Exploring The Sorrento Peninsula
Combine leisurely walks on the Sorrento Peninsula and in the Lattari Mountains and enjoy visits to the myriad of local world class sites.
The world is more beautiful on foot...
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Alaska - one of the last bastions of pure wilderness. Playground for grizzly bears, whales, incredible hiking and wilderness vistas.
From£5,399
United States of America
Pioneer
Wildlife
Jul
Aug
What does this mean?
Tour codes: 44500
Full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent.
These walks are in more remote areas such as Andorra or northern Portugal.
Similar to Grade 5, but with most of the walks at the upper level of ascent/descent, time and distance.
Overview
Alaska is an American state which requires no introduction. From the moment you depart Anchorage you enter the wilderness where there are more bears than humans, and views which most people find hard to describe. Most simply put, Alaska is a nature lovers and photographer's paradise!
Alaska is one of the remaining bastions of pure wilderness, best explored on foot and small plane. Your journey begins in the frontier city of Anchorage and a hike in nearby Chugach State Park, then you leave city life behind in favour of a world where nature runs the show. Untouched national parks, electric blue glaciers, endless wildlife sightings and stunning fjords unfold daily in the 49th state.
This is the perfect place to lace up your hiking boots and walk some truly beautiful trails. Did you know in Denali National Park, rangers encourage you to break away from the trail in favour of making your own. In Wrangell-St Elias National Park you have an excellent chance of seeing bear, glaciers and wild Alaska beauty, all within the space of a day. In Seward, you’ll hike Harding Icefield Trail to Exit Glacier, a personal favourite of the Ramblers Product Manager, Iain Shiels.
Spotted on previous visits to Alaska are black bear, grizzly bear, whales, porpoise, and all manner of birdlife. It is not uncommon to see animals on the hiking trails; after all this is their playground. In Denali you have included use of the park bus so you can navigate further spaces in the park on foot and on four wheels. These bus rides are accompanied by a ranger who will stop during animal sightings and give a commentary. No trip to Alaska is complete without experiencing the Alaska taxi with return by small plane rides into Wrangell-St Elias for three nights. You would think that nothing could better Alaskan views, that is until you witness them from the air.
This is a holiday for the traveller and has a pioneer status to indicate the spirit of adventure, as things may not always go as expected. Hotel standards are not as fancy as the lower 48 states, roads are not as smooth, food options not as varied, but the experience is certainly larger than life. Come explore and experience the Alaskan wilderness with Ramblers Walking Holidays!
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.
Accommodation
Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each nights' accommodation for each departure date.
The Inlet Tower Hotel and Suites is located in downtown Anchorage. Rooms are spacious with free Wi-Fi and access to the fitness center. Breakfast is included downstairs in the lobby, as well as a bar where you can wind down.
From the hotel, it is only a 10-15 minute walk into the center of Anchorage.
Is in downtown Seward, located by the waters edge. You can enjoy both the quaint charm of the town but also the surrounding nature. The hotel has a fitness centre and WIFI internet is free throughout. Rooms are equipped with ensuite facilities, a TV with DVD player, a fridge and microwave.
Located in prime location on the picturesque waterfront of Valdez Harbor. The hotel has a variety of facilities including a fitness centre, a gift shop, barber shop, a complimentary tea and coffee station in the hotel lobby and guest laundry services. Rooms are equipped with TV, a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, hair dryer and clock radio.
This a unique property located in the tiny town of McCarthy in Wrangell-St Elias National park. It is a home away from home and is in fact someone’s home…Ma Johnson. It has been dubbed a living museum for its authenticity.
This is a basic hotel/guesthouse and cannot be compared with a 3-star hotel as the experience is very different, but location more than makes up for it. All 20 rooms have shared bathroom facilities.
Sheep Mountain Lodge has hosted visitors for over 65 years, in their quaint cabins surrounding the Matanuska area.
The cabins are located along the scenic Glenn Highway and guests can enjoy spectacular mountain views, cabins with private bath and showers, delicious home cooked meals, and old-fashioned Alaskan hospitality that has made Sheep Mountain Lodge famous.
The lodge has extensive decking, greenhouses and flower gardens. Although cabins are simple, they are clean and warm and a home away from home.
Located just outside of Denali National Park is Denali Crow’s Nest Cabins. Each hand-built cabin features tasteful alpine furnishings, elegant décor and en-suite bath and shower.
Each cabin features amenities such as high-speed internet access, flat panel TV, MP3 alarm clock radio and premium bath and toiletries.
Trip Information
This is a Grade 6 moderate holiday which includes full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent with walks in some remote areas. Paths are mostly good, but there may be some steep and rough ground. Walks will last up to 6 hours and could involve as much as 750m of ascent and descent. See the 'Proposed Itinerary' section for more information.
We will have a local guide as well as our RWH leader with us throughout the tour.
Local Transport Costs
All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.
Optional Excursions
A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.
Holiday Budgeting
When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Currency in United States of America
United States of America use US Dollar.
