Authentic Alaska

Imagine – nine days experiencing authentic Alaska. Our week begins in Fairbanks with stays in Denali National Park, Anchorage and Seward. Enjoy a riverboat cruise, a rail journey, a tundra wilderness tour, bay cruise, incredible wildlife sightings and more!

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Day 1

Today we travel to Fairbanks, where we transfer to the Bear Lodge at the Wedgewood Resort for a two-night stay. Take some time to rest and enjoy a meal at one of three on site dining venues.

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DAY 2       B, D

This morning we make a brief stop at the Alaska Pipeline before visiting the Museum of the North. There we will discover Alaska Native cultures, natural wonders, diverse wildlife, Arctic dinosaurs and explore 2,000 years of Alaska art. After an independent lunch downtown Fairbanks, we then travel by motorcoach to Denali where we check-in for a two-night stay at the Grand Denali Lodge. Tonight, we will enjoy or Welcome Dinner in the hotel’s Alpenglow Restaurant. 

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DAY 3        B, D

More than just the mountain, Denali National Park is six-million acres of wild land. Today we drive into this pristine region of Alaska on a tundra wilderness tour on the only road into and out of the park. Along the way, we enjoy a fully narrated ride learning about the flora and fauna of the area while looking out for the wild animals that roam freely and call this park home. We will travel 53 miles into Denali National Park, enjoying the incredible scenery and some of the best opportunities to see wildlife in its natural setting. A boxed lunch in included for the tour. 

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DAY 4        B, L, D

After a free morning in Denali, all aboard for an unforgettable rail adventure on the Alaska Railroad from Denali to Anchorage! Travel in style in the Midnight Sun domed railcar feature 360-degree views and an open-air viewing deck. First-class dining and beverage service are included. We first have lunch onboard and travel over the incredible Hurricane Gulch, all while in the shadow of Denali, or, as local Alaskans call it, “The Great One.” Then through the Alaska Ranch where we will have views of mountains, glaciers, rivers, and canyons. We make a brief stop in Talkeetna and then on to Anchorage, enjoying the scenery and dinner on board as we pass through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Tonight, we check in for a two-night stay in Anchorage. 

 

DAY  5       B, L

After Breakfast we visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center which offers a unique experience for each visitor to learn and explore the traditional and contemporary ways of Alaska’s Indigenous cultures. More than a museum, the Center is a place to engage and interact–to ask questions and discover. Our visit will take us on a journey through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history and culture through art, dance, and Native Games demonstrations, exhibits, traditional Native dwellings and more. After lunch at the Heritage Center, we explore the Chugach Mountains. We will return to our Hotel for an independent evening and dinner. 

 

DAY 6       B

This morning we enjoy a Trolley Tour of Anchorage, which includes the Ship Creek fish ladder, and Lake Hood – the largest float plane base in North America. After our tour you have time to explore town, the Anchorage Museum and enjoy an independent lunch at your leisure. We then head south and drive down the Turnagain Arm. This “All American Scenic Highway” has spectacular views of the Cook Inlet and Chugach Mountains. In dramatic fashion, see where the mountains meet the sea. Watch along the banks of the lakes and rivers where fishermen call this area home from May to September. Near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, we encounter the town of Seward, an authentic Alaskan community not geared toward mass tourism and often described as “where the land ends and the sea begins.” We check in for a two-night stay at our Hotel in Seward. Independent evening and dinner. 

 

DAY  7       B, L

This morning we visit the puffins and seals at the Alaska Sealife Center, the only facility in Alaska that combines a public aquarium with marine research, education, and wildlife response. While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the nonprofit Center is the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. Next, we climb on board for a Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise exploring the world of wildlife and glaciers found in Kenai Fjords National Park. Our experienced captains will fully narrate your journey and will point out the spectacular sights while providing information on the area’s wildlife, history, and geology. Hungry and tired, we return to Seward for an independent evening and dinner. 

 

DAY  8        B, L, D

Today we return to Anchorage along the Seward Highway. A lunch stop will be made in Girdwood at the Alyeska Ski Resort where we will ride the tram, enjoy views of the world-famous Turnagin Arm and lunch at the top in the Bore Tide Deli. Back in Anchorage, we have our Farewell Dinner at Bridge Seafood before checking in to the Courtyard Anchorage Airport for our final night stay in Alaska. 

 

DAY  9       B

Our journey ends with departure from Anchorage airport to home.

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Itinerary subject to change.