Arrive Juneau

Juneau

1030     Depart for private tour of Juneau.  You will see the city highlights and the Alaska State Museum have lunch before being dropped at the tour departure point for the afternoon tour.

1500     This is the ideal tour for people with limited time in Juneau but who want to see as much as they can. Enjoy a whale watching cruise to look for Humpback whales who migrate to the waters near Juneau for their summer feeding grounds. Humpbacks are among the most playful whales, and often breach (leap from the water), bubble-net feed, and slap their tails while you watch. You will also stop at Mendenhall Glacier for a 45 to 60 minute tour. Along the way, your driver will provide narration about Juneau and its history.

1900     End of tour and transfer to Pearson’s Pond.

Juneau – Anchorage – Girdwood

1045     Depart with a private transfer to airport for flight.

1235     Depart Juneau with Alaska Airlines flight AS65

1420     Arrive Anchorage.  On arrival lunch at restaurant for group. Then transferred to Girdwood. Check-in Alyeska Resort.

Girdwood – Seward – Girdwood

After crossing Moose Pass, known for its hiking, winter recreation activities and summer festival, you will pass through a scenic section of road along lakes and forests before descending into Seward.   A picturesque community nestled between the Kenai Mountains and Resurrection Bay; it attracts many visitors during the summer months and is the gateway to majestic Kenai Fjords National Park.  The easiest place to start is at the Visitor Reception Centre as you come into town for the first time.

A busy harbour offers many chances for a fishing expedition into the rich ocean waters.  There is also a great attraction at the Alaska Sealife Centre, an ocean interpretive centre for the surrounding marine life and the centre featuring a 30 foot/10 meter sea window.  There are also a number a great museums and an interesting walking tour which takes in many of the building and historic sights.

The town has a great frontier feel and had been an important transportation centre for the state for many years at the turn of the 20^th century.

1130     This is Alaska’s most popular wildlife and glacier cruise! Our tours depart from Seward, Alaska, and provide in-depth experiences of Kenai Fjords National Park’s abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers.Tours are fully narrated by an accredited wildlife interpreter and include a visit to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, home to teeming seabird rookeries.Learn about the rich history of Resurrection Bay while viewing the jagged cliffs, seabirds, marine wildlife and alpine glaciers, including magnificent Bear Glacier.

1730     Cruise returns with some time to explore Seward before returning to the hotel at Girdwood.  Dinner .

Girdwood – Whittier – Girdwood

0920     Stop at Alaska Wildlife Conservation area for a guided tour of this wildlife recovery area featuring Moose, Bear, Caribou, and a wide range of birds who are undergoing recovery from a wide range of issues before being returned to the wild.

1100     Departure for cruise.  This cruise will explore the untamed wilderness and calm waters of the magnificent Prince William Sound. Visit a working salmon hatchery in the area from which we will then cruise the spectacular Esther Passage before exploring the numerous glaciers in the Harriman Fjord and Barry Arm.  A stop at the majestic Surprise Glacier will let us scoop ice from the glacier right into a glass for a change to sample ice cubes that are hundreds of years old. Marine animals and birds flourish in these waters

1700     We will return to the dock, it is again a return to Alyeska Resort and dinner at hotel.

Girdwood – Denali National Park

After the beginning of the Parks highway you will pass several communities such as Wasilla, Houston and Willow.  These bedroom communities offer some interesting sights and visitor experiences.

We will reach The Headquarters of the Iditarod at 1130hrs. The “Last Great Race”  is an international renowned 1,000mile/1,600km dog sled race that crosses Alaska and draws the attention of the entire state for two weeks a the start of March.  Those that complete the grueling race are held in high regard by all, and those that are champions, they become legends.  After a visit here at the museum, we will stop at the homestead of a muliple Iditarod winner – Martin Buser and his 75 huskies.  We will enjoy the luxury of a fully private tour with Martin and a visit to his kennel, trophy room and opportunities for pictures.

