DAY 1 Fly to Fairbanks: Your flight to the “Land of the Midnight Sun” takes you to Fairbanks, Alaska, where your Tour Manager greets you at the hotel. The first day of travel will come to a quiet close as you explore the new surroundings and prepare for your adventure.
DAY 2 Fairbanks, the “Golden Heart City”: Cast off aboard the Riverboat Discovery, the only authentic sternwheeler in Alaska. Your narrated cruise takes you to Old Chena Village where native Alaskan guides show the culture and lifestyle of the original Alaskans. This afternoon visit Gold Dredge #8 Camp for a rail journey through an old mining camp. Here you will be able to try your hand at gold panning in an authentic setting. Dinner this evening is at Pioneer Park for a sumptuous feast of grilled salmon, prime rib or deep-fried cod. Afterwards, enjoy humorous skits and songs about early Fairbanks in the Palace Theatre’s production, Golden Heart Review. Meals: B, D
DAY 3 Alaska Railroad and Music of Denali Dinner Show: Today, board the Alaska Railroad’s flagship Denali Star for the trip to Denali National Park. The track cuts through the northern boreal forests of the interior on a journey where sparkling salmon streams, stands of aspen and birch and carpets of purple fireweed create a dramatic landscape. The train arrives just outside Denali National Park in the early afternoon. The afternoon is free of scheduled activities so you can explore the scenic surroundings on your own. Tonight, sample Alaskan cuisine at the Music of Denali Dinner Show. Then, enjoy the show for an evening of hilarious tall tales, fun songs and foot-stompin’ music. Meals: B, D
DAY 4 Natural History Tour of Denali National Park:
Rise early and join an experienced local guide who conducts this morning’s Natural History Tour of Denali National Park. Weather permitting, see North America’s tallest mountain, Denali. Learn about Denali’s varied and interesting collection of birdlife as well as the over 650 species of flowering plants. Later, travel down the George Parks Highway where you might catch a glimpse of Denali and the rest of the Alaska Range through the stands of spruce and pine. A stop at the Iditarod Trail Headquarters showcases the race’s exciting history.
Meals: B, L
DAY 5 Martin Buser’s Happy Trails Kennel and Alaska Native Heritage Center:
Begin the day at Happy Trails Kennel, the home and kennel of four-time Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser. Hear Martin’s personal stories, meet his champion dogs and get a glimpse of what life is really like out on the trail. This is an outdoor facility, so please dress accordingly. Later, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center which features interactive displays and exhibits. Here, you will explore the rich cultural history of Anchorage through guides in traditional dress in their model lakeside village. Meal: B
DAY 6 Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: This morning take in the dramatic views of Turnagain Arm enroute to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This haven for orphaned or injured Alaskan wildlife hosts an array of animals. Then, take the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to Whittier. This 2.5 mile-long tunnel is the gateway to Prince William Sound. Later, board your ship, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam to begin the unforgettable cruise portion of the tour. Meals: B, D
DAY 7 Prince William Sound and Hubbard Glacier: With its 3,000 miles of shoreline, Prince William Sound is one of the most scenic archipelagoes of tidewater glaciers in the world. Keep one eye on the shoreline while cruising, as you just may spot otters, seals, bears, eagles and deer. From almost anywhere on the ship you will be able to view Hubbard Glacier, a massive 1,350-square mile natural wonder of blue ice. It is the longest river of ice in North America and one of the most active glaciers of its kind in Alaska. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 8 Glacier Bay: Cruise Glacier Bay National Park and take in the sounds of the “living” ice, shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles and splash of a breaching whale. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers, and marine wildlife are givens on Glacier Bay cruises, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 9 Skagway and the Lynn Canal: As your ship approaches Skagway, see the town resting peacefully at the base of a river valley bordered by the Coast Mountains. When gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory, it resulted in the historic Gold Rush of 1898. As thousands of gold-crazed adventurers sought the best jumping-off spot for their trek, they found the deepest penetration by boat was at the northern tip of the Lynn Canal. This is how Skagway was born.
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 10 Juneau and Sawyer Glacier:
Your port of call this morning is the Alaskan Capital of Juneau, considered by many to be the most beautiful capital city in the nation. Founded during the gold rush in 1880, the former goldmining town counts among its riches some of Alaska’s most spectacular scenery. The terrain is hilly and winding, and narrow streets present a small-town quaintness existing side-by-side with cosmopolitan sophistication. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 11 Ketchikan:
A popular destination along Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, Ketchikan is teeming with Native American culture. Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” it is home to the largest concentration of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people in the state. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 12 Cruising the Inside Passage:
Cruise the Inside Passage, a 1,000-mile-long sea corridor from Alaska to British Columbia, the longest sheltered inland waterway in the world. Its scenery is as grand as that of Norway. Be on the lookout for orcas and humpback whales as you take in the sheer cliffs, massive glaciers and snow-capped mountains. Meals: B, L, D
DAY 13 Vancouver to Seattle and Home:
Arrive in Vancouver early and take your motorcoach transfer to the airport in Seattle for flights home departing after 5:00 p.m. Meal: B
HOTEL / CRUISE ACCOMMODATIONS
Days 1 and 2 – Bear Lodge, Fairbanks, Alaska
Day 3 – Denali Bluffs Hotel, Denali National Park, Alaska
Day 4 – Grand View Inn, Wasilla, Alaska
Day 5 – Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska
Days 6 through 12 – Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam - cabin choices are first-come-first-served, we will be able to check on availability if a cabin type is sold out.
Special Mayflower Amenities:
Signature Beverage Package which includes a wide array of premium beverages per person*
Wi-Fi Internet Package*
One night of Specialty Dining in the Pinnacle Grill per person*
One Shore Excursion up to $100 value or $100 off a shore excursion per person* first and second guest in stateroom.
Gratuities are not included. $17 pp per day on N.Amsterdam, others are suggested gratuities but subject to participant discretion.
Returning Airport transfers will be additional if not using Group Air.