About our Small Group Tours - Guided Camping Trips

Our guided small group tours travel to Alaska’s National Parks and protected areas and feature the perfect blend of camping at established campgrounds, mixed with indoor accommodations. Each trip includes world class outdoor activities and opportunities for customization of your trip experience.

Explore Alaska with like-minded people who enjoy the benefits of traveling with a small group and knowledgeable guide while actively experiencing Alaska. Enjoy comfortable camping to up your outdoor experiential exposure, with occasional nights at a hotel or lodge, while actively exploring Alaska on a variety of activity driven multi-sport tours.

What Our Small Group Tours Include

Alaska Outdoors' tours include a full time, professional guide, campground and park entrance fees, occasional indoor accommodations at a hotel or lodge, comfortable transportation, top quality camping equipment and all but two or three excellent meals per trip. These meals are taken at restaurants in order to take advantage of local cuisine (the sea food is very good) and for the ease of logistics.

If you wish to sample some of the additional activities available, these can usually be arranged in the field by your guide and common credit cards are generally accepted.

Not included are hotel accommodations before and/or after your trip, optional activities, alcoholic beverages, and guide gratuities.

We'll pick you up at around 9:00 am at the Anchorage location of your choice. We will recommend a variety of accommodation options depending on your budget and interests and can help you make reservations. Your tour will end when we drop you off between 5:00-5:30 p.m. at the Anchorage location of your choice on your final tour day.

Camping Tours

While camping, our small group tours camp in and near Alaska's national parks and protected areas at established camping areas. Our days are filled with exploration and adventure as we enjoy the greatest multi-sport adventure tours in Alaska. Our evenings continue with the luxuries of camp life; marshmallows by the campfire, evening walks through the woods, and beautiful Alaskan sunsets shared with new friends.

The camaraderie that develops among a small group while camping in the outdoors can’t be beat. Travel to Alaska with Alaska Outdoors camping tours and discover a wild and natural place without the confines of rigid itineraries and walls to insulate you from the Alaska you came to experience.

Hiking

All of our trips feature excellent hiking opportunities each day. Hike along crystal clear creeks, view spawning salmon or climb towering mountains for sweeping views. Exploring Alaska by foot is one of the most rewarding experiences available in Alaska.

Multi-Sport Tours

In addition to the activities that are included in our tours, each trip features open activity days for you to choose what you would like to do. Hiking is always a terrific option. There are also additional activities available offered locally by the tour operators that are the local experts of the places we visit. Of course, we have our favorite activities based on years of experience and will gladly make recommendations. We'll bring you directly to the tour operators (they know us well) and can even get you a discount most of the time. Our experience has been that this approach to travel in Alaska is very cost effective, and it allows you to customize your tour as you wish

Most Alaskan tour companies include some of these same activities in their itineraries. They then contract with local companies to conduct the trip and pass the cost (and more) along to you. They do this in order to offer an “all-inclusive trip”. What you get is an overpriced tour with a rigid itinerary and no opportunity to explore at your leisure.

See our individual tour descriptions for optional tour prices and compare with other tours. You will find our trips to be an excellent value.

Some of the additional adventure tours available depending on your chosen itinerary:

  • White Water and Scenic River Rafting
  • Sea Kayak to the face of a glacier
  • Mountain Biking- great single track
  • World Class Ocean and River Fishing
  • Glacier Trekking and Ice Climbing
  • Flight Seeing- among the largest mountains in the world
  • Wildlife / Glacier Cruises- to see whales, calving glaciers…
  • Explore an abandoned ghost town
  • And More!

Feel like going for a hike? Go for a hike. Want to go flight seeing and land on a glacier? Go for it! Your guide will offer suggestions as well as make all of the arrangements, leaving you free from the hassles of researching, booking and logistics. We know this great land well and will enrich your experience with our knowledge and skill.

Guides

Alaska Outdoors' guides are experienced and professional. They are certified in first aid and CPR and are knowledgeable of Alaskan natural and cultural history. They will go out of their way to ensure that your trip is seamless, enriching, and fun. Your guide will act as your resident expert and you can count on them to take great care of you.

Campgrounds

We utilize established campgrounds near and within parks and protected areas as our base camps while camping. We select campgrounds based upon their scenic beauty and secluded nature. Many of our camping areas have running water; others are a bit more rustic with clean outhouse style facilities. Pay showers are often available, but not always. In addition to camping, each trip features the occasional stay at a hotel or lodge.

Transportation

A comfortable full size 15 passenger van equipped with cloth interior and climate control will be courteously driven by your guide. Since our group numbers are low (Max 10) everyone will have a window seat with plenty of room to spread out while traveling. On travel days we stop for photographs, wildlife sightings, lunch, and short hikes in route to our destination.

We use heavy duty box style (enclosed) trailers to haul our camping equipment and your luggage.

Many tour companies in Alaska transport their heavy equipment (and your luggage) on the roof of their vans on roof racks. We believe from experience that putting this much weight on the roof creates an unstable driving condition and an unnecessary road hazard.

Our heavy-duty trailers are more secure, weather proof, animal proof, and are easier to load and unload.

Tours that cross Prince William Sound travel the Alaska State Ferry past the massive Columbia Glacier. We’ll drive our vehicle onto the ferry and head to the upper decks where we can relax and enjoy Alaska’s world-famous coastline. The trip past the Columbia is especially exhilarating as we move past a sea of floating ice. If we’re lucky we can see whales, sea lions, seals, and lots of shore birds.

