BabuSoge

Alaska is huge, and ten days aren’t nearly enough to see even a fraction of it. This meant making some tough choices. Our shortlist included Anchorage, Seward, Valdez, Denali, Homer, Fairbanks, and Wrangell–St. Elias.

Denali National Park has been closed beyond mile 42 due to road reconstruction and won’t reopen until 2026. Since the best hikes are located past mile 43, we decided to skip Denali this time and save it for a future trip. Wrangell–St. Elias was also ruled out because Kennicott Lodge was fully booked for our dates. Both parks remain high on our must-visit list for next time. Fairbanks was another consideration, mainly for the chance to see the Northern Lights. But living in Minnesota, we’ve been lucky enough to see the aurora three times in the past two years. So Fairbanks didn’t make the cut either. With those three places off the list, it became easier to plan a realistic 10-day trip around the remaining areas.

We also designed our route to maximize nights in Anchorage, where accommodations are easier to find and the comfort-to-cost ratio is better than in smaller towns. We booked our hotel nights in Anchorage at the Hyatt House at a rate of 12000 points per night. The cash cost is upwards of 300 USD per night during summer, thus making it an insanely good deal.

🚗 Getting Around

• A rental car is essential.
• If you plan to take the Whittier–Valdez ferry, book well in advance (especially if bringing a car).

🏨 Where to Stay

• Anchorage: best comfort-to-cost ratio, wide range of hotels and Airbnbs.
• Smaller towns like Homer, Valdez, and Seward have fewer options, so book early.

🍴 Food & Supplies

• Stock up in Anchorage before heading out; options are limited in smaller towns.
• Pack snacks and sandwiches for hikes — food choices at trailheads are rare.

⛴ Ferries & Tours

• The Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Whittier to Valdez is scenic but prone to rough waters. Bring motion-sickness meds.
• Tours like kayaking, glacier walks, and wildlife cruises run rain or shine. Dress in layers and bring waterproof gear.

🧳 What to Pack

• Rain jacket and waterproof pants (weather changes fast).
• Hiking boots + optional trekking poles (we borrowed at the National Park visitor center for the Harding Icefield hike).
• Motion sickness tablets for ferry rides and small aircraft.
• Refillable water bottles and trail food.

📅 Best Time to Visit

• Summer (June–August) offers long daylight hours and best access to trails.
• May and September are quieter, cheaper, and less crowded, but weather can be more unpredictable.

📅 Itinerary Summary

• 5 nights in Anchorage
• 2 nights in Valdez
• 2 nights in Seward
• 2 nights in Homer

If you’re short on time, you can choose between Seward and Valdez. Or, if you can score reservations at Kennecott Lodge (or nearby cabins/Airbnbs), you may consider swapping Wrangell–St. Elias in place of Homer.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day 0 – Arrival in Anchorage: We landed in Anchorage in the late afternoon and took a short drive along the first stretch of the Turnagain Arm to Bird Point, where we learned about bore tides and their timing. This turned out to be very useful since we were able to time our departure out of Anchorage on Day 2 accordingly. After that, we picked up groceries and supplies for packing trail lunches, then wrapped up the day with dinner at Hearth Artisan Pizza.

Day 1 – Reed Lakes Hike + Hatcher Pass: We headed to Hatcher Pass for the Reed Lakes hike, which took us about six hours. Afterward, we drove to the highest point of the pass. This area is known for wild blueberries, and we saw a family foraging on one of the slopes. They kindly showed us how to spot and pick the berries, and we ended up with about a pint of blueberries for ourselves.

Day 2 – Bore Tide + Drive to Homer: We left Anchorage in the morning to catch the bore tide at Bird Point, then chased it along Turnagain Arm to see it from multiple spots. From there, we crossed over to the town of Hope, a quiet little community on the opposite bank. By evening, we reached Homer around 5 p.m., making stops along the way to soak in the views.

Day 3 – Grewingk Glacier Hike + Homer Spit: We booked a water taxi from Homer Harbor to start the Grewingk Glacier hike in Kachemak Bay State Park. In the morning, the boat dropped us off at Glacier Spit Trailhead for an easy, flat hike to the glacier. For the return, we followed the Saddle Trail to meet the water taxi at the Saddle Trailhead. If you start later in the day, this route usually becomes an out-and-back from the Saddle Trailhead instead. There’s also a one-mile detour to the hand-pulled tram, but we skipped it in-lieu of more time in the beach enjoying glacier views.

Day 4 – Ferry to Valdez: We drove to Whittier to take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Valdez. Since the ferry carries vehicles, it was a unique way to cross Prince William Sound. The trip took about six hours, with plenty of space onboard and a café for food. The scenery while leaving Whittier and arriving in Valdez was stunning. The middle stretch, however, was very rough with tall swells, and we wished we had brought Dramamine. We passed the time with a 1,000-piece puzzle, though the rocking of the boat made progress slow!

Day 5 – Sea Kayaking at Shoup Glacier: We had booked a sea kayaking tour with Pangaea Adventures to explore Columbia Bay. But the swells were too rough to get there safely, so the tour was re-directed to Shoup Glacier instead. While it was disappointing at first, kayaking at Shoup turned out to be a great alternative. Even with rain pouring the entire time , the experience was memorable and well worth it.

Day 6 – Drive to Anchorage + Matanuska Glacier: We drove the scenic Valdez-to-Anchorage highway, stopping for waterfalls and glacier views along the way. About two-thirds of the way, we reached Matanuska Glacier and joined a guided tour, the only way to access it. Even though it’s a bit pricey and touristy, we had no trouble getting walk-up tickets and enjoyed it a lot. The tour lasted about two hours with a small group of eight people. We then continued to Anchorage, stopping in Palmer for dinner and arriving around 9 p.m.

Day 7 – Harding Icefield Hike: From Anchorage, we drove to Seward for the Harding Icefield hike, which starts at the Exit Glacier visitor center. The staff there loaned us hiking poles, which came in handy. Initially, we planned to stop at the “Top of the Cliffs” viewpoint, since conditions beyond that were said to be uncertain. But the weather cleared up, so we pushed on all the way. The hike gains about 3,200 feet in 4 miles, making it tough, but the views of Harding Icefield and the sheer scale of it — the largest entirely within the U.S., feeding around 40 glaciers including Exit Glacier — made every step worthwhile. We ended the day with a dinner and spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our Airbnb.

Day 8 – Major Marine Wildlife and Glacier Tour: We joined Major Marine’s wildlife and glacier tour, an eight-hour cruise with a packed sandwich lunch included. The trip took us to two tidewater glaciers — Holgate and Aialik — and gave us plenty of chances to spot wildlife. We saw sea lions, seals, puffins, bald eagles, Dall sheep, mountain goats, and even humpback whales. By the time we returned to Seward in the evening, it felt like we had packed a week’s worth of sightings into one day.

Day 9 – Flying through Alaskan Range: Our second-to-last day in Alaska turned out to be the most unforgettable. Nitin had recently earned his private pilot license, and there couldn’t have been a better place to fly than Alaska. The rugged terrain makes flightseeing popular, and many companies offer tours from Anchorage, Valdez, and Wrangell–St. Elias. But instead of a standard sightseeing ride, we decided to rent an aircraft and have Nitin fly it himself.

We worked with Land and Sea Aviation in Anchorage and flew with CFI Kit Barton, whose mountain flying experience was invaluable. Taking off from Merrill Field in Anchorage, we first landed in Talkeetna for lunch and a quick stroll around town. From there, we headed into the Alaska Range through Ruth Gorge, circled the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, and saw towering peaks like Denali and Moose’s Tooth. On the way back, we exited through another glacier gorge and even made an impromptu landing on a remote gravel strip by a river — a surreal moment that capped off the flight perfectly. We returned to Merrill Field in the evening, still buzzing from the experience.

Day 10 – Anchorage Coastal Trail + Shopping: On our final morning, we biked along the 12-mile Anchorage Coastal Trail. The ride was scenic and peaceful, and we even spotted a moose along the way. Afterward, we spent some time plane-spotting near the airport before picking up last-minute souvenirs. In the evening we had pizza at the very famous Moose tooth pub and pizzeria. Throughout our time in Alaska, we had pizza at several places and we found that Alaskan pizza on average is way tastier than pizza in any other place in the US. Perhaps its the wood that is used in the pizza ovens that makes the difference (?).

Day 11 – Fly back home: We hopped on our flight back to the Twin Cities.

That’s our 10-day Alaska adventure. It was a perfect mix of hiking, glaciers, wildlife, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And while Denali and Wrangell–St. Elias are waiting for us next time, this trip gave us a deep appreciation for Alaska’s wild beauty.