Welcome to Anchorage! Meet your Tour Director between 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in the hotel reception area.
ENHANCED FREE TIME
Explore more in Anchorage with a dinner out in this iconic Alaskan city. Your Tour Director can point you in the right direction
Sights & Sounds Meet your fellow travel companions at this morning’s welcome orientation. Travel through Palmer in the Matanuska Valley, where cabbages can grow to an amazing 70 pounds (32 kg) in the 24-hour daylight. Venture over Tahneta Pass for wonderful vistas of Matanuska and Worthington Glaciers. Continue to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center, the largest National Park in the United States and visit the Ahtna Cultural Center, to learn about Ahtna Athabascan history, traditions, and culture. Stop at Bridal Veil Falls before arriving in the seaside port of Valdez. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is a mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, towering mountains, and wildlife on land and sea. Orcas, humpback whales, otters, sea lions, and birds are among the many animals you might spy from this spectacular seaport
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
True Fish Stories This morning, [LF] enjoy a walking tour of Old Town Valdez with a local guide. Then board your boat for a cruise on Prince William Sound. Cruise along the 3-mile face of Columbia Glacier with a watchful eye out for wildlife, including seals, sea otters, birds, and even whales! Before returning to Valdez, see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal, where supertankers are loaded with crude oil from Prudhoe Bay. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Gain insight into Alaska Native traditions and the events that shaped Valdez with a local guide from the Valdez Museum. Discover the history of the Gold Rush and Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the impact earthquakes and oil spills had on the area
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Arctic Adventure Travel through the vast landscapes of Interior Alaska along the Richardson Highway, following historic transportation routes that helped shape the state's development. Stop at Delta Junction Roadhouse, a living history homestead and museum, original roadhouse, and farm animals. See the longest elevated stretch of the trans-Alaska pipeline, the Tanana Pipeline River Bridge, a 1200-foot span with a unique suspension design. Then, head west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks. Enjoy a free evening in Fairbanks, the state’s second-largest city known for Alaska Native heritage, gold-rush history, natural hot springs and almost endless summer daylight. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
From pioneer roadhouses to the engineering marvel of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, today's journey reveals the stories of Alaska's frontier spirit and modern innovation. Parts of the pipeline are elevated above the ground to protect the permafrost and allow wildlife to pass underneath
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Gold Rush & Mushers Visit Gold Dredge #8 and ride the narrow-gauge railroad and try your luck as you pan for gold. Later today, board the Sternwheeler Discovery for a cruise on the Chena River, with a stop at the Chena Village to learn about Athabascan Native culture. You will also have the chance to meet Iditarod mushers and their famed dog teams to learn about breeding, training, and the big race! This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Experience frontier living in an Athabascan village on the Chena River. Traditional spruce-log cabins and cultural demonstrations offer insight into a way of life shaped by the land for thousands of years. Learn about Athabascan traditions, survival skills, storytelling, and enduring connections to Interior Alaska while discovering how communities continue to preserve and celebrate their heritage today
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Riding the Rails Board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a journey through untamed wilderness. Today’s ride ends at Denali National Park, where North America’s highest peak, 20,310-foot Denali, majestically dominates the park’s 6 million acres. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. This evening, enjoy an [LF] exclusive presentation on Denali National Park by a naturalist and dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Enjoy an evening with a local naturalist who shares stories, wildlife insights, and expert perspectives on Denali National Park. Discover the effects of the changing seasons plus Denali’s ecosystems, Native Alaskan history and culture, and what it’s like living and working in such a remote environment.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Board the Alaska Railroad train for spectacular views through its panoramic windows designed for soaking in the stunning scenery on this full-day journey that truly showcases America’s 49th state. Keep an eye out for views of Denali and wildlife along the way
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Wilderness Wonders Enjoy free time this morning. Consider an optional photography excursion or a helicopter ride over the park. This afternoon, embark on an unforgettable Tundra Wilderness Tour into the heart of the park, where spectacular landscapes, opportunities to spot iconic wildlife, and engaging commentary from a Naturalist Driver Guide combine for an extraordinary adventure. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Venture deep into Denali National Park and Preserve in search of fantastic wildlife and natural wonders. Watch for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and other iconic species while exploring 6 million acres of protected wilderness beneath North America's highest peak
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
A Dog’s Life Travel south toward Anchorage stopping at Happy Trails Kennels, home of four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser and his sled dogs. Continue to Anchorage for a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. As part of Globus family of brands Lighthouse Project, this historic site is one example of our commitment to supporting the people and places we share with you. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner. Over dessert, enjoy a [LF] special presentation by an Alaskan bush pilot. (B,L,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
After a delicious farewell dinner, enjoy dessert and an exclusive presentation by a veteran Alaskan bush pilot, whose remarkable firsthand stories of exploration, wildlife encounters, and life in the remote wilderness bring Alaska's untamed spirit vividly to life.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Visit Happy Trails Kennels, home of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser and his family. Learn about the dedication, training, and teamwork required for long-distance sled dog racing while meeting the remarkable canine athletes that make it possible. Watch a mushing demonstration, explore a mock Iditarod checkpoint, and gain insight into the unique bond between mushers and their dogs
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fjord Highlights Witness one of the world’s most scenic drives as you follow the south shore of lovely Turnagain Arm. Upon arrival in Seward, board your vessel for a cruise on the glacial waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses more than 600,000 acres of protected wilderness, much of it covered by ice and snow. From the massive Harding Icefield to the tidewater glaciers that carve deep fjords along the coast, this remarkable landscape showcases the power of Alaska's natural forces. A cruise through the fjords offers opportunities to witness calving glaciers, spot marine wildlife, and experience one of the state's most dramatic coastal environments
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Anchorage? Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)
