Alaska Tour Reviews

Accommodations Review

Superb! Top-notch cleaning of our rooms. 

Meals Review

Every meal at North Face was outstanding! Much of it was grown on-site and was fixed and presented beautifully. They even picked wild blueberries and made blueberry tarts!!

The cruise meals were good as well, but you can't get that fresh quality on a boat like you can on land. They were very timely served and hot things were hot and cold things were cold. I was full every day!

Crew & Guides Review

I cannot remember our moderate hike guides' names at North Face Lodge, but both were excellent and very knowledgeable! John made a most superb leader, along with Andi, and were gentle with their bell before announcements.

Katie, Dani, Sarah, really all the crew on board the Wilderness Adventurer were beyond great. They were also knowledgeable and helpful. They were highly trained and had kind, fun-loving spirits.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Most excellent! We were well prepared for this trip, right down to the rubber boots, which we really didn't need on the boat because they had plenty of all sizes. But our boots came in handy for the rest of the trip. Shuttles, buses, flights, trains, really every mode of transportation was on time and had friendly drivers.

I can't thank you enough for the best vacation I have ever had. When I had questions, you either called me or emailed me in a timely manner, which alleviated any concerns I had. 

I know at least three people who want to "pick my brain" about this trip, and you will be highly recommended.

Traveler Advice

Go for it!  Its worth every penny, and you won't regret it.

Accommodations Review

We were happy that we had one of the two cabins at the Backcountry Lodge that had its own plumbing.  But it would not have been horrible to have to use the bath house. Again, all of the vessels, vans and vehicles were clean and well taken care of.  Each of the guides on each vehicle was great as well. 

Meals Review

All of the food was incredible as evidenced by coming home at least 10 pounds heavier.  The Kenai Backcountry and Kenai Fjords were the best. We appreciated that all of the food was provided.  Even snacks--fantastic snacks. One of the best meals was the picnic along the Kenai River.  The guides prepared lunch for us and it was delicious.

Crew & Guides Review

We totally loved our guide, Julie.  WOW!!!  She knows so much, she is so enthusiastic, she made the trip!!  Heidi our rafting guide was great, enthusiastic and loved her job.  Kirsten the bus driver into the Kantishna Lodge in Denali was so enjoyable.  We all were impressed not only by her knowledge, but also by her eagle eye spotting animals.  Johnny at the Backcountry Lodge and River Rafting guide was super as well.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

We were prepared!  Your lists were very useful.  Your advise was right on target.  Getting booked into the trip through AdventureSmith was fine and Aaron answered all of our questions and was very helpful.

Accommodations Review

The lodges varied significantly in terms of locations and special features, but each provided a special environment for experiencing Alaska. The Wilderness Lodge, lacking running water or electricity in the rooms, was challenging in some respects. Getting up at 2:00 am and walking through cold dark woods to common toilet facilities wasn't particularly pleasant, but the lodge's remote location and rustic ambiance compensated. Moreover, two members of our group who had been looking unsuccessfully for the northern lights, accident found them one night on their way to the toilet. Thus a negative became a positive.

Meals Review

The lodges in the Alaska Wildland part of the trip stand out in regard to meals. Chefs at each lodge were both happy to accommodate our "pescatarian" preferences and available to discuss menus and recipes. Indeed, the chef at the Wilderness Lodge spent a good deal of time sharing some recipes we particularly enjoyed. The quality of food at these Wildlands lodges far exceeded our expectations.

Crew & Guides Review

Our trip leader in the Wildlands Collections was Christine. We have never met anyone as well-suited for her job as Christine. She brought new meaning to the word "enthusiastic," and she was incredibly well-prepared. She communicated clearly and at the right time so that we were always prepared for next steps and so that we would have an opportunity to share our needs or preferences with her. She seemed able to meet every need. Truly a wonderfully skilled and smart individual. All the guides were knowledgeable and personable--excellent in every respect--but two who stand out in our memories were KayDee in the Alaska Wildlands and Kerstein at the Kantishna Roadhouse. KayDee was remarkable for her flexibility and especially her willingness and ability to fit hikes to the widely varying needs of different individuals. Hiking with Kerstein was like attending a college class in the wilderness, and one taught by a charismatic and exciting teacher. She made even the most drab looking plant or dull rock interesting.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Excellent. Tiffany is a marvel of organization and communication. We were never confused or surprised by any of the connections in our complicated trip.

Traveler Advice

1. Use AdventureSmith. 2. Fly from Kantishna to the park headquarters. 3. Take advantage of every opportunity provided to enjoy the outdoors with guides.

Accommodations Review

The Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge was gorgeous! Very impressive facility, in a breathtaking environment. Wildlife sightings very exciting. Activities were well planned, with excellent and knowledgeable guides. Backcountry Lodge was excellent in every way with the exception of the challenge of not having bathrooms in the individual cabins. Hiking to the bathroom in the middle of the night (in a place where they were concerned about bear encounters !) might be OK at scout camp, but not so much as a middle age or older adult.

Crew & Guides Review

Elias was very thoughtful, pleasant, knowledgeable, in every way a perfect gentleman, constantly showing awareness and thoughtful concern for the welfare, comfort, and pleasure of his clients.

Accommodations Review

The 3 Kenai Lodges (Riverside, Backcountry and Glacier) were incredible!

Meals Review

The food was delicious and plentiful!

Crew & Guides Review

Todd was our primary guide and was very knowledgeable, fun, and personable. He really made the trip! All the other people were wonderful and a couple of standouts were Johnny, Patrick and Devon.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Aaron was wonderful, organized and always answered questions quickly and professionally!  Very helpful!

Accommodations Review

Very happy with all. Special shoutout to cruise hotel manager, who immediately moved us to a different cabin when our shower wasn't working (glad they had space) -- a slightly larger cabin at no extra charge to us. Handled promptly and professionally. Also, in the "over the top" department, when we arrived the steward pointed out the distilled water for my husband's cpap.  He actually doesn't use the water part, but the fact they thought of it/knew about it and provided it was quite the touch.

Meals Review

Food was awesome everywhere, stellar at Kantishna, but even more stars on the cruise. OMG. Really loved always having a meat option since I'm not a fish eater. Loved the open bar on the cruise.

Crew & Guides Review

The bus driver to Kantishna was superb (Krysten). Knew SO much and was so enlightening and entertaining. Guides at lodge all great.  Guides on the cruise to a person who fantastic; so knowledgable and so much fun.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

A million questions always answered, thank you! You suggested a land trip which was so fantastic, really glad we splurged for that. I wore the BUFF that AdventureSmith sent every day, have never had one, what a perfect thing.

Traveler Advice

Kantishna says "only one 35 lb soft side bag" for ride into lodge, but you can definitely have a personal item as well. That helped to figure that out. Cruise did (as you mentioned) have tons of rain boots that fit (granted, there were only 49 passengers on our trip).  They also had plenty of trekking/hiking poles, so we could have left those at home. 

Definitely take warm clothes, there was one day I wore almost everything.  Another day I kayaked in a tshirt, so go figure. There was one guy on the cruise who "didn't know I needed a raincoat."  Jeepers. Also: splurge and take the cruise, yes very expensive, but truly the trip of a lifetime - you see so much in Alaska that you won't see other places.