Packed lunch will be provided by Happy Trails Kennel between 1230 – 1300hrs

We will depart at 1300hrs to Talkeetna.  This small community has become the center for flight seeing and mountaineering for access into Denali Park.  The road into the town is 14miles/22km and the collection of historical and Parks building have great views of Denali and the Alaska Range.

We will pass over Broad Pass Summit and through one more small community called Cantwell which servers as a train stop on the Alaska Railway which parallels the highway corridor for most of this trip, and is the last place to get a glimpse of Denali other than heading deep into the Park. We will reach McKinley Chalet Resort between 1830 – 1900hrs.

Denali

1330     We will take a 7-9 hour tour design to highlight the natural history of the Park.  With a focus on the rich, cultural history of Denali National Park, the Denali Tundra Tour incorporates interpretive programs that depict the diverse native and early pioneer influences that make Denali special. Learn about the history and culture that surrounds you at a Living History presentation while visiting Savage Cabin, and learn more about local native culture at Primrose Ridge.

Your driver/naturalist will provide a great introduction to the landscape, geology and history of Denali National Park. The Denali Natural History Tour also stops at the Wilderness Access Center for a viewing of “Across Time & Tundra” an award winning presentation on the building of the park road.

After the return, have dinner at the Park Gates and overnight at the hotel.

Denali – Anchorage

Our upgraded Dome Level Seating Service offers first-class service aboard double-deck dome cars.  Reserved upper-leveldome car seating, priority check-in, upper-level outdoor viewing deck, exclusive lower-level dining room, and complimentary non alcoholic beverages.  We will arrive back into Anchorage at 2000hrs for the private transfer to the hotel.

**An option 0800hrs tour will take the guests on a flight tour of Mt McKinley, the World’s deepest gorge and a landing on one of Mt McKinley’s pristine glaciers.

Anchorage is the largest city and cosmopolitan centre of Alaska.  While not the capital of the state, it is the self-proclaimed gateway for many visitors.  With almost 300,000 people calling it home, many people joke that the city is next door to the Alaska wilderness.  Built as a railway depot originally, the city grew as with the development of the farming collective in the Mat-Su valley and the building of Air Force bases.  With the discovery of oil, the city really became the commercial and financial centre of the state.

There are several great museums within the city, but the one truly great aspect of Anchorage is the multiple of park space throughout the city.  From small neighbourhood parks to the system of connecting pathways along the ocean, the city is full of them.  Often at lunchtimes downtown they are full of residents enjoying time outside a listening to musicians.

Included:  Anchorage Museum of History and Art – Highlighting the cultural and historical development and history of the state, from the earliest Native culture to the Russian fur traders and the eventual American purchases for the state.  This is a world-class museum well worth the visit.

Optional:  Native Heritage Centre – a museum that is dedicated to the multiple and wide range of native groups from across the state.  There is often a rotating schedule of performances from different groups representing their heritage in live shows.  The centre is located off the Glenn Highway close to downtown.

Anchorage – Katmai – Anchorage

The World Famous bear viewing at Brooks Falls is only a short walk from Katmailand’s Brooks Lodge. As many as fifty bears can be viewed fishing along the mile and a half long Brooks River during the peak of the salmon season. Many visitors see bears within minutes of arrival. All visitors are instructed by the National Park Service on how to conduct themselves in “Bear Country”.

Besides the famous Brooks River and Brooks Falls, bear viewing opportunities abound in the park, and no one has more experience or better locations for viewing these magnificent animals than Katmailand does.

0600     Private transfer departure from hotel to flight departure.

0730     Departure of Katmai Air Flt# 950  from Anchorage to Kulik Lodge, and onwards to Brooks Lodge.

Upon arrival at Brooks Lodge you will have the opportunity to visit the World Famous Brooks Falls where brown bears feed and the friendly National Park Service rangers will point you in the right direction and answer all of your questions about this incredible park.  Day free for viewing.

1800     Approximate time of departure from Brooks Lodge to King Salmon for the 20 minute flight.

1930     PenAir Flt# 210 King Salmon/Anchorage

2050     Arrival into Anchorage and transfer to hotel by private vehicle.

1530 Alaska Airlines flight AS90 to Seattle and onwards.

END