Kenai Fjords Adventure 2025/2026

Experience the best of Kenai Fjords National Park on our Kenai Fjords Adventure.

You'll explore the expansive beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park on our 6-day Kenai Fjords National Park adventure and hiking tour. During the day, you'll get right amongst the beauty of Alaska by foot, kayak, and boat. Hike to Exit Glacier and to a stunning view of Harding Icefield and to the glacial lake at Grewingk Glacier. Kayak the coves of Peterson Bay and raft the Kenai River keeping an eye out for resident wildlife. Take in spectacular views of the Kenai Mountains and sit back and enjoy a well-earned cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. By evening, enjoy seaside accommodations, sampling fresh seafood and the region's finest gourmet fare. Your guides lead the way into hidden landscapes and take care of all the finer details, making this Alaskan adventure one to remember.

^{Austin Adventures operates in part under a special use permit with the Chugach National Forest and is an equal opportunity provider.}

Download Our Handy Trip Itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.

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Kenai Fjords Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Anchorage Trip End: Anchorage

Download our Handy Trip itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip

Day 1Train to Seward, Tonsina Creek Hike
Day 2Hike Harding Icefield
Day 3Kenai Fjords National Park Wilderness Cruise
Day 4Float/Raft the Kenai River, Visit Kenai National Park Wildlife Refuge
Day 5Kayaking Peterson Bay, Hiking to Grewingk Glacier
Day 6Morning hike to Bishop's Beach, say our goodbyes

Day 1

Train to Seward, Tonsina Creek Hike

Your Alaska adventure starts early in Anchorage with a four-hour scenic train ride on the famous Alaska Railroad, heading south to historic Seward on the Coastal Classic route. We'll hug the coastline along the Turnagain Arm, then south of Portage the train separates from the highway and enters a truly remote and rugged section of track. Here, you'll head through Placer River Valley and pass by the impressive ice wall of Spencer Glacier and over the 1,063-foot pass of the Kenai Mountains.

Upon arrival in Seward, you'll head out for a hike on the Tonsina Creek Trail, walking through dense spruce and hemlock forest with only occasional views of the Resurrection Bay and mountains and a chance to see salmon spawning. After exploring the trail, we'll check into our hotel for the next 3 nights. Harbor 360 Hotel is the premier waterfront hotel in the scenic harbor town of Seward with spacious, comfortable guest rooms, and harborside or mountainside views. Tonight, we'll enjoy dinner as we toast to a great trip to come!
Accommodation: Harbor 360 Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 4 miles (6.4 kilometers)
Day 2

Hike Harding Icefield

After a hearty breakfast for the big day ahead, we'll make our way to the Harding Icefield where we'll hike along the Exit Glacier Overlook Trail. It's a well maintained, moderately strenuous trail providing expansive views of Exit Glacier in its own glacially carved valley.

From there, you can opt for a more challenging hike to view the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield. The trail meanders through alder and cottonwood forest and heather-filled meadows, rising through the forest and ultimately ending up well above the tree line to an awe-inspiring vantage point of the icefield. The peak of the trail is a peephole to ice ages past - a horizon of snow and ice stretches as far as the eye can see, broken only by an occasional lonely peak, known as a nunatak.

We'll head back to Seward after our day's hike and enjoy some time to relax, followed by dining on local Alaskan cuisine.
Accommodation: Harbor 360 Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: Up to 8 miles (13 kilometers)
Day 3

Kenai Fjords National Park Wilderness Cruise

Today we'll get to explore Kenai Fjords National Park by boat! We'll board a small ship, meeting the captain and crew, and depart for the wilderness of Kenai Fjords National Park. The park is inhabited by a variety of terrestrial and marine mammals, including brown and black bears, moose, sea otters, harbor seals, humpback and killer whales. Checking out tidal glaciers and abundant sea life from the ship’s deck, our naturalist guide will share their expertise on the region as we explore coastal rainforests, tidewater glaciers and remote Alaskan islands.

Lunch will be provided on board. Upon arrival back on shore in the afternoon, we'll have time to relax, or you can visit the Alaska SeaLife Center. Then you can explore the local restaurants and enjoy a meal of your choice!
Accommodation: Harbor 360 Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cruise: 6 hours
Day 4

Float/Raft the Kenai River, Visit Kenai National Park Wildlife Refuge

Your day begins with an incredible float rafting trip on the Kenai River. We’ll have opportunities to see incredible wildlife with bears, moose, beavers and forest birds (including bald eagles!) frequenting the river banks. and we'll be immersed in the spectacular scenery!

After lunch, we’ll transfer to our accommodations for the next two nights in the quaint town of Homer situated in Kachemak Bay. Homer is quintessential Alaska - and we'll enjoy a delicious meal at one of our favorite local restaurants.
Accommodation: Land's End Resort, Homer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rafting: 2 hours
Day 5

Kayaking Peterson Bay, Hiking to Grewingk Glacier

This morning, you’ll water taxi to beautiful protected Peterson Bay to go kayaking for the morning! Keep an eye out for the local wildlife as we paddle our way to the trailhead of this afternoon’s hike!

