An Exciting Combination: Hiking and Kayaking in Northern Alaska (5 days)
You love hiking just as much as kayaking on fairly calm water? Then take advantage of this offer and experience the nature of northern Alaska from every angle – from the land, from the water and from the air. A floatplane takes you all the way to the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge, or Iniakuk Lodge for short, which lies 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, far away from any civilization.
From here, you set out with your guide John Gaedeke on unforgettable hikes during the first three days, and you spend the last two days kayaking on one of the many rivers in the national park. Keep your camera handy during every activity – the rugged tundra and wildlife such as bears, caribou, beavers and eagles guarantee you breathtaking shots!
Description
A Great Starting Point for Your Adventure: the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge
You fly north from Fairbanks by floatplane and touch down gently on Iniakuk Lake, 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, on the edge of Gates of the Arctic National Park. At the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge and its two affiliated lodges a bit farther away, the Arrigetch Peaks Wilderness Cabin and the Gates of the Arctic Caribou Cabin, you can enjoy pure nature far from any civilization with all your senses.
The Iniakuk Lodge, a cozy log cabin, is your base camp for the next three days. It's rustic yet luxuriously equipped – there are even wellness treatments. The food here is incredibly good and plentiful, which isn't a given by American standards. The lodge is perfect for wildlife viewing, the views from the bedrooms and the deck are a dream – and in winter and spring, the northern lights are a true highlight.
But you'll want to get active, too, and there are plenty of ways to do that. Throughout your stay, John Gaedeke is at your disposal as your private guide. He knows the area inside out and caters to all your wishes – for example, he shows you the best spots for wildlife photography and fishing, joins you on day hikes and takes care of your well-being.
The kayak trip in the second part of your journey also takes you past one of the two other lodges, the Arrigetch Peaks Wilderness Cabin. Most rivers in this region are calm waters, so on the way there you can focus entirely on watching wildlife and taking photos. You'll spend two days at the cabin with the guide; it's an excellent starting point for two- to three-hour summit climbs. On the way back you paddle down the river to an agreed take-out point, where the floatplane picks you up and brings you back to the Iniakuk Lodge.
A very varied offer that does justice to the diversity of nature in this region.
Of course, you're also welcome to talk with John Gaedeke and with us at murkl.com about alternative activities that are possible from the Iniakuk Lodge. For example, kayak trips can also be planned as day trips from the lodge, and conversely, multi-day hikes with stopovers at one of the two other cabins are possible as well. Also take a look at the write-ups on the three lodges under »Accommodations« – there you'll find many more details on the countless possibilities in northern Alaska that you can explore from these three base camps!
What’s included
Included
- Round-trip floatplane flight from Fairbanks to the Iniakuk Lodge
- Additional floatplane flight from a take-out point to the Iniakuk Lodge
- Support and guiding by guide John Gaedeke
- 2 nights at the Iniakuk Lodge
- 2 nights at the Arrigetch Peaks Wilderness Cabin
- All meals at all lodges
- Kayak and equipment
Not included
- International round-trip flight to and from Fairbanks
Request
Free and without obligation. We will get back to you within a few days.