Alaska Lodge Tour

Arrive into Anchorage on your own. Transfer to your hotel by shuttle or on your own. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Offering an abundance of shopping, cultural attractions, and gourmet restaurants, Anchorage provides an excellent start to your vacation. Depending on your arrival you may have time to take part in an optional tour such as flightseeing. Overnight in Anchorage.

Today is yours to explore Alaska's largest city. Go shopping, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or take a hike or bike ride in one of Anchorage’s many parks. At your leisure, step aboard an Anchorage Trolley for a lively and informative one-hour sightseeing tour of the city. Relax while the local Alaskan guide shows you such highlights as the Alaska Railroad, Lake Hood (the largest and busiest floatplane airport in the world), scenic and informative Earthquake Park, Cook Inlet, great shopping areas and favorite dining restaurants. Fully narrated, heated and enclosed, the trolley departs every hour, so you can choose to go when it is most convenient for you. Overnight in Anchorage.

Today there are numerous photo stops and hiking trail options as you drive along the Glenn Highway, recognized as a National Scenic Byway. Along the way there are opportunities for dog sledding on a glacier (see Tour Add-Ons). Enjoy beautiful views of the Matanuska Glacier along your route to the small community of Chitina. In Chitina you will leave your car and take a short flight to McCarthy, located in the heart of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. The small plane flight provides stunning views of the mountains and glaciers that make this park unique. Plan 5.5 hours driving time, not including stops, plus a 30 minute flight from Chitina to McCarthy. Overnight in Kennicott.

Take a step back in time today on a two-hour historical walking tour of Kennecott. Your guide will take you to the 14 story Mill Building of the Kennecott Copper Corporation which was built in the early 1900's. You will also visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center, see mining artifacts, and tour historic buildings. Catch a glimpse of what it was like to live and work in this remote wilderness while hearing tales of lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. This afternoon you have plenty of time for an optional guided glacier hike (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight in Kennicott.

Begin your day with a return scenic flight to Chitina where you will pick up your car. Your drive takes you north on Alaska's oldest highway, the Richardson Highway, which began in 1898 as a gold rush trail to Eagle. The route follows the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, one of the world's greatest engineering feats. Along the way there are several rest stops, including historic roadhouses and scenic viewpoints. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the historic gold mining town of Fairbanks, also known as Alaska's "Gateway to the Arctic." We suggest a visit to the University Of Alaska Museum of the North and the Musk Ox farm. Overnight in Fairbanks.

This morning drive along the scenic Parks Highway to the park entrance area of Denali National Park. In the early afternoon you will depart on a wildlife bus tour through Denali National Park to Kantishna. Along the way your naturalist driver/guide will discuss the history of the park and help you search for moose, bear, caribou and other animals. Stops will be made to enjoy the scenery and photograph wildlife. Meals are included at the lodge beginning with dinner tonight. Overnight at the Denali Backcountry Lodge or Kantishna Roadhouse.

Spend a full day inside Denali National Park enjoying a naturalist-led guided hike or walk, panning for gold, mountain biking through the backcountry, or fishing. Activities are included with your stay (except for optional flight-seeing tours). In the evening, enjoy a presentation focusing on the local area, read a book from the extensive natural history library, or just relax and share stories from the day. All meals are included today. Overnight at the Kantishna Roadhouse or Denali Backcountry Lodge.

Enjoy a light breakfast this morning before departing on an early bus back to the park entrance to return to your rental car. Or you can upgrade to a scenic return flight for an aerial tour of Denali National Park to the park entrance (additional cost). Your scenic drive takes you south to Talkeetna known for its special backcountry-town charm. Weather permitting, Talkeetna can have one of the best views of the mountain Denali as well as the Alaska Range. From Talkeetna there are spectacular flight-seeing tour options or a jet boat excursion (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight in Talkeetna.

Today you will drive south through the Matanuska Valley before reaching Anchorage. Continue south along the Turnagain Arm on the Seward Highway, an American Scenic Byway. There are beautiful views of the Chugach Mountains on this route where you can frequently see Dall sheep perched on roadside cliffs. You may decide to visit Exit Glacier, one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. There are numerous interpretive trails in the area including one that leads to the face of the glacier. Overnight in Seward.

In the morning depart from the scenic port of Seward. A four to five-hour cruise viewing wildlife and tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park takes you to Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, the only lodge inside Kenai Fjords National Park. On your cruise look for whales, porpoises, sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, puffins, and other wildlife. Enjoy lunch in front of the impressive Aialik Glacier and watch for ice to calve off into the ocean. After arriving at the shores near Pederson Glacier, the lodge and guest cabins are an easy 20 minute walk from the outer coast along a maintained trail; motorized travel is provided if desired. After an orientation you have the afternoon available for optional activities. Evening programs are also available. Overnight at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge.

Choose from a variety of activities offered daily, including sea kayaking (short and long tours), short hikes, canoeing across the lagoon, and interpretive programs. Take a sack lunch for extended activities or join an in-camp lunch in between shorter trips. Alternatively, choose time to relax and enjoy the views of the lagoon and glacier from the lodge. Dinner and evening programs are hosted in the main lodge. Overnight at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge.

Choose a short morning activity to suit your interest. Lunch is either in camp or a packed lunch while on an activity. After lunch, board the boat for a scenic cruise back to the town of Seward. Upon arrival drive back north along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Anchorage to return your car rental. Overnight in Anchorage.

Depending on your departure time, you may have free time for some souvenir shopping or additional excursions. Transfer by shuttle or on your own to the airport. Depart or start an additional program.