Located just 39 miles
south of Anchorage, the picturesque resort village of
Girdwood is perfect for short day trips and weekend
getaways. The beautiful Chugach Mountain range
provides an excellent backdrop for year round
adventure, such as glacier dog sledding, hiking, rock
and ice climbing, and ATV tours.
Girdwood is also home
to the Alyeska Resort, the only 5 star resort in
Alaska! The resort offers first class accommodation,
fine dining - with amazing views from the Seven
Glaciers restaurant located high on top Mt. Alyeska,
spa services, and winter skiing. In addition to the
resort, Girdwood offers a variety of B&Bs,
restaurants, bars, boutiques and shops.
Girdwood can be reached by car or daily train and bus
service. Please email
mytrip@alaskatours.com
for more information on lodging in and transportation
to/from Girdwood.
Prices
listed include all taxes and fees.
Summer GLACIER DOG MUSHINGTour 37 $459 adult,
$429 child (2-12 years) (2 person
minimum required)
(passengers over 250 pounds
charged 1 1/2 times pp rate)
The greatest Alaskan experience
of all - dog sledding on a glacier! Enjoy a scenic helicopter
flight to the unique glacier base camp which
serves as a summer-time training ground for
Iditarod sled dogs. Learn about mushing from a
9-time Iditarod trail veteran and drive the
team yourself along a spectacular 2-mile
glacier trail. Please note:
transfers from Anchorage are NOT included.
Tour Duration: 2 hours.
Tour times: 8:30am, 10:15am, 12pm,
1:45pm, 3:30pm, 5:15pm.
Daily
departures: May 21 - August 31, 2010.
BLUE ICE JETBOAT
RIDE
Tour
39
$ adult, $ child
(ages 5-12)
Get off the beaten path on this exhilarating
jet boat ride! Travel on Twentymile River,
past mountains and distant glaciers, while
watching for eagles, salmon and moose. The
boat will land for a short nature walk to
see more of the area. Roundtrip transfers
from Girdwood included. Duration:
3.5 hours including
transfers. Departure times:
9:30am and 3pm.
Departs:
May 15 - September 15, 2009,
depending on Chugach National Forest
permit availability.
PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND - 26 GLACIER CRUISE Tour 38
This full-day adventure begins with a transfer to
Whittier from Girdwood via railroad. Enjoy spectacular
scenery as you travel through the mountains and through
a one-way tunnel. Upon arrival in Whittier, board a high-speed
catamaran for the cruise through Prince William Sound.
Watch for sea otters, whales and birds as you travel
through glacier-filled College and Harrimann Fjords.
During the cruise, you will see Alpine (hanging),
Piedmont and Tidewater glaciers. The ship will stop a
safe distance from a glacier to watch for glacier
calving - when the large chunks of ice fall off the
glacier. A hot lunch is included on board.
Cruise Duration: approx. 4.5 hours.
Daily departures: May 7, 8, 9 and May
14 - September 20, 2010.
Cruise with round trip
train transfers from
Girdwood (depart 11:15am, return 7:35pm; available
May 17 - September 12): $236 adult, $136 child (2-11 years)
Cruise only from Whittier (depart 12:30pm
or 1:15pm):
$156 adult, $96 child (2-11 years)
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RAINFOREST HIKINGTour 33
$79 adult, $69 child (ages
7-10) (2 person minimum required)
Explore the Historic Iditarod Trail south of
Anchorage. This moderate and exciting 5 mile (roundtrip) hike consists of a very
unique hand tram crossing and walk over the Winner Creek Gorge. Your
naturalist guide will point out and discuss the flora and fauna of North
America's northern-most temperate rainforest. You may even see a moose!
When blueberry season is in full swing, the trail is blooming with
scrumptious delights sure to please everyone. No experience necessary.
Important information: Ages 7 and up.
This trip operates in ALL weather conditions! Please dress
for the weather, wear comfortable hiking clothing including
rain gear and sturdy footwear or hiking boots. You will be
asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on this
tour. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Departure times: 7am, 10:30am, and 5pm.
Daily departures: May 15 - September 15, 2010.
