Alaska

Welcome to Alaska! Fly directly into Anchorage to start your adventures- take a taxi/uber car service into downtown Anchorage for your overnight stay at one of our favorite accommodations.

This boutique-style hotel is located in downtown Anchorage within walking distance of our favorite shops and eateries and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail!

Upon arrival at the Anchorage International Airport, collect your luggage and then take Uber, Lyft or a taxi to your downtown accommodations for the start of your adventures. This transfer is estimated at 15 minutes - this is not included in your package price. If you arrive prior to the 3 pm check in time, the inn will gladly store your bags for you until your room is ready. You will have special check-in instructions for your room that the innkeeper will message prior to arrival.

NOTE: Uber and Lyft pickup upstairs at departures, rather than outside baggage claim, at the Anchorage International Airport. The taxis depart from the commercial lanes outside the Alaska Airlines baggage claim area, downstairs.

Please meet your guide and other team members at 5:45pm at the Copper Whale Inn lobby. We will walk two blocks to our welcome dinner from here.

6:00pm-Welcome Dinner with Meet & Greet

Enjoy a 3-course dinner in downtown Anchorage tonight at one of the best local restaurants! We recommend trying Alaska seafood this evening - we encourage you to order off the menu, enjoy a salad or soup, an entree and one of their delicious desserts. Market price items excluded - but can be purchased on own. This evening we will preview the week ahead and meet your fellow travelers.

Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn.

Take in spectacular views across Cook Inlet while enjoying downtown Anchorage’s vibrant urban scene. The friendly staff and personal service enhance the warm, relaxed atmosphere, creating a haven in the heart of the city. Enjoy unique rooms, delightful gardens and on-site bike rentals during the summer months, at the cozy downtown inn. This property is walking distance to the train station, the museum, the Performing Arts Center, restaurants, night life, shopping, the Coastal Trail, the Visitors Center and more!
Continental breakfast is served each morning in the main building. Breakfast hours are posted and if you are departing prior to breakfast, let the innkeeper know the day prior that you would like a breakfast bag to-go in the morning! All rooms have free wifi, Roku TVs, hair dryer, local coffee, complimentary bath products, and an in-room tablet for your convenience.

9:00 am Scenic City Tour of Anchorage (2:30 hrs)

Begin your historical tour of Alaska's largest city from the heart of downtown, visiting the shores of Ship Creek, where Anchorage was born out of a desire for industry through a modest tent city.
Here, we will walk to the bronze Arctic art installation honoring Grandma Olga Ezi, a Dene matriarch who settled the Alaska Native village of Eklutna to the east.

From Ship Creek, we will travel to the west end of Anchorage through Bootleggers Cove, stopping for a walk in Earthquake Park where in 1964, a 9.2 earthquake shook the city for almost five minutes and caused an upheaval of the silty shoreline and bluffs of town; the second-most powerful earthquake ever recorded. From the park, your guide will take a drive around Lake Hood, home to the world’s busiest seaplane airport and base.

Finally, the tour van winds its way up the Hillside neighborhood of Anchorage toward a scenic overlook within the Chugach State Park system, our final stop. Weather permitting, guests have the opportunity to take panoramic photos of Anchorage, surrounding mountain ranges, and stunning Cook Inlet. While we can’t guarantee wildlife viewing during this tour through the City of Flowers & Lights, we are known for our big wildlife and it is not uncommon to see an occasional moose or bald eagle.

1:30pm -Chinitina Bay Bear Viewing (6 hrs)

Located on the southern end of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Chinitna Bay is home to a multitude of bears that come to the bay to feed on the sedge grasses, copious clams and fish in the late summer salmon runs. Listen as your expert guide shares tales of the resident bears and their families.

Depart from Lake Hood Sea Plane base in Anchorage and fly southwest over Cook Inlet on a 90-minute flight. Watch for the Chigmit Mountains, where the Alaska and Aleutian Ranges meet, and two active volcanoes – Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna – before landing on the beach in Chinitna Bay in Lake Clark National Park. You will fly out to a remote beach, where a local guide will bring you into bear country via 4wd bus. The bears will be fishing in the salmon-rich rivers where you can watch as the bears wade through the water and catch a mea but more commonly on this bear viewing tour, these bears will be digging for clams and sunning on the beach or eating sedge grasses in the meadow. A snack is included that you can enjoy in the airplane en route to/from Anchorage. Plan to be bear viewing on this tour for 3 hours.

Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn.

