10-Day Alaska Itinerary
I was on a hike in Socotra, a little island off Yemen, where a girl named Morgan, who was on the same group trip as I was, said that she was going to Afghanistan in August. I asked, “Are you sure that’s safe?” She replied, “I think so. Do you want to come?”
Five months later, here I am flying to Alaska to meet my friend Morgan in her home state before we head off to Afghanistan. Alaska wasn’t initially part of the plan, but Morgan’s passport was full and she needed a new one (a good problem to have), so she broke up her travelling to return home for a few weeks.
When someone from Alaska offers to let you stay with them, you take it. Alaska, apart from being obviously stunning, is also insanely expensive, so the free accommodation and car made the whole thing financially possible.
Here’s my 10-day Alaska itinerary, provided by Morgan, a born and bred Alaskan. All tour prices listed are discounted, as Morgan is an Alaska resident and receives anywhere from 10 to 40 percent off.
Day 1 – Ice Climbing Matanuska Glacier ($270 USD)
Morgan is from Anchorage, so we based ourselves there for most of the trip. The drive to Matanuska National Park took two hours, and our ice-climbing tour was booked through MICA Guides. We got super lucky because it ended up being just the two of us and our guide, Elena. It quickly felt like three friends hanging out and exploring the glacier, which I think really added to the experience. I highly recommend Elena—she was fab, and even gave me some great tips for Antarctica, where she also guides in summer.
We got kitted out with all the necessary equipment, packed our backpacks (which were provided), and drove to the glacier entrance. The hike into the glacier took about an hour, and then we began climbing.
I’m not the biggest fan of ice climbing (I’m physically weak lol), but since it was just the three of us, we could decide how to spend the day and ended up covering more ground than usual. We explored the glacier on foot, did more climbing, checked out some crevasses, and finished the day at the Neverfall.
Technically, it felt like three tours in one. If you can, I’d recommend booking a private tour so you have more flexibility.
It was one of the coolest experiences and the perfect way to start the trip.
Day 2 – Hike to Eagle and Symphony Lakes
A four-hour round-trip hike to a super blue lake. It’s an easy trail, but as with all hikes in Alaska, be aware of bears. Morgan doesn’t take bear spray, but we sometimes played music on a speaker while on quieter trails, just in case.
You can swim at this lake if you’re brave enough to face the cold.
That night we went to a brewery for dinner. I had chowder—because Alaska means seafood—but seafood prices here are no joke. Chowder was the closest I could afford.
Day 3 – Seward & Orcas ($260 USD)
We left at 6:30 a.m. and drove a couple of hours to Seward, a small fishing town on the coast. This was a bucket-list day—we were going on a whale-watching tour to (hopefully) see orcas.
We chose Major Marine Tours and booked the 8.5-hour tour to give ourselves the best chance.
By 10 a.m., we’d already seen humpbacks. By 11 a.m., we saw orcas. My dream. They were incredible. By the end of the day, we’d seen about 12 orcas and watched humpback whales bubble-feed—a rare phenomenon where they work together to trap schools of fish. At one point, we were eating lunch with orcas swimming all around us.
That said, this was clearly an exceptional day. Even the captain was shocked. The day before, no one saw a thing. So luck and good weather make all the difference.
The tour wrapped up around 5 p.m., and we headed into town to find a place to stay. Most hotels were fully booked. Eventually, we found a room at Van Gilder, supposedly a haunted hotel. That tracks—I'm pretty sure it hasn’t been updated since the early 1900s.
In typical Alaskan fashion, a basic room with a shared bathroom was $240 USD. I bargained with the receptionist and got it for $150. Haunted or not, I slept like a log.
Day 4 – Orca Island ($800 USD a night)
This was the bougiest part of the trip. We took a boat out to Orca Island and stayed in a yurt overnight. You have to bring your own food since it’s mostly off-grid, but the accommodation itself was super comfortable. There were hot showers, fireplaces, and a private dock where we tried to spot otters. We kayaked to a nearby waterfall (where you might see bears—sadly, we didn’t) and made s’mores around the fire with the other guests.
Day 5 – Harding Icefield Hike
An eight-hour round trip with a 3,000 ft elevation gain. Some people book guided tours for this, but honestly, you don’t need to. Halfway up, we ran into a guy Morgan had matched with on Hinge. He was a guide in the area and told us about an ice cave in the glacier.
Naturally, I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to see an ice cave. We went off-trail to try to find it. We got lost a few times and added two extra hours to the hike, but we found it. Without the detour, the whole hike could probably be done in six hours.
