Denali Backcountry Safari
4
Denali Backcountry Safari
By Stampede Excursions
About
Travel deep into the Alaskan wilderness on an off-road safari in Denali National Park. A 4x4 vehicle enables you to reach secluded locations deep inside the park. So get situated and let the bumpy adventure begin. Ride along the Stampede Trail where you may spot caribou, moose, foxes, and even bears. Stop for snacks and hot drinks at a scenic lookout over the park, before your return.
Ages 5-99, max of 27 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Highlights
- Observe Alaskan wildlife in its natural habitat
- Learn about the local ecosystem and history
- Enjoy hotel pickup and drop-off (select locations)
- Choose a morning or afternoon start time
- Snacks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Entry/Admission - Healy
What's not included- Gratuities
- Soda/Pop
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 43920P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 43920P1
Itinerary
- You'll get picked upSee departure details
- 1Stampede Excursions Backcountry Base CampStop: 45 minutes - Admission includedSee details
- 2DenaliStop: 10 minutesSee details
- 3Stampede TrailStop: 2 hoursSee details
- 4DenaliStop: 5 minutesSee details
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Stampede Excursions
152
United States
Joined in February 2017
#27 of 43 Tours & Activities in Denali National Park and Preserve
- paulk610900Had a very satisfactory experienceThese folks picked us up on time (actually early) and were there promptly to return us when we finished. Jeep performed very well. We had no issues. For a 4 hr time frame don't go into the park (its only 15 miles of road). We think a better use of our time would have been to take the gold route by Cantwell. Jeep people will explain.
- Anne M00Don’t Book in AdvanceAfter coming down with Influenza A on our cruise our land portion was canceled and we had to return home. Denali Self Guided Jeep Adventure refused to give any kind of refund. Seems like very poor customer service. Next time - there won’t be a next time for them - I’ll book last minute so I know I’m healthy.
- 277brendenj00Outstanding service.Everything was absolutely fantastic. They met us in a place where we could safely park our RV, and brought the jeep directly to us. We had a very small amount of paperwork, and we were on our way. We were given a guide book, and were told several tips and pointers to watch for on our trip. After we dropped of the jeep (back at our original meeting place), one is had forgotten out backpack in the jeep. They were very quick to get back with us so we could gather our belongings that we should have kept track of in the first place. We got what we paid for and more, we have zero complaints and would absolutely do this again next time!
- sherrylS9338ZN00Covered wagon tourFun relaxing tour with personable knowledgeable and entertaining guides named Linda and O’Dell and horses Chuck and Rustin. A large lunch with several courses was included in the tour also. Very good ! What I particularly liked was the encouraged interactions among us passengers and with the guides. We met interesting and friendly people and it was fun to share the experience with them
- Louise J00Easy and fun!Nice little jeep, excellent laminated instructions and info, we had a great day on the Denali Highway and took lots of pictures! We did have a small mix-up with pick up instructions emailed to meet in 2 different places, but Mike called us and sorted everything out.
- Gordon A00Great way to get awaySometimes when you are booked on a group tour you just want to get away and this was the perfect way to do it. We were picked up from our hotel and met up with our jeep for an on our own experience. We were free to go where and when we wanted. Stop and smell the flowers or just stretch our legs as we felt the need. The jeep was fully loaded and fun the drive. We just headed down the road, grabbed some snacks and found ourselves on the Denali Highway. Worth every penny.....
- jyrkio202300A fun Jeep to see Denali at your own paceGreat experience. We rented the Jeep Renegade for 2 back-to-back 4-hour sessions so we could drive down the old Denali Highway. First, we drove down the Denali Park Road (free entry in the National Park) to as far as private cars can go (up to Mile 15-check for the landslide details if this is an old review). Then we went down to the old Denali Highway (28 miles south of Denali Visitors Centre), starting at Cantwell. All told, we drove 149 miles in our Jeep. Jim, the owner of the Jeep's, was a really nice guy and was early for the pick-up and drop-off and he came right to our Hotel. He knew we were going farther with the Jeep, so he rented us a 'Trailhawk' Jeep that comes with higher ground clearance and firmer suspension, something you will want for the old Denali Highway as there were many, many potholes. Just remember to have you DL and insurance all ready to go to have a smooth pick-up and drop off.
- Gordon A00Nice break from the crowd.It is an opportunity to get out on your own. We were picked up at our hotel and met the owner with the keys. Once on the road just needed to be back at the end time but then no other schedule. We pi ked the places, the stops ans how long. Nice vehicle with the only rules, be back on time and keep the wheels on the ground and off the roof.
- 622MelanieG00Very nice rafting tripI did the wilderness rafting trip .. really enjoyed it . Perfect for families and older people. Marry was the tour guide / one doing the rowing ... very knowledgeable about the geology, the wildlife and all about the river . Really recommended this tour
- M429KYstevenj00DenaliWe had a great time. We drove into the park and were able to see. Denali a about 8 miles in. We would definitely rent a jeep again.