7:30 am -Glacier Walk at Matanuska Glacier

Our most popular adventure! Journey north of Anchorage and explore the Matanuska Glacier's many incredible features, such as moraine and glacial blue meltwater pools, in South central’s beautiful Matanuska Valley.
From downtown Anchorage we make the scenic drive north to the Matanuska Glacier: a frozen 27-mile-long river of ancient ice. Thousands of years old, this massive glacier is tucked up into the head of the Matanuska Valley. You will spend 2 hours trekking with our glacier guides by your side, learning how the Matanuska Glacier was born and how it shaped the landscape in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. Explore blue meltwater pools and awe-inspiring formations.
Walking on ice is slippery fun, so we provide our guests with helmets, a trekking pole (walking stick) and micro spikes that attach to your shoes. We require our guests to bring sturdy footwear (stiff-soled hiking boots or shoes) and suggest that you bring an extra pair of socks. Don't be surprised if your shoes get covered with glacial flour. This glacial till is finely ground rock the glacier has created - it makes for great facials! This tour does require walking on uneven hard ice surfaces for at least 2 hours - guests must be able bodied. All guests must have a good back, good knees and good balance for this activity. Elevation gain is approximately 140ft but guests should be able to walk up 3 flights of stairs unassisted.
Your all-inclusive tour allows you to warm up with hot beverages and a hearty lunch (provided) at a local lodge as well as complimentary snacks and water throughout your adventure.

Conclude your adventures with transportation back reaching your hotel Anchorage hotel around 17:30.

Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn.

Please have your bags ready by 5:30am.

After breakfast, your guide will transport you to Anchorage rail depot for the journey to Seward. Your day bag for the train should include what you would need for this morning aboard the Alaska Railroad and the glacier & wildlife cruise this afternoon - please bring your photo ID, camera, and any important medicines you need with you.

Coastal Classic: ANC-SWD GoldStar

You must have photo ID to check in for your Alaska Railroad journey. If you are traveling internationally, your passport is the required form of identification.

Your Alaska Railroad experience will be onboarding the Goldstar Service railcars. These upper-level glass-dome ceiling railcars allow for you to sit in your spacious and comfortable assigned seating while panoramic views of Alaska unfold along the tracks! Your Alaska Railroad tour guide is stationed in the Goldstar railcar, providing narration and answering any questions you may have. You will also have access to the exclusive GoldStar open-air, 2nd story viewing platform, which offers fresh air and makes for excellent photo opportunities!
Onboard dining and bar service is included with your GoldStar ticket! Enjoy soft drinks and two complimentary adult beverages per person (for those over 21 years of age with valid government issued photo ID) at the bar on the upper level. Breakfast will be served in the lower level, full-service Dining Room. Choose from a variety of hot and cold meal selections. Depending on capacity, you may be seated four to a table on busy days to best accommodate all guests. Additional onboard purchases must be made with American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa cards (this includes debit and gift cards). Cash payments are no longer accepted on the Alaska Railroad. Cash gratuities to Railroad representatives are still accepted and encouraged.

Discover for yourself why National Geographic Traveler ranked the Coastal Classic Train among their Top Ten Train Rides in North America. Departing Anchorage, the train winds along Turnagain Arm, where the steep mountains of the Chugach Range plunge directly to the sea. Following a brief stop in Girdwood, the train continues to the end of Turnagain Arm and veers away from the road system into the backcountry wilderness – and what many consider to be the most scenic stretch of the entire Railbelt. Upon a late morning arrival into Seward the train comes to a halt on the shores of Resurrection Bay. If you are arriving for a tour or boat trip, the shuttle will be at the rail depot to transport you to your activity.

11:15 am 6-Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise (Train Arrival)

When you arriving by train , walk immediately across the street to the Major Marine check in kiosk to board the day cruise. There will be a representative from Major Marine Cruises who will meet the 11:15am train arrival if you have additional check in questions.
Experience the best of Kenai Fjords National Park with Major Marine! Major Marine’s speedy catamarans make the most out of this 6-hour tour. Providing a full narration to your journey, a uniformed National Park Service ranger will be your guide to the spectacular sights while answering any questions you may have.

You will receive an Explorer Journal which will provide information about the area and include activities that encourage reflection and exploration during the cruise which will travel through the protected waters of Resurrection Bay and continue around Cape Aialik (pronounced “I-al-ik) into Aialik Bay.

Keep an eye out for whales, porpoises, puffins, sea otters, the Stellar sea lion, and more! At the end of Aialik Bay is the mighty Holgate Glacier, an actively calving tidewater glacier. We will spend time in front of the glacier to watch for calving, where giant chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the water.

Depending on the time of year, we will explore the Chiswell Islands (part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge) or Cape Resurrection, home to thousands of nesting seabirds including puffins, kittiwakes, and cormorants. The captain will stop the boat close to the seabird nesting areas, providing great photo opportunities. We will also visit Steller sea lion colonies, where Steller sea lions gather on the rugged, rocky coastline. Sea otters, bald eagles, and mountain goats are also commonly seen along the route.

