ALASKA EXPERIENCE TOUR (8-DAYS)
8-Day Alaskan Adventure
Trip Highlights
Travel the waters of Kenai Fjords and view the face of a spectacular tide water glacier.
Thrill at the extraordinary spectacle of crowded seabird cliffs. Cruise the pristine waters of Kenai Fjords National Park.
See Humpback whales, sea otters, puffins and more.
Fly over the Susitna Valley and the Alaska Range unfold around you (optional) and land on the Ruth glacier or remote Lake (optional) at the base of Denali and experience the excitement of standing among the giant peaks.
THE ALASKA EXPERIENCE TOUR ITINERARY - 8 DAYS
DAY 1: ANCHORAGE: Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to the hotel via courtesy shuttle. The rest of the day is free to wander around and explore this pleasant city and its shops. The hotel is located only ten minutes from the downtown shopping area. If you arrive early in the day, consider a visit to either the Anchorage Museum of History and Arts. Other good options include a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, or if you’re not too tired after your long flight, consider a hike up one of Anchorage’s most popular trail to Flattop Mountain. Overnight in Anchorage.
DAY 2: ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD: At 9 a.m. you will meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel. We will have a pre-trip meeting before heading out. After our meeting we will board our comfortable van and travel south along the edge of the Turnagain Arm on the Seward Parkway. This road is considered to be America’s most beautiful and scenic road, crossing mountain passes and majestic valleys. Along the way we will try to spot moose, eagles and other wildlife. On our way we will stop and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a facility that rehabilitates injured or orphaned Alaskan animals. After our visit to the Conservation Center, we will then continue south down the mountainous Kenai Peninsula towards Seward. We will arrive in Seward by mid afternoon where we will stay in Seward. Later this afternoon we can take an optional hike to Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield. Exit Glacier is the only glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park that it is accessible by foot. (B, L)
DAY 3: SEWARD - KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK: At 11:30a.m. we will board a sightseeing vessel to explore the wonders of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Learn about and experience this glacially carved region known for its tidewater glaciers, spectacular scenery, steep cliffs, and rich waters abundant with wildlife. This six hour tour will explore the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park. The tour includes a visit to a tidewater glacier where we will search for marine wildlife including sea otters, puffins and many other bird species, steller sea lions, harbor seals and whales. During the second part of the tour, a deli style lunch will be served while the exploration continues! The evening will be spent in Seward. (L)
DAY 4: SEWARD TO ANCHORAGE: After breakfast we will visit the Alaska Sea Life Center, a world class marine science facility. The center serves as a regional stranding center and it is equipped to rehabilitate sick, stranded and injured marine mammals and birds. Go nose-to-glass with many of the creatures you will only see from a distance on a cruise. This one of a kind research, rehabilitation and education facility lets you observe marine research as it’s being conducted. Watch seabirds, sea lions and harbor seals in their naturalistic habitats. Later, we will visit Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey’s kennel to learn about the Iditarod, its history and take rides through the forest with Iditarod sled-dogs. At 6pm we will rail back to Anchorage aboard the Alaska Railroad*. Enjoy a pleasant dinner in the dinning car viewing scenery along this route that is about as breathtaking as it gets. You will arrive in Anchorage at 10:15 pm. Our tour vehicle will be parked at the train depot and we will take you to your hotel. Overnight in Anchorage. (L, D)
DAY 5: ANCHORAGE TO TALKEETNA: After breakfast, we will begin our journey north. Along the way, we will stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and listen to fascinating stories about Alaska’s native cultures and get an insightful perspective into traditional native ways of life. Later, we continue north through the Chugach State Park to Talkeetna, a classic Alaskan small town with lots of history and tales about mountaineers and bush pilots. We will arrive this afternoon in Talkeetna. Head into town to visit this historical town and its local shops or sit back and relax the rest of the afternoon. You can take a stroll to the River taking in the views of the Alaska Range, including the highest mountain in North America, Denali. The sunsets from here are always spectacular. (B, L)
DAY 6: TALKEETNA: This morning you will have breakfast overlooking the great Alaska Range. After breakfast we will take an Alaska Wilderness Tour which offers a narrated tour of Historic Talkeetna and a rare opportunity to visit an original and remote Alaskan Homestead, 5 miles north of Talkeetna. In 1959 the DeVore family traded the comforts of their Michigan home for the harsh conditions of Alaskan homesteading. Dennis DeVore takes you back to yesterday on this fascinating and very unique tour of the "Old Family Homestead", accessible only by trail. During this "Talkeetna Alaskan Adventure", guests will enjoy a scenic ride driving their own ATV. You will view the original cabin and various implements and tools used, to learn how early day pioneers survived living in the wilderness of Alaska. Next, it is on to a lunch at Dennis' personal cabin on Wiggle Creek, on the back quarter of the homestead. After lunch you may choose to gold pan on Wiggle Creek, relax with a game of horseshoes, croquette, or berry picking (depending on the season). The fresh air, the silent serenity of the forest, and the murmur of Wiggle Creek takes you a million miles away. Weather permitting, you will have an excellent opportunity to capture photos of Denali and wildlife. (DL)
Later this afternoon you can take an optional scenic flight over Denali and the Alaska Range. This is considered to be the greatest flight on Earth! You’ll talk about this flight forever! This magnificent flight takes you around Denali, the Sheldon Amphitheater and the Great Gorge.