Equipment

We provide all top of the line equipment.

Our tents are weatherproof, roomy and easy to use. We use new 4 person 3 season tents that are excellent in all weather conditions. Two people will share each tent unless you prefer your own.

Our custom kitchen shelters are a breeze to set up and are fully enclosed with mosquito netting. They are weatherproof and provide protection from the occasionally pesky bugs.

Our propane cooking systems allow us to prepare complete hot meals with ease. We carry a complete collection of kitchen utensils and equipment to prepare an excellent variety of meals in the field.

All you need to bring is a sleeping bag and pad. Or, if you prefer, rent one from us for $25 each or $45 both per trip. Our sleeping bags are rated at 20 degrees, come with a fleece insert and are extra roomy. Our pads are 1 1/2 inch closed cell foam, are very comfortable and practically indestructible.

A detailed packing list suitable to your Alaskan adventure is provided.

Meals

Your guide, with a little teamwork from the group, will treat you to a variety of expertly prepared meals. We have worked with excellent outdoor cooks to create menus that are wholesome, hearty, and consistently good. You won’t go hungry. We've even had requests for an Alaska Outdoors cookbook!

Breakfasts are varied and generally consist of eggs, pancakes, French toast, cereals, fruit and the like. Special additions like fresh blueberries, real maple syrup, and good locally roasted coffee are the norm. Our hearty breakfasts will prepare you for the wilderness each day.

Lunches are generally deli style with a wide selection of meats and cheeses, including locally smoked salmon and halibut (the local specialty). Plenty of fruits and vegetables are always available as are crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, nuts etc. Hot soups with bread and salad are featured on some days.

For dinner your chef/guide will treat you to famous fresh Alaskan seafood, barbeque, and pasta dishes, just to name a few. A typical dinner might include grilled meat with fresh steamed vegetables and wild rice. Or with a flair, Mexican fajitas with all the extras like guacamole, sour cream and fresh salsa. Our meal planners have developed a variety of well-balanced meals that generally include appetizers, a main course, and dessert. Much of our produce is purchased locally from organic farms when in season.

Alternative meal suggestions are encouraged and special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Permits

In order to operate commercial recreation services on public lands a permit is requires by commercial operators. Alaska Outdoors, LLC operates under permit from the following land management agencies:

  • National Park Service
  • Alaska State Parks
  • Chugach National Forest
  • Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
  • Bureau of Land Management

Please be aware, there are tour companies that operate tours in Alaska on public lands without permits. Be sure to check that your service provider is legally permitted for your safety.

https://www.nps.gov/locations/alaska/services-denali.htm

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/passes-permits/event-commercial/?cid=stelprdb5203483

References

Our vast experience, meticulous attention to detail, and untiring commitment to making each trip special is what sets us apart from similar tours in Alaska. We encourage you to contact our past guests and learn what they have to say about us. Contact us for details.

Reservations

To make an online reservation request visit our Reservations page.

Custom Tours

Have a group with an idea for a custom tour in Alaska? We provide complete outdoor expedition services to Boy Scout groups, clubs, school groups, families, groups of extended friends, and the like. If you would like to design an Alaska adventure tour of your own, we’ll help. Ask about trip leader discounts. Visit our Custom Tours page for more information.

“ We would just like to reiterate what a fantastic experience this has been for us. Coming from so far away, we were a little unsure of what to expect. Alaska Outdoors has been successful in providing us with a superbly comfortable camping experience, some landscapes and wildlife that we will not forget in a hurry, and last but not least, friends that we shared some great times and will keep in touch with. From both of us a big thank you. ”

Amrita Deb and Mark Manchanda

Each Trip Features


  • Small groups
  • Full time guide
  • Comfortable transportation
  • Healthy, hearty meals
  • Top of the line equipment
  • National Parks and protected areas
  • Worry free travel

“ I will say I have been telling everyone I know and many of my customers that asked me about my trip, I tell them about you and that you are the best. It seems as though you have a great group of employees that love what they do. Keep up the good work! ”

The Bird Family

“ Over a number of years we have participated various camping tours in Norway, Russia/ Eastern Europe, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Western Australisa, and South Africa. The two week Alaska camping tour with Alaska Outdoors was by far the best- not just because of the superb scenery and activities, but also because of the brilliant planning and organization of the itinerary, small group size, quality of equipment and camp sites, excellent food, and above all your own personal care and attention to every detail and personal interest in each tour participant. Thank you! ”

Heather and David Wells

Give us a call 907-357-4020 or Contact Us today.

We’d be happy to answer all your questions.

Conscientious/ Sustainable Alaska Travel


Our tour group sizes are small and our hearts are big.
Learn more about our commitment to low impact sustainable travel.

Alaska Outdoors is a certified Green/ Sustainable business by Adventure Green Alaska. Adventure Green Alaska recognizes and promotes model Alaska tourism businesses who practice economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability.

Since 2001, thousands of happy campers

★★★★★

The tour was even better than we expected. Thank you very much for the job that you are doing.

- Diana Kardash & Igor Nitchiporovitch

★★★★★

I would give both guides 10/10! Nothing was too much, both went the extra mile, they were perfect.

-David Hobson

★★★★★

Our guide was very knowledgeable and experienced which resulted in a richer experience for me.

-Wanda Lanier