Nature's Best: Alaska

Day 1

ARRIVE IN FAIRBANKS Welcome to Alaska! Meet your Tour Director between 3 pm and 7 pm in the hotel reception area.

Day 2

FAIRBANKS–DENALI NATIONAL PARK Native American Traditions This morning, board the sternwheeler Discovery for a cruise on the Chena River with a stop at the Chena Village to learn about Athabascan Native culture. You will also have the chance to meet Iditarod mushers and their famed dog teams to learn about breeding, training, and the big race! We then continue to Denali National Park, home to North America’s highest peak, 20,320-foot Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley), majestically dominating the park’s 6 million acres. This evening, enjoy a [LF] private presentation by a local Naturalist and dinner at Murie Science & Learning Center. (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Experience frontier living in an Athabascan village on the Chena River. Here in the Alaskan forests, cabins are made of spruce logs, and the old ways of living with the land are beautifully preserved in the heritage of the Athabascan Native culture. Learn about traditions and survival in an unforgiving yet beautiful environment, where generations of Athabascans skillfully survived for over 10,000 years, ultimately adapting to village life and Western culture in the past century.

Day 3

DENALI NATIONAL PARK Wilderness Wonders Morning at leisure. Optional activities include a float trip down the Nenana River and a helicopter ride over the park. Later, journey into the 6-million-acre Denali National Park with a Naturalist Driver Guide on a Tundra Wilderness tour. The evening is free. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Venture deep into Denali National Park and Preserve with a Naturalist Driver Guide in search of fantastic wildlife and natural wonders. Stay alert for wildlife, including Denali’s Big-Five, the grizzly bear, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and the formidable yet elusive wolf. Named for the highest mountain peak in North America, Denali is a natural treasure of pristine and untamed wilderness at its finest.

Day 4

DENALI NATIONAL PARK–ALASKA RAILROAD–TALKEETNA Sled Races & Railroads This morning, visit the home of an Iditarod Musher to hear stories of their adventures and meet their champion racers. Then, board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a journey through untamed wilderness. Today’s ride ends in the unique town of Talkeetna, a model for the TV show Northern Exposure. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Overnight at the [LF] Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. From its incredible setting on a ridge just above the town of Talkeetna, the lodge offers majestic views of Denali, the highest peak in North America. Enjoy scenic hiking, flightseeing, or simply relax amid stunning views of Mount Denali from the deck or hearthside by the crackling fire of a giant river rock fireplace.

Day 5

TALKEETNA–SEWARD Anchorage Adventures This morning, enjoy a traditional [LF] Alaskan treat at the historic Talkeetna Roadhouse. Then, head south toward Anchorage and continue on a scenic drive along the Kenai Peninsula en route to Seward. Join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Our original two-story log building and barn were built around 1917 as a freight hauling supply station. Visit this rustic roadhouse for fresh-baked treats in its bakery for an authentic Alaskan experience.

Day 6

SEWARD. CRUISE IN KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK–ANCHORAGE Making a Splash Today, board your vessel for a cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park with the opportunity to see glaciers calving into the sea, orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, and more! (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park covers 600,000 acres of protected and pure wilderness, with more than half of its majestic landscapes covered in ice and snow. From the massive Harding Icefield to the countless tidewater glaciers carving deep fjords, this arctic paradise is a natural wonder to behold. A cruise on the fjords affords an unforgettable opportunity to see glaciers calving into the sea, orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, and more breathtaking sights.

Day 7

ANCHORAGE Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)