh environment. Their existence remains puzzling to scientists as how they actually form remains unknown.
After your glacier tour, you’ll drive another 2.5 hours to the lovely town of Talkeetna. Known as a favorite vacation spot for locals, you know this place has to be special! The best way to experience Talkeentna is to stay in a cabin. Talkeetna Cabins is a well-known operation, however, you can also look into popular vacation rental sites, like Airbnb, to find more options.
Spend your evening exploring downtown and enjoy some local cuisine at Denali Brewpub. Make sure to check out the park by the river at the end of Main Street. Here, you’ll find the best views of Mount Denali, as well as, a front-row seat to the beautiful Sustina River.
Days 4, 5 and 6 in Alaska
Stay in a remote wilderness lodge in Denali National Park.
Nature Highlights: up-close views of Mount Denali, Wonder Lake, wildlife viewing, bird viewing, and fishing.
So far, you’ve biked on Alaska’s iconic coastline, experienced its best-known sealife, taken a ride on a train, and walked on a glacier. You may think this trip can not get any better, but you would be wrong. For the next 3 days, you’ll enjoy the truly unique experience of flying into a remote wilderness lodge and exploring the rarely accessed nature beyond mile 90 at Denali National Park.
Staying at a fly-in, fly-out wilderness lodge is its own unique experience and one of the most highly sought-after activities in Alaska. One of the few ways to truly experience remote nature with most of the comforts of home, this travel experience is great for solo travelers and families alike.
There are 4 privately owned wilderness lodges that allow for overnight stays inside Denali National Park. They all require you to fly in and fly out, using either a helicopter or airplane service from the entrance of the park. Each option is all-inclusive, providing meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages (with alcohol available for purchase).
They also provide basic wilderness equipment like canoes, bikes, and fishing gear, allowing for easy exploration of nearby hiking and the famous Lake Wonder. The biggest differences between each lodge are the amenities, flight schedules, and availability of guided activities.
Wilderness Lodges in Denali National Park
The Skyline Lodge
The smallest of the wilderness lodges, this little gem offers 5 guest rooms. The entire Skyline Lodge runs off of solar-powered electricity, making it ideal for eco-friendly tourists. While the guest rooms have electricity, they do not offer indoor plumbing. Shower and bathroom facilities are a short walk away, however.
This lodge offers the lowest-cost option for staying in Denali and is geared towards experienced wilderness adventurers. With that said, the staff can help you plan your daily activities but does not offer any guided experiences. This is also the only lodge that is flexible with dates for your arrival and departure.
* Skyline Lodge is closed in 2024 due to the Denali Park Road closure at Mile 43.
Camp Denali
With 19 guest cabins, starting at $1,325 per night, Camp Denali is a high-end camping experience. Due to flight schedules, they offer three-night stays from Friday through Monday.
One unique feature about Camp Denali is that each cabin features a window facing Mount Denali. Additionally, you’ll find rugged amenities like propane lights and wood-burning stoves for warmth.
Outhouses are located close by and running water is available from a spigot outside of the cabin. The main lodge includes a modern shower facility. Camp Denali offers extensive guided hikes ranging from easy to difficult, as well as, educational programming in the evenings.
Kantishna Roadhouse
This lodge offers 32 guestrooms, starting at $1450 per night. Each room has electricity and indoor plumbing, including a private hot shower. The guestrooms are located in either duplex or quadplex-style cabins.
Kantishna Roadhouse offers guided hikes as well as educational programming on the history of the land, designed and led by Alaskan Natives. A three-night stay requires you to fly in on Saturday and fly out on Tuesday.
Denali Backcountry Lodge
Here you’ll find the highest-end experience (starting at $1650 per night), including helicopter service to and from the lodge and a wellness spa. Denali Backcountry Lodge features 42 cabins, all of which have electricity and private bathrooms.
A three-night stay will require you to fly in on Sunday and fly out on Wednesday. This is the only lodge that offers helicopter service, providing a unique experience with amazing views. They also have naturalists on staff to provide guided hiking experiences.
Once you have picked your preferred lodge, you’ll work with the staff to plan activities for days 4-6. A sample itinerary may include fishing on day 4, canoeing and biking on day 5, and a long hike on day 6. Just make sure to leave time to appreciate the peace and quiet of the Alaskan backcountry.
* Please note that flight schedules and nightly rates are subject to change per season. Please note that Denali Park Road is currently closed at Mile 43, and this seriously affects some of the lodges which can’t be reached by road – some may be temporarily closed or only accessible by air. Contact the lodges directly on their respective websites.
The information in this article is current for 2024.
Winter variation:
While the wilderness lodges at Denali, do not operate during the winter, the park remains open for visitors. For winter tourists, it’s recommended to book a hotel in Healy, AK, which is located just outside of the park entrance.
From here you can enjoy an array of winter activities such as cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, snow machining, and aurora viewing. Additionally, you can visit the Winter Visitor Center (located at mile 1.4) and the park’s sled dog kennel.
Day 7 in Alaska
Drive to Anchorage, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, fly home.
Nature Highlights: bison, reindeer, bears, wolves, and moose.
Today is your last day in the great state of Alaska. Depending on your flight schedule, you may need to drive directly from Denali to Anchorage airport. However, if time allows, make sure to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Located an hour south of Anchorage, the conservation center provides great opportunities for learning about and viewing Alaska’s favorite wildlife. Among its most popular residents, you’ll find bison, reindeer, bears, wolves, and moose. It’s recommended to allow 1-2 hours to fully explore the grounds.
Conclusion on a Nature Lover’s 7-day Itinerary for Alaska
This brings us to the end of our Nature Lover’s 7-day Itinerary for Alaska. From the unique coastline to tidewater glaciers and the continent’s tallest mountain, you have seen some sights that are rarely viewed by the average tourist. This vast, untouched landscape is what makes Alaska a coveted destination among nature enthusiasts worldwide.
Do you have a favorite Alaskan experience? Make sure to share in the comments below.
About the Author
Michele, from Slow Traveling Cat, is a single, nomadic woman who travels the US alongside her noble cat, Cal. The two enjoy outdoor adventures, unique experiences, and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
It’s no surprise that Alaska is one of the duo’s favorite places to explore!
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