Tipping
Tipping is a part of life and expectations are fairly high. The drivers accompanying the tour on transfers and excursions tend to be mines of information relating to all aspects of local life and the country, and are also excellent travelling companions. Should you wish to tip our American colleagues, you may wish to consider an allowance of $3 per day for each of our drivers. In restaurants it is customary to add a 15% tip to the bill throughout North America.
It must be stressed however that such tips are at your own discretion.
The maximum group size for this particular holiday is 12 plus your tour leader. This is the perfect number of people per group to experience the natural wonders and wildlife of Alaska, and allow us to navigate the roads with greater ease.
Tour Leaders
Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.
Travel within Alaska is by road, ferry and air. The majority of our travelling will be in a spacious 15 passenger new Ford Transit van. When travelling by air on day 6 we will travel in a small 7, 5 or 3 seater air craft, the group will be split between various aircraft's but we should depart at a similar time to one another. The maximum baggage allowance is 13 kg, please use soft luggage only. The rest of your luggage will be stored at the airport and will be collected on your return. Although an amazing experience and an enjoyable way to travel, this flight should not be seen as a scenic flight, as the scenic flight excursions advertised go to glaciers and backcountry places in the park and do not travel in the same flight path as our aircraft. That said, we should enjoy a scenic journey of glaciers, nearby mountains and maybe even some wildlife. Please note that when travelling by ferry, you will be required to show your passport, so please keep this close by on this particular day. | ||||
Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?
If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.
Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.
If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.
Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details.
Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
General Passport Advice
It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.
Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.
General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Passport Information for United States of America
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.
The VWP (Visa Waiver Programme) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. The types of journey allowed under the VWP include tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country.
All travellers wishing to enter the US under the VWP now need to hold a passport with an integrated chip (an ePassport). Your passport is an ePassport if it carries the internationally recognised e-passport symbol on the front cover.
You won’t qualify for entry to the USA under the VWP, and will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate, if:
- you have a British passport that describes your nationality as something other than ‘British Citizen’
- you’ve been arrested for certain crimes, even if it didn’t result in a criminal conviction
- you’re a dual national of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria
- you’ve travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011
Certain exemptions apply on a case-by-case basis to those who have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011. For more information about these exemptions, see the website of the US Embassy.
If you are in any doubt about whether you qualify for the VWP, or if you’re concerned that an existing ESTA may have been cancelled, you should contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.
Those travelling under the VWP arriving by air or sea should provide details online at least 72 hours before travel. This is known as an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation or ESTA. For more information, and to apply online, visit the official ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta).
If you’re arriving by land, you don’t need to complete an ESTA before you arrive at the border. Getting an ESTA is a separate process to providing your airline with advance passenger information (details of your passport, country of residence, address of your first night’s accommodation in the US etc).
The VWP is intended to be used for occasional, short visits to the US. If a US immigration officer thinks you’re trying to ‘reset’ the clock by making a short trip out of the US and re-entering for another 90-day period, you can be denied entry. If you travel from the US to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean you can usually re-enter using the ESTA and admission stamp you were issued when you first arrived in the US, although the time you spend outside of the country is included in the 90 days allotted for your visit. Make sure you’re clear about the length of time the immigration officer has authorised you to remain in the US if you re-enter under the same ESTA.
When you arrive in the USA you will need to be able to show that you have enough funds available to support yourself during your stay, even if you’re staying with family and friends. Further details on the VWP and other aspects of US immigration rules are available from the Customs and Border Protection website.
The US Customs and Border Protection programme Global Entry gets pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you’re a British citizen you can now register to get a UK background check on GOV.UK. If you pass the background checks, you’ll be invited to apply for Global Entry.
All breakfast and lunches are included along with four evening meals. All remaining evening meals will be at your own expense, however you all find various options to suit all tastes and budgets. In some of the more remote areas that we stay in food options may not be varied, and vegetarian food may be lacking, as fresh fish and meat make up a great deal of an Alaskans diet.
Footwear
Lightweight waterproof walking boots with a good moulded sole (such as Vibram or similar) and a deep tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended and may be essential for some walks.
Footwear As Hand Luggage
We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme.
General Kit List
Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.
If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Electricity in United States of America
Electricity is supplied at 110 Volts at 60Hz. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a two pin North America style adaptor with flat pins. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
Maps, Guidebooks & More
The Map Shop
Maps and guidebooks relating to your the areas you will be walking in may be brought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
Health Advice for United States of America
No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to the US.
You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK.
You may wish to consider immunisations against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Tick-borne Encephalitis.
Zika virus also exists in the US; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Seek pre-travel Zika virus advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, particularly important if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. You should also take precautions against Tick bites, particularly in Eastern USA.
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. We do not insist that you insure with us but we require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.
Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.
See our brochure or website for further advice regarding holiday insurance.
Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.
Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
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January
Avg. Rain: 68mm
February
Avg. Rain: 62mm
March
Avg. Rain: 74mm
April
Avg. Rain: 72mm
May
Avg. Rain: 82mm
June
Avg. Rain: 81mm
July
Avg. Rain: 78mm
August
Avg. Rain: 75mm
September
Avg. Rain: 73mm
October
Avg. Rain: 69mm
November
Avg. Rain: 71mm
December
Avg. Rain: 71mm
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