oredom is not an issue for visitors in Alaska. Travel along the road system unveils a vast ecosystem, a variety of wildlife, and multiple cultures within rural and urban communities. In Southeast, waterways take the place of asphalt, affording once-in-a-lifetime views to millions of tourists. Disconnected from the main road system, however, remote communities in Southwest, Interior, and Northern Alaska welcome the most dedicated and adventurous travelers. Visits to places like St. Paul Island, Kantishna Roadhouse, and Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) require more intensive planning than a casual cruise, but the effort is rewarded with glimpses of Alaska experienced by a select few.

Fans of the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch are familiar with the Bering Sea. While fishing and crabbing take the spotlight, one volcanic island in the Pribilofs is a stopping point for several rare species of migrating birds.

“St. Paul Island became a world-class birdwatching destination,” says Gregory Galik, president of the Tanadgusix (TDX) Hospitality Group. “The Bering Sea experiences great winds from Asia that blow birds off course during migration. In the spring, they stop on St. Paul Island to rest and eat before continuing on.”

Galik says several exotic species have visited St. Paul Island, including the first North American sighting of a long-legged buzzard from Central Asia and a Pallas’s rosefinch. He says lifelong birders often add 5 to 10 bird species to their “life list” in just a few days. Around 320 bird species have been recorded in the Pribilof Islands.

Galik says the best way to explore the area is through the St. Paul Island Tour from May 15 to October 15. Conservation and sustainability on St. Paul Island are top priorities for TDX Corporation, the Alaska Native village corporation that owns and operates the tour company. TDX is partnered with Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the tribal government of St. Paul Island to ensure the preservation of national and cultural resources.

One resource in need of preservation is the northern fur seal. Nearly 50 percent of the entire population breeds on the Pribilof Islands; however, the animal is still listed as “depleted” by the Marine Mammal Protection Act after facing near extinction in the 1800s. Travel to view the fur seals is restricted without the proper permits. “Visitors can’t go out to the rookeries on their own,” says Galik. “We guide visitors carefully into amazing cliffs to see the seals and abundant seabirds like the famous tufted and horned puffins.”

Experienced naturalists also lead visitors on hikes across the tundra landscape, where they can see more than 100 species of wildflowers and wildlife such as Arctic foxes and reindeer. All tours visit the St. Paul community, Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, and the TDX Museum of Unangan heritage. The tour company reviews special requests and needs for excursions, hikes, and other activities. Custom tour programs are available for extended visits.

St. Paul Island Tours’ most popular tour package is for three days/two nights, but packages up to eight days/seven nights are also available. All packages include group transportation on St. Paul Island, full-day guiding services, shared-room hotel accommodations, entrance fees to the museum and church, three full meals per full day, and all taxes and fees. There are additional pricing options for hotel room accommodations.

Ravn Alaska flies directly to St. Paul Island out of Anchorage four times a week. Travelers fly in on a DeHavilland Dash 8-100 twin-engine turboprop aircraft that seats twenty-five passengers. Flying to St. Paul Island with a refueling stop takes about three to four hours.

Galik says the tours between May 15 to July 1 fill up before the end of the year; that is the premier birding season, as birdwatchers know all too well. He recommends booking at least six months in advance for preferred tour reservation and flight times.

Though St. Paul is a small community, Galik says it has modern satellite technology, communications, and airport facilities. “We represent the success possible within a small community that decided to develop a tour product over seventy years ago that continues to welcome visitors to this day,” says Galik.

Kantishna Roadhouse is connected to the state’s highway system, but the road is unpaved. A 92-mile dirt road ordinarily connects the backcountry destination to the Parks Highway. However, Denali National Park and Preserve officials recently closed Denali Park Road at mile 43 due to safety issues. Until road construction is complete in 2026, Kantishna Roadhouse is accessible only by plane.

Kantishna Roadhouse is owned and operated by Doyon, Limited, the Alaska Native corporation for the Interior region.

“As an Alaska Native enterprise, Kantishna Roadhouse works closely with the National Park Service to educate visitors about the historical uses of the park by the Native peoples before the arrival of Western culture,” says Jordan Sanford, general manager at the Kantishna Roadhouse.

Kantishna is the farthest point inside Denali National Park. When the road is open, the roadhouse is the closest anyone can get to the base of Denali without hiking or flying. The Denali Park Road dead ends in Kantishna Valley. As a remote location with only a few lodges among tall trees and secluded wilderness, the Kantishna Roadhouse rests on the banks of Moose Creek, a crystal-clear stream that gently flows through the valley. Established in 1905, Kantishna served as a gold mining town before becoming part of Denali National Park and Preserve.

