In Alaska, the real luxury is the wilderness. But why not have it all?

A lodge in the heart of the wilderness is an unequivocally Alaskan experience. At Alaska By Design, this is one of our favorite ways to invite guests to experience Alaska, getting deep into the miles upon miles of untouched nature.

Tutka Bay Lodge on Kachemak Bay | Credit: Tutka Bay Lodge

The Best Alaska Lodges for Your Wilderness Adventure

These are our favorite lodges in Alaska, from the charmingly rustic to the ultra-luxurious. They all have one thing in common: they are surrounded by expansive and utterly unmatched wilderness.

Of course, despite many of the lodges being off-grid, they all have 24-hour electricity, running water, cozy rooms and cabins, and many of the creature comforts you would expect from home.

From these places, you are free to relax into the tranquility of disconnection from modernity, and reconnection with the real world.

The Lodge at Black Rapids exterior | Credit: Lodge at Black Rapids

Luxury Wilderness Lodges in Alaska

Alaska is full of lodges, but some stand out from the rest. Offering everything from the quiet luxury of solitude in comfort to the most high-end stay with extravagant flourishes at every turn, a trip to a wilderness lodge always means a luxurious introduction to Alaska's biggest call: its wilds.

Our Alaska Wilderness Lodge package series welcomes you to the wilderness like never before.

These are our five favorites.

Denali Backcountry Lodge during sunset | Credit: Denali Backcountry Lodge

Denali Backcountry Lodge

You can only arrive at Denali Backcountry Lodge by helicopter, which is an ode to the exclusivity of a backcountry lodge. There, you'll stay among the wilds of Denali National Park and Preserve.

At the lodge, there is no cell phone service and no in-cabin TVs. The lodge feels akin to an elevated all-inclusive summer camp, so these modern touches would feel out of place.

As you depart on daily guided hikes — one each morning and afternoon — or self-guided nature walks through your unparalleled access to Denali National Park and Preserve's backcountry trails, you don't feel any modernity is missing here.

Like any good summer camp, you eat communally, getting to know your fellow travelers over hearty fresh-cooked meals, but you never lose any sense of the exclusivity of a luxurious backcountry stay. Your private cabins have cozy beds and beautiful views of the mountains, and the main lodge has numerous places to relax by the fireplace, over boardgames or pool, or while listening to the daily educational talks over hors d’oeuvres.

Tutka Bay Lodge’s deck and hot tub | Credit: Tutka Bay Lodge

Tutka Bay Lodge | Alaska Luxury Wilderness Lodge

There are only a few cabins at Tutka Bay Lodge, which holds an intimate stay among the 35 acres of wilderness it sits on.

Tutka Bay Lodge is family-run and centers on great food, great sights, and great experiences all in perfect balance. Private cabins line the water, Cordon Bleu-trained chefs prepare foraged, fished, and garden-grown foods, and expert guides lead guests into the surrounding old-growth forest and a nine-mile fjord.

Here, solitude on the Kenai Peninsula, set along the Kachemak Bay State Park, is matched with hiking and kayaking, bear viewing and bird watching, tidal exploration and deep-sea fishing, and a helicopter excursion to Harding Ice Field to explore its fjords and glaciers. Remote, yes, but never disconnected from what matters most out here.

Stillpoint Lodge from above | Credit: Stillpoint Lodge

Stillpoint Lodge | Alaska Luxury Wilderness Lodge

Earning two MICHELIN Keys — and the only property in Alaska to win any Keys from MICHELIN — Stillpoint Lodge is an all-inclusive getaway on the edge of Halibut Cove focused on the wellness and tranquility found in the Alaskan wilderness.

From farm-to-table meals to massages and yoga, the healing power of the surrounding nature is embedded in the eco-lodge. Seaside cabins are placed around the main lodge, which itself is set alongside the beautifully contemporary on-site vegetable gardens.

And beyond the lodge, numerous excursions — bear viewing, saltwater fishing, and boat safaris to name a few — introduce guests to the wilds elegantly, seamlessly balancing peaceful moments with adventure.

An Ultima Thule Lodge flightseeing tour crossing the vast landscape | Credit: Ultima Thule Lodge

Ultima Thule Lodge | Alaska Luxury Wilderness Lodge

Ultima Thule Lodge is the natural gateway to a real, untouched Alaska.

This is a wilderness lodge set among 13.2 million acres of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park mountains, completely untouched and inaccessible by traditional means.