Please choose from one of the following: Turkey, roast beef, vegetarian sandwich of hummus, lettuce, tomato and onion. This lunch also includes chips, apple, cheese, brownie and one complimentary soft drink. Hot coffee, hot tea and water are complimentary throughout the day trip.
Souvenirs, cruising comforts, specialty cocktails, beer, wine and snacks are all available for purchase during the cruise at the onboard cafe.
While most portions of this tour are in the protected bay, portions of this tour go into the Gulf of Alaska. Since it travels through the open Gulf of Alaska, this cruise is not recommended for guests who are prone to seasickness. Weather and sea conditions may force this cruise to be cancelled or modified at the discretion of the USCG Certified Captain. Guests should be prepared with warm, waterproof layers of clothing and comfortable, rubber soled shoe

Overnight Harbor 360 Hotel

Welcome to Harbor 360 Hotel, your gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park in the scenic harbor town of Seward, Alaska. Located directly on the waterfront of the Seward Small Boat Harbor, Harbor 360 Hotel offers guests stunning 360 degree views of Resurrection Bay and the surrounding Kenai Mountains. The hotel is within close walking distance to Seward's finest restaurants, shops and the Alaska Railroad Depot.
The Harbor 360 hotel serves continental breakfast daily from 6am - 10am. Free WiFi throughout the hotel, a indoor pool and hot tub as well as direct access to the small boat harbor, make your stay easy to stay connected. A hotel courtesy shuttle is also available with service to/from Alaska Railroad Depot, Seward Cruise Terminal, and the central Harbor area. Complimentary parking is available at the 72-hour public parking across 4th Avenue from the Harbor 360 Hotel.

This room has a mountain view/city view. Each standard room features one king or two queen beds, TV, refrigerator, coffee pot, hair dryer, iron & ironing board and WiFi. ADA accessible rooms are available on request. Cribs and rollaway beds can be provided at the time of check in and based on availability.

Enjoy a free morning in Seward.

3:00 pm -Wilderness Dog Sled Ride and Tour (2 hrs)

Your adventure begins with a 2-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of our amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to comfortable wheeled sleds on this 90-minute dog sled tour. Mush through the wilderness near Seward, Alaska to the base of Resurrection Mountain and along Box Canyon Creek. Your guide will explain how we train and steer the dogs, and tell stories from the trail.

Upon return to the kennel, tour our beautiful kennel facilities, lAugusth as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher and cuddle adorable husky puppies. Our guides offer a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family’s training for the most demanding race on earth.

Overnight Harbor 360 Hotel.

8:30 am This full day tour from Seward includes a local guide, an aerial tram ride up Mt. Alyeska, a tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, lunch at a local eatery, a nature walk to views of Exit Glacier, drop off in Anchorage, and scenic photo-stops along the way!

Following pick up from your Seward hotel, sit back with your luggage secured in our comfortable and clean Sprinter vans as your Alaska driver guides you northbound on the Seward Highway, stopping first at Exit Glacier Visitor Center for a leisurely nature walk with views of Kenai Fjords National Park's famous Exit Glacier.

Next, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre natural habitat that provides wildlife education and rehabilitation for some of Alaska’s most famous animals! This is Alaska’s only guaranteed wildlife viewing, close enough to observe and photograph some of our favorite land animals, like moose, reindeer, bison, wolves, and musk ox. While we cannot guarantee bears due to the size of their habitat, it is common to see both brown and black bears at the Conservation Center. Make sure to take photos of wildlife with the amazing backdrop of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm!

We'll make a stop in the quaint town of Girdwood and a favorite local eatery for lunch (provided). After lunch, ascend up the side of Mt. Alyeska on an aerial tram. From the top (weather permitting) take in views of several glaciers and the upper reaches of this temperate rainforest.

Continue along the Turnagain Arm, an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway. Look out for alpine scenery, hanging glaciers, and potential wildlife. Upon arrival in Anchorage, you'll be transferred directly to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where you will be helped with off-loading luggage, or dropped off at your Anchorage hotel.Complimentary snacks and water are provided throughout your tour.

Hotel check in and free time to refresh.

10:00 pm Anchorage Aurora Quest

Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel. Departure is generally between 9-11 pm.

This tour is designed to help you enjoy the magic and mystery of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Whether you want to learn how to photograph it, or simply enjoy viewing it, this tour is for you! This tour runs when the conditions allow for potential aurora viewing. We pick you up at your accommodations and take you on a nocturnal adventure to witness the magical lights rippling over snowy peaks and dancing across dark waters. This Anchorage northern lights photo tour allows you to either select a single night or purchase a multi-day pass, increasing your chances of success. It’s the perfect compliment to winter day tours and a great option for business travelers to Alaska during Augustust to early May. Led by a professional photographer guide, this tour also provides information to help you understand the science behind the aurora borealis. Photographic coaching and aurora portraits are provided for those who desire.

Enjoy narrative on the science and lore surrounding auroras provided by your guide, hand and toe warmers, light snacks and water (we strive to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the environment, so fresh water from a jug along with refillable cups) as well as hot beverage selection including hot cocoa, apple cider, tea or coffee.

Please note that the aurora viewing tour may continue until 2am-4 am.

Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn.

Departure flight (airport transfer is not included)
You can request the hotel to schedule a taxi for you on the departure day.

Notes:

• Hotel check out :10 am
• Hotel extra night if required can be arranged subject to availability (starting from 360 USD per night)