GLACIER HIKING
Tour 31
$139 per person from Girdwood
(2 person minimum required)
$195 per person with roundtrip transfer from
Anchorage (3 person minimum required)
Just south of Anchorage, the Alyeska Glacier
is nestled in a glacier bowl in the Chugach Mountains. Overlooking
breathtaking views of the Turnagain Arm and towering alpine peaks, you
will be amazed while peering into crevasses during the
Alaskan Midnight Sun. Ride the Alyeska Tram up the mountain and then hike for about 40 minutes
along a
scenic ridgeline surrounded by the seven glaciers of the Girdwood Valley. At the glacier's edge, you will gear up with
climbing harnesses, ropes and/or crampons, and over-boots to travel out onto
the glacier itself. Trip includes all equipment, experienced and
certified
mountain guides, tram ticket and interpretive glaciology discussions.
A snack and water is provided.
Important information: Ages 10 and up.
While this is a moderate to strenuous activity, no previous
experience is needed.
Wear warm, comfortable
clothes in layers and hiking boots.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
Departure times: 9am,
1pm, and
4pm.
Daily departures:
June 13 - September 15,
2010. Note: From June 13 to July 13, there is also a
Midnight Sun Glacier Hike which departs at 8pm.
BLUE ICE JETBOAT
RIDE & LAKE KAYAKING Tour
35
$ adult, $ child (ages
5-12) Enjoy a jet
boat ride to remote Carmen Lake for a calm
water kayaking trip surrounded by mountains,
waterfalls and distant glaciers. Spend time
skipping rocks, gazing at waterfalls and
viewing glaciers while the beachside BBQ is
prepared. The return jet boat ride through
twists, turns and rapids to Twentymile
Glacier's massive icebergs, depending on
water level, completes the day. No
experience necessary. All kayaking gear,
lunch and roundtrip transfers from Girdwood
included. Duration: 7 hours including
transfers.
Departure time:
9:30am.
Departs: May 15 - September 15, 2009,
depending on Chugach National Forest permit
availability.
HISTORIC
IDITAROD (CROW PASS) TRAIL DAY HIKING
Tour 36
$120 per
adult from Girdwood
(2 person minimum required; max. of 10 people)
$176 per person with roundtrip transfer from
Anchorage (3 person minimum required)
Glaciers, waterfalls, wildflowers, and mining
ruins add some spice to the hike to Crow Pass, as if it
needed any; the pass is the highest point on the historic
Iditarod Trail and one of the finest day hikes in
Southcentral Alaska. Arctic ground squirrels, marmots, and
mountain goats inhabit the high country near Crow Pass, and
bears, moose, and Dall sheep are frequently spotted too,
especially on the Eagle River side of the pass. The trail is
relatively snow-free by late June, though the Crystal Lake
basin south of the pass and some of the gullies north of the
pass may hold snow well into summer. Special features: One of the classic alpine
backpacking traverses in Southcentral Alaska - an alpine
pass, mountain glaciers, mining ruins and Iditarod Trail
history, wildlife, and access to off-trail wilderness
rambles.
Elevation gain: 2,100 feet to Crow Pass from trail
head.
Mileage: 2 miles to mine site (moderate, steep) one
way; 3 miles to Crystal Lake and Raven Glacier viewpoint
(moderate, steep, exceptional vistas) one way.
Important information: Ages 9 and up.
Previous hiking experience suggested. This trip
operates in ALL weather conditions! Please dress for the
weather, wear comfortable hiking clothing including rain
gear and sturdy footwear or hiking boots. You will be asked
to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour. Duration: 5 to 6 hours.
Departure times:
8am.Approx. 1 hour earlier from Anchorage.
Daily departures:
June 1 - September 15,
2010.
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ICE CLIMBINGTour 30
$220 per person from Girdwood(2 person minimum required)
$276 per person with roundtrip transfer from
Anchorage
(3 person minimum required)
Learn to ice climb or hone your skills south
of Anchorage. After arriving at the climbing area in the Portage
Valley, you will hike 5 miles roundtrip on rugged terrain
ranging from trails to off-trail talus walking, boulder
hopping and cramponing on ice to get to the Byron Glacier
where you will climb. Your guide will set up a top-rope on the ice route.
