Maybe not. While we ardently believe that the outdoors are for everyone, our trips are for a specific type of traveler. Let’s make sure a Tundra Travels trip is the right fit for you.
Our trips are for someone of any race, gender identity, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation or ethnicity who is curious about the natural world, values (or is ready to learn about) public lands conservation and is up for the challenge of moving through Alaska’s almost entirely trail-less wilderness.
Our current trip listings are physically demanding adventures and require both strength and stamina. If you’re not ready for our level of physicality, we’d love to build a private trip for you or refer you to one of the other awesome guide companies offering different intensities of trips. There is an Alaskan adventure for everyone and we hope you find the right one for you whether it is with Tundra Travels or not!
Tundra Travels trips are multi-day, backpacking expeditions through remote Alaska. We travel over rugged, trail-less terrain, carrying what we need with us, making the wilderness our home day after day. We also enjoy freshly brewed coffee, delicious camp food and the inevitable camaraderie that comes from facing challenges together.
Over the course of a trip you may endure rain, snow, wind and cold temperatures, hopefully punctuated by sunshine, wildlife sightings, rainbows and epic views. You may be tired, sore and cold. Your feet especially may be wet for days at a time.
The demands and hardships of wilderness travel help to emphasize the euphoric highs of cresting a mountain pass after hours of climbing, watching in awe (and from a distance) as a sow grizzly bear nurses her cubs or relaxing in a beautiful campsite after a long day of travel. We’re excited to share every aspect of authentic wilderness experiences with our guests – including the lows, but especially the highs.
These trips are designed for those seeking to get even further off the beaten path by utilizing bush plane travel to dive deeper into Alaska’s wilderness. These flights increase both the cost of the trip and the carbon associated with the adventure. The price of these trips includes carbon offsets to help mitigate our environmental impact. Utilizing airplanes allows us to start in the alpine and spend more time traveling above tree and brush line. These trips typically include more fresh and gourmet foods on the menu, you will be eating well deep in Alaska’s backcountry.
There is something magical about group travel – having the opportunity to meet and learn from folks from different walks of life. A wilderness experience has the unique ability to turn strangers into life-long friends.
With mixed groups you may find that you are a faster hiker than your trip mates, occasionally waiting for them to catch up. But as it turns out, a new friend might be a wizard at setting up the tent so it never collapses in the wind or rain. Keep an open mind about what skills and strengths each person brings to the trip.
If group travel isn’t right for you, we are excited to guide you on a private adventure to experience a once in a lifetime trip with your family or friends.
A private trip affords the greatest amount of flexibility with trip objectives and itineraries. If your group wants to hike hard and fast to see the maximum amount of country – we can do that. If your group wants to sit quietly all day and watch a herd of migrating caribou move through a valley – we are stoked to do that too!
We start by learning about your group and your goals. Options can include basecamp hiking trips for maximum immersion in one area, fast and light backpacking trips to cover a greater distance or a multi-sport itinerary utilizing packrafts to expand your terrain options.
Then we build a personal, private and customized adventure for your group. The planning is half the fun when you build your own adventure!
We’ve all heard the old adage – “theres no bad weather, just bad clothing”. Packing according to our mandatory Personal Equipment Checklist will ensure that you are prepared for the worst, without being unnecessarily loaded down with excess weight. For more information on equipment, check out our blog post on all things gear related.
Group equipment is managed by your guide. You may be asked to carry some of these items in your backpack.
These are items which are included on the mandatory Personal Equipment Checklist, but can be rented from Tundra Travels. Let us know if you would like to rent any of these items at least 30 days prior to your trip.