The Kantishna Roadhouse Lodge is a contemporary facility with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay. Large white spruce logs harvested from the boreal forests of Interior Alaska were used to build the lodge and all the accommodations. The lodge is fitted with a modern kitchen and dining area where guests enjoy three meals and snacks provided daily. Cabins are spacious duplex-style buildings with private bathrooms, nicely appointed rustic décor, down comforters/quilts, and front porches. For guests with special mobility needs, Kantishna Roadhouse has fully accessible cabins outfitted with accessible showers and a larger floor plan to make them easier to navigate. Sanford says the cabins are cozy and comfortable, providing a quiet and pleasant place to sleep after a day exploring Denali or relaxing around Kantishna.

The Kantishna Roadhouse’s season runs from mid-June to mid-September. Only twelve guests are allowed on the property at any given time in order to provide visitors with a unique, intimate experience. Travelers can choose a three-night, four-night, or seven-night trip. Packages include the flight with Denali Air, accommodations, meals, snacks, guided and naturalist activities, and mountain bike, fly fishing, and gold panning gear.

“The Interior region is the state’s largest region,” says Sanford. “You have the opportunity to see the continent’s tallest peak, Mt. Denali, with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. The weather is typically mild, with lots of daylight to do all things Alaskan.”

Though booking a year in advance is recommended, Sanford says it’s always worth checking for last-minute availability.

Fun fact: Utqiaġvik, the northernmost city in the United States, isn’t as far away as it seems. Hardly more than an hour’s flight out of Anchorage, with 757s departing every day.

Located on the shore of the Arctic Ocean, Utqiaġvik is known for its breathtaking tundra landscape. Guests can experience the culture of the Iñupiat people directly through dance and song performances or by visiting ancient sod huts and art exhibits, guided by a local resident who can speak to these unique experiences from the heart.

“It’s something guests will never forget,” says Marie Duriez, communications manager for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC).

Tundra Tours and Top of the World Hotel offer tourism services and modern hotel amenities for visitors to Utqiaġvik. Both are owned and operated by ASRC, located next door to the local post office and a short stroll from Whalebone Arch on the beach.

“Our goal is to welcome travelers as they discover an inviting home away from home with authentic Iñupiaq hospitality,” says Duriez.

Top of the World Hotel has served Utqiaġvik since the early ‘70s. After a fire destroyed the original hotel in 2013, the new hotel was built and reopened in 2014. The hotel has seventy guest rooms with WiFi, cable, and free local calls. The hotel also features three conference rooms, a fitness area, and a gift shop. Duriez adds that the Top of the World Hotel is the only hotel in Utqiaġvik that offers airport pick-up; an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week; banquet and catering services; and extended restaurant hours if flights are delayed, ensuring guests can have a meal upon arrival.

Tundra Tours operates out of the hotel, offering guided tours from May 15 to September 15. Summer tours include a visit to the Iñupiat Heritage Center, a tundra walk, a drive to the northernmost point on the road system, and a chance to meet local artists. Visitors can earn their Polar Bear Dip Certificate by plunging their hands and feet into the Chukchi Sea, where water temperatures are barely above freezing, even in the summer. The truly adventurous can take a full body plunge and earn a Polar Plunge Certificate.

“We also strive to ensure our guests are aware of any community events that may be taking place during their visit, such as traditional celebrations like Kivġiq and Nalukataq,” says Duriez. Nalukataq celebrates whaling crews that successfully landed a catch and is held after each spring and fall harvest; the Kivġiq messenger feast is a more elaborate affair, held the first week of February in odd-numbered years and attracting participants from all across the Arctic region.

Those visiting Utqiaġvik in the winter months should bring a winter jacket and multiple layers. Even in summer, Duriez recommends that visitors pack a jacket, sweater, gloves, and hat; June is spring breakup weather north of the Arctic Circle. A typical early summer tourist also packs camouflage coveralls and high-powered camera lenses; like St. Paul Island, Point Barrow is a magnet for migratory birds.

Polar bears are liable to wander into city limits on any given day, outside of hibernation season. When wildlife enters the city, guests are promptly notified and kept at a safe distance.

The Top of the World Hotel and Tundra Tours take reservations up to five years in advance. Busier times, such as the Kivġiq, typically get booked out, so plan early.