Itinerary
Day 1 ANCHORAGE
Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and the gateway to the Last Frontier! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. to answer any questions.After settling into your downtown hotel, enjoy time to explore on your own. Browse local shops, sample fresh Alaska seafood at one of the city’s restaurants or take a stroll along the scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, where views of Cook Inlet and the surrounding mountains await.ANCHORAGE-SKYLINE.jpg
Day 2 ANCHORAGE–EXCURSION TO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
Travel to Whittier, the gateway to Prince William Sound, passing through North America’s longest highway tunnel and emerging to spectacular views of mountains and the sea. Board a scenic cruise through the fjords and glacier-carved waterways of Prince William Sound. Keep watch for eagles, whales, sea otters, mountain goats, porpoises, and salmon jumping out of the cold, pristine water as you take in the region’s breathtaking natural beauty.PRINCE-WILLIAM-SOUND-SEA-OTTERS.jpg
Day 3 ANCHORAGE–TOK
Travel northeast through Palmer and the fertile Matanuska Valley, where Alaska’s long summer days help produce enormous vegetables – including cabbages that tip the scales at more than 70 pounds! Continue over scenic Tahneta Pass with views of the Matanuska Glacier and the rugged peaks of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve visible in the distance. The largest park in the United States, Wrangell-St. Elias is home to vast wilderness areas, massive glaciers, and nine of North America's 16 highest peaks. Tonight, overnight in Tok, the “Dog Sled Capital of the World.”MATANUSKA-VALLEY-GLACIER.jpg
Day 4 TOK–WHITEHORSE
Travel along the legendary Alaska Highway into Canada’s Yukon Territory. Along the way, stop at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, a vast wilderness known for its diverse habitats and wildlife. After crossing into Canada, follow the shores of Destruction Bay and stunning Kluane Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Yukon. Enjoy spectacular views of the rugged peaks of Kluane National Park and Reserve, home to Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak at 19,551 feet. Arrive in Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon and the territorial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for a two-night stay.ALASKA-HIGHWAY-KLUANE-LAKE.jpg
Day 5 WHITEHORSE. EXCURSION TO SKAGWAY
Travel the historic Trail of ’98 route through mountains that thousands of determined gold seekers scaled on foot on their journey to the Yukon. Along the way, enjoy spectacular scenery as you follow one of North America’s most famous Gold Rush routes. From Fraser, you may choose an optional journey aboard the legendary White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, a narrow-gauge railway renowned for its dramatic mountain scenery, bridges, and tunnels. Otherwise, continue by motorcoach to Skagway.Upon arrival, explore Skagway’s historic downtown, where wooden boardwalks, colorful saloons, and restored frontier-era Old-West buildings recall the town’s Gold Rush past.NOTE: Operation of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to Skagway is subject to seasonal conditions.WHITE-PASS-YUKON-RAILWAY-TO-SKAGWAY.jpg
Day 6 WHITEHORSE–DAWSON CITY
Travel northwest through the Yukon and the historic town of Carmacks, once an important supply station for prospectors on their way to the Klondike Gold Rush.Then stop at Five Finger Rapids, a narrow section of the Yukon River that challenged countless gold seekers traveling by boat in search of fortune.Continue to Dawson City, where the discovery of gold in 1896 sparked the Klondike Gold Rush and transformed the remote settlement into one of the most famous boomtowns in North America. Tonight, enjoy an evening at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Saloon featuring ragtime music, high-kicking can-can girls, and a glimpse into the lively entertainment of the Gold Rush era. DAWSON-CITY-YUKON.jpg
Day 7 DAWSON CITY
This morning, discover the history of the Klondike Gold Rush on a sightseeing tour of Dawson City. Visit Bonanza Creek, site of the famous Discovery Claim that sparked the gold rush in 1896 then learn more about this remarkable chapter in northern history during a Gold Rush presentation by Parks Canada. Stop for a photo at the SS Keno, a historic sternwheeler that once carried passengers and supplies along the Yukon River and is now a symbol of Dawson City’s riverboat era. The remainder of the day is free to explore this fascinating Gold Rush town. Browse historic streets, visit local museums and shops. This evening, perhaps return to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Saloon for another taste of Dawson City’s colorful past.DAWSON-CITY-BONANZA-CREEK-SCENIC.jpg
Day 8 DAWSON CITY–FAIRBANKS
Today’s journey is long but rewarding, with some of the most spectacular scenery in Alaska and the Yukon. Travel the famed Top of the World Highway, a remote route that follows high ridges above the tree line and offers sweeping views across mountains, valleys, and wilderness landscapes.Keep your camera ready for photo opportunities along the route as you cross back into Alaska. Visit one of Alaska’s last surviving Gold Rush towns, before continuing west to Fairbanks.TOP-OF-THE-WORLD-HIGHWAY.jpg
Day 9 FAIRBANKS
This morning, explore Fairbanks, Alaska’s second-largest city, on a sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, one of the world’s most remarkable engineering projects. Then try your hand at gold panning and discover the excitement that drew prospectors north during Alaska’s gold rush days.This afternoon is free to explore Fairbanks or join an optional excursion aboard the Sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery III for a cruise on the Chena River. Watch a bush floatplane take off and land on the water, see the home and kennels of legendary four-time Iditarod champion, Susan Butcher, and watch her champion sled dogs in action. Then visit Chena Indian Village, where Alaska Native guides share traditions, history, and insights into Athabascan culture. This evening, consider an optional salmon bake dinner, a longtime Alaska tradition.DAWSON-CITY-BONANZA-CREEK.jpg
Day 10 FAIRBANKS–ALASKA RAILROAD–DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a scenic journey through Alaska’s untamed wilderness. Relax in comfort as you view the forests, rivers, mountains, and wilderness through the train’s wide windows. Arrive in Denali National Park and Preserve, home to Denali, North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet. Denali towers over the park’s six million acres of protected wilderness filled with glacial rivers, broad valleys, and colorful tundra landscapes.After a brief orientation tour, the afternoon is free to explore on your own.ALASKA-RAILROAD-TRAIN-SCENIC.jpg
Day 11 DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a full free day to explore Denali National Park and Preserve. Take a hike along one of the many wilderness trails or join in any of today’s exciting optional excursions.Options include a wildlife tour in search of grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; a rafting adventure on the Nenana River; a visit to a sled-dog kennel to learn about Alaska’s mushing traditions, or a flightseeing excursion for spectacular aerial views of Denali and the surrounding wilderness. Your Tour Director will be happy to help you make the most of your day.DENALI-MOOSE.jpg
Day 12 DENALI NATIONAL PARK–ANCHORAGE
Enjoy one final morning surrounded by the spectacular scenery of Denali National Park and Preserve before traveling south through Alaska’s rugged wilderness toward Anchorage. For guests with homebound flights, the tour ends at Anchorage International Airport. With possible weather delays, we strongly suggest that guests do not book flights prior to 5:00 p.m. Guests extending their stay in Alaska will be transferred to the tour hotel in Anchorage.ANCHORAGE-CITYSCAPE.jpg