- NicoleandJohnC00Go Somewhere Else for a Jeep ExcursionFirst of all this is not a Jeep it is a Jeep Renegade! Two completely different vehicles! The car was filthy and wreaked of smoke! The air condition did not work!!!! The gentleman who dropped off the car was super nice. They did bring it to the hotel which was good. I should’ve read more reviews! Learn from my mistake and stay away from this.
- rmjone00Self drive tourGreat fun. They brought the jeep to us right on time. Saw lots of wildlife. Easy process. Would recommend
- 818jeannew00WonderfulVery nice & professional, on time, nice car, stunning scenery, no crowds, lifetime trip, good roads, freedom to explore.
- Roxanne H00Awesome Drive in Denali ParkWe had very prompt pick up and drop off. The shuttle drivers were friendly. The jeep was nice and ran good. They provided info on where to go and what to do in an emergency.
- Jplatap00Lost 270 dollarsWe had an issue with our visa so the trip was delayed. I wrote them via Viator, emailed them, text message, called them, asking if it was possible to move our tour for the next day(not cancel, just move). They were late to answer our messages. I sent them support that we couldn't travel earlier because of the visa. They were late to address our concern, didn't make any effort to change the date, but STILL charged us. We even tried with Viator costumer service but everything failed. So, we end up not traveling, and lost 270 dollars. So yeah, hopefully they need the money more than us. Would not recommend
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
40 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
7
Average
6
Poor
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Steven Clifford
5 contributions
Jun 2019
The guide took us through the wilds just north of Denali Park, the mountains always in the background. Sun, rain, wet or dry, nothing stops the all-terrain vehicles they provide. The Guide entertained us with the history of the trail & region. You could almost see the pioneers camping in the next clearing. Surely, this was from the guide's grandpa told in person? Wildlife? It was mid-June of 2019, almost record heat. The smart animals stay hidden, but we were warned it wasn't the best day for sightings. The tour lived up to all the hype.
At the end, we got to walk across the permafrost, nothing like I've ever experienced. My son will be telling stories to his grandkids someday about his trek through the Alaskan wilds near Denali, the Big One! We had a blast!
At the end, we got to walk across the permafrost, nothing like I've ever experienced. My son will be telling stories to his grandkids someday about his trek through the Alaskan wilds near Denali, the Big One! We had a blast!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doug D
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
Our guide Trinidad was excellent. Very knowledgeable, fun and friendly. I recommend using this service for one’s first day at Denali as it can help you to get an introduction and gather more useful information for the rest of your time in the area.
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Owens1959
7 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
I love Alaska and it has become my favorite vacation destination. This year I decided to try something different and sign up for the Denali Backcountry Safari. From hotel room to hotel room, it was about 4.5 hours. We were driven by shuttle van from Denali to a remote (but posh) "camp" at the end of the Stampede Road. From there, we got on board a Pinzgauer 6x6, a refurbished European Army truck that took us past the end of the easy road and deep down some forgotten mining trails. If you are familiar with the Book or Movie "Into the Wild" it's the same trail that Christopher's McCandless hiked out to the Magic Bus. The safari truck was driven by a knowledgeable guide. She has spent years living in remote Alaska and was a wealth of knowledge about the mining history of the area, the wildlife (we saw a mama moose and two baby moose), and more. She kept the tour fun and informative and was pretty great at driving the rig down the trail, too. At the end, we got back to the camp where Alaskan Brats and Blueberry Popcorn made for a tasty snack. The trip back to the hotel was pleasant and the shuttle driver was nice and informative as well. This trip is well worth the cost and I'd recommend it for all ages.
Written June 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We work hard to make our tour different from the standard bus tour and enjoyable for all ages at an affordable price point. We are glad that this was your experience and that you decided to spend a little chunk of your vacation with us.
Written March 24, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LITTLEJOHNDOE7
New Braunfels, TX30 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
This adventure, 3 hours long, was so incredible. It lives up to every bit of its description and made the top three of my Alaska dream vacation. Totally backwoods, with excellent looks at Denali. You'll enjoy the "bobble-head" portion of your trip. Hold on as you traverse wildly through mud, water, bumps but no bruises through the well traveled trails leading deep into the alaskan tundra. Whats even cooler, is at the end of your 3 hour journey, back at base camp, there are plenty of vittles awaiting, including local blueberry muffins, hot coffee, Caribou Jerky (yumm!!) and blueberry popcorn. Don't ask. Just eat. Delicious. The main guide, David was an excellent narrator and he and his partner (I'm so bad...I misplaced his name but he picked me up at my AirBnd location) were the greatest in answering all my questions, keeping the pit fire (at base camp) going and taking me for a short walk across the Perma-frost. It was awesome. It was all very awesome. Well worth your time and money. And, more. Go get some!
Written June 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for sharing about your experience with us! It is awesome to hear you had such a great time. I will pass your compliments along to our team. They work hard to provide an outstanding experience! I am glad you enjoyed our locally sourced snacks! We hope the remainder of your trip to Alaska went just as well.
