Alaska & the Yukon (8360)

12 days from Anchorage to Anchorage

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Journey through the spectacular landscapes of Alaska and the Yukon on an adventure filled with breathtaking scenery, fascinating history, and the opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Cruise Prince William Sound for views of towering glaciers while watching for eagles, whales, porpoises, seals, and mountain goats.

Travel through some of the North's most dramatic landscapes, including views of Matanuska Glacier, the rugged peaks near Kluane National Park, and the scenic Top of the World Highway. Board the Alaska Railroad for a journey to Denali National Park and Preserve, home to Denali, North America's highest peak. With two nights there, you'll have time to explore on your own or choose from optional activities such as a wilderness tour to seek out elk, moose and bears, a sled-dog kennel visit, or a helicopter flightseeing excursion for breathtaking aerial views.

Step back in time as you follow the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. Visit Skagway, where hopeful prospectors once began their journey north, stroll historic wooden boardwalks, and learn about the people who traveled the legendary Trail of '98 in search of fortune. In Dawson City, visit the site of the first major gold strike and enjoy an evening of ragtime music, can-can entertainment, and Gold Rush-era fun at Diamond Tooth Gertie's.

From glacier-carved coastlines and mountain wilderness to Gold Rush history and frontier towns, this Alaska and Yukon adventure offers an unforgettable look at one of North America's last great frontiers.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available).

Your Tour Includes:
• Cruise through scenic Prince William Sound, surrounded by glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife
• Orientation tours of Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska's two largest cities
• Entrance fee to Denali National Park and Preserve, home to North America's highest peak
• Visit to Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge
• Ticket to a lively show at Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon, Canada's first legal gambling hall
• Visit to Bonanza Creek, site of Gold Rush Claim #1, the discovery that sparked the Klondike Gold Rush
• Presentation by Parks Canada to learn about Yukon Gold Rush history
• Scenic drive along the Top of the World Highway with sweeping views of the surrounding wilderness
• Visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, one of the world's most remarkable engineering achievements
• Try your hand at gold panning and experience a tradition of the North
• Journey aboard the Alaska Railroad between Fairbanks and Denali National Park and Preserve

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

This Cosmos travel package does not include meals. Most of our hotels offer anything from coffee to a full breakfast, so you can start the day the way you like best. At most lunch stops, your Tour Director will have information on local restaurants. Dinnertime is your chance to sample local cuisine. Sometimes your Tour Director will offer an optional dinner outing.

Notes:

This tour travels to the Yukon Territory, which is part of Canada. The U.S. Embassy requires travelers to and from Canada to have a valid U.S. Passport. Non-U.S. citizens may need a visa.

Alaska and the Yukon experience a great amount of daylight in the summer months. We take advantage of these extended daylight hours resulting in some long travel days. We ensure there are frequent photo and comfort stops.

Visiting and participating in activities in these locations is subject to weather conditions.

Enjoy the spectacular fall colors of Alaska and the Yukon on our special Fall Foliage departure in late August (Mother Nature permitting).

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 #1 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 and visit local museums and shops. This evening, perhaps return to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Saloon for another taste of Dawson City’s colorful past.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

WADE GRUHL

Escorting tours for more than 10 years

“Hi, I am Wade Gruhl. After growing up in Iowa, I have lived in Alaska since 2000. What attracted and keeps me here are the mountains, animals, lakes, rivers and the wide open spaces. I enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, dog walks, travelling and exploring Alaska. I started as a wilderness hiking guide in Skagway in 1998, and have been sharing this amazing place with people ever since. I began Tour Directing in 2015 and am excited for the opportunity to enhance your visit to Alaska and the Yukon which is my favorite region on this planet.”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.

The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).