Family trip · 8 days · Semi-private
The Alaska Discovery Expedition
Glaciers, fjords and floatplanes with your family, all in one week. Small group and all-inclusive, with kosher meals and a full Shabbat built in.
8 days, 7 nights
Length
Tuesday, Anchorage airport
Starts
Ages 10 and up
Up to 12 guests
Coming soon
2027 dates
Fully licensed and insured · Permitted with Alaska State Parks
Overview
Alaska at ground level
This is the trip we wish every family could take. In eight days we get you onto the ice with crampons, onto the water in Prince William Sound, and up over the Chugach Icefields in a seaplane. Then we slow down for a real Shabbat in Palmer.
We keep the driving short and the days full, and we base close to the action, so you spend your time outside, not in the van. We modulate the intensity based on the group. Some days follow a fixed schedule; others stay open so the group can choose, based on weather and energy.
- A glacier cruise or a day of sea kayaking in Prince William Sound
- A seaplane flight over the Chugach Icefields
- Salmon fishing or a raft float on the Kenai River
- A jet boat to the face of the Knik Glacier
- Alpine lakes, an old gold mine and gold panning at Hatcher Pass
- A night of glamping beside the Matanuska Glacier
- A guided glacier trek with crampons
- Shabbat in Palmer, with challah baked together on Friday
Itinerary
Day by day
This sample follows our 2027 plan. Alaska weather has the last word, and we adjust when it does.
Day 1 · Tuesday · Girdwood
Airport pickup and Turnagain Arm
We pick you up at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and get you out of the city and into Alaska right away. The road south runs along Turnagain Arm, with the Chugach Mountains rising straight out of the water.
Depending on your arrival time, we stop for a picnic lunch and short hikes along the way. If time allows, Flattop Mountain is a very rewarding hike. By evening we settle into Girdwood, our home for the next three nights.
Upgrade: glacier dog sledding by helicopter out of Girdwood (Days 1 to 3).
Day 2 · Wednesday · Girdwood
Whittier and Prince William Sound
We drive through North America's longest highway tunnel to the seaport of Whittier, the gateway to Prince William Sound. This is a landscape of fjords and passageways carved by glaciers, with a great chance to see sea otters, seals, seabirds and tidewater glaciers.
You choose: a glacier cruise through the Sound, or sea kayaking and a hike.
Upgrade to glacier kayaking right next to the icebergs in Blackstone Bay, or a jet ski out to the glaciers.
Day 3 · Thursday · Girdwood
The Kenai River
Today we head down the Kenai Peninsula to the Kenai River, known for its bright turquoise glacial water and world renowned for its salmon fishing. You pick: salmon fishing with a professional guide, or a scenic raft float down the river. Anglers take home whatever they keep.
Off the river, we hike the trails nearby before heading back to Girdwood for the evening.
Upgrade: the luxury Nordic spa at Alyeska Resort.
Day 4 · Friday · Palmer
A seaplane over the icefields
We take off on a private seaplane charter over the Chugach Icefields. From the air you see how the ice carved the valleys below, and when the weather allows, we land on a remote glacial lake. Take a dunk if you dare.
Then we take the scenic drive north to Palmer. Guests pick from a variety of hikes to explore and fill the afternoon, and we bake challah together before Shabbat.
Day 5 · Shabbat · Palmer
Shabbat in Palmer
A beautiful Shabbat in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, with big open skies and the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains on the horizon. The world quiets down here.
Daven together in the morning or at your own pace, then share good meals, read a book, take a walk and spend real time together. Shabbat runs late in the Alaska summer, so we make Havdalah over breakfast.
Day 6 · Sunday · Palmer
The Knik Glacier
We spend the morning exploring the mighty Knik Glacier, a river of ice left over from the last ice age. A monster truck carries us across the gravel river beds, then a jet boat takes us to the face of the glacier, past icebergs floating in the lake.
