Day 1: Welcome to Fairbanks, Alaska
On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the River’s Edge Resort. Settle in to your room and enjoy this wonderful setting on the banks of the Chena River. A brief meeting with our engaging Alaskan guide sets the stage for the adventures that await.
Day 2: Exploring Fairbanks + Running with the Reindeer
Situated at the 64th Parallel, Fairbanks is very much a city of the far north. Surrounded by the imposing mountain ranges, pristine waterways and abundant wildlife of Central Alaska, it also boasts a charming downtown, thriving arts community and rich Alaska Native culture. Setting out this morning with our local guide, you’ll get to know the varied facets of this vibrant river city. Heading north of town, you’ll also visit the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint for an up-close view of this $8 billion engineering marvel. As you stand here watching this silver thread winding its away across the Alaskan wilderness, know that more than a million dollars of black gold is flowing through it every hour.
This morning, we’ll also take you for a private visit to a family farm in the picturesque Goldstream Valley. Learn about the family’s herd of reindeer as you walk with them through the towering conifers. Accompanied by one of the ranch’s owners, a lifelong Alaskan resident, you’ll learn about the natural history of this boreal forest as you follow these amazing creatures; the reindeer are domesticated but not trained, and sometimes decide to take their own route… So bring your spirit of adventure along with your camera!
This afternoon we’ll take you to the Museum of the North, located on the Fairbanks Campus of the University of Alaska. This is the only research and teaching museum in Alaska, and its highly regarded collection of artifacts and specimens showcase the biological diversity and rich cultural traditions of the North. Then it’s on to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center for a private tour led by one of the museum’s docents - followed by an exclusive talk about the Aurora Borealis and life in the 49th State. We’ll end this day with a “Taste of Alaska” Dinner and then return to our hotel. Meals B+D
Day 3: Deluxe Dome Train + Into Denali National Park
This morning, we’ll take you to the Fairbanks Rail Depot to board the Alaska Railroad train bound for Denali. From your comfortable reclining seat on the upper level, you’ll have breathtaking 360º views through the full-length curved glass dome of these deluxe rail cars.A freshly-prepared breakfast will be served in the lower level dining room as you make your way southward through the Alaska wilderness. Late in the morning, the spectacular vistas of the Nenana River Gorge signal our approach to Denali.
Step off the train at midday with your boxed lunch and embark on the unforgettable overland journey that will take us 92 miles to the very end of the Denali Park Road - where it dead ends in the Kantishna Valley deep inside America’s third largest national park. As you make your way over four high mountain passes and through all of Denali’s major vegetation zones (taiga, moist tundra and dry tundra), you’ll want to keep your eyes sharp for Denali’s Big Five – Bear, Moose, Caribou, Wolves and Dall sheep. The scenery, too, is amazing from the Riley Creek Railroad Bridge, a photographer’s favorite, to the picturesque Yanert Valley that stretches through the mighty Alaska Range. And of course, there are the breathtaking views of Denali’s impressive 20,000-foot peak!
By early evening, in a remote sector of the Park where few are fortunate enough to venture, you’ll be checked in to your deluxe, log cabin accommodations at the Kantishna Roadhouse, situated amidst grand wilderness just 25 miles from the base of Denali! There’ll be time to refresh and take in this magnificent setting before you sit down to a congenial meal here at our inviting backcountry lodge. After dinner, our Lodge’s expert guides and naturalists will help you plan your activities for tomorrow. Meals B+L+D
Day 4: Guided Adventure Deep Inside Denali National Park
Arise this morning in the heart of Denali’s untouched wilderness, surrounded by secluded forests along the banks of Moose Creek. This is the farthest point inside Denali National Park accessible by road, and the closest you can get to the base of North America’s highest mountain without hiking or flying in! And this will be your base for the day as you tailor your wilderness exploration with the included fully-guided adventures of your choice:
+ Hiking + Nature Walks: Setting out after breakfast, you can choose a 2-hour walk or take a picnic lunch and hike for up to 6 hours deeper into the wilds of Denali! Designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced trekkers these guided walks are led by experienced naturalists who will enrich your experience with their deep knowledge and passion for the wildlife and flora of the Kantishna Hills.
+ Mountain Biking: Cover more ground as you explore the century-old mining roads that were built during the Gold Rush. Unforgettable vistas await in every direction and the road to Wonder Lake is especially rewarding. Helmets, daypacks and water bottles are available for your use on this exciting, guided adventure.
+ Fly Fishing: Arctic Grayling, a member of the trout family, are abundant in the crystal clear waters of nearby Moose Creek. With hip boots and rods available for your use, first-timers and experienced fishing enthusiasts alike can join our expert guide for catch-and-release fly fishing. Your first lure or fly is on us and a variety of other tackle is available for purchase at the Lodge. A fishing license is not required inside Denali National Park.
+ Gold Panning: Slip on a pair of rubber boots, grab a pan, and follow in the footsteps of those long-ago gold adventurers who flocked to the Kantishna Valley in the early 1900’s. Our guide will be there to share some of the colorful history of the Gold Rush days and can each you the methods of those old-time prospectors. Of course, any gold you find is yours to keep.
In addition to these included activities, we offer a Flightseeing Adventure for breathtaking aerial views of the Park’s rugged terrain, vast tracts of untouched wilderness, and pristine waterways. In the air for about an hour, you’ll have incredible views of the shimmering glaciers, towering granite walls and snow-covered peaks that enshrine North America’s greatest mountain.
