Highlights |
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Adventure Package Includes
- Round trip flights Seattle - Anchorage.
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
- Airline fuel surcharges
- 7 nights tourist class accommodations
- All transfers
- 8 meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned 11-seater van
- Services of English speaking tour manager throughout
- Entrance fees per itinerary
Special Features
- Unique small-group experience (maximum of 20 people per departure)
- Scenic train ride to Denali aboard the Alaskan Railroad
- In-depth visit to Denali National Park
- Meet with local Eskimos and Athabaskan Indians
- Aerial Tramway to Alyeska Resort's 2,300 foot observation deck
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Itinerary |
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Day 1, Sunday - Arrive in Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage for a meet and greet at the airport. Your tour manager will be available to answer any questions and transfer you to your Anchorage hotel. Anchorage is a unique town set in the heart of Alaska's wilderness, surrounded by six mountain ranges. As summertime comes around, the days seem endless, and the city makes up for its lost time in winter
Overnight: Anchorage
Day 2, Monday - Anchorage to Denali National Park
Start the day with a short morning orientation tour of Anchorage, ending at the train station. Your tour manager will accompany you to the train station and will re-join the group in Denali. Get ready for a stimulating ride aboard the Alaska Railroad. Traveling by rail car along the scenic Susitna River to Denali National Park, watch for beautiful vistas, wildlife and even exceptional views of Mt. McKinley, weather permitting. Upon reaching Denali National Park, dine together at a local restaurant. Denali, which means "the big one" in Athabaskan, is perhaps the most famous national park in Alaska and home to North America's tallest mountain, Mt. McKinley. One of the park's biggest draws, aside from its grand mountain, is the chance to possibly catch a glimpse of the Alaskan Big Five: Grizzly, Moose, Caribou, Dall Sheep, and Wolf
Overnight: Denali National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3, Tuesday - Full Day in Denali
A free day in Denali allows you to dictate your itinerary from sun up to sun down. Your tour manager can lead you on a hike or help you decide on which optional excursions are right for you. Take advantage of some of the park service programs, rent a bike, paddle a kayak, or hike the trails, with varying activity levels available. There are even opportunities to hop on a helicopter for an unforgettable aerial panorama or raft down a river for a visceral experience unlike any other
Overnight: Denali National Park
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4, Wednesday - Visit Hatcher's Pass and Independence Mine
This morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take advantage of any adventures you couldn't fit in yesterday. Then, depart for Hatcher's Pass, where your tour manager will lead you on a scenic hike that reveals a glimpse into the true spirit of Alaska's pioneers. The awe you will feel while trekking this mountainous area is infectious, from the grand vistas to the historical artifacts scattered throughout these snow-capped ranges. Today, buildings left from the Gold Rush still stand, from the summit of the highest peaks to the floor of the valley. Next, visit Independence Mine, first staked and dug in 1906 by Robert L. Hatcher, opening one of the richest chapters in Alaska mining history that lasted until 1953, when Independence Mine was finally closed. The late 1970's saw the establishment of the Independence Mine State Historical Park allowing visitors to walk among its picturesque old buildings
Overnight: Palmer
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5, Thursday - Nature and Cultural Experience from Knik River to Alyeska
Enjoy the beauty all around you at the Knik River Lodge. In the morning take an optional jet boat ride to a glacier or go for a hike and look for wildlife with your Alaskan tour manager. This afternoon, travel to Anchorage for a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Meet and talk with Eskimos, Aleuts and Athabaskan Indians from around Alaska to hear their amazing personal accounts of living in the great wilds of Alaska. Depart for a short ride to Lake Hood, where you will meet with a local bush pilot and watch as planes come and go around you using Lake Hood as their runway. Bush pilots always have a great story to tell. Continue to the deluxe Alyeska Resort and receive a tram ride ticket for use during your stay. The Alyeska Resort Aerial Tramway is a seven-minute ride bringing you to a viewing deck that provides breathtaking panoramic views of imposing mountains, hanging glaciers, sparkling streams, towering stands of spruce, and an array of wildlife. Mt. Alyeska's observation deck, situated at 2,300 feet, is a perfect place to enjoy a relaxed midday picnic or beautiful evening sunset
Overnight: Girdwood
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6, Friday - Seward Excursion
Today, enjoy a scenic ride through Turnagain Pass heading south on your way to Seward. Continue your journey with a choice of activities in this beautiful and historic port city located at the head of Resurrection Bay. Seward is known as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and is the launching point for many great adventure activities. Get as close to the action as you like with your choice of Adventure Options: take the Kenai Fjords boat tour, a sea kayak tour, or charter a fishing boat for the day and enjoy trying your hand at catching the local fish when in season. Many additional options are available. At 5:00 PM regroup to learn about Alaska's marine life and the importance if its preservation with a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center. The SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of Alaska's marine ecosystem through research, rehabilitation and public education. The Center's research facilities and exhibits bring visitors face to face with the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska. After this full day of activities, enjoy a sumptuous group dinner at a seaside restaurant in Seward, complete with some of the freshest seafood you can find
Overnight: Girdwood
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7, Saturday - Full Day at Alyeska Resort
Today, take advantage of all the natural splendor around you. Begin with a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which shelters bears, musk ox, deer, and birds, among other animals. After a chance to see these majestic creatures, visit Crow Creek Mine. Nestled in the heart of Chugach National Forest, Crow Creek Mine is a national historic site, home to the oldest buildings in the municipality of Anchorage, dating back to the gold rush of 1896. Nine original buildings remain, surrounded by gardens and old equipment left by the prospectors of days gone by. Try your hand at panning for gold and enjoy the scenery. There will be free time for an optional guided glacier hike, an independent hike on the property's trails, a swim in the resort's pool, or even a helicopter landing on a glacier, where you can try your hand at dog mushing. If you have not yet used your included tram ride ticket, today is a perfect day to do so
Overnight: Girdwood
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8, Sunday - Return Home
This morning, enjoy breakfast independently. Depending on flight times there will be two airport shuttle departures from the Alyeska Resort for your group. Enjoy a morning hike or take advantage of the amenities at the Alyeska Resort before bidding farewell to the Last Frontier
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Optionals |
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, save money, and protect your investment. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards. Travel insurance only covers services purchased prior to departure.
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, save money, and protect your investment. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards. Travel insurance only covers services purchased prior to departure.
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