STYLE
🌶️ Mild | A little sweat, a lot of views. For those who want adventure without the suffering.
THE WILD
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | The ancestral and unceded lands of the Iñupiat, Gwich’in, and Koyukon Athabascan peoples.
JOURNEY
Days: 7 Days | Group: 5 - 7
Minimum Age: 16
Step out of the bush plane into an ancient land shaped by caribou trails, braided rivers, and midnight sunlight.
ANWR isn’t just far away—it feels like another world: broad, wind-rippled tundra rolling to distant peaks, caribou threading across river valleys, the sky alive with migrating birds. We’ll fly in by bush plane and make a temporary home on the tundra. Each day we’ll set out on foot, exploring ridgelines, river corridors, and wildflower-filled valleys—returning each evening to the comfort of camp. Out here the light lingers, the silence is immense, and the wild still moves to its own ancient rhythms.
Over 7 days..
We’ll roam valleys where caribou still migrate as they have for millennia, climb ridges that overlook the Brooks Range, watch golden eagles wheel above the tundra, and camp beneath a sky that never fully darkens. The bush-plane flight in and out is unforgettable; the remoteness is real. Few travelers ever set foot here—and the future of this refuge is far from guaranteed. As drilling interests and political winds shift in Washington, there’s an urgency to experiencing this wild, intact landscape as it is today. If you’ve ever dreamed of walking in a truly Arctic wilderness, this is the trip to do it.
MOMENT BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY
DAY 1
DAY 1
WELCOME TO FAIRBANKS
the “Golden Heart City,” set between the mighty Alaska Range to the south and the winding Chena River at its center.
Depending on your trip, we’ll kick things off either in a spacious shared Airbnb or at a local hotel — in both cases, your first night’s lodging is included in the trip cost. We’ll gather at 4:30 pm to get to know each other, talk through the adventure ahead, share our goals for the trip, and go over gear.
DAY 2
DAY 2
We’ll fly north from Fairbanks to either Coldfoot or Arctic Village, then board a smaller bush plane and skim low over the Brooks Range into our mountain camp. The flight alone is unforgettable: the world opening beneath the wings—broad rivers shining like silver threads, caribou trails etched across the tundra, peaks rising stark against the sky.
DAY 3 - 6
DAY 3 - 6
We’ll spend the next four days wandering high alpine meadows, climbing small peaks, spotting moose & bear (from a safe distance), watching the persistent alpenglow of the far-north dance across the snowy Alaska Range, laughing around camp, eating delicious well-earned meals, and connecting in the deep way wilderness makes possible. There are no trails in Alaska and very few people set foot out here — so be prepared for a real adventure.
DAY 7
DAY 7
You’ll wake on your last morning in the Refuge to the hush of tundra and the slow drift of Arctic light, savoring the stillness even as you start to dream of fresh fruit and a hot shower. We’ll take time to linger over coffee, breathe in the vastness one more time, and reflect on what we’ll carry home from this week in the wild — and what we might choose to leave behind.
By afternoon the bush plane will return to lift us out across the mountains and back to Fairbanks. Once back in town, we’ll clean up and share a celebratory dinner, carrying the dust of the tundra and the quiet of the Arctic still fresh in our minds.
NOTE
The Alaska Factor
Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure. We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions. Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you.
WHERE WE SLEEP
“I felt a calmness birds can bring to people; and, quieted, I sensed here the outlines of the oldest mysteries: the nature and extent of space, the fall of light from the heavens, the pooling of time in the present, as if it were water.”
Chena River Lodge
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We’ll meet at the hotel for an introduction, gear sorting, and shared dinner. Fairbanks, while remote, is still a real city with plenty of places to get groceries or outdoor gear if you’ve forgotten something at home.
Backcountry Camping
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Backcountry camping can be cozy and comfy.
We like to bring some creature comforts like desert and umbrellas and our favorite coffee press for the mornings. And the best part is opening your tent door to the pinks, purples, and oranges shining on snow capped peaks (or feel super cozy in your tent when it’s raining outside).
And you’ll have the most exquisite bathroom views you’ve ever had in your life.
Basecamp trips afford us some more luxuries than usual like a giant dome tent, camp chairs, and a few fresh food items. The dome tent is a complete game changer for the Alaska backcountry! it could be raining sideways and you'd hardly know it inside the dome. In the words of someone last season: "this thing is a literal godsend."
That being said, other then the dome tent, camp chairs, and some fresh veggies, we pack for these trips the same as for backpacking trips!
That's for two reasons.
Sometimes we need to be able to walk up to a mile away from the landing area to make camp. If our bags are ridiculously heavy this walk become uncomfortable or dangerous.
We access these mountains by small bush planes. These planes have limited pretty carrying capacity. But also the more stuff we bring the more fuel they have to burn (which we want to avoid!)
We ask people to limit their personal gear to 30lbs per person maximum.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“It’s impossible to explain how vast the place is. Every square mile would be it’s own national park if it were in the lower 48! I’m so grateful I got the chance to go here and so glad I chose IAG to go with.”
“I have travelled the entire world, every continent, with dozens of high-end guide services and this was hands down the best trip of my life. The place worked it’s way into my soul. And Jack was the best guide i’ve ever had! It was hard, but so so worth it.”
