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 Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn or similar.

Enjoy a free day in Anchorage! Make today yours - let us help you design the best day ever! Add one of these optional excursions:

• Bear viewing at Lake Clark National Park
• Glacier Hike on the Matanuska Glacier
• Kayak & Hike at Eklutna Lake-City Tour of Anchorage with a local hike in the Chugach State Park
• Bike tour along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
• Alaska Bush Plane flightseeing trip
• Helicopter glacier dog sledding with 6-time Iditarod Champion kennel, Dallas Seavey Racing!

Overnight Anchorage at the Copper Whale Inn or similar.

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 or similar.

Enjoy a free day in Seward! Make today yours - let us help you design the best day ever! Add one of these optional excursions do your Free Day in Seward!

• SeaLife Center (Admission or Special Experiences available)
• Tour of Seward with a local hike (included!)
• Glacier Hike at Exit Glacier, 12+ years
• Standup Paddleboard Board (SUP) at Bear Glacier
• Summer Dog Sledding Tour with Ididaride Sled Dog Tours
• Saltwater Fishing Charter
• Kayaking Resurrection Bay

Overnight Harbor 360 Hotel or similar.

Have your bags ready by 7:30am to depart Seward. Today's tour & transfer to Talkeetna will be a leisurely day. Included today is a complete tour through the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre rescue and rehabilitation center in the heart of Portage Glacier Valley. The tour includes lunch en route at Girdwood Brewing Company and scenic photo stops. Overnight Talkeetna Cabin or similar.

After breakfast, your guide will transport you to Denali National Park. We will make photo stops en route and enjoy a hike & picnic lunch (included!) at Denali State Park. A wonderful place to stretch our legs, the trail provides views of the Alaska Range and Denali should she be clear of clouds. Please dress in layers today as we will be adventuring rain or shine! Overnight Denali.

Enjoy a free day in Denali National Park! Make today yours - let us help you design the best day ever! Most guests will choose one of the bus tours into Denali National Park; however, we know everyone has different reasons for visiting and different ways they like to travel. Add one (or two!) of these optional excursions below!

• Bus Tour into Denali National Park
• Nenana River Rafting Tour
• Denali Front country Hike with local guide
• Denali ATV Tour
• Jeep Tour on the Denali Highway
• Flightseeing Tour into Denali National Park
• Photography Tour
• Zipline Canopy Tour

Overnight Denali

We will make restroom stops to stretch our legs and get our last look at Alaska together en route to the airport. We expect to be to the airport between 5pm - 6pm. Please schedule your flights for 8pm or later. You can also add on a post-night Anchorage stay if needed to work with your flight schedule.