Itinerary Details
Nature's Best: Alaska
Day 1: ARRIVE IN FAIRBANKS Welcome to Alaska! Meet your Tour Director between 3-7pm in your hotel reception area.
Day 2: FAIRBANKS–DENALI NATIONAL PARK Native American Traditions This morning, board the sternwheeler Discovery for a cruise on the Chena River with a stop at the Chena Village to learn about Athabascan Native culture. We continue to Denali National Park, home to North America’s highest peak, 20,320-foot Denali (also known as Mount McKinley), majestically dominating the park’s six million acres. This evening, enjoy a private presentation by a Naturalist and dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Experience frontier living in an Athabascan village on the Chena River. Here in the Alaskan forests, cabins are made of spruce logs, and the old ways of living with the land are beautifully preserved in the heritage of the Athabascan Native culture. Learn about traditions and survival in an unforgiving yet beautiful environment, where generations of Athabascans skillfully survived for over 10,000 years, ultimately adapting to village life and Western culture in the past century.
Day 3: DENALI NATIONAL PARKWilderness Wonders Morning at leisure. Optional activities include a float trip down the Nenana River and a helicopter ride over the park. Later, journey into Denali National Park with a Naturalist Driver Guide on a Tundra Wilderness tour. The evening is free. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Venture deep into Denali National Park and Preserve with a Naturalist Driver Guide in search of fantastic wildlife and natural wonders. Stay alert for wildlife, including Denali’s Big Five: the grizzly bear, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and elusive wolf. Named for the highest mountain peak in North America, Denali is a natural treasure of pristine and untamed wilderness at its finest.
Day 4: DENALI NATIONAL PARK–ALASKA RAILROAD–TALKEETNA Sled Races & Railroads This morning, visit the home of an Iditarod Musher to hear stories of their adventures and meet resident champion sled-dogs. Then, board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a journey through the majestic Alaskan wilderness en route to Talkeetna. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Overnight at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. From its incredible setting on a ridge just above the town of Talkeetna, the lodge offers majestic views of Denali. Enjoy scenic hiking, flightseeing, or simply relax amid stunning views from the deck, or chill hearthside by the crackling fire of a giant river rock fireplace.
Day 5: TALKEETNA–ANCHORAGE–SEWARD Anchorage Adventures This morning, enjoy a traditional [LF] Alaskan fresh-baked treat at the historic Talkeetna Roadhouse. Then, head south toward Anchorage for a city tour, followed by a scenic drive along the Kenai Peninsula en route to Seward. Join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
URBAN LIFE Alaska’s largest city is a unique combination of modern city life and wilderness. Discover the rich history, cultural influences, and iconic landmarks on a guided sightseeing tour of Anchorage. Visit the vibrant downtown, Earthquake Park, and Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the largest floatplane airport in the world. Enjoy sweeping views of Cook Inlet and a statue of its namesake, British explorer Captain James Cook.
Day 6: SEWARD. CRUISE IN KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK–ANCHORAGE Making a Splash Today, board your vessel for a cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park with the opportunity to see glaciers calving into the sea, orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, and more! (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park covers 600,000 acres of protected and pure wilderness, with more than half of its majestic landscapes covered in ice and snow. From the massive Harding Icefield to the countless tidewater glaciers carving deep fjords, this arctic paradise is a natural wonder to behold. A cruise on the fjords affords an unforgettable opportunity to see glaciers calving into the sea, orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, and more breathtaking sights.
Day 7: ANCHORAGE Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