In the afternoon, go horseback riding through the valley, zipline, or hike Bodenburg Butte to overlook the entire valley.
Day 7 · Monday · Matanuska Glacier glamping
Hatcher Pass and gold rush history
Hatcher Pass is known as the Swiss Alps of Alaska, and it's where we explore Alaska's gold rush history. We hike up to alpine lakes, explore the historic Independence Mine and try our hand at panning for gold.
In the evening we drive one of the most scenic highways in Alaska to the Matanuska Glacier, where we glamp for the night.
Upgrade: spend the night on the glacier itself, flown in by helicopter.
Day 8 · Tuesday · Flights home
Glacier trek and the journey home
The final morning of your expedition. Step out of the tent and onto the ice. With crampons on and an expert local guide in the lead, we trek across the Matanuska Glacier, past blue ice and deep crevasses.
After lunch and one last big view of Alaska, we drive back to Anchorage for your flight home. Please book return flights after 6:00 pm.
Want more time? Ask about extensions, like Katmai bear viewing or Denali flightseeing.
What's included
One price covers your week in Alaska
Included
- All lodging, from airport pickup to drop-off
- Every meal, fresh and home-cooked
- Your guide for the whole trip
- All activities on the itinerary
- All ground transportation in Alaska
- Helmets and crampons for the glacier trek
Not included
- Flights to and from Anchorage
- Lodging before or after the trip
- Personal clothing and gear (we send a detailed list)
- Gratuities for AKX staff and local guides
- Optional upgrades and extensions
- Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Where you sleep: comfortable vacation homes and lodges, plus one night of glacier glamping.
We scale the adventure to you
You don't need to be an athlete. We scale the adventure to the group and to each person in it. To get the most out of the week, you should be able to hike for a couple of hours with a backpack and water, in rain gear if the sky says so. Minimum age 10.
Is it for everyone?
Glacier trek
Crampons, helmets and a few hours on the ice with a guide. Upgrade: skip the walk in and take a helicopter to the glacier.
Sea kayaking or a glacier cruise
A day on the water in Prince William Sound. No experience needed.
Day hikes
We scale the hikes in difficulty depending on the group.
From our trips
More of what the week looks like
WHAT TO EXPECT
From first call to airport pickup
Here is exactly how it works.
1
Discovery call
We talk through your family, your dates and the kind of Alaska you want.
2
Itinerary and proposal
A day-by-day plan with one all-inclusive price.
3
Agreement and deposit
Sign online and pay a 25% deposit to hold your spots.
4
Getting ready
Food and health forms, a gear list, and a welcome letter that answers the rest.
5
Airport pickup
We meet you at the airport with a welcome gift bag. From there, we have it covered.
Trip questions
Before you ask
When do we pick the activities?
When you book the trip. Alaska activities and vendors book far in advance, so choosing at booking is the best way to guarantee your picks.
Where does the trip start and end?
At Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. We pick you up on Day 1 and drop you off on Day 8; book return flights after 6:00 pm. Arriving a day early is a smart idea.
Can we make it private?
Yes. Request a private departure for your family, or we can build a fully custom trip.
What if the weather turns?
We go rain or shine and switch to the best alternative when conditions change. That's part of guiding in Alaska.
How do you handle kashrut and Shabbat?
Glatt kosher meat, kitchens we kasher ourselves, and a full Shabbat at our vacation home. Our dairy is not Chalav Yisrael. Read our food and kashrut standard.
What families say
5.0 on Tripadvisor.
"Amazing trip; AKE was excellent; food / logistics / snacks / everything was exceptionally well done! Incredible attention to detail; super knowledgeable."
"If someone asked me about this trip I would tell them I would love to do it all over again. This is the way to see and experience Alaska. I loved it!"
"Spending Shabbat overlooking a glacier and glacial river certainly added to the memories."
Get the 2027 dates
Tell us about your family, and we'll send you our 2027 dates.
