may 07 trip

thinking of doing alaska in May 2007 and am interested in small group tours. I don%26#39;t think I want the big cruise thing. I am more interested in seeing alaska than the cruise experience. Looking for good companies that don%26#39;t use the big hotels and large lemming- like visits. Must confess I don%26#39;t like the camping thing either. Picky I know! Not in good enough shape for big adventure travel either, although I dream of it. Too much to ask?

may 07 trip

Well, I don%26#39;t know about small tour groups, but you can easily plan your own very nice Alaskan trip without camping. If it were me, I would plan on renting a car, staying either in mid-range hotels or some nice B%26amp;B%26#39;s and plan on a week or two . . . staying in Anchorage for a day, and then head down on to the Kenai for several days - maybe 2 days in Seward, seeing the Sea Life center, doing a boat tour, Exit Glacier, etc., and then head to Homer for a day or so. Then I would drive to Denali Park, staying there for at least 2 days, and maybe a day in Fairbanks. This would be one quick trip - if you have more time, then I would consider heading to Valdez as well. Perhaps add a leg of train travel if you don%26#39;t want to drive all the time . . . but those are my thoughts. Don%26#39;t plan on any Denali time until mid-May, as that is when things will be up and running. Hope this helps get you started - I know many of us here on the forum would be happy to help with hotel suggestions, activities, etc. Good luck! :)

may 07 trip

hi, me again. Thanks coalminer for the info. I am just formulating and dreaming. I will probably be doing this solo so that is why I was thinking of a group thing to have people interaction. Alaska has always been a dream and now seems to be the time to look forward to something. You think late May early June would be best Huh? I might even like to try a little fishing too if there is someone to take them off the hook ( and bait them). I have heard that there are nice 1 day glacier cruises as well that would give enough of that kind of experience. Maybe a little kayaking, and low key hiking as well?

Yes, I think you could do great here - Alaskans are very welcoming - perhaps you could combine some things so you wouldn%26#39;t feel so ';solo'; at times - maybe a train trip, the glacier/boat tour from Seward or Whittier, the shuttle bus ride in the park, Denali flight seeing, a hike with a ranger, etc. Those tend to end up feeling like a group function without having to take an official tour. But I think quite a few people travel here alone . . . it%26#39;s an adventuresome state!

I like mid-June better, as things are starting to get green here in the Denali area, but mid-May is a bit quieter as far as tourism goes and many times the prices are a bit lower (shoulder season). Good luck! :)

have an update coalminer, et al. I am using frequent flier miles and it appears that around Aug 15 seems to offer the dates to give me the 10 days I am planning on. I just received Alaska wild brochure in the mails and see there are some possiblities to build upon. Will the Tundra be turning color yet, will there still be puffins, whales etc. andhow about the tourists cariboo and bears? How is the Kenai backccountry lodge, The Kantishna Roadhouse etc.

Hello again iagal! Well, August is generally wetter, but you never know from year to year. The tundra at the higher elevations will be beginning to change, but most color change occurs a bit later in August. Yes, all the other animals will still be around - everything from whales to caribou, so no problem there. If you are desiring to stay in the Wonder Lake/Kantishna area, I would highly recommend Camp Denali/North Face lodge (www.campdenali.com), but if that is beyond your budget or length of stay, I would recommend a new place, the Skyline Lodge. www.katair.com/skyline. I would choose the Skyline over Kantishna roadhouse, though I know many people who enjoy staying there or doing their bus tour. Anything else I missed?? I hope that helps - if you need more, just holler! :)