We’ll have a delicious sack lunch on the beach before hiking 3 miles up to spectacular Grewingk Glacier. There are options to walk shorter distances, or simply hang out and soak up the views on the beach. You’ll then water taxi back to Homer to gather for one last dinner with your travel companions, recounting the amazing adventures you had in the land of the midnight sun.
Accommodation: Land's End Resort, Homer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3 miles (4.8 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 250 feet (76 meters) ascent, 250 feet (76 meters) descent
Kayaking: 2.5-3 hours
Day 6

Morning hike to Bishop's Beach, say our goodbyes

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll enjoy a short hike to Bishop's Beach for a wonderful views of the bay and surrounding mountains.

To return to Anchorage you can book a short flight back to Anchorage on your own, or hop in the van for a five-hour transfer back to Anchorage. Alternatively, you may want to stay on at Homer for world-class halibut fishing or grizzly bear viewing in nearby Katmai or Lake Clark National Parks – only a short flight away!
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast

Hiking: 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers)

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What's Included

5 nights’ accommodation
5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Our own highly experienced guides, with you from start to finish
Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
Your own ‘Account’, an online space with everything required for your trip
Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
Delicious snacks to keep you fueled
Special ‘Wow’ moments you'll never forget
All activities outlined in the itinerary
All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern and comfortable!

What Our Guests Say

FAQs

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Four Points Sheraton at 5:30am or Downtown Marriott Hotel at 5:45am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Anchorage, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Homer Airport at 11am in time for flights below, the Anchorage Airport at 5:30pm in time for flights below, or at a hotel of your choice in Anchorage around 6pm.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Anchorage at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Homer after 12:30pm or Anchorage after 7:30pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

What are the accommodations we stay at on this trip?

We have selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel – it’s not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels in Alaska. We prefer to stay in accommodations close to the park and our activities for the day that are comfortable after a full day of exploration.

While there are laundry facilities at some locations, they may not be convenient or there may only be one machine to service your entire group. We recommend bringing enough clothing to not have to do laundry during your trip. If needed the best time will be in Seward on Days 1-3.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness for this trip though you’ll be hiking on gentle to moderate trails and can still enjoy the scenery and relaxation. Typically, hikes range between two and four hours to complete, more, or less hiking is available too.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

Will I have contact with my guides before the trip starts?

Your guides will call your cell phone the night before your trip begins to touch base on the first day’s plan. If they don’t get through to you, they will leave a voicemail on your cell phone with all the details you need to plan for your first morning.

What should I bring with me on the first day?

When you speak with your guides the night before your trip, they will give you a detailed description of what to bring with you on Day 1. Typically, this includes a day pack with your rain jacket, sunglasses, hat, camera, etc. Anything you want easy access to during the day should go in your day pack as the rest of your luggage will go in the locked cargo trailer pulled behind the van. Your guides will provide you with a water bottle on the first morning of your trip and will always have water available for refills. There will be snacks available at all times in the van. Your guides will also have bug spray and sunscreen accessible for you to use.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size). We recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Paypal. All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 120 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement.

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Photos From the Trip

Save 10% on the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance — you can find details here.

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Your Expert Local Guides

Brendan

Bryson

Caitlyn

David

Derek

Jamie

Jayson

Jonathan

Jessi

Joel

Kathy

Keenan

Kevin

Lisa

Liz

Nicole

Olivia

Ronnie

Ryan

Steve

Sydney

Zach

Why travel with us

A love of adventure, born in New Zealand

Our passion for exploration is rooted in a strong connection to the natural beauty of our home, New Zealand, and the drive to venture beyond its shores to discover a world different to our own.

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Life-changing, rewarding experiences in breathtaking places

We bring your adventure dreams to life. The best journeys don’t just take you places; they inspire you to be curious, ignite your spirit, and find a new sense of freedom – they can even change your life!

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Expert guides, deep local connections

Feel the heart and soul of each place you visit with our local people on the ground and knowledgeable guides, who take great care to ensure a truly authentic and immersive experience. This is the real deal.

Adventures inspired by nature

Feel like you're in a world of your own, with unique itineraries to take you away from the usual tourist traps. Enjoy exhilarating activities like hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking, to explore the very best of each destination.

Flexible, personalized experiences

We take the time to get to know you to ensure you have the very best experience on our trips. Our small group adventures are big on flexibility — no matter what your version of "active" is, we have options on each trip to suit every individual.

All-inclusive — with everything organized for you

Imagine a vacation that's fully guided, and everything is taken care of and included in the trip price — all accommodations, activities, transport on-trip, most meals, and more! Effortless and value-packed.

A Multi-Activity Alaska Adventure Tour