After dinner, you can join a talk with one of our Lodge’s engaging naturalists. Meals B+L+D
Day 5: Deluxe Dome Train to Talkeetna
After breakfast, you’ll make the return journey along the 92-mile Denali Park Road back to the National Park entrance. As with your inbound journey, the large windows and impressive height of the bus offer the perfect viewing platform as you meander through the Park’s wilderness. Our experienced driver guides are expert wildlife spotters and will stop the bus whenever an animal or view of Denali comes into range. In the early afternoon, board the Alaska Railroad train and settle in to your reclining seat with its 360˚ views through the full-length curved glass dome. This leg of the journey south of Denali offers some of the best views of the mountain and also takes you over Hurricane Gulch on a 914-foot long bridge that spans a creek flowing nearly 300 feet below the train! Lunch will be served in the lower level Dining Room.
On arrival in Talkeetna, you’ll be escorted to the outstanding Talkeetna Alaska Lodge. Set on a ridge just above this small community, our lodge offers majestic views of Denali. This evening, you can explore the quaint town of Talkeetna at your own pace or just enjoy the ambience of our Lodge, with its curated collection of Native art. Meals B+L
Day 6: Tailor your Stay in Talkeetna
After breakfast, tailor your morning to your personal taste for adventure with one of our included guided adventures!
+ Jet Boat Expedition: Fed by clear icy waters of the Susitna Glacier, this eponymous river flows for more than 300 miles through South Central Alaska. With broad tranquil stretches and narrow rushing courses, its picturesque forested shores are home to diverse wildlife including beavers and bald eagles. Capable of navigating even through extremely shallow waters, our fleet of high-tech jet boats are one of the few ways to explore this otherwise impenetrable wilderness. Accompanied by our engaging naturalist, this 2-hour adventure offers plenty of excitement, great views of the Alaska Range, and another chance to really experience Alaska’s wild and wonderful beauty.
+ Forest Zipline Adventure: Covering vast swaths of the Northern Hemisphere, mostly north of the 50th Parallel, our planet’s boreal forests are characterized by coniferous woodland of mostly pine, spruce and larch. Here outside f town, you’ll find a pristine boreal forest set on a ridge above the Talkeetna River. Setting out with an experienced guide, you’ll explore this unique biome along a carefully planned network of nine ziplines and three suspension bridges. Spectacular views of Denali and the Alaska Range are enhanced by heart-pounding adventure and a chance to learn more about the boreal forest and the formation of the Alaska Range and the area’s glacial river valleys.
After lunch in Talkeetna, the balance of your afternoon is free to explore or relax as you wish. If you wish, a variety of optional excursions are available including Flightseeing around Denali, river rafting, nature hikes and mountain biking. Meals B+L
Day 7: Through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to Mt. Alyeska
The Matanuska-Susitna Valley is known to historians and agriculturalists as a fertile farmland that was settled by families who came here from the lower 48 as part of the New Deal relief programs in the mid 1930’s. But as you depart Talkeetna after breakfast and travel along the celebrated George Parks and Glenn Highways into the Valley, you’ll soon discover that it’s also still a land of pure Alaska wilderness; indeed, its farms and communities are set amidst towering mountains and deep glacier valleys blessed with waterfalls, fish-filled rivers and abundant wildlife.
Your destination this morning is the Musk Ox Farm where our privately arranged visit offers a fun and educational up-close introduction to this Ice Age mammal that roamed the Earth alongside saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths! Today, this once-endangered animal is prized for its dense undercoat that produces qiviut, one of the world’s finest wools. Set on one of the 1930’s-era farms deep in the picturesque Matanuska Valley, this not-for-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation and domestication of the musk ox, and to the promotion of qiviut production as a gentle and sustainable agricultural practice in the Far North. With the largest herd of musk ox in the world, you’ll see frisky calves and seasoned old bulls as you explore the property and learn more about these giant prehistoric creatures.
The Valley’s colonial-era farms are not just historic, but known as well for their produce – which grow to incredible size due to the fertile soil and immense amount of summer sunlight. Taking a break from sightseeing, today’s lunch will feature this locally-sourced, farm-to-table bounty. In the afternoon, our visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center will be led by a native Alaskan eager to share their knowledge and passion for Alaska’s history and culture.
Continue along the Seward Highway, celebrated for spectacular views as it hugs the shoreline between the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains and the waters of the Turnagain Arm. Arrive in Girdwood and check in to the Hotel Alyeska, where your evening is free to enjoy the splendid setting of our resort. We also provide a ticket for the Alyeska Aerial Tram. Departing right from the hotel, the ride up to the 2,300-foot peak of Mt. Alyeska offers sweeping views in all directions – including the Turnagain Arm and several hanging glaciers in the Chugach Range. As you make the ascent to the summit, be sure to look down: Moose and bear sightings are common from the Tram! Enjoy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Meals B+L+D
Day 8: Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise
This morning’s scenic journey takes you around the eastern end of the Turnagain Arm, the site of one of the world’s most impressive bore tides. Continuing southward, we’ll make our way over the Turnagain Pass, driving through the spectacular Chugach Mountains and the 6-million-acre National Forest that was established more than a century ago. The Turnagain Pass is the highest point along the Seward Highway and offers a great place to witness the tremendous power that glaciers have had on the Alaskan landscapes.
Arriving in Seward, we’ll continue to the harbor to embark our afternoon cruise into the dramatic landscapes of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, home to calving glaciers and the massive 300 square mile Harding Ice Field. These waters are teeming with marine wildlife, and engaging guides are onboard to help you identify the animals - including stellar sea lions, harbor seals, Dall porpoises, sea otters and walruses. Humpback, killer and Minke whales also inhabit these waters, and the shores are home to bears and other Alaskan mammals. After this marine adventure, we’ll return to the Hotel Alyeska. Meals B+L
Day 9: Departure from Anchorage
After breakfast, we’ll take you to the Anchorage Airport for your homeward flight. Meals B
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