Resources to help plan for your upcoming Alaskan Adventure.
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Planning an Alaska fishing trip or wilderness vacation requires time, patience and research. Even after you book your trip, there is a number of essentials you will need to be aware of before cutting loose on your adventure. Our trip planning page should be a helpful guide for you! Throughout the planning process, feel free to
email us here at Wilderness Place Lodge as we're happy to answer any questions you may have and point you in the right direction. Planning your Alaska trip requires diligent research. Our trip planner links to various informative pages both on our site and others to help you successfully prepare for your adventure. We cater to a wide diversity of travelers, fisher-people, adventurers, nature-lovers, photographers and those just looking to unplug. We have special packages and can create custom adventures for families with kids, couples, retreats, reunions and more. Flexibility and friendliness is what we are known for! To get started, below are some questions you should consider asking yourself in the early stages of your Alaska trip planning process.
Trip Planning FAQs
What is the best Alaska trip for us?
This is likely the first question one asks themselves after they have decided on Alaska as their next vacation destination. It's an obvious question, but not always easy to answer. Many people feel the need to see as much of Alaska as possible. That's a tough order to fill with the state being so large. It would take a full summer to achieve this while still feeling relaxed. Your regimen will be a big contributor to the overall enjoyment of your experience. Read the following bullet points that will greatly help you narrow the field.
How much time do you have to spend in Alaska?
How many days do you have in Alaska? You will need to set aside at least one day of airplane travel to and from Alaska. Therefore, if you have 7 days of vacation, plan for 5 full days of 'tour-time.' In 5 days, it's unrealistic to visit Denali, fly-in for a fishing experience and also drive to the coast to see whales. Alaska is huge, and it is easy to burn time and patience getting from one destination to the next. It is best to plan your trip with your priorities in mind first. Make a activity bucket-list, with your group's favorite activities at the top and successive activities in descending order. Finally, use that list and begin your search for destinations and adventure providers that fit the bill. You will be astonished how many options there are within a simple 2 hour drive from Anchorage. Anchorage is also by far the easiest place in Alaska to fly in and out of with minimal time and transfers.
What is your budget?
Money comes into play with most decisions we make, and travel is no different. Again, it's best to set your goals first before you decide on a final budget. When my wife and I travel, our primary goals are "maximize time and maximize value." It's not always how much we spend, but what we get for what we pay. So, when searching for tour packages, lodging, etc., it's important to consider what is included up front when booking those trips. Even though the sticker price may look appealing, there may be hidden costs and added expenses unaccounted for. It's often the cast that many people find themselves going way over budget as they accumulate unexpected out-of-pocket costs during the course of their vacation. Some of these usually exist, just be aware of what they are and budget accordingly before you go. Ask your destination provider or tour operator to clearly break down the list of what is included or not included in your trip stay. A small list includes: 3 meals daily? alcoholic beverage? park passes? fishing licenses? transport costs? gratuities? taxes? Lastly, wasted time is wasted money. Don't save $50 and find yourself in a place the limits your ability to full experience in Alaska. More often than not you do get what you pay for. Just be sure to ask good questions and search for review and testimonials to confirm the business you are choosing to work with offers a quality service.
Our Alaska Trip Package FAQs
What types of packages are available at your lodge?
First and foremost, Wilderness Place Lodge has been offering one of the finest full-service fly-in fishing lodge experiences in Alaska since inception in the mid-1980s. We are one of few Alaska lodges that offer all-inclusive packages for any duration stay. Our lodge is turn-key, so no need to pack anything other than your personal attire. Lodge-based trips include guided fishing for salmon, trout, grayling and pike. Aside from fishing, many guests visit our lodge for the extraordinary dining experience, fine accommodations and the overall ambiance of the surrounding wilderness. Wildlife photography is a popular past time while on the river. The lodge also offers a popular fly-out half-day guided float trip, which anyone can add to their package to diversify their experience. For those interested in an amazing wilderness escape, our new fly-in outpost lake cabins offer a unique 'glamping' add-on experience for those that want the peace and quiet of nature all to themselves. Outpost activities include kayaking, peddle-boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, canoeing, rest and relaxation!
Do you have other adventures we can add on to the lodge experience?
Yes, and we have a whole lot of 'add-on' activities to choose from. Some of the most popular include Denali flight-seeing day trips, helicopter glacier tours and hiking, glacier dog-sledding, fly-in bear-viewing tours, fly-out day lake kayaking, Prince William Sound marine wildlife flight-see and more. After you have compiled your activity bucket-list, let us know. We can help tailor your trip package to diversify your experience and maximize your time, all rolled in to a complete, inclusive custom trip package. Be sure to read more on our custom bundled Alaska adventures if your group is interested in more than just fishing.
What do all your trip packages include?
Our fishing lodge packages include everything with the exception of fishing licenses and staff gratuities of 7-10%. For our adventure bundled packages, we include transportation, lodging, guides and most meals. We strive to make all essential parts of your adventure included in each trip package. Minor additional expenses you may want to consider for our adventure packages include alcoholic beverages (complimentary at Wilderness Place Lodge and at outpost cabins), meals in Anchorage on your own time and a few hundred dollars for gifts, apparel and/or mementos. If you plan to move forward with a reservation, we require a 20% deposit to lock in dates. You can place a reservation request securely online, email us at wildernessplacelodge@gmail.com or call or text us directly at +1 907-355-7616.
Plan your Alaska
Trip by Month or Activity
June in Alaska offers great river and lake fishing for a variety of species. Being one of our fairest weather months, June is an excellent time to visit to incorporate a wide diversity of sightseeing, photography and mountain adventures. Blend the best of off-grid adventure amidst the 24 hours of daylight!
July in Alaska is peak of the green season featuring wild-flowers, great weather and boundless activities. The first half of the month the perfect time for a bundled adventure trip whereas the second half of the month is a popular time for peak salmon fishing.
Silver, Pink and chum salmon peak during August in Alaska. August is a very popular time at our fishing lodge for a diversity of fishermen and women from around the world. Blending a fishing trip with other custom side trips offers a diversified off-grid Alaska adventure.
Weather in Alaska is something to be considered before embarking your Alaskan adventure. There are some general temperature and precipitation trends from month to month in our region, but you should plan for variable and unpredictable weather. Also, view our packing list for gear to combat the elements.
Rust's Flying Service is our primary float plane service for all guests travelling to and from Wilderness Place Lodge and Anchorage. Through Rust's we can also set up some great flight-seeing and bear-viewing trips for you if interested. It is good to familiarize yourself with their operation before your stay with us.
If you are primarily planning a fishing package during your time in Alaska, there is good amount of information to gather. Our Alaska fishing resources page is a great source of pertinent planning information.
Our peak fishing calendar will help you decide when to plan your fishing trip to our lodge. If you have any questions or would like us to suggest the best venue for your group, just let us know!
Our guest planner is a one-stop shop for all guests that are already booked with us for the upcoming summer. The page helps consolidate the most important resources needed to review before your arrival at our front door step!
Visit our Package and Rates Page for further information on the wide diversity of fishing and adventure trips we offer plus booking instructions and policies.
Our frequently asked questions page covers a wide array of frequently discussed trip planning topics.
Review our lodge trip policies and booking information including trip payments, cancellations and travel insurance.
Visit our lodge guest reviews page for feedback and testimonials on our fishing and adventure packages.