Written June 21, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Angelo
51 contributions
We went on the tour and it was a good trip. I would have liked to see some wildlife. We still had a good trip. I would recommend it to anyone 🐻
Written June 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny S
Anchorage, AK15 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We had a great time, however thought the trails needed a better view. All we looked at was trees and shrubs. Would have been nicer if we could have seen more mountain views. Excellent tour guides though.. Had a great time.. Just wish the tour was longer and had better views for the money.
Written May 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jheckley
Hi, thanks for sharing your thoughts on your experience. We strive to make them the best they can be and I will share the feedback with our team. We work hard to have experiences that are low impact on nature, but have been hard at work over the past few weeks cleaning up some excess brush. Timing is very important and we will definitely take your feedback about length under advisement. I hope you had a wonderful stay in Denali and that the rest of your adventures in Alaska are wonderful!
Written May 27, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dmeli1977
Toronto, Canada403 contributions
We got lucky with a nice clear day the morning of our excursion. We were picked up by a great driver at our hotel. We drove for about 30 minutes with interesting conversation about our the area but we got to base camp. Here we switched to the all wheel drive Jeep that took us backcountry. The path was filled with water and dirt making for a real adventure. We were lucky to see moose during our ride and found out about the history of the area and the magic school bus. Once the ride was done they had fresh blueberry muffins and coffee. All and all a great few hours in Denali. My one comment to those choosing this tour, it does not take you into the park but around the outskirts. This didn’t matter to my family but it is something you should be aware of.
Written September 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
Moose are one of the among the top creatures on every visitors "must see" list in Alaska and we are glad you saw one on your tour! Thank you for taking the time to write this wonderful review.
Written September 3, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
whizkevin2
Vancouver, Canada11 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
The people we met in their team were great. We wanted to go on the Stampede Trail so as to get close to the "Into the Wild" scenes and Chris McCandless' bus. But it proved to be a goal too far. The Volvo truck we went in was technically interesting for a four-wheel back-country person like me, but the section of the Stampede Trail we went in was not really testing the vehicle to its limits, and the section of trial they have cleared to make it 'drive-able' did not go near the Sushana River or even up to the Teklanika River. The brush came right up to the side of the truck so there were no views on either side, and the noise of the engine ensured no wold life came near. If the 3-axle 6-wheel Volvo truck is put through really challenging terrain, up hill and down hill, and through serious mud holes it could be more interesting
Written July 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue M
2 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Great break from hiking. Rode the Volvo Swedish military transport for several miles.
Four easy steps up into a vehicle cushioned seat.. geat for young and old.. Not much large mammals seen in denali park road the days we were there and didn't see any on Stampede road either. But better this than several hours on a park bus. Kraukauer book fan
Four easy steps up into a vehicle cushioned seat.. geat for young and old.. Not much large mammals seen in denali park road the days we were there and didn't see any on Stampede road either. But better this than several hours on a park bus. Kraukauer book fan
Written July 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
We are glad you found our tour enjoyable, accessible, and informative. It is unfortunate that you didn't see many animals but not uncommon - the tundra while beautiful is incapable of supporting the vast amounts of wildlife seen in other parts of the United States.
Written July 24, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jbbens0n
Dallas, TX2 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The Denali Backcountry Safari was one of the highlights of our trip to Alaska. The military vehicle, the tour guide, the scenery, the Stampede Trail, the narrative--all were spectacular. It was an exciting and fun trip into the wild. I highly recommend it as a must-do for old and young alike.
Written June 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
Thank you for taking a few hours out of your busy Alaska vacation and spending it with us. We are glad to hear that this was a highlight of your trip to Alaska. Each Tour Guide very much brings their own flavor to the tour and I will pass on your very kind words to yours.
Written June 29, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
robertsA8031ZO
Port Charlotte, FL1 contribution
Can you see Mt Denali from the trail head on a clear day or is it only viewable from further down the safari path?
Shambryn H
1 contribution
We are a group of 13. 11 adults and 2 children (ages 10 & 2) can you accommodate all of us together?
Hi! Is this your available in October?
Jordan H.
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK37 contributions
It is not. For a tour in October check out the Denali Aurora Quest.
Catherine H
85 contributions
Is there a particular time of year that is best for this tour? Can you see the Aurora from your location?
Jordan H.
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK37 contributions
Hello, the time of the year depends on what you are looking to see. At the end of the summer the fall colors can be beautiful. At the end of August there are a lot of blueberries to pick! In terms of the Aurora, yes you can but that would best be done on our Denali Aurora Quest tour.
TravelerJS
Lakeville, Minnesota, United States30 contributions
Do you have a listing of the select hotel pickups. I am think of this tour in mid May and have not booked a hotel yet
Thanks
Jordan H.
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK37 contributions
Hi, yes we do pick up from most Denali area hotels. A full list of the hotels can be found on our website or by giving us a call.