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We offer Alaska raft trips that offer scenic views, wildlife viewing, fishing, and whitewater.
Custom group Alaska rafting adventures are available on request. If have interested in something special or participating in an exploratory expedition, please contact us with your ideals or to see what plans are being made.
Kongakut River - 10 day Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Rafting Safari. Explore Alaska's remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by raft on the "river of caribou". Our trip coincides with the annual migration of the 130,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd and passes through some of the world's most pristine wilderness.
Lake Creek - 7 day Whitewater Rafting and Fishing Adventure. Our favorite fly-in wilderness adventure river, great combination exciting whitewater and great Alaska fishing. Lake Creek offers almost continuous Class II/III whitewater with a few Class IV rapids, five species of salmon, rainbow trout and arctic grayling.
Chulitna River - 4 day Denali Raft Adventure. An excellent family adventure and sampling of Alaska's best wilderness and geography at a casual pace. We travel through Denali State Park, upper Susitna Valley and take out near Trapper Creek, a historic gold mining town. |
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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ANWR
Kongakut River 10 Day ANWR Rafting Trip
 Join Backcountry Safaris as we explore Alaska's remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by raft on the "river of caribou." We'll travel about 50 miles down the Kongakut River through America's last true frontier. Our trip coincides with the annual migration of the 130,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd and passes through some of the world's most pristine wilderness.
The 19.8-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is unique in North America, offering a full range of arctic and subarctic ecosystems. These lands are largely free from human manipulation and control and have remained undisturbed for centuries.
"This wilderness is big enough and wild enough to make you feel like one of the old-time explorers." - Lowell Sumner, refuge founder
Visitors have many opportunities to view and photograph a diverse display of animal and plant life within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Almost 180 species of birds, 45 species of mammals and 36 species of fish have been seen there. Golden eagles, peregrine falcons, loons, tundra swans, caribou, polar and brown bears, muskoxen, wolves, lynx, arctic char and grayling are some of the many animals one may see in the refuge.You'll see the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during its seasonal splendor. Summer days with 24 hours of sunlight bring the tundra's wildflowers to life, and like the stroke of an artist's brush the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge bursts out in color.
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"This is the place for man turned scientist and explorer, poet and artist. Here he can experience a new reverence for life that is outside his own and yet a vital and joyous part of it." - William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice 1939-75.
Our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge river raft adventure trip begins in a glacial valley of the Brooks Range and descends down the Kongakut River through several small rapids and braided channels. We traverse the tundra-covered Arctic Coastal Plain then conclude our trip within view of the Beaufort Sea's pack ice.
Today, the use of these pristine lands has become a point of controversy and debate among groups wanting to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and groups wanting to develop its oil and gas resources. In 1980, a provision in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act gave special legal status to 1.5 million acres in the northern part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because of its oil and gas potential. Debate regarding this special status has raged among development and environmental groups in recent years. Oil and gas development within the refuge remains precarious and is subject to change by Congress.
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 Regulations limit our group size to 10 including guides on our Kongakut River rafting trips, and fewer than 1,000 people visit the refuge each year. Because space is limited, we advise guests to secure reservations several months in advance.
"Here there are no man-made trails... parking lots, visitor centers... that we've all seen within other public parks and refuges... Within the Arctic Refuge expect to meet nature on her wildest terms." - Debbie Miller, author. |
OVERVIEW
Tour Type: Scenic, Rafting, Wildlife Viewing, Hiking, Fishing
Difficulty: Moderate, Class III Whitewater
Comfort: Camping, Tents
Prior Experience: None
 Explore Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on our 50-mile-long Kongakut River paddling adventure. We travel into America's last true frontier. Our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge trip coincides with the annual migration of the 130,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd and takes us through some of the world's most pristine wilderness.
The 19.8-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is unique in North America, offering a full range of arctic and subarctic ecosystems. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is largely free from human manipulation and control and has remained undisturbed for centuries.
