What Is The Best Way To Vacation In Alaska?
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Three Amazing Alaskan Vacations To Choose From!
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Planning a trip to Alaska can be overwhelming. There are so many things to see and do (including a Northern Lights sighting!) that it’s difficult to narrow your activities down to a manageable and memorable few. Visitors often find themselves torn between exploring the stunning national parks, embarking on a whale-watching tour, or simply taking in the breathtaking beauty of the glaciers.
The many Alaska tour companies that specialize in customizable trips are a great resource whether you are planning your first, second, or even third trip to the Last Frontier. And, if you are thinking of planning a trip to Alaska’s Northern Region, it is critical to get in touch with a Northern Alaska Tour Company that specializes in tours above the Arctic Circle. Only an experienced tour operator can take you on a trip to see the breathtaking Northern Lights or explore the remote tundra landscapes of the region.
What Is The Northern Region Of Alaska?
The Northern Region of Alaska can be found above the Arctic Circle. It encompasses a stark and beautiful landscape that is home to animals that are specially adapted to life on the tundra. This treeless landscape is hollowed out with lakes and ponds that harbor breeding populations of waterfowl. The Far North Region also encompasses the North Slope and the Brooks Mountain Range. This sparsely populated wilderness boasts more caribou than people, although you will find Athabascan, Inupiaq, and Nunamiut Eskimo Villages tucked away.
Much of the Far North is covered by national parks and other nationally protected lands. You can find Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve, and the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in the state’s Northern Region. These undeveloped parks are not serviced by park rangers and are completely wild. Because of the remote nature of this region, the best way to vacation in Alaska is to hire a Northern Alaska Tour Company. Tour operators who specialize in this region will ensure that you get the most out of your Arctic adventure!
Taking A Trip Above The Arctic Circle
Many people wonder what there is to see or do in the Far Northern Region of Alaska. Alaska tour companies can help you plan your adventures in this region if you are unfamiliar with the territory or simply overwhelmed by the logistics of planning a vacation to this wilderness. Some of the popular activities in the Far Northern Region of Alaska include whale watching, dog sledding, and exploring the vast, untouched landscapes that define this remote area. If this sparks your interest, here is a list of some of the top places to visit in Alaska's Far North:
- Nome, Alaska – Nome is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors if you like the frigid weather! Nome is surrounded by tundra that is cut through with nearly 300 miles of roads. Visitors can use these roads to explore the countryside and discover a pristine, untouched wilderness full of moose, reindeer, caribou, birds, and seals. The area also is a fisherman’s paradise, with plenty of opportunities to catch salmon, Arctic char, and grayling.
- Barrow – Barrow is the northernmost settlement in America, and home to the Inupiat. This Eskimo community is one of the largest Eskimo communities in the state. The town is also one of the world’s largest municipalities. Being this far north, the summer sun does not set for 82 days and shines continually from the first of May to the first of August. If you visit in April or May, you can watch Eskimos head for their whaling camps.
- Prudhoe Bay – if you travel 200 miles east of Barrow, you’ll come across Prudhoe Bay. The 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline starts here and ends in Valdez. It is also home to the village of Anaktuvuk Pass. This is the last remaining settlement of the Nunamiut Eskimo. The village was settled because it lies directly on a caribou migration route. There’s no better place to experience the real Alaska!
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve – this vast and essentially untouched wilderness has no roads, trails, or established campsites. But it does have 8.4 million acres that visitors can wander across at will. However, because there are no established services within the park boundaries and cell phones do not work, it is important to be proficient in outdoor survival skills. There are many Alaska Tour Companies that can help you plan a trip to this magnificent wilderness, and who can arrange the travel to get you there!
The Best Way To Vacation In Alaska To See The Far North
Alaska’s Far North is host to long winters and stormy summers that provide little chance for the ground to thaw. That means that permafrost lurks only inches below the surface of the soil. The wildlife that inhabits this stark landscape has adapted to the harsh environment over time. It is a beautiful region, but one that is difficult to access. That is why finding a North Alaska Tour Company to help you plan your vacation is so important!
Just getting to the region can be tricky. There is only one highway that links this vast, remote region to the rest of Alaska – The Dalton Highway. This highway is mostly unpaved, and rental car agencies prohibit visitors from driving it. The best way to travel the highway is on a van or bus tour from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle, or on a trip that runs the entire length of the highway to Prudhoe Bay. Along this way, you will see the trans-Alaska Pipeline and the 2,300-mile-long Yukon River. If you don’t take the Dalton Highway, you’ll have to fly to your destination by airplane. Alaska Airlines offers jet service to Barrow, Nome, and Kotzebue, but you’ll have to find a Northern Alaska Tour Company with a bush plane to get to Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass, or the national parks and wildlife refuges in this region.
Two More Spots You Can’t Afford To Miss!
Alaska is filled with “can’t miss” locations, but these two in the Far North take the cake. You will need a North Alaska Tour Company to get you there, and some experienced guides to help you along your journey.
- The North Slope – located between the Arctic Ocean and the Brooks Range, Alaska’s North Slope is home to polar bears and whales, oilfields, thousands of miles of barren tundra atop permafrost, and a scattering of Alaska native communities. On the North Slope, the sun doesn’t set for 80 days in the summer and doesn’t rise for 70 days in the winter. All of these qualities, however, just make the North Slope a special destination! Not many travelers can say they’ve reached the most northern point in America or stood on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Experienced Alaska tour companies can help make this a reality. While you’re there, visit an Alaska Native community like Barrow, to explore the rich culture of its residents. There are regular commercial flights to Barrow, where you can see an impressive collection of Alaska Native history, collections of art and artifacts, and numerous cultural events.
- The Brooks Range – the Brooks Range is technically an extension of the Rocky Mountains, albeit a colder one! Best known for the hundreds of thousands of caribou that pass through this area in massive migratory herds, this mountain range is home to a handful of spectacular peaks that range from 8,000 – 9,000 feet tall. The long stretches of tundra that surround these mountains are perfect for camping and sightseeing. This trip is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a popular destination for hardcore outdoor adventurers who like the challenge of mountaineering, hiking, and rafting. The Brooks Range travels through numerous Alaska national parks and refuges, making it the perfect trip for outdoor enthusiasts.
A Journey Of A Lifetime In Alaska's Arctic Region
Whether you plan your vacation or book a guided tour with one of the many Alaska tour companies that specialize in outdoor adventures, your trip to the Far North is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind! Your journey will be filled with breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife encounters, and unforgettable experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. And s you explore each new destination, you'll find yourself immersed in a tapestry of cultures, traditions, and people that will leave a lasting impact on your heart and soul.