​ What is the perfect Alaskan adventure? It’s a good question considering the cornucopia of incredible things to do in this great state. A perfect trip plan for everyone, probably doesn’t exist. If there was such a thing as the Ultimate Alaskan Adventure, we believe it would look different for everyone. Some folks love to explore, see new places, get away from others, play in the wilds on their own terms. Others are fish minded fanatics, ready to test their skills on the Pacific’s bounty. Some shoot rifles, and others shoot cameras.  If the trip could be tailored to fit the group, it might just make your list of Ultimate.
This is where Adventure Outfitters Alaska (AOA) comes in. We have some diverse packages to choose from and a full set of menu choices if the fit isn’t perfect. Our excursions take you into the heart of south-central Alaska, surrounded by wildlife, mountains, glaciers, and pure adventure. Our specific niche is the use of remote float planes for guided salmon fishing and remote adventure packages. We have trips that will suit novices, mid-range experts, and full blown adventure specialists that require the ultimate experience. Read on, as AOA might have the dream salmon fishing vacation or adventure vacation just waiting for you and your group….

​Our packages are unique in that they are a hybrid of several “Alaskan vacations”. Let me explain. Some folks come to AK and enjoy the lodge life, staying a week in an all-inclusive spot for the duration of your trip. This is usually quite expensive but can be an awesome experience. Others prefer to go the DIY route. These folks crave the unknown, the solitude, and usually have the skill sets to be successful when unleashed into the wilds. Some just want to catch fish all week long, others want to see wildlife and scenic vistas. Furthermore, there’s a growing number of folks who want a unique adventure, something completely tailored. Some folks are experts in experiencing the outdoors solo, while others prefer the fully guided variety.  AOA packages are a blend of the above vacation styles and can be tailored to fit your needs.
Most of our packages require you to manage and take care of the group’s transportation and lodging needs during your stay. Some packages may include an overnight stay at a private lodge or remote camp, but otherwise, plan on booking your own favorite hotel, AirBnB, etc. Same goes for your rental car needs. Let us take care of your float planes, ships, rafts, kayaks, and jetboats; you manage the car….fair trade. Plan on traveling around most of the Kenai Peninsula on your expedition and the remote west side of Cook Inlet.
Food is sometimes included during certain trips or adventures, but for the most part, plan on managing your own food consumption, dinners out, drinks, etc. This saves you tons of money by deciding how you want your food money spent. Some folks eat out a lot, while others swing thru Costco and fill coolers. Evenings at the remote camp and associated fishing trips will all include awesome riverside cuisine.
So, if you want a tailored, week-long adventure into the Alaskan wilds that is sure to be incredible, then give us a call. Lets get started planning your dream vacation today.