Visitors will find many opportunities to view and photograph a diverse display of animal and plant life within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Golden eagles, peregrine falcons, loons, tundra swans, caribou, polar and brown bears, muskoxen, wolves, lynx, arctic char and grayling are some of the many animals that one may find in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge raft adventure begins in a glacial valley of the Brooks Range and descends down the Kongakut River through several small rapids and braided channels. We traverse the tundra-covered Arctic Coastal Plain during its colorful seasonal splendor while daylight lingers 24 hours a day. Our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge journey concludes as we travel within view of the Beaufort Sea's pack ice.
Backcountry Safaris is an established and reputable wilderness tour operator, guiding Alaska wilderness adventure trips since 1986. Contact us today to plan your Arctic National Wildlife Refuge adventure of a lifetime.
ITINERARY **
 Arrival - Fly in to Fairbanks International Airport. Plan to arrive at least a day before your Kongakut River trip's departure date. Fairbanks offers many fine hotels and bed and breakfast lodging options. We can provide you a list of recommended lodging options or arrange lodging for you. Let us know if you would like us to add a hotel stay to your reservation. After unpacking and catching your breath, our guides will meet you for pre-trip meeting. After, we can take you to pick up any last minute personal items and to tour downtown Fairbanks. |
 Day 1 - Catch an early morning flight from Fairbanks to Arctic Village - a Gwich'in village bordering the refuge. We transfer to a chartered bush plane and fly to a remote airstrip at the headwaters of the Kongakut River.
Day 2 - Set up rafts and prepare gear. Day hikes into the Brooks Range. |
 Day 3 - Our river raft trip begins. We'll travel about 5 miles and occasionally pass through walls of overflow ice.
Day 4 - We paddle downriver through the canyon, keeping watch for wildlife and photo opportunities.
Day 5 - Continue downriver and establish camp above the Kongakut's first major rapids. |
 Day 6 - Run rapids and paddle our rafts through another river section with walls of overflow ice. After travelling 5 miles, we set up camp near an excellent vantage point for watching migrating caribou.
Day 7 - Paddle about 15 miles through several small rapids. Look for Dall sheep in the Whale Mountain region and scope out photo opportunities.
Day 8 - Paddle to Caribou Pass - a main caribou migration route. We'll look for moose and muskoxen which are common here. Set up last camp.
Day 9 - Hike to ridge overlooking the Arctic Coastal Plain and the Beaufort Sea.
Day 10 - Return by bush plane to Arctic Village and Fairbanks. Transfer to lodging. End-of-trip celebration and supper.
More general information on ANWR is available at: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
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2016 TOUR DATES
Form your own group for a group discount and choose any departure date or choose from one of our scheduled tour dates.
Dates please call.
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2016 RATES
This trip has Tiered Pricing.
This trip is priced according to the smallest number of full paying guests that we must have to operate the trip. At the time of reservation we invoice you at the highest tier price until final payment is due. If the price drops due to an increase in the group size before your trip departs, you will be refunded the difference. Note that paying guests does not include guides or any guests already getting a discount (example, combining trips may earn you a discount).
2 - 3 Travelers: $4800 each plus tax.
4 - 5 Travelers: $4500 each plus tax.
6 - 10 Travelers: $4200 each plus tax.
On payment of your deposit to Backcountry Safaris, you agree to be bound by Backcountry Safaris' tour terms and conditions. Complete Tour, Reservation and Payment Terms are located here.
Prices are subject to change without notice.
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Backcountry Safaris
P.O. Box 1397 Seward, Alaska USA 99664
1-907-205-5900 • Fax 1-907-205-5902
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**Tour Itineraries: Backcountry Safaris and other tour operators that we work with strive to give you a high quality Alaska experience. The tour itinerary shown on our web page is an example tour itinerary. The actual tour itinerary may vary some due to weather, safety, guest abilities and other conditions. Backcountry Safaris and other independent tour contractors reserve the right to change the tour itinerary and/or make substitutions at any time and without prior notice or to cancel all or part of any tour in its reasonable discretion, for the safety of its participants or due to insufficient number of participants signing up for a tour, because of weather, for the comfort and well being of our guests, for any other conditions that might affect the quality of tour, or as deemed necessary by the tour operator or trip leader.
Limitations of liability: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins. A copy of the text is available on request. | |
by David Miller
by James A. Michener
by Claus-M Naske and Herman E. Slotnick
by Robert H. Armstrong
by John G. S. Trelawny
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