Q: Could you recommend some package tour companies where I could fly into Anchorage this summer and go see Denali for 5 days or so? Camping would be fine with me and I could bring my own sleeping bag. I’d like to do some hikes and maybe some river rafting. — Gary

A: Gary, if you're willing to camp, you can save a ton of money on your vacation. Lodging is typically the single biggest expense for an Alaska trip. By camping, you largely eliminate it.

Denali is great for both hiking and rafting, but of course there are other areas that are great for that, too, such as the Kenai Peninsula. (Check out this list of Alaska campgrounds).

That said, if you want to complete your trip in 5 days, and you want to see Denali, my vote is that you spend all your time in Denali—that way, you don't waste a lot of time driving to other places. Some tips:

Check out the campgrounds now, online. Look at the Park Service's Denali camp reservations page to see the particulars on each campground (some are tent-only, and some only allow walk-in reservations, while others let you book ahead).

Package tours might not work for you. These companies all work on commission, so they may not be that interested in booking the campground components for you. However, they might handle your transportation and activity/excursion reservations. If not, check out my Denali Tours page on Alaska.org and you'll see, for instance, the rafting options available in the Park.

Plot out your hikes. These links might help you:

• Our list of hikes near the park entrance.
• Guided hiking tours in Denali.
• Best Denali hikes along the park road (you access them by taking the hop-on, hop-off Park Service bus.
• Why Alaska hiking is different from hiking in the Lower 48.