“Jack had me cracking up the entire time! Alaska is no joke. If you’re willing to put in the effort it’s absolutely worth it. And if you go you might as well laugh the entire time while you’re at it. ”
BOOK ANWR BASECAMP
7,700 Per Person | 2000 deposit to hold your spot
2026 Dates
June 10 – 16, 2026
2027 Dates
June 10 – 16, 2027
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Check out the FAQ’s below, or text or call us at 845-661-3008 to talk it through! Or send us an email. We love hearing from folks.
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Backpacking in Alaska is no joke! We’ll be hiking 4-7 miles per day off trail across scree slopes, over mountain passes, and through the occasional but notorious thick Alaskan alder. That being said, if you’ve backpacked a bit before and physically prepare before the trip, you’ll do great! If you’re an expert backpacker you’ll still find this to be a rewarding and at times challenging trip. Guests will be expected to practice excellent self-care, pack and unpack their own packs, setup and breakdown their own tents, and carry a portion of group equipment. All the challenges of off-trail backpacking are overwhelmingly worth it for the splendor, the views, and the deep knowing in your gut that you did something powerful and profound.
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The price includes accommodations on the first night in Fairbanks, all bush flights in and out, all ground transportation, all breakfasts and dinners in the field, all group supplies—cooking equipment, water treatment options, group shelters, bear canisters, toilet supplies, emergency communication devices, maps, GPS, first aid kit, National Park entrance fees, and the support of your experienced and trained guides.
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The price does not include travel to Fairbanks, transportation to the AirBnb, travel insurance or rescue insurance (both recommended), or gratuity for your guide (10-20% of the trip cost recommended). The price doesn’t include personal gear— backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, layers, rain gear, personal bowl, personal eating utensils, headlamp, and personal toiletries. If needed some of this gear can be rented for an additional fee. The price also does not include the cost of lunches / snacks. On our trips lunches are really just extended snacking throughout the day.
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This trip is limited to just 5 guests with 1 or 2 guides.
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Meals will be delicious backcountry cuisine. We’ve spent a lot of years in the backcountry and we like to eat well! That being said, we also don't love heavy packs. Our meals strike a balance between dehydrated backpacker food and gourmet fresh — in that balance are delicious meals without crazy weight. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Please reach out with questions. We will supply all the breakfasts, dinners, and occasional desserts for the trip. We ask guests to pack their own lunch snacks. On our trips lunch is between when breakfast ends and dinner begins — snack away!
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Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure. We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions. Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you. We do not offer refunds or cover incurred costs when trips have to be rerouted or itineraries changed due to weather or other circumstances out of our control.
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If arriving by plane you will want to fly in/out of Fairbanks International Airport. Please plan to arrive in Fairbanks no later than 3 pm on Day 1 and book your flights for no earlier than 11 pm on the final day. You can check into your hotel after 4pm on day 1.
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We have people come on our trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.
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Indigo Alpine Guide trips are run by the owner Jack and an awesome crew of guides from all over the country. All the people who work for IAG have over a decade of experience guiding trips in the most remote places on earth, have wilderness medical training and advanced guiding certifications. They are some of the best and most experienced guides you’ll find anywhere.
Our trips aren’t tours. We don’t march the same trail again and again. Your guide may not have done your exact route before — and that’s part of the adventure! We change routes from season to season, sometimes for practical reasons, sometimes just to keep things fresh. People are sometimes surprised by this, but it’s never a drawback — if anything, the journey feels more alive for everyone, including them.
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Deposit (non-refundable)
$1,000–$2,000 per person, depending on the trip.
Required to confirm your booking.
The deposit is refundable if you cancel within 72 hours of booking. After that, they are non-refundable.
Final payment due:
90 days prior to trip start date.
Cancellation by client:
>90 days before trip: Refund of all payments minus deposit.
61–90 days before trip: 50% refund of total trip cost.
60 days or fewer before trip: No refund.
Replacement option: If you are able to fill your spot by finding a new guest, 100% refund (minus deposit).
Cancellation by Indigo Alpine Guides:
Full refund of all payments including deposit, but we are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred (flights, hotels, etc.). We recommend booking refundable airfare when possible.
Trip delays / itinerary changes:
No refunds for weather delays, itinerary changes, or other factors outside our control.
Travel insurance:
Strongly recommended to protect your trip investment.
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We always encourage folks to purchase trip cancelation insurance in addition to the mandatory medical evacuation insurance. We require that you have at least $200,000 in medical evacuation insurance. Your insurance policy should cover hazardous sports and we recommend that your policy cover search and rescue. Since we cannot confirm each client’s policy individually, it is your responsibility to make sure your policy will cover you while you participate in your activities of choice on the expedition.
For US citizens, we recommend Global Rescue. You will have a choice of purchasing it with or without the cancellation coverage–so make sure to select the one that gives you the coverage that you need. Other commonly used companies include World Nomads and Squaremouth.
You are welcome to seek out other insurance options, as these are only recommendations. When selecting a policy, please make sure they insure all the activities you’ll be participating in (many don’t include roped climbing, skiing, mountaineering, etc).
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Backpacking in Alaska can be pretty tough. If you’re super athletic and up for adventure, coming out here for your first trip could work. But be prepared for a super steep learning curve.
You’ll likely have a better time if you have at least 3-5 trips of any length under your belt before coming to Alaska. If you’re unsure, reach out!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know. We’re always happy to chat.
