Rich Reid Photography

After traveling south of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm looking for wildlife, we will spend the day crossing Prince William Sound on a ferry heading to the coastal port of Valdez. The coastal fjords of Prince William Sound contain some of Alaska’s best tidewater glaciers and is a must-see for anyone visiting the area. During our full day wildlife boat tour, we will experience a small portion of this immense two-million acre sound that hosts a myriad of marine wildlife, massive jagged peaks that rise from the sea and an abundance of calving tidewater glaciers. Perhaps the most spectacular natural feature of this area is the 42-mile-long Columbia Glacier.

For the next few days we will travel into the heart of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park to explore the many glaciers and the historical site of the Kennicott Copper Mines. At 13 million acres, Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park is our country's largest national park and home to nine of the 16 highest peaks in North America. This park also has the highest concentration of glaciers on this continent. Included in the tour is a short plane ride to our destination of McCarthy and will give you a feeling of how large this area is from the air.

Highlights of our visit to the colorful former mining town of McCarthy and the historical site of Kennicott Copper Mines will included a guided hike on the Root Glacier and a tour of the rustic building of Kennicott. The optional flightseeing tour over the massive ice fields and snow-capped peaks is highly recommended.

For the remainder of the tour we will journey along the Denali Highway on the south side of the Alaska Range and with a little luck, the aurora borealis will dance throughout the northern sky during our stay at Tangle Lakes. We continue west through the Alaskan wilderness to Denali National Park to witness the tundra's fiery fall colors. During our few days at the park, there will be ample opportunity to photograph the world famous wildlife and autumn color scenery. With some luck and good weather, a visible Mount McKinley will leave a lasting impression on anyone that sees this great mountain. Denali is a must-see for the photo enthusiast.

From here we head south through Alaska agriculture center of the Matanuska and Susitna Valley to finish our tour in Anchorage.

Small group travel of 9 passenger maximum
Two Professional guides
All ground transportation
9 nights lodging – double occupancy
All breakfasts and lunches except the first day

(Dinners are not included in tour price)
Alaska Marine Highway ferry (Whittier – Valdez)
Prince William Sound wildlife boat cruise
Flight into Wrangell – Saint Elias National Park
Guided Kennicott Mine Tour
Guided glacier hike
Two days in Denali National Park on a wildlife viewing bus.

Highlights:

Turnagain Arm
Prince William Sound
Valdez
Wrangell – Saint Elias National Park
Denali Highway
Denali National Park
Anchorage

Lodges:

Our lodges, cabins and B&B’s are all friendly places chosen for their scenic locations, proximity to places of interest and charm. Depending on their location, most lodges and cabins feature private baths and showers, while a few of the more remote ones are more rustic, with shared facilities. Price is based on double occupancy and a single supplement of $675 will apply to solo travelers.

About your guide:

Please join renowned professional photographer Rich Reid to Alaska this fall to photograph wildlife, northern lights and autumn colors.

Rich Reid has specialized in travel, environmental and adventure photography for over 20 years. He is a frequent contributor to many of National Geographic’s publications and much of his current work is with non-profit organizations preserving lands and cultural sites with his photography. His images are represented by National Geographic Image Collection and have been sold to a worldwide client base. In addition, he is an instructor at Brooks Institute and travels with his students to document California’s natural history. Rich has over twelve years of extensive guiding experience in Alaska.