| Tips on what to pack for a trip to Alaska, posted by real travelers and Alaska locals. Map |
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I traveled with a backpack on plane and along the way. My purse was inside the backpack, money, etc. easy to get too, and much easier to keep up with. We were told to pack both winter and summer clothes as the weather in Alaska can be temperamental. We departed from the South in the summer of July and reached our destination bringing record breaking temperatures in the 90's with us. However, the night air can be very cool. So it's always best to layer your articicles of clothing. It's easier to peel off, than not have enough on to protect you from the elements.
Hiking boots a must* comfortable tennis shoes for daytime walking. Lightweight jackets, lined w/hoods, gloves. Mostly we packed jeans, and layered. Tops consisted of sweatshirts and flannels with teeshirts underneath on cooler days outside touring the area.
Shampoo, hair dryer, makeup, etc. Shaving gear for hubby. Deoderant. That's all.
Take LOTS of film* Trust me.....you will need it. I took 15 rolls of film and still ran out. Had to buy more once there. So much to see and so much to do in Alaska. you want to capture all you can on film for the adventure and memories of a lifetime****
We rented a huge Buddy special RV and drove from Anchorage to Barrow, which the RV was new and ultra nice. So we had great gear inside the camper. We stocked it well with groceries before we left town. Leave a Comment
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Visiting Alaska?
Read reviews about Alaska Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 prepare yourself for
anything and everything
here by PA2AKgirl
Some of the hotels in the smaller towns do not provide shampoo or anything, really. It's probably best just to bring castille soap (the all in one to wash dishes, yourself, hair, to clean etc) if you're camping. It's easier and environmentally friendly. All medical supplies should come with you, too.
Everything you have. Don't bet there will be a place to transfer pictures to a cd or to get them developed unless you'll be in a city.
Waterproof everything and bring duplicates. If it's not frozen, it's probably going to be muddy. (at least in South Central and the Southeast). Mosquito repellant. The bugs are terrible from late spring until the first frost. Bear Canisters.
A good topo map or the USGS quadrangles. A laptop computer is a good idea, too. If you can't get WiFi access (a lot of the more visited places have WiFi everywhere), at least you can dump your digital photos. Leave a Comment
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 The Star Princess Ship by Jeannette1
rain gear and good walking shoes. Also a nice outfit for the 2 formal nights (out of 7)
bonine and/or a patch for people who tend to get sea sick.
a wide angle lens; binoculars.
If you are on a cruise, it's best to mark your luggage with large colorful posters or belts. It makes it so much easier to retrieve it after your disembark and you see dozens of suitcases that all look like yours :) Leave a Comment
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 Camping somewhere in Alaska by MatyasLeave a Comment
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We took carry-on only for our 10-day trip and couldn't have been happier! We also had smaller backpacks to use as daypacks. Great to carry your jacket/extra shirt, etc.
The weather varied from mid-40's to mid-80's during our late June visit, sometimes during the same day, depending on location. It is a very good idea to pack layers of clothing and carry a jacket/rain jacket wherever you go. We took goretex rain jackets that doubled as regular jackets. Think tees or tanks, regular shirt (short- or long-sleeved) and a jacket to be sure you are comfortable no matter what the weather. Anytime you are near glaciers or ice fields, the temperature will drop. Also in Homer, along the coast, the wind made the air feel much cooler.
Definitely bring mosquito repellant! Mosquitos were everywhere, with maybe the exception of the coast. We were lucky and didn't get many bites.
A good point-and-shoot camera is a must. Unless you are a professional and know your camera very well, you will miss a lot of wildlife shots. The aminals move quickly and will be out of sight before you have your camera ready. One lady on our Denali tour didn't get a good shot of anything because she didn't know her camera. Bring twice the memory/film and 4x the batteries you need if you like to take pictures! Everywhere you go is scenic.
A good set of binoculars is essential. We were able to watch grizzlies romp and play about a quarter-mile away, spot hikers on top of a ridge, watch fox kits playing, golden eagles diving for a catch.... you get the picture....more up close and personal with binoculars.
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Visiting Alaska?
Read reviews about Alaska Hotels
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Backpacking: Internal frame backpack.
3-4 season tent, depending on season. thermarest sleeping pad. 20 degree (F) sleeping bag for summer and warmer for winter. Long Underwear. Gore-tex (or equivalent breathable) Raingear. Sturdy, hiking boots. I recommend hiking boots with minimal seams like montrail (one sport), all leather (goretex a plus). You will be likely hiking through water at some point and you want your boots to be completely waterproof. To test them, put them on and step into a puddle or your bathtub with 3-5 inches of water. If they leak, get a better pair. Pepper spray for bears (optional).
Bearproof canistor if in bear country. You wouldn't want your entire food supply trashed by a bear.
Water Filter. Water bottles. You could probably drink straight from a high mountain stream, without worries, but I would recommend a filter just in case.
For an off the beaten path--- Try something different besides Denali! Visit the Wrangells. Or if you are really hardcore, try the Brooks Range.
Be prepared for tough hiking in rough terrains. In general, there are few trails. It may be easiest to do a trip where there is a trail. Such as the Chilkoot trail out of Skagway, or there are some trails in Denali State Park and the White Mountains Rec. Area near Fairbanks. Leave a Comment
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 by youc0001
Summer camping: 20 (F) degree sleeping bags. Tent MUST have a rainfly. The rainfly should extend to the base of the tent on all sides. Bug spray with deet.
Winter camping: -20 (F) degree sleeping bags. I have a 0 (F) degree bag, but I wouldn't camp in the winter unless it is above 0. 4 season tent.
(Photo Shoup Glacier Valdez) Leave a Comment
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 by richiecdisc
Top quality boots, you'll often be hiking off trails. Rain gear is essential, it can be a very wet place.
Bug repellant and suncreen, por favor.
Wide angle for the expanses, zoom for the wildlife. I had a 300mm and it really wasn't enough. Tripod is important for wildlife as you are often in poor light situations.
Put the money out for a good tent. You will save so much on rooms and you won't mind camping so much if you're dry and not being eaten alive by mozzies. ;-)
A big tarp is very handy to eat under and give you a little more space, important if you're camping for five months.
If you think you need it, bring it. You're not backpacking from Amsterdam to Paris here. One more plus for the car is you can bring whatever you want. We brought A LOT of stuff and used everything, but the spare car parts. Leave a Comment
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 You enjoy the rainbows more
when you're dry by AKtravelers
Definitely bring miosquito repellent! Leave a Comment
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The weather in Alaska during the summer months really isn't that cold, so it's not really necessary to take your thermals unless you intend to walk on a glacier for an extended period of time. Wet weather gear will be more useful. The dress code in most restaurants and hotels appears to be casual.
There are lots of mosquitos, bring the repellant.
You will require telephoto lenses for shooting wildlife and a wide angle lense for pictures of the glaciers and other amazing scenery. Leave a Comment
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