Alaska Hula Hula River Rafting Adventure Tour

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Feel the expansive solitude while rafting, hiking and camping in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
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Head to the skies on spectacular bush flights across the wilderness of Northern Alaska
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Float through the wildlife-rich Arctic coastal plains in the company of expert river guides
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            [Description] => caribou herd
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Kevin M.

Kevin —a.k.a. "Thirsty"—has been guiding since he was 17 years old and has been an integral part of MT Sobek's Arctic rivers program for decades. His laid-back manner puts everyone at ease, and he has a wealth of knowledge about Arctic rivers. Although he normally spends his winter months in Colorado's Telluride ski area, he has climbed Denali three times, reaching the summit in 2000. Thirsty is a legend in the MT Sobek circle and endears himself to travelers with his expertise, calm demeanor, and sense of humor.

Clint F.

Clint is a true explorer and has been guiding trips from the Arctic to Latin America for 20 years. Well known for being calm, conscious, and curious, Clint is always up for an adventure-and is seldom at a loss for words. MT Sobek guests can count on him to entertain in front of some of the most beautiful backdrops in North America. He has an exquisite ability to combine wilderness meals and a keen eye for the unseen. Clint's group characterize his leadership as positive, cohesive, and feeling at ease in the wild.

David D.

David grew up canoeing the small rivers of southeastern Ohio while living in Cincinnati. He started guiding and kayaking on rivers in West Virginia and Colorado after graduating college at Indiana University. Since 1998 he has been guiding in the Grand Canyon and traveling the globe. He has explored and worked on rivers in Iceland, Corsica, Switzerland, India, China, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and Canada. He is grateful to his parents for introducing him to outdoor adventure at a young age.

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Arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska to check-in for your pre-trip meeting and welcome dinner. Meet the group and have all your questions answered by the guides prior to departing the next day. It\'ll be an early night to prepare for tomorrow\'s adventure.
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Rise to embark on a spectacular 300-mile bush plane flight over the Yukon River Flats to Arctic Village. Here switch to a smaller plane and continue north over the Brooks Range and to the upper Hula Hula River, located in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) - a land of majestic mountains and rolling tundra. The plane will land on a small gravel bar near the river\'s headwaters - the site of the first camp.
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                    [Headline] => Launch Down the Hula Hula River
                    [ActivityOverview] => 4 hours/16 miles rafting
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On the first full day on the river, take time to become acquainted with the pace of this legendary river and the expansive tundra landscape that flanks its banks deep within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Make camp along the riverside and enjoy the sounds of the wilderness and the babbling river.
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                    [Headline] => Raft Below Towering Peaks
                    [ActivityOverview] => 5 hours/18 miles rafting on Class II rapids
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The scenery is breathtaking as the river flows between the highest peaks in the Brooks Range — Mount Ishto, Chamberlain, and Michelson — all towering at 9,000 feet above sea level. Pull into camp for the night and enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the guides. You\'ll understand why food tastes so much better in the wilderness after an adventurous day.
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After a relaxed breakfast, grab your daypack for a day of hiking alongside Esetuk Creek, where you\'ll see the first evidence of glacial runoff, as the waters run grey and cloudy with glacial silt from the Brooks Range above you. See the flora and fauna start to change as you explore this landscape by foot today.
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                    [Headline] => Raft \"The Gorge\"
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Make your way through the journey\'s swiftest and rockiest stretch of the river. Under the helm of expert guides, navigate this dynamic section with three distinct unnamed rapids. Then take a short walk through the tundra, taking in superb views of the rapids and the Kikiktat Mountains in the distance.
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                    [Headline] => Navigate the Boulder Gardens
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As you proceed down the river, notice the gradient continue to become steeper as you leave the mountains. That speeds up the river momentum — and provides for a scenic day as you move through the vast Arctic landscape, over and around boulders that make for fun rapids.
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Enjoy \nthe summertime sun, which has barely dimmed overnight, for a bright and leisurely morning. With a packed lunch, set out on a hike that captures a majestic view of the Brooks Range unnamed mountains and dazzling landscape descending into the horizon. Look hard enough and you may just see the ocean.
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                    [Headline] => Descend into the Coastal Plains
                    [ActivityOverview] => 5 hours/15 miles rafting on Class II rapids
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Keep your eyes wide open for the abundant wildlife that roams this spectacular open landscape. The vastness and lack of large brush assist in making this region prime for wildlife spotting, featuring species such as herds of porcupine caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and possibly musk ox.
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                    [Headline] => Spend the Day Unwinding by the River
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Relax into one of your few remaining days in the depths of the Alaskan wilderness. Stay in camp for reading, wildlife spotting, or other leisurely activities. There will be optional group hiking, with lengths and distances depending on the weather.
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Today, discover the Arctic coastal plain - low relief tundra comprised of alluvial channels, estuaries, and innumerable lakes where unparalleled grand vistas stretch for miles. The mellow river lends way to a day filled with world-famous birding, fishing for Arctic char or grayling, and paddling.
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The sounds of ocean birds and the smell of salt water indicate you\'ve almost reached the Beaufort Sea. Once again you will be stunned by the vastly changing landscape. This evening, watch the floating ice packs on the horizon from your riverside camp.
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This morning, break camp and await the arrival of your bush planes for the flight to Kaktovik, home of the Inupiat people. Next, you will board your included flight back to Fairbanks. After checking in to your accommodations, gather for a celebratory farewell dinner together with your guide.
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    [ActivityHighlight] => This is a moderate to strenuous river rafting trip. You should be comfortable rafting up to 18 miles over the course of 4 hours per day for 7 days on class II - IV rapids. Previous river rafting experience is recommended, and you should be in good physical condition. Due to the remote nature of this trip, no vehicle support is available during our activities.
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Accommodations

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A comfortable downtown hotel in Fairbanks and an MT Sobek riverside camp, with meals served beneath Alaska's midnight sun as it dips toward the horizon.

MT Sobek Camp-Hulahula River

Comfortable Camping

Your riverside camping experience includes nightly camps on the banks of the Hula Hula River. Included in our expedition-style trip are three-person four-season tents for every two-people outfitted with Thermarest pads and freshly laundered sleeping bags. All camping spots are on spectacular sites right next to the river. At lunch and dinner time you'll enjoy gourmet meals served by your guides.

Bridgewater Hotel, Fairbanks

Comfortable Hotel

The Bridgewater Hotel is a seasonal accommodation centrally located in downtown Fairbanks. Guests consistently give positive reviews to the "bountiful" breakfast buffet, which offers an array of delicious hot and cold options. The sights, sounds, and attractions of town are within walking distance, and guests can begin sightseeing just a few steps outside of the front door. This boutique hotel is quaintly furnished and offers comfortable rooms, making it a pleasurable stop on an MT Sobek traveler's adventure through Alaska.

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