Many tour companies in Alaska offer base camp programs, which are tours in the wilderness where you set up a base camp, leave your stuff there overnight, then go on shorter adventures during the day on nearby trails. Alaska base camp adventures are a great way to get into the wilderness without having to carry your pack all day, making them better for families, group trips, and even company retreats.
Base camp tours differ in terms of difficulty, length, location, and even type of activity that you get to do. Here are some types of base camp adventures you can choose from.
Base Camp Hiking
This is the most basic of the Alaska base camp adventures, but a great way to explore the wilderness. When you go on this type of excursion, you set up a base camp and then go on day-hiking trips around the camp. This is a good choice for bonding with a team or for those who are just learning how to hike and be in nature.
Base Camp Paddling
Some tour operators such as St. Elias Alpine Guides offer paddling tours in addition to hiking tours. On these tours, you’ll set up a base camp near a body of water and try canoeing or kayaking in addition to hiking.
Base Camp Packrafting
Packrafting involves exploring an area on a small, inflatable boat. Packrafting trips combine hiking with rafting and are a great way to explore the land and the waterways in one trip.