And, with such a vast park surrounding it, Ultima Thule Lodge is the perfect place to explore the wilderness from the air. The lodge specialises in flightseeing excursions, flying from remote location to remote location, seeing sights few others have seen without ever leaving Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Sheldon Chalet above the Ruth Glacier | Credit: Sheldon Chalet

Sheldon Chalet Denali

Sheldon Chalet is a remote stay like no other on Earth. You, accompanied by your live-in Adventure Guide, personal Chef, Chalet Concierge and Sommelier, fly out to the Chalet by helicopter. In keeping with any high-end luxury chalet, you're greeted with champagne and an array of bites prepared by the chef.

And, once you're there, it's just you and the mountains.

Its remote location is bolstered by the grand scale it exists on — the only lodge deep in Denali National Park and Preserve, just 10 miles from the summit of Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, and alone on the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, overlooking the Ruth Glacier and the mountains beyond.

Every touch is luxurious. The craft chocolates that appear on each bed's pillow at night feel like nothing when compared to the daily expert-led glacier treks, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, or gourmet glacier-top picnics, all shadowed by Mount Denali.

The location speaks for itself. But, in their commitment to every little aspect of your stay, time at Sheldon Chalet is nothing short of exceptional.

In 2022, four of our lucky Alaska By Design team members took a trip to Sheldon Chalet. To learn more, read the dedicated post: What it's Like to Visit Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

Remote Lodges in Alaska

These lodges are typical of Alaska — rustic in look but offering next-level access to the natural wonders around. Our favorite time to experience them is in winter, when they serve as gateways to snow-covered landscapes and long nights of the Aurora Borealis' displays. They serve as central points of many of our favorite Alaska Northern Lights tours.

Bettles Lodge under the Aurora Borealis | Credit: Bettles Lodge

Bettles Lodge

Above the Arctic Circle is a remote log-cabin lodge in a remote northern village. The village, Bettles, has just 23 permanent residents. Two of those residents, Eric and Heather Fox, own, manage, and participate in the day-to-day operations of the family-run lodge. Both the village and lodge are only accessible by air.

This is an introduction to an authentic Alaska that is hard to find. Just 20 miles from the southern boundaries of Gates of the Arctic National Park, this is a truly remote stay, deep in the Arctic wilderness. By day, you will tour the village, meeting many of its residents, snowshoe and cross-country ski through the wilds, or choose to visit the ghost town of 'Old Bettles,' where the last gold rush in Alaska occurred, on a dog sledding adventure. And, by night, you will wait by the bonfire, or inside the warm lodge, for the Northern Lights to grace the Arctic sky.

Left to right: The view from The Lodge at Black Rapids, Inside the main lodge’s dining room | Credit: Lodge at Black Rapids

The Lodge at Black Rapids

Along the quiet and little-known Richardson Highway, over 100 miles from Fairbanks, is the Lodge at Black Rapids, the modern re-imagining of the original historic roadhouse that they are restoring.

Take the train north from Anchorage to Fairbanks, and then journey the scenic but little-known Richardson Highway to reach the Lodge at Black Rapids.

By day, hike up to see the Castner Glacier Ice Cave, or dog-sled through the surrounding forests. And, by night, watch the sky come alive with the Aurora Borealis as you enjoy the lodge's prime Northern Lights viewing location.

Best Alaska Wilderness Lodge Tours

If you're looking for a trip to Alaska, wilderness lodges offer a unique look at the state — one that few others will ever see. These are our favorite tours including a stay at one, or many, wilderness lodges in Alaska.

Arriving at Tutka Bay Lodge by boat | Credit: Tutka Bay Lodge

Alaska’s Lodges, Glaciers & Denali

Journey through the Alaskan wilds while covering it all. The small Alaskan towns of Seward, Homer, and Talkeetna are short breaks from the immense Alaskan wilderness all around. You will venture through it by rail, boat, and small plane, while having opportunities to upgrade to helicopter tours with a glacier landing.

Along the way, take a break to stay at Tutka Bay Lodge, a luxurious stay just a 40-minute boat ride from Homer. Here, enjoy excursions to see wildlife from either boat or remote fly-out locations. Or, choose to slow down. Enjoy morning yoga on the deck and take the afternoon to canoe the surrounding waters to get more in touch with the land.

Eventually, you’ll rejoin society and take the scenic Alaska Railroad train north to Denali, and further onwards to Fairbanks.

Left: The view from Stillpoint Lodge | Credit: Stillpoint Lodge

Right: Sheldon Chalet from above | Credit: Sheldon Chalet

Luxury Lodges in Alaska Ultimate Package

This is an adventure through all the best of the Alaskan wilderness, in absolute luxury and in jaw-dropping style. You cruise Prince William Sound, take a private charter floatplane flight to Stillpoint Lodge, where you'll spend three nights nestled in Halibut Cove, and then take a two-day transfer — first by floatplane, and then by helicopter — through the small, rural town of Talkeetna to end your trip at Sheldon Chalet. Perched high above the world, overlooking a glacier, you will end your trip in the serenity of mountain solitude, with not even a touch of the usual hardship.

