Daily Itinerary
Arrival Day 1 - Arrive Anchorage, Alaska - unguided day.
Arrival day into Anchorage is unguided. It includes the cost of hotel room and tax but does not include any additional meals, activity or expense. We choose a quality hotel located in the downtown area, convenient to attractions, shops and dining. We choose a hotel with complimentary airport shuttle and hot breakfast bar. For travelers arriving early in the day, we provide Anchorage information for easy exploring on your own.
The Quality Suites downtown offers all two-room suites, elegantly furnished, and feature refrigerators, microwaves, sofa sleepers and coffee makers. This hotel offers a wide range of amenities, including: * Free hot breakfast buffet * Free Wi-Fi Internet access * Free 24-hour airport shuttle service * Free Alaska Railroad shuttle service * Exercise room. Be sure to take a dip in the indoor heated pool or relax in the accompanying hot tub
DAY 1 - Talkeetna / McKinley Flightsee with Glacier Landing / Denali Park
8:30 am meet and greet your Alaskan Tour guide in the hotel lobby, ready to begin your exciting adventure. Travel in a comfortable executive shuttle and with a long time Alaska resident as your escort. Many years of experience and stories to share makes travel even better. Travel is north towards Denali
Park, with stops along the way. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner cost is included each escorted day. Talkeetna, Alaska is a rustic frontier town with lots of Alaskan flavor! The charming community is popular with visitors and offers a lot of hospitality with a choice of delicious eateries, quaint shops featuring local artists and even it's quirky museums. From here you'll experience a McKinley Flight seeing tour. Fly over the longest glacier in Denali National Park, the 45 mile long Kahiltna glacier, to see where climbers begin their ascent of MT. McKinley. As you approach the climber base camp, you will fly between McKinley's two sister peaks: MT. Hunter at 14,500' and MT. Foraker at 17,400'. The famed West Buttress will be in full view and you may see climbers who have come from all over the world to challenge the mountains of the Alaska Range. This flight is 1.25 hours long.
Land on a glacier at the base of MT. McKinley and experience the excitement of standing among the great peaks; the immense scale will astound you. Enjoy the sun, snow and the unique sounds of the glacier. Bring lots of film- this is an excellent photo opportunity. Adds 30 minutes to trip time.
In the afternoon you'll continue to your destination Denali Park, Alaska is nearby to the park entrance and visitor center. You'll find the area outside, along the highway to be developed with visitor lodging and services. Early evening arrival with a dinner stop and then check into to overnight lodging.
Denali Lakeview Inn provides clean and comfortable rooms with numerous amenities. Each room has it's own breakfast corner with continental breakfast choices, a table and chairs, a private deck the overlooks the lake. Watch for wildlife across the peaceful lake.
DAY 2 - Denali Park Shuttle to Eielson / Nenana Whitewater Rafting
9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Denali National Park and Preserve provides visitors with the experience of a lifetime. Wildlife, bird life, wild flowers, landscapes, mountains and more. On a clear day, this 8-hour shuttle bus trip into the park affords outstanding views of MT. McKinley and the Alaska Range when visible. The bus stops frequently for rest room use and any time wildlife is sighted. Opened in June 2008 the completely reconstructed Visitor Center was sustainable constructed and all new interpretive exhibits are well worth the visit.
There is time for dinner before participating in the evening activity, remember it's still daylight! 6:30 p.m. check in. This river trip begins at the entrance to Denali National Park and journeys 11 river miles to Healy, Alaska. During this 2 Hour whitewater adventure expect to encounter over 10 major Class III to IV rapids in the Nenana River Canyon! The Denali National Park frontier will be the setting on your river left shore with MT. Healy rising over 3,000 feet to the summit. Exciting wave-trains and powerful hydraulics will create exciting and fun rapids.
Anyone who wishes a milder option can choose to swap for a wilderness scenic float.
Spend your second night at the Denali Lakeview Inn.
DAY 3 - Dream A Dream Sled Dog Kennel tour / Wasilla, Alaska
Travel today returns south with stops for any new sighting and more of Alaskan's favorites. A stop in Willow, Alaska, the heart of mushing country for a tour of a favorite veteran Iditarod musher.
Tour Dream a Dream kennels. Vern Halter, a veteran Iditarod musher who weaves the history of the Iditarod into his informative presentation.
Meet the huskies who make up the team, enjoy a short nature walk with the newest members, the pups! Then enjoy a special ride on a multi-seat All Terrain Vehicle with the option of standing positions too. These dog limos are the coolest and most realistic way to ride with a sled dog team in the summer months. It's great training for the dogs and you'll see how they love it!
Continue on to Wasilla, Alaska.
Lake Lucille Inn guests enjoy beautiful mountain and lake views along with comfortable accommodations. A fully-equipped health and fitness club with weight room, sauna and Jacuzzi and wireless internet available. An extended continental breakfast is provided each morning. Deluxe rooms feature a lake view.