Just a reminder: ice caves are dangerous in summer. We borrowed helmets from a group that was also there. And don’t go off-trail unless you’re an experienced hiker.
Once again, we had nowhere to stay, so we contacted Hinge man, who let us crash on a couch in the guide house. Alaska has a lot of seasonal guides who live in shared houses before heading off to ski resorts, New Zealand, or Antarctica.
That night, we went out in Seward (which was actually fun), then made more s’mores by the fire.
Day 6 – Rest Day
The itinerary had planned two hikes for the drive back to Anchorage, but I was exhausted. After the big hike the day before, Morgan let me rest. I went back and just slept.
Day 7 – Portage Pass Hike and Whittier
A short and easy hike, but with super impressive views. It’s definitely one where you get more out of it than you put in. We picked up a solo traveller named Benjamin from Germany, and the three of us hiked to the lake. He swam in the glacier water—we just watched.
After that, we explored Whittier, a town where almost everyone lives in one big apartment building. It’s very strange. Many people come here to fish.
Later we drove to Girdwood, a nearby ski town, and checked out a waterfall.
Day 8 – Matanuska Peak
A 10-hour round trip with a 2,000 metre (6,000 ft) elevation gain. This hike is tough—only attempt it if you’re experienced. Unlike other hikes, there are no streams along the way, so bring enough water.
Most of the trail is a steep incline. The final two hours to the peak are mostly scrambling or climbing. Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in and the weather turned, so we made the call to turn back just 400 metres in elevation from the top. And yes, 400 metres in elevation is very different from 400 metres flat.
We were pretty bummed. The majority of the trail is uneventful, and the reward is in the view from the summit. So it felt like seven hours of hiking for nothing.
Day 8 – Scenic Flight Over Denali and Talkeetna ($470 USD)
We booked this just a few hours before the flight. It was expensive, so we didn’t want to commit unless the weather was good. Alaska’s weather is unpredictable and changes fast, so we called the company in the morning to check conditions in Talkeetna before making the two-hour drive.
It turned out to be one of the most unreal experiences of the trip. The views were absolutely breathtaking. We chose the flight option that included a glacier landing. Since we were already paying a lot, we figured we might as well add the extra $100 USD to land—and I’m so glad we did. I highly recommend it. Standing on a glacier mid-flight made the experience even more special.
Afterward, we explored Talkeetna, which is a cute, hippie town that comes alive in the summer. We had spinach bread and rhubarb crumble from the iconic trailer everyone talks about.
Day 9 – Glacier Paddle Boarding ($980 USD per person)
I hate to say it because this was the most expensive day of the trip, but it might have been my favourite. Ice climbing is a close second. We booked this a couple of days in advance to wait for good weather. The drive to Knik Glacier was about 90 minutes from Anchorage.
You gear up in dry suits, then take a helicopter to the glacier. It felt like heli-skiing, but the summer version. Because you need a helicopter to access it, the tour is private and runs for four hours.
We hiked a little to explore the glacier, and then our guides inflated the paddle boards. We paddled through bright blue rivers and pools, down a lazy glacial river with the most incredible scenery. I had lunch sitting on my paddle board, surrounded by ice—it was probably the coolest place I’ve ever eaten.
Day 10 – Salmon Fishing on the Kenai River
If you love fishing, Alaska will be your heaven. You could literally see hundreds of salmon swimming in the river. We went with one of Morgan’s family friends who’s an avid fisherman, but there are also plenty of tours you can book.
We caught 10 salmon in just a few hours and had salmon sashimi the next day. Safe to say it doesn’t get fresher than that.
Bonus – Bears
We didn’t end up doing a bear tour. To be honest, I had already spent so much money that I couldn’t justify the extra cost. The walking tours range from $995 to $1,600 USD. If you want to go to the iconic bear observation deck (the one where you see them catching fish at the waterfall), it’s around $1,300 USD.
Overall
Alaska exceeded all my expectations, and I only scratched the surface. I had to leave because my wallet was drained and I was physically wrecked from all the hiking.
Even though most tourists in Alaska are retirees—probably because it’s so expensive—it’s actually a dream destination for outdoorsy, adventure-leaning travellers.
Tips
A car is essential to get around.
Pack mostly activewear. Think: Patagonia fleeces, Arc’teryx beanies, hiking boots, and North Face jackets.
Don’t overplan. The weather changes often, and spontaneity helps make the most of it.
