Northern Exposure in Alaska

Most Brits heading to the USA are going to Florida, New York or maybe Las Vegas. Few think that the frozen wastes of Alaska are an ideal holiday destination.

Known as "the last frontier" or "the land of the midnight sun", Alaska is the USA's most northerly and largest state. It is also its least densely populated, squeezing a population of just 626,000 – over a third of whom live in the capital, Anchorage - into more than one million square miles.

So why go to Alaska? It's not for the climate – temperatures range from chilly to glacial. It's not for the shopping – the state is notoriously more expensive than the rest of the USA, because of the basic difficulty of getting goods there.

No, it is because Alaska is one of the most pristine and unspoiled wildernesses in the world, and is home to some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife around.

There are numerous wildlife viewing expeditions, on which you can expect to see polar bears, killer whales, bald eagles, wolves and moose, in their natural habitats.

Alaska is also a premier ecotourism destination. Hikes and climbs ranging from a day's duration to weeks can be arranged in the Denali national park – home to Mount McKinley, north America's highest mountain – or in the Chugach state park, the Matanuska-Susitna valley or the Kenai peninsula. There are four explorable mountain ranges all within a day trip's distance of Anchorage itself.

In such a huge state, with so few roads, many people are used to flying everywhere. Indeed, many towns are only accessible by sea or air, and flying is certainly the cheapest and quickest way to get around. And a flight around some of Alaska's most amazing sights is a must.

Fly over a glacier, or drift along a fjord in a seaplane as brown bears fish for salmon: the choice is yours.

Alaska's coastal regions are also breathtaking, and well-catered with cruises. Alternatively, take a paddle steamer up one of the major rivers and imagine yourself a 19th century prospector, seeking gold in those hills.

In the north and west, the populations are largely native American. The unique culture and customs live on, and visitors can see totem carving, blanket tossing and other native practises. There are three distinct native cultures, referred to locally as Indian, Eskimo and Aleut – the last being the inhabitants of the Aleutian islands, which lie in the Bering sea, and which were the only part of the USA to be occupied (by the Japanese) during the Second World War.

In the north east, the colossal Arctic National Wildlife Reserve is virtually uninhabited, but there are activities for visitors including kayaking and rafting, as well as nature tours.

Anchorage itself, nestled in the Cook inlet, is a cosmopolitan and modern city, with one of the state's mildest climates. Its airport handles around 280 flights per day to destinations worldwide, and it is perfectly situated to serve as a base camp for any sort of expedition.

If this has not already been made apparent, Alaska is big, and visitors should plan their itineraries carefully in advance.

Certainly, the far north is not everyone's idea of a perfect holiday – but it is an experience that no one could ever forget.