An Alaskan Odyssey

Anchorage Arrival

Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel via courtesy shuttle or on your own.  The remainder of the day is free for exploring Anchorage or partaking in optional tours, such as a sightseeing tour by trolley. Overnight in Anchorage.

Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise

Depart on the Alaska Railroad at 9:45 am for a coastal journey to the port of Whittier. From here, enjoy breath-taking scenery on a glacier cruise to see an abundance of glaciers in the surrounding coastal mountain fjords of Prince William Sound.  Your comfortable touring vessel will stop at the face of a tidewater glacier, giving you the chance to hear and see glacier calving (when the ice breaks off into the water). Lunch is included on board. Later this afternoon, return to Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad, arriving at 9:15 pm. Overnight in Anchorage.

Anchorage to Denali

This morning, depart by motorcoach to Denali National Park. Relax and capture the scenery from large picture windows. Arrive in Denali with free time this afternoon to enjoy optional activities such as river rafting, or later tonight we can recommend the delicious salmon dinner and amusing antics served at the Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre Show (see Tour Add-ons).  Overnight near the Denali National Park entrance.

Denali National Park to Fairbanks

Early morning, depart on a narrated bus tour into Denali National Park. As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary. The tour is approximately 4-6 hours long and takes you approximately 30 – 43 miles into the park, depending on weather and road conditions. Later this afternoon following the tour, at around 4:00 PM, you will travel by train to Fairbanks. You will have the opportunity to purchase dinner while on board the train, with an evening arrival in Fairbanks scheduled for approximately 8:00 PM. Transfer to your hotel via courtesy shuttle or on your own. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks

Begin your day with a narrated sightseeing tour of the highlights of Fairbanks. During the tour, you will visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center where you will find great exhibits about Interior Alaska. Then stop at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline where your guide will explain the astonishing engineering of the pipeline, the oil field in Prudhoe Bay, and the Alaska oil industry. From there, continue to the Museum of the North with its dramatic architecture and new exhibit galleries (if closed, you will go to the Antique Auto Museum instead). And finally, you will visit Santa Claus at his home in North Pole, Alaska. To complete your day, enjoy a 3-hour sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River aboard the Riverboat Discovery.  Along the route you will see a bush plane take off, meet a champion line of Alaskan husky sled dogs, and gain insight into the ancient Athabaskan Indian culture during a stop at Chena Village.  Overnight in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks to Deadhorse

Your 3-day guided tour deep into Alaska’s Arctic begins today! From Fairbanks, fly across the Arctic Circle to Deadhorse. When the weather is clear, enjoy views of the Brooks Range and Arctic Ocean from the air. This remote outpost serves as the transportation and supply hub for the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and is the farthest north you can drive in the USA. Your guide will share insights about Arctic living and drive you to points of interest. On days when it is accessible, you will also visit the Arctic Ocean, where you can dip your toes in the shallows. Overnight in Deadhorse.

Important: This 3-day escorted tour might operate in reverse direction as well. Please see “Important Notes” for more details.

Deadhorse to Coldfoot

Today you will start your guided overland journey on the Dalton Highway. Your experienced driver/guide will provide insight and information about Alaska’s Arctic. The Dalton Highway is also know locally as the Haul Road, or perhaps even more famous as the “Ice Road”, a trucker supply route to the North Slope oilfields. You’ll explore the amazing arctic tundra of the Arctic Coastal Plain up close, where you can feel the veins of ice just beneath the surface. Your tour continues as you traverse the majestic Brooks Mountain Range and pass through the Continental Divide at Atigun Pass. Keep your eyes open for grizzly bears and caribou! Spectacular peaks and panoramic vistas make this journey a highlight. Travel approximately 8 hours this day including frequent stops. Overnight in Coldfoot.

Coldfoot to Fairbanks

This morning, visit the historic gold mining community of Wiseman. After a walking tour of the outpost, continue southward along the Dalton Highway where you cross the Arctic Circle. Other stops in route to Fairbanks include the trading post at Joy, interesting geologic formations, and the mighty Yukon River. Today’s travel time is also approximately 8 hours including frequent stops. You will arrive in Fairbanks at approximately 8:00-9:00pm. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks to Anchorage

This morning is free for optional sightseeing in Fairbanks. In the afternoon, fly back to Anchorage. Overnight in Anchorage.

Anchorage Departure

Today transfer to the airport by courtesy hotel shuttle or on your own. Depart or start an additional program, such as bear viewing or a wilderness lodge stay.