Backcountry Safaris had its beginning in 1986, making us one of the oldest adventure tour companies in Alaska. Backcountry Safaris is still operated and owned by the founder Ron Clauson.

1986 we started out as an Alaska rafting company running mostly remote multi-day rafting and fishing trips into some of the most remote areas in Alaska. Most of our trips back then were custom trips, taking small groups and families down remote Alaska rivers of their choosing.

A few years after our beginning, we moved towards being a full service adventure travel agency, specializing in custom Alaska Tour package as well guiding our raft trips and sea kayaking trips.

Having traveled extensively throughout the Alaskan bush, owner Ron has acquired a lifetime of knowledge on logistics, expedition planning and group travel into remote parts of Alaska. Backcountry Safaris is the go-to company if you would like help planning a special custom remote Alaska adventure. We are able provided experience guides and gear rentals for a do-it-self adventure, and offer help in planning logistics getting to and from remote Alaska locations. If you can imagine it, we can make it happen.

Today, we represent the spirit of the first Alaska adventurers. Being a full-service Alaska Adventure Travel Company we are dedicated to providing a high-quality Alaska adventure experience and pride ourselves on being highly knowledgeable about Alaska. We have chosen adventures that capture the beauty, excitement and history that is truly Alaska. We invite you to join us for an adventure of a lifetime.

Your hosts
Ron Clauson, is a well-known Alaska adventurer and has been rafting, sea kayaking, hiking and exploring Alaska's backcountry for since 1969. He  started guiding trips in Alaska at the age of 14. Ron is also known for his whitewater rafting skills, fly fishing and innovative fly patterns as a professional fly tier. Some of his well know Alaska fly patterns have appeared in various local and national publications, including Fly Fisherman, Salmon Trout Steelheader, Alaska Outdoors, and the book Fly Patterns of Alaska. Ron is a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.

Our Guides
We are extremely proud of our guides and feel they are the some of best in the business. Our guides are highly-trained and experienced professionals that are chosen for their personality, leadership and enthusiasm. One of the key elements to a successful and rewarding adventure travel is the quality of the guides and naturalists accompanying the trip. You'll find that our guides bring with them a wealth of knowledge and willingness to share their knowledge on the local culture, flora, fauna, and geology.

Our Equipment
Simply put our equipment is the best you can buy, with some being custom made to meet our specialized needs. Your safety and maintaining high levels of comfort is of the uppermost importance to us. And unlike other Alaska guide companies you will not find any well-used old gear. We replace all our gear every year or two. You will find all our sea kayaks and rafts in like new condition.

Unless otherwise stated, we provide at no additional cost the specialty gear necessary to safely enjoy Alaska's environment. A complete pre-trip packet detailing all equipment and other pertinent information will be mailed to you upon reservation.

On all sea kayaking, rafting, standup paddleboard adventures we provide dry-suits, neoprene river booties, and neoprene gloves to increase your enjoyment-not to mention providing protection against hypothermia. With Alaska's cold water environment, it's nearly impossible to safely do a sea kayak or whitewater raft trip without this protection. We strongly urge you for your own safety to ask any other firms with whom you are making trip inquires whether they provide their guests with dry-suits. If they answer no, ask why. The answer may surprise you, but the real answer is, dry-suits are very expensive and costly to maintain. Remember that you get what you pay for and we spare no expense when it comes to your safety.