Alaskan wilderness perfect for adventure holidays

For those searching for an ideal place for a truly thrill-seeking holiday, an adventure tour to Alaska could be hard to beat. Mixing rugged wilderness, beautiful scenery and the chance to take part in a wide range of activities, Alaska is the perfect place to head for those seeking an unforgettable outdoor holiday.

Alaska is home to a number of national parks, whose scenery and chance for outdoor adventure attract flocks of visitors from all over the globe.

One of the biggest and best to visit for an Alaska adventure is the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, a vast park of almost two million acres. In this park, outdoor holiday fans are sure to find something to appeal to their wild side.

The park was created in 1941 and was originally known as the Kenai Moose Range, but it was given national park status in 1980.

So what makes it perfect for an adventure tour?

The Kenai peninsula was covered entirely by glacial ice until some 10,000 years ago and today, visitors can see the truly spectacular Harding Ice Field, which is over 800 square miles in size. As well as the ice field, the park is home to Skilak Lake, a glacial body of water which is 15 miles long and in some places, up to four miles wide.

At a depth of 528 feet, visitors may be forgiven for thinking they may not be able to see much in the water, but the lake is known for being brilliantly clear. The interesting-named Frying Pan island lies on the lake and can be spotted from all sides.

As well as glacier hiking, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is home to a huge variety of animals, fish and birds which attract many visitors and many of which can only be seen in this part of the world.

From the chino, coho and pink salmon which swim the park's rivers and lakes to the bears, sheep and caribou that wander its area, the park is filled to the edges with beautiful creatures and is ideal for outdoors types who also love to catch a glimpse of interesting wildlife which cannot be found at home.

Several of the species that call the national park home are endangered and are therefore protected under Alaskan law.

For a true outdoors experience on an Alaska tour to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, visitors can head to one of the park's 13 camping sites and turn a day trip into a week-long thrill-filled expedition.

By staying in the park for a number of days, visitors could help their chances of spotting a brown or black bear, a deer or wolf, or one of the many moose which wander around the national park.

More activities in the national park

For a chilled-out day on an adventure tour to the national park, visitors could pass a few hours fishing on the Kenai River.

The river is 82 miles long and is one of the most popular places in all of Alaska for fishing enthusiasts.

It is a brilliant spot for fishing fans who fancy throwing out their rod and catching salmon, halibut or trout. The world's biggest king salmon was also caught on the Kenai River and tipped the scales at an impressive 97 pounds and four ounces - and keen fishers could have a go at catching their very own jumbo-sized swimmer.

Running from the Kenai Lake to the Pacific Ocean, the river also passes through the glacial Skilak Lake.

At certain times of the year, adventure tour visitors on a trip to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge could be lucky enough to catch sight of a Beluga whale. These beautiful creatures swim up from the river mouth in order to feed on fish, but spotting one is a rare treat.

Hiking is another popular activity often chosen by those who head to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on an adventure tour. Trekking up one of the many peaks can reward visitors with spectacular views of the parks below and could even give them the chance of spotting a bald-headed eagle flying back to its nest.

Alaska is truly the perfect place to head to for a thrill-filled break and can afford visitors a number of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the space of one trip, from witnessing an ice field millions of years old to seeing rare animals and birds in their natural habitat.