The experienced, certified mountain guides will teach you everything from the
basics to advanced ice climbing techniques. You will be fitted with
crampons, a harness, mountaineering boots, and ice tools. After learning
the basics, "climb on" as your guide belays you! The towering
Chugach Mountains and glaciers will fill our views during
the 6-hour trip in Portage. No previous climbing experience necessary.
Important information: Ages 14 and up.
Wear comfortable warm winter ski clothes dressing in layers
(long john top & bottom, fleece jacket, waterproof shoes,
backpack, lunch and a camera. Do not wear cotton! You
will be asked to fill out a waiver form before departing on
this tour. Meals are not included.
Duration: 5 to 6 hours. Departure time: 8:30am from
Girdwood, approx. 7:30am from Anchorage.
Daily departures:
May
25 - September 30, 2010, though tour operates year round.
Please contact us for departure times and availability for
tours after September 30. Private climbing instruction available for an
additional charge.
SOURDOUGH
CIRCUIT RAFTING, HIKING AND GOLD PANNING
Half Day
Tour 25$ adult, $ child (ages 8-12)
Full Day Tour 26
$ adult, $ child
(ages 8-12) Explore
Girdwood
Valley's
gold
mining
history
on
historic
trails
and
waterways.
Visit
Crow
Creek
Mine
where
you will
have a
guided
tour and
search
for gold
using
shovels
and
pans.
Hike the
famous
Iditarod
Trail
through
the
dense
forest
to the
cable
hand
tram
crossing
Glacier
Creek.
Then
board
the raft
for a
whitewater
adventure
through
Glacier
Creek
Gorge
(class
2+
rapids).
Paddle
past
waterfalls,
view
distant
glaciers
and take
advantage
of photo
opportunities.
In
addition,
the Full
Day Tour
also
includes
more
intensive
gold
sluicing,
a hike
to
Winner
Creek
Gorge
and a
picnic
lunch.
Roundtrip
transfers
from
Girdwood
included.
Half Day Tour - Duration: 4.5 hours
including transfers.
Departure times:
9:30am and 3pm.
Full Day Tour - Duration: 7 hours
including transfers.
Departure time:
9:30am.
Daily Departures: May 15 - September 15, 2009.
ROCK CLIMBINGTour 32
$129 per
adult from Girdwood
(2 person minimum required)
$89 per
child
(ages
2-10)
$185 per
adult with roundtrip transfer from
Anchorage (3 person minimum required)
$145 per
child with roundtrip transfer from
Anchorage
An
exhilarating and memorable experience for all! Technically experienced
guides teach everyone from novices to advanced climbers at Tram Rock or
on the Seward Highway. Climbing takes place at either Tram Rock (at Alyeska Resort)
or along the Seward Highway, depending on weather. Tour includes snack,
climbing gear, helmet, harness, chalk-bag and rental rock shoes.
Important
information: Ages 2 and up.While this is a moderate to
strenuous activity, no prior experience is necessary. Wear
comfortable warm clothes in layers and hiking boots. You will be asked
to fill out a waiver form before departing on this tour. Duration:
3 to 4 hours.
Departure times: 10am
and 3pm. Approx. 1 hour earlier from Anchorage.
Daily departures: May 15 - September 15, 2010.
BIRD CREEK ATV TOUR
Tour 34
3-hour tour from trailhead: $165 per person (ages 16 and up)**
2nd rider (sharing an ATV):
$120 per person
(ages 8 and up)
** minimum of 2 adults required! Access Alaska's
backcountry! Drive a few minutes to Bird Creek, an
area with a maze of trails winding through temperate
rainforest. With your guide, ride trails hidden even to locals. You'll
also take a short
hike to a clear water pool with spawning salmon and a
spectacular waterfall. Bear, moose and eagles can also
be seen in this area depending on the time of year (not
guaranteed). Safety gear, raingear, water
are provided. Please bring your own boots for this tour.
Minimum 16 years old to operate an ATV.
Tour duration:
3 hours.
Departure times: 10am and 2pm
(subject to change).
Daily departures:
May 1 - September 30,
2010.
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