DAY 7: TALKEETNA TO ANCHORAGE: After breakfast this morning we will board our transport van and head back down to Anchorage. We will stop in Willow, the home of the Iditarod Headquarters. Take a sled ride on an exiting trail that winds and circles through stands of paper birch, spruce trees and wonderful Alaskan wildflowers. You will experience this thrilling trail ride with a pack of sled dogs. Afterwards, visit the museum and the gift shop. The rest of the afternoon is free to do last minute shopping and dining before heading back home.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE: Depart Anchorage. (B)
* We will make every effort to book you on Alaska’s Railroad Gold Star Service which includes dome car seating and meals while on-board the train. Availability depends what is available at the time of booking. In the event that Gold Star Service is not available you will be booked in the Adventure Class.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS TOUR: All tours require a minimum number of participants in order to operate as outlined above. If this minimum number is not obtained, Planet Earth Adventures reserves the right to offer the tour at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel a specific tour departure date. Adventure travel is exactly is as its name implies, an adventure! Although every attempt is made to adhere to these itineraries, participants need to acknowledge and willingly accept the unexpected route and itinerary changes due to factors beyond our control. Please keep in mind that due to Alaska’s extreme and fast climate changes, we cannot guarantee a glacier landing on our Talkeetna portion of this trip.
WHAT IS INCLUDED & WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Transportation, lodging, transfers and baggage handling and meals as indicated on the itinerary. All rates are per person in U.S. dollars based on shared occupancy. Single supplement is $1,175 for this tour. Tour does not include Alaska taxes, air transportation to and from Anchorage or any optional tours, liquor, items of personal nature or purchases made onboard the vessels.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: EASY: Guests should be able to walk short distances on uneven ground. Trails surfaces vary from paved to uneven natural terrain. Tour participants must be able to walk a short distance and be able to get in/out of the tour vehicle with minimal assistance.
ACCESSIBILITY: This tour is accessible to all guests; however, there may be sites where uneven ground makes certain location unsuitable for wheelchairs.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly suggest purchasing trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment at the time you sign up for one of our trips. This coverage will offset cancellation charges in the event of illness before or during your trip. Trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance is available at a supplemental cost. Click Here to purchase travel protection.
GRATUITIES: Gratuities to guides/drivers, meals and alcoholic drinks other than those noted in itinerary, and other personal expenses are not included in the price of this tour. Planet Earth Adventure's tour leaders, staff and drivers and service providers are all paid salaries for their work. They will go out of their way to make your trip special and do not perform their jobs just for money. However, they do accept gratuities should you determine that they performed their jobs at an outstanding level. Gratuities should reflect your satisfaction with their level of service.
CANCELLATION POLICY: We consider the deposit non-refundable at the time of reservation; however, Planet Earth Adventures will try to be flexible in the event of a cancellation. Please read our cancellation policy thoroughly. A credit card is required to make your reservation online. Your card will be charged when you book your trip. We require at least 90-day written notice for cancellations. Wildlife sighting is not guaranteed.
TOUR DATES, COSTS AND OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
TOUR DATES: Weekly Departures May-September
TOUR COST: $6,990.00 per person/double occupancy
MEALS: B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner DL= Deli Lunch BL= Box lunch
CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR WITH THESE OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: