Best of Alaska

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 five 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. (Welcome Dinner) Accommodations at the Captain Cook.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali National Park - Flightseeing Tour
You will depart early this morning to drive across the mountains and Alaskan tundra to Denali National Park (5 hours). 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 taken to the local airport to board a small plane to the tiny town of Kantishna, located in the center of the park. Your flight will carry you past the shoulder of Mt. McKinley and, weather permitting, you will have a climber’s eye view of this magnificent peak. Upon arrival in Kantishna, you will be shuttled up the ridgeline to the Skyline Lodge. From here, there are several amazing hiking trails in the area for you to explore the wonders of Denali National Park. An evening visit to the beautiful Wonder Lake will be sure to amaze you and your senses. Tonight, you will enjoy a dinner prepared by the Skyline’s chef as you relax with a beer or glass of wine on the outside deck and soak in the breathtaking atmosphere of Kantishna. (B, D) Accommodations at the Skyline Lodge.

Day 3: Denali National Park - Bus Tour & Dinner Theater
After a leisurely continental breakfast, you will have a little more time to explore before boarding the Denali Park Shuttle and riding along the park’s only road from the center of the park to the entrance. Denali National Park & Preserve is the size of Massachusetts and features North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. It 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. In the late afternoon, you will settle into your B & B in Healy, just outside the park’s entrance. Your afternoon will be free to relax, take a guided hike, or tour Stampede Road, featured in the film, ”Into the Wild.” 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, L, D) 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 exciting 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 huge 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: Denali to Anchorage - Return Flight Home
After one last morning in your stunning mountain-view rooms, you will be driven back to Anchorage for your return flight home. (B)