Alaskan Voyager

Day 1: Anchorage - Welcome to Alaska!
Upon arrival in Anchorage, you will be met by your guide and driven to your hotel. Located in south-central Alaska, Anchorage is the state’s largest city and where 40% of its population of 683,478 people resides.  This is the place that sparked the very lifestyle and culture that you will be a part of for the next seven days. To the east, the Chugach Mountains serve as the backdrop for the city’s magnificent skyline, and to the west are the expansive, steel-colored waters of Cook Inlet. After settling into your hotel, your guide will take you on a walking tour of downtown, to the Hood Lake floatplane base (one of the largest and busiest floatplane bases in the world), and then to a restaurant to sample the local cuisine and welcome you to Alaska. (D) Accommodations at the Captain Cook.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali National Park - Hiking & Dinner Show
You will depart early this morning to drive across the mountains and Alaskan tundra to Denali National Park. Denali, meaning “great one” in the Athabaskan language, comprises a vast six million acres of treeless tundra, filled with rivers, mountains, and abundant wildlife. The only thing missing is traffic, as the park only has one road! This afternoon, you will be able to explore your breathtaking surroundings on guided hikes throughout the area. This evening, you will attend an old-fashioned dinner theater show about life in 1900s Alaska in an authentic, log-paneled roadhouse. Before performing their charming historical musical, performers will serve up family-style platters of salmon, chicken and marinated ribs! (B) Accommodations at the Dome Home B and B.

Day 3: Denali National Park - Flightseeing & Bus Tours
This morning, you will board a small bush plane and take a flightseeing tour of the park, enjoying bird’s eye views of the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley, which towers above the park at a height of 20,320 feet. After landing in the tiny community of Kantishna in the heart of the park, you will board a sightseeing bus to observe the incredible wildlife and scenery that surrounds you. Denali National Park & Preserve is the size of Massachusetts and encompasses a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, and Dall sheep, all of which you are likely to see on your tour. After exiting the park, you will settle into your B & B in Healy, just outside the park’s entrance. You will then be free to relax, take a guided hike, or tour Stampede Road, featured in the film, ”Into the Wild.” (B, L) Accommodations at the Dome Home B and B.

Day 4: Denali to Talkeetna - Rafting & Dog Kennels
After a scrumptious made-to-order breakfast at your B & B, you will depart on an exciting rafting trip down the glacier-fed waters of the Nenana River. You can choose between paddling your raft down the river, or letting your guide earn his wage as you just hold on and enjoy the big waves and beautiful scenery of the canyon. After your exhilarating raft trip, you will visit Jeff King’s Dog Kennels, where you will be able to meet the famous Iditarod Sled dogs and possibly even four-time Iditarod winner Jeff King himself. You will then be driven 1.5 hours down to the tiny gold rush village of Talkeetna (population: 772!) and settle into your hotel. This town is known as the starting point for many expeditions to Mt. McKinley, and your hotel is renowned for having some of the best views of “The Great One” in all of Alaska. This afternoon, you can take short hikes around the area with a naturalist guide. Your evening will be free to explore the quaint two-street downtown and enjoy dinner at one of the cozy restaurants or at your hotel. (B) Accommodations at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Day 5: Talkeetna - Private Fly-Fishing Lesson
This morning, you will join a private guide that will take you to a local stream and teach you the basics of fly-fishing. You will be able to try your hand at catching some monster salmon as they fight up the river to spawn. These enormous fish average in size from 33 to 36 inches and 10 to 50 pounds, but can sometimes reach a massive 130 pounds! The afternoon is free to enjoy local hikes with your guide, explore more of the town, or just relax at your luxurious hotel. (B) Accommodations at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Day 6: Talkeetna to Seward - Explore Seward
After a relaxed morning in your mountain-view rooms, you will drive past Anchorage to the fishing town of Seward (6 hours). Known as the "Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park," Seward is a picturesque town located 126 miles south of Anchorage. Here, you will discover a bustling harbor and historic downtown district filled with quaint shops and art galleries. This afternoon, you can take a short hike on the Exit Glacier, an active calving glacier from which you will have expansive views of the peninsula, or visit the Alaska Sea Life Center, a renowned research aquarium that’s open to the public. Your evening is free to relax and explore the harbor. (B) Accommodations at the Edgewater Hotel.

Day 7: Seward to Anchorage - Sea Kayaking
This morning, you will drive down the coast to begin your full day sea kayaking tour. This tour travels to Ailalik Bay, one of the least visited glacier bays in the area. Your small group will board kayaks and paddle past glaciers and sea lions to have lunch at the toe of this calving glacier. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a whale! After your exhilarating kayak ride, you will return to Anchorage, where you will have time to do any last minute shopping or exploring. Tonight, you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your group to reflect on your amazing trip. (Farewell Dinner) Accommodations at the Millenium Alaskan Hotel.

Day 8: Anchorage - Return Flight Home
Today, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. (B)