Spectacular Alaska!

Welcome to Anchorage! Meet your Tour Director between 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in the hotel reception area. ENHANCED FREE TIME Explore more in Anchorage with a dinner out in this iconic Alaskan city. Your Tour Director can point you in the right direction.

Sights & Sounds Meet your fellow travel companions at this morning’s welcome orientation. Travel through Palmer in the Matanuska Valley, where cabbages can grow to an amazing 70 pounds (32 kg) in the 24-hour daylight. Venture over Tahneta Pass for wonderful vistas of Matanuska and Worthington Glaciers. Continue to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center, the largest National Park in the United States and visit the Ahtna Cultural Center, to learn about Ahtna Athabascan history, traditions, and culture. Stop at Bridal Veil Falls before arriving in the seaside port of Valdez. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is a mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, towering mountains, and wildlife on land and sea. Orcas, humpback whales, otters, sea lions, and birds are among the many animals you might spy from this spectacular seaport.

True Fish Stories This morning, [LOCAL FAVORITE] enjoy a walking tour of Old Town Valdez with a local guide. Then board your boat for a cruise on Prince William Sound. Cruise along the 3-mile face of Columbia Glacier with a watchful eye out for wildlife, including seals, sea otters, birds, and even whales! Before returning to Valdez, see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal, where supertankers are loaded with crude oil from Prudhoe Bay. (B,L) LOCAL FAVORITE Gain insight into Alaska Native traditions and the events that Valdez with a local guide from the Valdez Museum. Discover the history of the Gold Rush and Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the impact earthquakes and oil spills had on the area.

Arctic Adventure Enjoy great scenery all the way as you travel along Richardson Highway. Stop at Delta Junction Roadhouse, a living history homestead and museum, original roadhouse, and farm animals. See the longest elevated stretch of the trans-Alaska pipeline, the Tanana Pipeline River Bridge, a 1200-foot span with a unique suspension design. Then, head west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks, the state’s second-largest city. Enjoy a free evening. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Travel through the vast landscapes of Interior Alaska, following historic transportation routes that helped shape the state's development. From pioneer roadhouses to the engineering marvel of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, today's journey reveals the stories of Alaska's frontier spirit and modern innovation.

Gold Rush & Mushers Visit Gold Dredge #8 and ride the narrow-gauge railroad. Then, try your luck as you pan for gold. Later today, 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! This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Experience frontier living in an Athabascan village on the Chena River. Traditional spruce-log cabins and cultural demonstrations offer insight into a way of life shaped by the land for thousands of years. Learn about Athabascan traditions, survival skills, storytelling, and enduring connections to Interior Alaska while discovering how communities continue to preserve and celebrate their heritage today.

Riding the Rails Board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a journey through untamed wilderness. Today’s ride ends at Denali National Park, where North America’s highest peak, 20,310-foot Denali, majestically dominates the park’s 6 million acres. The afternoon is free. This evening, enjoy an [LOCAL FAVORITE] exclusive presentation on Denali National Park by a naturalist and dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITE Enjoy an exclusive presentation by a local naturalist who shares stories, wildlife insights, and expert perspectives on Denali National Park. TOUR HIGHLIGHT Board the Alaska Railroad train for spectacular views through its panoramic windows designed for soaking in the stunning scenery on this full-day journey that truly showcases America’s 49th state. Keep an eye out for views of Denali and wildlife along the way.

Wilderness Wonders Enjoy free time this morning. Consider an optional photography excursion or a helicopter ride over the park. Then, prepare for an unforgettable journey into the park with a Tundra Wilderness tour into the park with a Naturalist Driver Guide. (B,L) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Venture deep into Denali National Park and Preserve with a naturalist driver guide in search of fantastic wildlife and natural wonders. Watch for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and other iconic species while exploring six million acres of protected wilderness beneath North America's highest peak.

A Dog’s Life Travel south toward Anchorage stopping at Happy Trails Kennels, home of four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser and his sled dogs. Continue to Anchorage for a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. As part of Globus family of brands Lighthouse Project, this historic site is one example of our commitment to supporting the people and places we share with you. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner. Over dessert, enjoy a [LOCAL FAVORITE] special presentation by an Alaskan bush pilot. (B,L,D) LOCAL FAVORITE After a delicious farewell dinner, you’ll be treated to dessert and a presentation by an experienced Alaskan bush pilot who shares real-life tales of adventure in the wilderness you may have only heard about in movies or books! TOUR HIGHLIGHT Visit Happy Trails Kennels, home of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser and his family. Learn about the dedication, training, and teamwork required for long-distance sled dog racing while meeting the remarkable canine athletes that make it possible. Watch a mushing demonstration, explore a mock Iditarod checkpoint, and gain insight into the unique bond between mushers and their dogs.

Fjord Highlights Witness one of the world’s most scenic drives as you follow the south shore of lovely Turnagain Arm. Upon arrival in Seward, board your vessel for a cruise on the glacial waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. (B,L) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses more than 600,000 acres of protected wilderness, much of it covered by ice and snow. From the massive Harding Icefield to the tidewater glaciers that carve deep fjords along the coast, this remarkable landscape showcases the power of Alaska's natural forces. A cruise through the fjords offers opportunities to witness calving glaciers, spot marine wildlife, and experience one of the state's most dramatic coastal environments.

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