Alaska and the Yukon with Alaska Cruise (83652026)

Day 1:
ANCHORAGE Welcome to Anchorage! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.



Day 2:
ANCHORAGE. EXCURSION TO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND As you enter Whittier from North America 's longest tunnel, the panoramic view of the ocean, mountains, and glaciers greet you. As the gateway to Prince William Sound, this is where you 'll board a cruise to see and marvel at the natural beauty of the fjords and glaciers. Watch for eagles, whales, mountain goats, porpoises, and salmon jumping out of the cold, pristine water!



Day 3:
ANCHORAGE-TOK Travel northeast through Palmer in the Matanuska Valley, a lush farming region where cabbages can grow to weigh more than 70 pounds in the 24-hour daylight! Up over scenic Tahneta Pass with spectacular vistas of Matanuska Glacier. Travel along Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest park in the United States. The area boasts glaciers larger than the island of Manhattan and is home to nine of the sixteen highest peaks in North America. Overnight in Tok, the “Dog Sled Capital of the World.”



Day 4:
TOK-WHITEHORSE Join the Alaska Highway and follow along the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Skirt the shores of Kluane Lake, once a meeting place for crews constructing the Alaska Highway. Behold spectacular vistas of the rugged mountains of Kluane National Park, home to 19,551-foot-high Mount Logan, Canada 's highest peak. The next two nights are in Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon and the territorial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.



Day 5:
WHITEHORSE. EXCURSION TO SKAGWAY Follow the Trail of '98 over the same mountains that thousands of determined gold seekers scaled on foot in the dead of winter while heading for the Klondike. From Fraser, your Tour Director will suggest an optional scenic train trip on the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Railway to Skagway. Otherwise, continue by motorcoach to Skagway, then stroll the wooden sidewalks past charming false-front buildings and colorful saloons.

NOTE:
Operation of the White Pass & Yukon Railway to Skagway is subject to seasonal conditions.



Day 6:
WHITEHORSE-DAWSON CITY Head northwest through the town of Carmacks, once an important supply station for gold seekers on their way to the Klondike. Stop at the Five Finger Rapids, a major obstacle to the hordes of fortune seekers that passed this way. Reach Dawson City, the center of excitement after the first gold strike in the Klondike in 1896, which led to the world 's largest gold rush. Tonight, enjoy the high-flying entertainment of Diamond Tooth Gertie 's Saloon, featuring ragtime music, can-can girls, and an old-fashioned casino.



Day 7:
DAWSON CITY Highlights on your morning sightseeing tour include Bonanza Creek, site of Claim #1, where the first gold strike was made; and a presentation by Parks Canada regarding the Gold Rush Era. Enjoy a photo opportunity at the SS Keno, the last sternwheeler to run between Dawson and Whitehorse. The rest of your day is free to soak up the exciting history of this Gold Rush town at your own pace. Perhaps a return to Diamond Tooth Gertie 's Saloon is in order!



Day 8:
DAWSON CITY-FAIRBANKS A full day and well worth it, as the scenery is magnificent. Have your camera ready for photo opportunities at Dawson overlook and Top of the World Highway, where the motorcoach will re-enter Alaska, and visit one of the last surviving gold rush towns in Alaska before heading west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks.



Day 9:
FAIRBANKS Morning sightseeing features highlights of Alaska 's second-largest city and a visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Then try your hand at gold panning and see if you strike it rich! This afternoon, enjoy free time in Fairbanks or take an optional excursion aboard the Sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery III for a leisurely cruise on the Chena River. You will see a bush floatplane take off alongside the boat, see the home and kennels of the late four-time Iditarod winner, Susan Butcher, and see her champion sled dogs in action. Then be immersed into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture when Alaskan Native Guides take you on a tour of the Chena Indian Village. This evening, catch a local tradition with an optional salmon bake dinner.



Day 10:
FAIRBANKS-ALASKA RAILROAD-DENALI NATIONAL PARK Board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a memorable journey through untamed wilderness as you sit back in comfort and enjoy the spectacular scenery through the wide windows and domed-roof car. The ride ends in Denali National Park & Preserve. North America 's highest peak, 20,310-foot Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, dominates the park 's six million acres of glacial streams, river valleys, and multi-hued tundra. After a brief orientation tour, the afternoon is free to explore on your own.



Day 11:
DENALI NATIONAL PARK A free day for independent activities. Perhaps hike along one of the many wilderness trails or take advantage of several exciting optional outings, including a wildlife tour to seek out grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; a raft trip down the Nenana River; a sled-dog kennel tour, or an exhilarating flightseeing excursion over the park. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions.



Day 12:
DENALI NATIONAL PARK-ANCHORAGE-WHITTIER (EMBARKATION) Relish one last look at the outstanding scenery and wildlife of Denali before traveling south toward Anchorage. After arrival in Anchorage, say goodbye to your Tour Director and transfer to Whittier and board your cruise ship. This remote village is nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters and killer whales, so have your camera ready. (D)



Day 13:
CRUISING: HUBBARD GLACIER Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier (meaning it ends at the ocean) in North America. However, unlike nearly every other tidewater glacier on the continent, Hubbard is advancing, not retreating; it is forever pushing a little further into the bay. Chunks of ice that break off become floaties for seals. (B,L,D)



Day 14:
SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY A relaxing day at sea provides time to explore the ship 's many amenities. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Keep your binoculars and camera on hand as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you may have a chance to witness ice calving. Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so stay ready—you never know when you will see the fluke of a humpback rise out of the water or spot a lone brown bear wandering a wind-swept beach. (B,L,D)



Day 15:
SKAGWAY Skagway is historically considered the gateway to the Gold Rush of 1898 when thousands of men with dreams of striking it rich poured into the city and withstood treacherous winter conditions traveling on to the Yukon Territory. Explore gold rush lore at the Trail of '98 Museum or at the Red Onion Saloon, with its treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. Or simply walk on the boardwalks along the dirt streets and enjoy perusing the shops. (B,L,D)



Day 16:
JUNEAU Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska 's capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town—or get out and kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There is no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. (B,L,D)



Day 17:
KETCHIKAN Alaska 's “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it is the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. An important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries—visitors can try their luck on a sport-fishing excursion or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. It is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. (B,L,D)



Day 18:
SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska 's most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orcas plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. (B,L,D)



Day 19:
VANCOUVER (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends this morning. Please schedule homebound flights after Noon. (B)