A sample itinerary including stays at all three of our Alaska wilderness lodges
View each day:
Day One
You will be met at your hotel (or at the airport) for a complimentary ride to the floatplane dock. You will depart from Lake Hood, the world’s largest floatplane lake. Board your floatplane for a scenic 50-minute flight to Winterlake Lodge (departure times to the lodge are flexible). The flight takes you north and west – within views of Mt. McKinley. You will land on Finger Lake, the location of an Iditarod checkpoint.
Check in to your cabin and join your hosts Kirsten and Carl Dixon at the main Lodge for a brief orientation to the activities and facilities at the lodge, then plan your days with your guides. Options include:
- Hike the Iditarod Trail
- Canoe or kayak around Winterlake
- Extended hike to Red Lake
- Fish for arctic grayling
- Schedule your massage
- Take a hot tub
- Join in the stretch and yoga classes
- Cooking class in the kitchen
Luncheon is served at 1:00 p.m. in the main room. After lunch, join us for a stretch class, dog-lot tour, garden tour, or leisurely walk along the Iditarod Trail. In the late afternoon, we offer a cooking class in the kitchen with Kirsten, wine tasting in the main lodge bar area, and dinner at 7:00 p.m. After dinner, there is an evening education program on Alaska in the wellness room or fly-casting lessons on the lake.
Day Two
Early morning gentle yoga class at 7:00 a.m. (optional, of course). Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m.
After breakfast, (optional) meet your helicopter pilot and guide for a day-long adventure outing via our Robinson R-44 helicopter to Canyon Creek for fly fishing or explore the Tordrillo Mountain area for glacier trekking and hiking. In the afternoon, you may enjoy lunch in the out of doors or back at the lodge – your choice. OR – Explore the area closer to the lodge and hike to the top of Wolverine Ridge where the view of Mt. McKinley is spectacular.
End your day of adventure with a nice soak in the hot tub and a dip in the lake!
Day Three
After breakfast, board a floatplane to travel to Redoubt Bay Lodge. It’s a scenic 50-minute flight through glaciers and views of Lake Clark National Park.
Check in with our lodge managers at the main Lodge for a brief orientation to the activities and facilities at the lodge, and then plan your day with your guide. Options include:
- Hike to the bear’s den
- Canoe or kayak around the lake
- Visit the floating bog
- View bears in their natural habitat fishing for salmon
- Sport fish/ Fly fish for salmon
- Kayak the lake
- Take a natural history tour of the area and explore our magic carpet bog!
Luncheon is served at 1:00 p.m. in the main room. In the late afternoon, depart the lodge for a 50-minute flight down the coast to Tutka Bay Lodge. Arrive right on the dock. Check into your room with a view of the Grace Ridge and Tutka fjord. Take a small walk through our private trail system before lunch. Lunch is served at 1:00 PM. After lunch, join your guide for a kayak tour of the area and exploration the abundant ocean life found in the Tutka Bay region. Appetizers are served at 6:00 PM. Dinner at 7:00. Don’t forget to book your complimentary massage.
Day Four
Today might be a day for a long exploratory sea kayak tour around the bay or, perhaps an optional deep-sea halibut adventure, or just relaxing around the lodge soaking up the local scenery. It’s your choice. Don’t forget to join in a yoga class or a massage before dinner.
Day Five
Morning yoga on the deck before breakfast is optional. Today, perhaps explore the artist’s community of Halibut Cove, or go sportfishing for salmon. Your guide will have suggestions. Kirsten recommends visiting a nearby oyster farm. After lunch, catch the water taxi back to Homer and ERA jet flight back to Anchorage