Alaska the Greatland

Arrive in Fairbanks, transfer to your hotel, check-in for the first of two nights. It is also at the hotel that you will meet your tour manager and fellow travelers. The remainder of the day is yours to settle into your accommodations or to begin your explorations independently.

Overnight Fairbanks, AK.

This morning begins with breakfast at the hotel. Afterward, we set sail on a 3-hour riverboat tour, which takes us along the Chena River to its confluence with the Tanana. We will learn about the culture and history of the area as a knowledgeable tour guide takes us through the waters. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the local wildlife and the bush planes that take off from these rivers. Next, Alaskan Native Guides take us into Chena Indian Village, where we learn about the history and culture of these indigenous people.

Following the tour, we return to Fairbanks, where you are free to grab some lunch before embarking on our next adventure: touring Trail Breaker Kennel. This quintessential Alaskan experience introduces you to the state port, dog mushing. Enjoy a chase to meet the sled dogs and learn about the adventures - and hardships - the mushers face as they sled through the Alaskan backcountry.

Overnight Fairbanks, AK.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Start your with breakfast at the hotel, and after, you are in for a real adventure as you board the historic Denali Star for a scenic journey to Denali National Park. This Alaska Railroad train meanders through the landscape, allowing us to see wildlife, small village, great stretches of forest, and wide-open land before arriving in Denali National Park.

Six million acres lie ahead in the park, and they are yours to explore however you see fit. Gaze upon the mountains from scenic viewpoints or while on a flightseeing tour. You could also participate in one of the guided ranger programs or set out on one of the many trails for an unforgettable hiking experience. A complete list of optional excursions is available at your hotel's excursion desk an can be booked on-site and paid for locally.

Overnight Denali, AK.

• Breakfast

This morning, we set out into Denali National Park for an exploration of the park's rich natural and cultural history. Our first stop is Savage Cabin, constructed by the Alaskan Railroad Commission in the mid-1920s and used as the original ranger's cabin, Here, we look into the past to discover how the cabin was once used and how it differs from today. Next, we visit Primrose Ridge for a memorable Alaskan Native presentation, where we learn the hallmarks of their culture.

After an informative morning in the Denali backcountry, we return to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure. You may wish to relax in the serene surroundings at the lodge or visit the Denali National Park Visitor Center. You could also participate in an optional excursion, such as helicopter flightseeing, river rafting, or an evening dinner show at Cabin Nite.

Overnight Denali, AK.

After breakfast, you have some free time to relax, photograph the scenery, or stroll around our hotel's scenic grounds before boarding the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star in Gold Star Class to Talkeetna. En route, watch for views of Denali's south face, cross the summit of the Continental Divide at 2,363 feet, and enjoy incredible photo opportunities. One of the best photo vantage points on the route comes as the train approaches the arched Hurricane Gulch Bridge, spanning 918 feet across and 296 feet above the creek bed. Lunch is served aboard the train, As we arrive in Talkeetna, you are transferred to the beautiful Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge for the night.

Overnight Talkeetna, AK.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Start the day with breakfast, then enjoy a visit to the Anchorage Museum for a docent-led tour through some of the museum's most enthralling exhibits, including the center's main exhibition titled "Living Out Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska." The exhibition features more than 600 objects from the Smithsonian's collections that were selected and interpreted with help from Alaska native advisers.

Leaving Anchorage, we follow the Turnagain Arm by deluxe motorcoach to Mt. Alyeska. Here, we board a tram that takes up to the top, scaling 2,300 feet of elevation, Relax and admire the stunning views as you spot hanging glaciers, look over the Turnagain arm, and see the valleys of the Chugach Mountain Range. Afterward, we continue down the Kenai Peninsula to Seward, where we check into our conveniently located hotel with the remainder of the evening at leisure to see the town's sites on your own,

Overnight Seward Ak.

• Breakfast

Get ready to explore glaciers and spot playful marine life during your 5 1/2-hour Wildlife Cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park today. Following breakfast at the hotel, we are transferred to the dock to board our catamaran and meet our captain for the day. As our journey unfolds, his narration provides valuable information about the area's history, flora, and fauna.

We set out into the frigid water with our sights set on some Kenai Fjords's most scenic locales and attractions, including its tidewater glaciers. Our catamaran is skillfully navigated to provide you with picture-perfect views of Resurrection Bay and beyond, making this a wonderful experience for all. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Seward.

Overnight Seward, AK.

• Lunch

Our journey continues this morning as we depart Seward and venture north through the Kenai Peninsula to Whittier. Along the way, we drive through the famous Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel - the longest one-lane highway tunnel in North America. Since vehicles and the Alaskan Railroad share the same tunnel, access is only available at pre-specified times.

Upon arriving in Whittier, we continue onto the town's harbor for a 5 1/4-hour cruise to some of the beautiful places in Prince William Sound. Out on the open water, keep watch for otters, seals, and bird rookeries. We pass through the beautiful Ester Passage and then into waters where dramatic coastlines and massive glaciers provide a backdrop that you must see to believe. We are treated to a delicious lunch, which includes options like salmon chowder and vegetarian chili, before we arrive in Whittier and continue our day's travel by rail. The Alaskan Railroad's Glacier Discovery is out chariot for the final leg of the tour to Anchorage. We arrive at approximately 10 p.m. tonight and are transferred to our lakefront hotel for the night.

Overnight Anchorage, AK.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Your tour through Alaska the Greatland concludes this morning. With advance reservations, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to Anchorage's International Airport, from which you are free to return home.