ABD Alaska Trip

[suzysharp]

We are considering taking the Alaska tour in 2014 but have a few questions:
1) We have 3 adults, no kids, how kid oriented are the non-adult only trips as we went to go in June
2) Mom and I do not ride bikes, can we sit that out and not miss out on the eagles?
3) how extensive is the guided hike in Denali? Are we talking a mile or 5? And how fast?
4) Is it really worth $5000 a piece for this? We've done a cruise b4 for Alaska and we loved ABD in Barcelona but is this trip worth doing?
Any thoughts/help on this would be great! Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

We are considering taking the Alaska tour in 2014 but have a few questions:
1) We have 3 adults, no kids, how kid oriented are the non-adult only trips as we went to go in June
2) Mom and I do not ride bikes, can we sit that out and not miss out on the eagles?
3) how extensive is the guided hike in Denali? Are we talking a mile or 5? And how fast?
4) Is it really worth $5000 a piece for this? We've done a cruise b4 for Alaska and we loved ABD in Barcelona but is this trip worth doing?
Any thoughts/help on this would be great! Thanks!

Damn, I can't help you much with any of these but #4, since the itinerary has changed since I went in 2009!!!
1) I took the Adults Only trip, so I can't comment on the non-adults only trip except to say that we were told the only difference in the itinerary was going to a Brew Pub in Anchorage for lunch (and a tour) instead of Alaska Wildberry and the Sourdough Mining Company. But I don't think they go there anymore anyways...
2) The bike ride wasn't a part of the trip in 2009 (started in 2012). But ABD always has some sort of alternative activity set up if you can't do something. I'd call ABD and ask them what the alternative activity is.
3) The guided hike wasn't a part of the trip in 2009 either. (also started in 2012). But even the limited hike/wolf tracking we did was spectacular! The good thing about ABD having 2 Guides is that one can go faster with some of the folks, and the other can stay back with the folks who want to take it slower. It *is* a family trip, so I can't imagine it being too harsh.
4) As you can see, they've changed the itinerary a bit since I went in 2009. And I totally adored the trip when I took it back then. But honestly, except for missing Fairbanks, I actually like the new itinerary better. It kept the stuff I loved (Kenai Fjords, anyone??) and added things like a more extensive hike in Denali, and more time in Anchorage and Talkeetna. In fact, I'm tempted to take this trip *again*, except there are so many other places I haven't been to yet. So yes, in my opinion, it's worth the money. What you see on this trip, inland Alaska, is totally different from what you see on a cruise. I highly recommend it!

Sayhello

 

[abdgeek]

We are considering taking the Alaska tour in 2014 but have a few questions:
1) We have 3 adults, no kids, how kid oriented are the non-adult only trips as we went to go in June
2) Mom and I do not ride bikes, can we sit that out and not miss out on the eagles?
3) how extensive is the guided hike in Denali? Are we talking a mile or 5? And how fast?
4) Is it really worth $5000 a piece for this? We've done a cruise b4 for Alaska and we loved ABD in Barcelona but is this trip worth doing?
Any thoughts/help on this would be great! Thanks!

I can't answer your questions about ABD Alaska because I haven't done that trip yet(it is on my list), but I can answer the others relative to the three ABD's I have done.

1) I don't do the adult only ABD's. As sayhello said, the only difference is that there are only adults on the trips. On the family trips, the things planned are for all ages. However, at some of the places the kids separate from the adults for their own experience. When we were at the Colosseum in Rome, the kids separated from the adults and saw the site there own way. When you look at the itinerary it will specify which events are for junior adventurers.
2). On the Greece ABD, we kayaked, rode donkeys to the top of a city, and hiked a volcano. For each of these, guests were given the option of whether or not to do them. Those people who did not want to kayak were transported to the island we were going to by boat; people who didn't want to ride the donkeys up about 300 steps(they actually ran up) were transported to the top by van; most people climbed at least a little way up the volcano-- those that got tired waited until the rest of us came down and then rejoined the group.
4). Yes it is worth the price, but you'll have to decide that for yourself. What I like about ABD is that you experience the culture, food, and people of the region on their trips. You also do things that no one else gets to do. There have been threads about whether the cost is worth it so you may want to check those out.

 

[KandAMom]

We are also looking into this trip for July 2014. We just did the Cowboys and Canyons this past July and loved every minute of it. Any info on this trip would be helpful. Thanks

 

[suzysharp]

Bump... Any other thoughts on this? Thanks

 

[d3boyz]

Wish I had some info to share ... I am actually looking for details on Alaska as well. My husband and sons are really interested in going. We did an Antarctica cruise with Natinoal Geographic and while it was phenomenal, it was NOT Disney!

I will keep searching for more info and to see if and when I can book THIS awesome trip!

deb

 

[KandAMom]

It looks like we are booking this trip for the first week in July 2014 - again any info would be helpful. Thanks

 

[sayhello]

Bump... Any other thoughts on this? Thanks

It looks like we are booking this trip for the first week in July 2014 - again any info would be helpful. Thanks

What kind of info are you looking for?

Although the itinerary has changed since 2009, if you want to check out my Trip Report (link in my signature) it will definitely give you a sense of the trip, and some of the activities are the same.

Sayhello