Alaska Explorer

Arrive in Anchorage, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The gateway to North America’s greatest frontier, Anchorage offers both big-city comfort and beautiful scenic backdrops, along with an exceptionally colourful history infused with native traditions.

Hotel Captain Cook

Fly by bush plane to Chinitna Bay, where you can watch for bears that may come out to feed on the river’s banks. Continue on to the château-style Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, free to explore your beautiful resort or ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram up to the observation deck for the breathtaking views of the surrounding majestic mountains, dangling glaciers, sparkling streams and towering spruce. While on the mountain you may like to go for a short hike, berry picking or simply relax and admire the view.

The Hotel Alyeska | Meals: B

Drive to Whittier for a glacier-and-wildlife cruise. Depending on the day’s weather and local conditions, your itinerary could include a thrilling cruise among the towering tidewater glaciers in Harriman Fjord. Alternatively, you might cruise into the heart of Prince William Sound to spy orcas and humpback whales. Explore shorelines, bird rookeries, marine wildlife and calving glaciers. Go ashore on a remote beach for some tide pooling or a short hike into this northernmost rainforest. Other wildlife you can expect to see include sea otters, harbour seals, sea lions, Dall's porpoises and plenty of sea birds, including colourful puffins — a fitting finale to an amazing day-long adventure.

The Hotel Alyeska | Meals: BL

Hop on the Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic train this morning for a scenic ride to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. Disembark to set out by kayak, paddling with your guide among icebergs on a remote glacial lake enjoying the peaceful serenity of the natural surroundings. This is the only place in Alaska that you can weave through glacial ice on a calm lake.

Afterward, continue your adventure with an 11-kilometre float down the Placer River. Watch for wildlife along the banks and relax as your guide steers the raft. Back in Portage, return to Girdwood for an evening at leisure.

The Hotel Alyeska | Meals: BL

This morning, depart Girdwood to explore the quaint downtown of Talkeetna before continuing to your accommodations in a rustic-modern lodge that overlooks Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) — North America’s highest peak (6,190 metres) — and Denali National Park.

After checking in, an adventure is in store where you climb aboard a ski-plane for a thrilling flight over the peaks and glaciers of Denali National Park. Fly to the western end of the park, past the towering peaks of Denali and Mt Foraker, as massive glaciers are revealed around every corner. Soar above the Kahiltna Glacier, the longest in the Alaska Range, before landing on it (weather permitting) for exceptional photographic opportunities and stories from your pilot.

This afternoon, enjoy a short guided nature walk giving you the chance to learn of local flora and fauna as well as the earliest settlers in the area, the trappers and the Dena’ina Indians. Watch for wildlife such as moose, bears and eagles as you traverse through lush, old-growth forest alive with songbirds and wildflowers.

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge | Meals: B

Following breakfast, head out to enjoy a private Alaska sled dog experience. Visit the Talkeetna kennels of Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey. Hear about the gruelling Iditarod Sled Dog Race, meet the dogs (and their puppies) and learn how these endurance athletes are raised and trained. Then, climb aboard a wheeled racing rig used to train dog teams without snow and take an exhilarating ride through the Talkeetna woods.

Afterward, set off on a wilderness jet boat excursion, watching for bald eagles and other wildlife as you explore the wilderness around Talkeetna. Your captain and naturalist guide will share stories of human and natural history of the area as you visit a Native Alaskan camp and a historic trapper’s cabin. On a clear day, you’ll have the opportunity to take in the breathtaking views of the Alaska range.

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge | Meals: B

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.

Meals: B