Alaska Railroad trip through the snow | Credit: Alaska Railroad

Alaska Aurora Rail Adventure | Bettles Lodge

Explore a winter wonderland, where the ground is blanketed in white, and the night skies in a sea of green. You'll travel through the snowy backcountry by rail on a train tour with Alaska Railroad, stopping in small towns along the way, before arriving in Fairbanks. And, from there, a small bush plane will bring you to a lodge nestled far North in the Arctic.

Northern Lights over the Lodge at Black Rapids’ historic roadhouse | Credit: Lodge at Black Rapids

Alaska Aurora Train | Lodge at Black Rapids

This winter adventure takes you, instead, to the Lodge at Black Rapids, where you can visit the nearby Castner Glacier Ice Cave or take dog-sledding excursions into the winter snow. The Lodge at Black Rapids offers an upscale position from which to see the Northern Lights, while still reveling in the tranquility of its location.

Our team members at Sheldon Chalet (left) and Tutka Bay Lodge (right)

Book Today with Alaska By Design

Reach out to a Travel Designer to book today. They will work with you one-on-one to help select, tailor, and arrange everything you need along your trip to Alaska.

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What to Expect at an Alaska Lodge

Wilderness lodges are some of the prettiest places to stay in Alaska, offering a unique look into the forests, mountains, and waters that make up the natural environment.

Unpacking the helicopter at Sheldon Chalet as seen by our team on their trip

What to Pack

Most wilderness lodges in Alaska are only accessible by boat, small plane, or helicopter.

This means they usually have strict baggage allowances — often being one small soft-sided bag weighing under 35 or 40lbs per person. This varies by property, so your Travel Designer will be able to advise you on specific limits by lodge. To help keep your luggage light, lodges typically provide all the specialist gear you will need during your stay.

What you should bring to a wilderness lodge:

• Clothing layers — high-quality base layers, warm sweaters, a lightweight windbreaker jacket
• Summer gear — sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent OR
• Winter gear — a warm hat, scarf or neck-warmer, mittens, sun protection (sunglasses/sunscreen) for snow glare
• Comfortable shoes suited to the outdoors or hiking boots
• A camera, batteries, and spare memory cards
• Binoculars

The midnight sun over Mount Denali | Credit: Michael DeYoung

Seeing the Midnight Sun

The midnight sun appears in different degrees depending on where and when you stay in Alaska.

For the longest day, travelers should plan their trip around the summer solstice — June 20th or 21st — when, across much of Alaska, the sun never even nears the horizon.

However, traveling during Late April, May, June, July, and early August all offer extended daylight, and long, drawn-out sunsets that last hours. While the sun might technically set below the horizon, the sky stays light all night long.

The midnight sun is visible anywhere north of the Kenai Peninsula.

The Northern Lights over Alaska | Credit: 1st Alaska Tours

Seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska

The Aurora Season, the optimal season for viewing the Northern Lights, runs from mid-August until mid-April, when the sun sets and the sky becomes dark at night. But, as the darkest nights result in the best views of the Northern Lights, winter travel is recommended.

One of the perks of staying in a wilderness lodge located far from civilization is that there is very little light pollution. So, beyond the chance to enjoy remote luxuries, you will have the best view of them while you do.

We are currently in the peak of solar activity, meaning the Aurora Borealis is more active than typical, resulting in more displays across a wider range of latitudes with more strength and vibrancy. If you're looking to see the Northern Lights in Alaska at their absolute best, now is the time to do it.

For more information, see our post: Why Book an Alaska Northern Lights Tour

Brown bear cubs by Stillpoint Lodge’s floatplanes | Credit: Stillpoint Lodge

Seeing the Wildlife

Whether bear viewing, whale watching, deep sea fishing, or bird watching, wilderness lodges offer unmatched access to Alaska's wildlife. A trip to one of these lodges is one of the best ways to see wildlife in their most natural habitat, undisturbed by human life.

Most wilderness lodges include various daily wildlife watching trips and guided interpretive hikes, depending on the region they are in and the particular animals that frequent it. Many also offer boat, helicopter, or flightseeing tours to venture a little further, though this may come at an additional cost.

If there are specific animals you particularly want to see, speak to your Travel Designer. While they can't promise your dream animal encounter, they can place you where it’s most likely to happen.

For more information and to browse packaged vacations, visit our Alaska Wilderness Lodges page.