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Fjords and National Parks of Alaska

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Answer the call of the wild on this Alaskan railroad tour

10 days From £5,095 £4,595 per person
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Save up to £500pp on selected 2023 Worldwide holidays when you book by 7th June 2023.

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2023 Tour code: ALG23

About the tour

Experience the untamed landscapes of Alaska - the Last Frontier - as we get back to nature with a trip to a trail breaker kennel and a ride on the Denali Star into the heart of Denali National Park. We also discover one of most majestic places in southern Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – London and Fairbanks

Following our flight from London Heathrow via Seattle, we arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska and transfer to our hotel for the next two nights.

Day 2 – Alaskan river cruise and trail breaker kennel visit

Our day begins with a three-hour riverboat cruise along the Chena and Tanana Rivers. With a tour guide aboard, we learn about the culture and history of the area, keeping our eyes peeled for some of the local wildlife and bush planes that take off from these rivers. Next, native Alaskan guides take us into Chena Indian Village, where we learn about the way of life of these indigenous people. Following the tour, we return to Fairbanks, where you are free to grab some lunch, explore the local shops or peruse the museums and famed sites before our evening trip to a nearby trail breaker kennel. Here, we enjoy a special 'Welcome to Alaska' celebration, including dinner and an informative talk about one of Alaska's favourite sports - dogsledding. We even have the chance to meet some of the hardworking sled dogs.

Day 3 – The Denali Star

It's all aboard the historic Denali Star for a scenic journey to Denali National Park. Meandering through the dramatic Alaskan landscape, we have the opportunity to see local wildlife, rural villages and great stretches of open forest before arriving at Denali National Park. Six million acres of rugged terrain await, including Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, and we check into our traditional lodge hotel for two nights on arrival.

Day 4 – Denali National Park

We set out to explore the wilderness of Denali National Park today with a local ranger. Our first stop is Savage Cabin, constructed by the Alaska Railroad Commission in the mid-1920s and used as the original ranger's cabin. Next, we visit Primrose Ridge for a memorable talk about how Alaskan natives have lived in these lands for the last 10,000 years. After an informative morning in Denali backcountry, we return to the lodge for a free afternoon. You may wish to relax in at the lodge, visit the Denali National Park visitor centre or participate in an optional excursion, such as helicopter flightseeing, river rafting or an evening dinner show at Cabin Nite.

Day 5 – The Denali Star to Talkeetna

After a leisurely morning, we re-join the Denali Star for the journey to Talkeetna. En route, we soak in views of Mount Denali's south face, cross the summit of the Continental Divide, at 2,363 feet above sea level, and enjoy one of the best photo vantage points as we cross the arched Hurricane Gulch Bridge. Once we reach Talkeetna, we check into our hotel and you have some free time to look around this quaint town. Why not purchase some freshly made baked goods from the historic Talkeetna Road House Inn for a real local treat?

Day 6 – The Kenai Peninsula and Seward

We enjoy a visit to the Anchorage Museum for a tour through some of the museum's most enthralling exhibits, including the 'Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska' exhibition. Featuring more than 600 objects from the Smithsonian's collection, we get to see a range of historic artifacts and culturally important items, selected with help from native Alaskans. Leaving Anchorage, we follow the route of Turnagain Arm to Mount Alyeska where we board a tram that takes us to the 2,300 feet to the summit. From the top, we can spot hanging glaciers, look across to Turnagain Arm and see the valleys of the Chugach Mountain Range. After, we continue down the Kenai Peninsula to Seward, our base for two nights

Day 7 – Kenai Fjords National Park

We get ready to explore ancient glaciers and see sea otters, sea lions, eagles and puffins during today's wildlife cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park. Transferring to the dock, we board our catamaran for the day and are joined by a naturalist who provides fascinating narration of the natural attractions. The catamaran is skilfully navigated through two active tidewater glaciers - Holgate and Aialik, offering picture-perfect views of the calm waters of Resurrection Bay.

Day 8 – Prince William Sound and the Glacier Discovery

Departing for Whittier, along the way, we experience the famous Anton Memorial Tunnel - the longest one-lane highway tunnel in North America. On arrival, we continue to the town's harbour for a cruise along Prince William Sound. Out on the open water, we hope to encounter whales, seals and bird rookeries as we pass through the beautiful Esther Passage. Our catamaran enters Harriman Fjord, where we find ourselves surrounded by breathtaking mountains on our way to Surprise Glacier. Back at the harbour, we stop at a working salmon hatchery for a brief tour, followed by a delicious lunch of fresh Alaskan salmon. At Whittier station afterwards, we board the Glacier Discovery train for the journey to Anchorage.

Day 9 – Anchorage

We bid farewell to Alaska today, transferring to the airport for our flight to London Heathrow, via Seattle.

Day 10 – London

Arriving in the UK, our Alaskan adventure comes to an end and you're free to make your way home.

Additional information

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

The Lakefront Anchorage, Anchorage

The Lakefront Anchorage, Anchorage

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Denali Bluffs Hotel, Denali National Park

Denali Bluffs Hotel, Denali National Park

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Bear Lodge at Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks

Bear Lodge at Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks

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Seward Windsong Lodge, Seward

Seward Windsong Lodge, Seward

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Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Talkeetna

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Train

Denali Star

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