I hate starting an article off with a negative, but in this case, there is no choice. There is NO WAY to really see Alaska in week. There are over 600,000 square miles of wilderness, most of which is extremely remote and barely explorable. However, if you plan ahead, choose your top priorities, and then get your expectations right, you can no doubt, see a great deal of Alaska in a week……ish .
STEP 1: Determine your vacation location.
Alaska is so big, you don’t really pick a town or city to visit, you pick an entire ecosystem or biome. Alaska spans three distinct biome regions: Alaska’s Southeast: The Temperate Rainforest, South central’s Boreal Forest, and Northern Alaska’s Arctic Tundra. Your vacation will take place in one of these. If you stretch your expeditions out to 12-14 days, you could see two of these regions, but you’d be burning the midnight oil and probably cramming in too much. My $.02 is to pick one region that fits you and your group best and dive in with all you got!
Southeast Alaska encompasses the Juneau area, Skagway, Ketchikan, etc. Your week-long vacation would include mostly ocean-based trips. Whale watching, ocean fishing for salmon, glaciers, and seabird tours keep your week busy. The Pacific coast is an incredible sight to behold with calving glaciers, adorable sea otters, and beyond.
The great north of Alaska includes the Denali National park area and beyond. This massive swath of land stretches all the way through the Brooks Mountain range and into the polar ice cap. The crown jewel of this tundra biome is no doubt, Mt Denali. North Americas largest summit attracts wildlife viewers and sight seers from around the globe. When the weather is right, the vistas are indescribable. Your week will be filled with sightseeing, bus tours of the park, wildlife viewing of caribou, moose, bear, and more. Fishing is limited to grayling and some pike.
Sandwiched between the south and the north, is the central region of Alaska. This tends to be the perfect blend of all biomes. Encompassing the Anchorage region and the Kenai Peninsula, it is the easiest to access, has the most infrastructure, and no doubt has the widest variety of things to do for visitors. If fishing is your thing, look no further, this is your region. There are countless species to target and will be the best place to fill coolers with fresh, wild salmon fillets. You get full access to the Pacific bounty, fishing for halibut, watching whales, orcas, and otters. There is sea kayaking, glacier tours, and more. This is also the best location for land lovers. Hiking, sightseeing, and wildlife viewing is incredible throughout the Kenai Peninsula and across the Cook Inlet. With so many things to do, and access to all of them, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula reigns supreme for your next adventure vacation.
STEP 2: Prioritize your list of adventures
No matter which area you choose to visit, there will most likely be more things to do than you have time for. So, prioritizing your wish list of things to do becomes paramount to a successful trip. Get your group together and make this list together. Maybe you decide fishing and seeing wildlife are your top 2 priorities (most common). Others choose seeing glaciers, scenery, and wildlife. Try and get more specific to fine tune this list. Pick a couple of species of fish you want to search for, or species of wildlife you want to focus on seeing. Brown bears and whales do not inhabit the same spots, so prioritize as much as you can. Some folks like long road trips, while others might prioritize less driving. Some folks might love an adventure in a float plane while others can’t do small aircraft. Once this list is prioritized, you can start to look at booking things.
STEP 3: Decide your dates and how you want to build your trip.
Dates for your Alaskan vacation are very important based on your above list of prioritized activities. For instance, if you want to catch salmon, don’t come in May, they haven’t shown up yet. If you want to see glaciers smashing into the ocean, come during our warmest months. This might take a little bit of homework on your end to figure out. How you plan on building your trip is obviously up to you. Some options include booking a lodge for a week and doing the all-inclusive thing, or you could go full bore Rambo and do everything DIY for the week. A blend of the two is often a great fit for most groups as well. Choosing a company like Adventure Outfitters Alaska (AOA) to help build you the perfect vacation plan is another great option. Regardless of which you choose, there will be countless options on the web for you to research.
STEP 4: Book early, plan for weather delays and cancellations.
Once you have set dates and all the outfits and companies you want to use on your expedition are planned out, begin calling and putting money down. Securing boat rides, plane rides, tour seats, etc is top priority in the vacation planning process. Lodging is second since it revolves around the individual adventures along the way. Once your trips are set, your adventure begins to really take shape. Make sure to plan in the drive time between remote locations or when spanning across the peninsula. You don’t want to drive all night and then have a 5:00 am fishing trip the next day.
Planning for weather delays is almost impossible, but you can no doubt look at the expedition and see which trips have the highest probability for cancellation and be ready to adapt. Research other cool things to do that are not weather related, like DIY hikes, scenic drives, last minute guided options, etc.
 
Once you land in Anchorage, you almost immediately feel the hustle of city life and the lower 48 just melt away.  From there your journey begins, tailored to fit your bucket list of Alaskan experiences. Give us a call if you want to embark on one of our many weeklong adventures on the mighty Kenai Peninsula. Enjoy salmon fishing, wildlife viewing, adventuring, and without the hassle of endless hours on the internet. Don’t just book and hope you made the right choice. Give us a call and talk things through, you’ll know if we’re the right fit.
Best Fishes,
Adventure Outfitters Alaska
(907) 690-2040