DAY 4 - Glacier Trek on the Matanuska Glacier / Hatcher Pass and Independence Gold Mine
Travel today takes us along a Scenic Byway that offers panoramic mountain views, magnificent blue ice glaciers and wildlife viewing opportunities. Travel follows the Matanuska River as it carves it's way down from higher country through mountains and valleys and up to it's headwaters at the face of the majestic Matanuska Glacier, a 27 mile long, 4 mile wide blue-ice glacier.
The Ice Falls glacier trek is a popular hike, featuring close-up views of crevasses, seracs and unique ice formations. With the use of crampons, you'll enjoy trekking to a high point on the glacier which overlooks the ice fall as well as getting up close. The glacier is in a constant state of change, and your guide can point out various features as you navigate the intense surface. This is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Hatcher Pass is breathtakingly beautiful. It's granite mountain peaks jutting up from the wildflower covered tundra, and pristine mountain streams meander through the valley below. Panoramic views and short nature walks are pleasing for outdoor lovers. Excellent hiking opportunities exist for those who are looking to fully stretch their legs. At the top of Hatcher Pass is the Independence Mine, which is protected by the Alaska State Parks, offers a preserved experience of what life was like back in the Gold Rush. Paved interpretive trails, historic buildings and exhibits can all be explored. An ideal experience for someone looking for the slower pace of absorbing some history.
Spend your second night at the Lake Lucille Inn.
DAY 5 - Knik Glacier Tour/ Seward Highway / Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center / Seward, Alaska
Travel seven miles up the Knik River (approximately 1/2 hour) passing the occasional stray iceberg, waterfalls and some of Alaska's most spectacular scenery. The Knik Glacier is awe inspiring as it pours from the Chugach mountains greatest peaks. This 25 mile river of ice is over 5 miles wide and hundreds of feet thick. Visit Glacier Camp, look for wildlife, Black bear, moose, Dall Sheep, and Eagles while you enjoy light snacks and beverages. Hiking opportunities are excellent in this location.
Afternoon travel takes you south along the Seward Highway. A National Scenic Byway which passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The landscape varies from the muddy waters of Turnagain Arm to the icy blue glaciers that hang almost to the sea. Wildflowers and waterfalls brighten every corner of the road as it glides below rough mountains that pierce thick, heavy clouds. Only Alaska's Seward Highway can offer this particular mix created by climate, geography, and geology.
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non profit organization that cares for rescued wildlife, injured and orphans. They promote better awareness of Alaska Wildlife conservation methods through public education and they provide a fantastic opportunity to photograph Alaska wildlife up close.
Seward, Alaska is a picturesque coastal community where the mountains melt into the seas. Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park offer spectacular views of wildlife, glaciers and mountains. Stop by the harbor to see the returning fishing charters catch of the day, peruse the souvenir shops, or stroll along the bay front.
Nestled in a spectacular glacier river valley, is the Seward Windsong Lodge. Guest rooms are spread out in a wooded setting, surrounded by spruce trees and wildflowers. Furnished and well-appointed with comfortable, Alaskan-style décor. From your rooms, wander the trails amidst the spruce and cottonwood forest. Rooms provide that genuine Alaskan feel inside and out.
DAY 6 - Kenai Fjords National Park Wildlife and Glacier Cruise
10:30 check in
11:30 am - 5:30 p.m. Experience Alaska's most popular wildlife and glacier cruise! Kenai Fjords National Park boasts abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers. This 6 hour tours depart from Seward, Alaska, and provide in-depth experience within pristine Kenai Fjords National Park. Tours are fully narrated by an accredited wildlife interpreter and include a visit to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge - home to a large variety of whales, sea lions, sea otters and more.
Spend your second and (final night of the tour) at the Seward Windsong Lodge.
DAY 7 - Portage Valley and Glacier Tour / Tour Ends
Depart Seward to return travel north.
The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is built upon the terminal moraine left behind by Portage Glacier in 1914. The visitor center offers an unique opportunity to learn about the Chugach National Forest, America's second largest national forest. Award-winning exhibits, educational presentations, the film "Voices from the Ice," and information services are available. Short hiking trails nearby.
You'll visit the sheer, awesome face of a mighty Alaska glacier. On your one-hour cruise aboard the mv Ptarmigan you'll stand just 300 yards from a relic of the Ice Age and watch for icebergs to break off the glacier and crash into the water below. You will find out why Portage Glacier is Alaska's second most visited attraction.
Travel through the Anton Memorial tunnel to Whittier. This 2 mile long tunnel has timed openings for one way travel which alternates between train and autos, going north and south.
3:40 p.m. Travelers taking Princess Cruise's Sapphire ship through the inside passage will depart here.
4:00 p.m. After dropping travelers, return through the tunnel and continue to Anchorage.
6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. drop off at the Anchorage airport for check in to departing flights.
Travelers with flight times that do not meet these times will need to reserve an additional night hotel, at additional cost. |
