Nature's Best: Alaska with Alaska Cruise

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. (Breakfast,Dinner)

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. (Breakfast,Lunch)

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. (Breakfast)

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. (Breakfast,Dinner)

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–WHITTIER (EMBARKATION)

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! Later, travel to Whitter, a remote village nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters, and Orcas! Embark on a 7-Night cruise south through the Inside Passage to Vancouver, BC. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

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: CRUISING: GULF OF ALASKA

Gulf Dreams Scenic cruising through the Gulf of Alaska. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Go deeper into the unmatched beauty of the Last Frontier with a scenic cruise on the Gulf of Alaska so explore just a part of this nearly 600,000 square-mile gulf reaching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west and Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage to the east.

Day 8: CRUISING: GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK

Ice Dancing Cruise through Glacier Bay National Park (A UNESCO World Heritage Site). (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
WILD DISCOVERIES Cruise to Glacier Bay where the sounds of creaking groans of living ice in constant flux, the shrill calls of gulls and soaring eagles, and the splash of breaching humpback whales are likely to greet you. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park), and marine wildlife are main attractions, but every discovery in this dynamic biosphere is unique. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Keep your binoculars and camera at the ready as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier for the chance to witness ice calving. Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so stay ready—you never know when you will see the fluke of a humpback rise out of the water or spot a lone brown bear patrolling a windswept beach.

Day 9: SKAGWAY

The Rush for Gold At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the port town of Skagway served as the primary gateway to the legendary gold fields, and quickly grew into Alaska’s largest settlement. It was then a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons, and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway—but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history, pristine wildlife, and unrivaled natural beauty. Note: Haines may be an alternative port and will be determined by Holland America onboard. Free time. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE At every turn, you’ll find yourself immersed in gold rush lore in the town of Skagway, from the infamous Red Onion Saloon that still keeps a pistol that Wyatt Earp left behind on his way to the Klondike, to the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, traversing rugged mountains, waterfalls, and towering glaciers on its course to Whitehorse deep in the Yukon.

Day 10: JUNEAU

The Wild Places Cruise to Juneau, Alaska and visit the most remote, most beautiful and strangest state capital in the United States. Surrounded by water, forest and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do in Juneau indoors and outdoors can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio and tour a grand capitol building all in one day. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC SIGHTS Surrounded by water, forest, and mountains, Juneau is known for its outdoor recreation, fresh seafood, and fine dining, but the real highlight of a visit to Juneau is tracking down some wildlife. You can hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles. Most sightseeing and whale-watching tours head north to Auke Bay—bring a good pair of binoculars to get the best view of these majestic and surprisingly graceful creatures. If you prefer land mammals, catch a floatplane to a nearby wildlife reserve such as Chichagof or Admiralty Island to spy some bears. The sleepy, misty city of around 32,000—mostly fishermen and small-business owners—has a frontier town vibe that’s hard to resist.

Day 11: KETCHIKAN

Port of Call Take an adventure and cruise to Ketchikan, Alaska. Alaska's "First City" of Ketchikan is so named because it’s the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LOCAL TASTES & TRADITIONS Ketchikan has long been an important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries. Indulge in fresh seafood at a local restaurant and explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan Nations of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Marvel at the intricately carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Park and take in the beautiful culture of the Tlingit people at Saxman Village, where traditional carvers and dancers share their heritage in the clan house. Explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the Ketchikan Creek, where you can shop for souvenirs, smoked salmon, and local art, while exploring gold rush­–era treasures like Dolly’s House Museum.

Day 12: CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE

Ice Sculptures Alaska’s Inside Passage is a protected network of waterways that wind through glacier-cut fjords and lush temperate rain forests along the rugged coast of Southeast Alaska. Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Scenic cruise. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ALASKAN ADVENTURE Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orcas plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.

Day 13: VANCOUVER, BC (DISEMBARKATION)

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Schedule flights departing from Vancouver International Airport after Noon. (Breakfast)