Alaska: Denali Immersion Adventure
July 18-23, 2024
Your Alaska Adventure Includes:
Accommodation: Lodge accommodations just outside the entrance to Denali National Park. Tents, sleeping bags, and all other needed supplies are also provided for one night of backpacking/tent camping
All Meals: All meals are included, beginning with dinner on Day 1, and ending with lunch on Day 6, including all food for one night of backpacking
Fully Guided: Tailored, private, front- and back-country hikes and a private rafting excursion guided by expert Alaskan guides
Preparation Support: Upon registering you will receive guidance for packing and physical preparation for this adventure
Roundtrip Convoy: Ride the scenic Alaska Railway from Fairbanks to Denali on Day 1, and return to Fairbanks by private transport at the end of the adventure
Optional Activities: Swimming, Paddle Boarding, Massage, Charter Flight to view Denali Mountain
Small Group Size: 5 adventurers, 1 guide
Physical Demands: High
Price Range: $5499-$5899
Priceless: A curated experience designed to help you explore, relax, relate, and release!
Check out some of our Instagram Stories for a taste of the experience!
Detailed Itinerary*
Day 1
Meet at 7:30am** at our rendezvous point at the Fairbanks Train Depot, where you’ll meet your fellow SheTravels guests and guide. The sight-seeing adventure begins in a special glass-roofed car on the Alaska Railway. You’ll get your first glimpses of Alaskan wilderness as we ride for about 4hrs from Fairbanks up to Denali National Park. Brunch is available for purchase on the train.
Upon arrival in Denali we’ll be met by our expert Alaskan adventure guides, who will bring us into Denali National Park for a short hike and introduction to the park.
Later we’ll settle into our accommodations at a lodge close to the park entrance, and will meet for dinner at the lodge. After dinner your guide will facilitate an opening circle interaction that helps you get to know one another and set intentions for your time in Alaska.
We won’t keep you too late, as Day 2 is an early morning and we hope you’ll get some rest for the adventures ahead!
Total hiking distance: 2-3 miles Total elevation gain: less than 300 feet
Day 2
Rise early for breakfast at the lodge and to pack your lunch, as we’ll head deeper into the park on Day 2 to explore more of Denali’s beauty. We’ll hike up to 9 miles (depending on how the group is feeling) on an out-and-back trail that’s known to be a favorite in Denali due to its views, biodiversity, and opportunities to learn more about the natural history and the flora and fauna of the area.
After some rest time back at our lodge, we’ll meet again for a group dinner.
Total hiking distance: up to 9 miles Total elevation gain: about 1100 feet
Day 3
Day 3 is a “rest day,” where you’ll be able to take advantage of activities in and around the lodge’s property. Paddle board on the adjacent lake, go for a hike in the area, take a charter flight for stunning up-close views of Denali Mountain, and/or hire a massage therapist on-site to soothe any sore muscles from travel and hiking.
On Day 3 we’ll also meet with the Alaskan backcountry guide to collect your gear and get all of our questions answered for the following day’s backpacking adventure. Breakfast and lunch at the lodge are included and at your leisure, and we will meet together with everyone for a group dinner (also included).
Day 4
We’ll meet up with the Alaskan backcountry guides who will check our gear one last time and drive us to the backpacking trailhead, located in a more remote location in Denali National park. From there the group will adjust our packs and head into the backcountry for an unforgettable adventure! The specifics of the hike will be determined once the travel group is established, as we will customize an experience that is best for the experience level of the group (beginner or first-time backpackers are welcome! You’ll have everything you need for a successful first-time experience, from equipment, information sharing, and support along the way). Regardless of the final hike details, participants should expect to be carrying 25-35 lb. backpacks for 3-5 hours as we hike into (and back out of) our campsite. All equipment, including backpacks, food, cooking equipment, tents (2 people/tent), sleeping bags & pads are provided.
Once at our campsite, we’ll set up our tents, cook dinner together, and enjoy the solitude of the remote Alaskan backcountry.
Total hiking distance and elevation gain: to be determined (see above) - we will update you at least 3 months prior to the adventure
Day 5
After waking and cooking breakfast together, we’ll pack up the campsite, and take our time hiking back out to the trailhead. From there we’ll be driven back to the lodge for clean-up, rest, and dinner.
Day 6
Our final day of adventuring is a full one, starting with breakfast, packing lunch, and checking out of the lodge. From there we’ll drive to our put-in point on the beautiful Nenana River, on the easternmost boarder of Denali National Park. We’ll spend several hours rafting downstream on a private white water rafting adventure, where the rafting guides will continue to share knowledge and information about this new part of the park we’ll get to know from the water.
After rafting we’ll have our final group meal out in nature (lunch), and your guide will facilitate a closing circle activity, offering an opportunity to reflect on your experience and what you’ll take home with you.
From there we’ll pack up and a private transport will drive the group back to Fairbanks. Expect to arrive between 6:00-8:00pm.
*All SheTravels itineraries are subject to change based on weather and safety conditions at the time of our adventures.
**You may need to arrive in Fairbanks one day prior to the start of this adventure. Upon registering, SheTravels will provide a list of recommended hotels in the area.
***Most flights out of Fairbanks are red-eye flights and leave at 9:00pm or later. You will be able to catch a flight on Day 6 any time at/after 9:00pm, or you can stay overnight in Fairbanks and depart the next day.
Physical Demands: HIGH
While we’ve curated an experience designed to ease you in to the environment and harder hikes, this trip includes several miles of hiking almost every day, some of which is steep terrain and most of which occurs at least 2000ft above sea level in and around Denali National Park. Therefore, for your safety and enjoyment we want to be realistic about the physical demands to make sure you’re prepared for a fun and rewarding experience.
Please take a close look at the detailed itinerary above to understand distances and elevation changes on our daily hikes. For this adventure you need to be comfortable being on your feet for many hours at a time, be able to ascend and descend multiple flights of stairs without severe joint pain, be able to walk 5+ miles multiple days in a row, and be able to carry 25-35 lbs. on your back for multiple hours across multiple days. For perspective, it’s ok if any of this will make you sore - that’s very normal. Also, SheTravels believes in being fully present in the moment so we move at a pace slow enough to take in the natural environment (its not the destination, but the journey!). We are sharing this information for you to make an honest call about whether these physical demands risk putting you in severe pain or causing injury. If you have any questions about your ability to enjoy this experience, please reach out to us at info@shetravels.com. We are happy to talk with you about what to expect, and how you can prepare. There’s a lot of time to get your body ready with some manageable movement practice.
Hiking Trail Difficulty: MODERATE
While the physical demands for this adventure are high due to the distances and amount of hiking we’ll be doing, most of the trails we’ll hike are rated “moderate” or “easy.” That means while some hikes may be longer, none include technically difficult components such as scrambling over boulders, or very steep inclines. That means no hiking expertise is required to participate and all hiking levels are welcome! When you register for this adventure, SheTravels will share a packing list that includes any recommended equipment that will help you enjoy these hikes safely. Again, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@shetravels.com with any questions you have about what to expect, or if this adventure is right for you!
Please note: by registering and paying a deposit for an Adventure, you acknowledge and agree that you have received, read, and understood the SheTravels Participation Agreement and agree and agree to abide by the SheTravels’ policies as they may be amended from time to time. As of this time, ALL PARTICIPANTS will be required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 at the time of travel (final shot administered at least 14 days prior to start of your adventure). Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)