Alaska the Greatland

Arrive in Fairbanks, transfer to your hotel and 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. After, we set sail on a 3-hour riverboat tour, which takes us along the Chena and Tanana Rivers. 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, explore the local shops or peruse the museums and famed sites.

Tonight, we are in for a quintessential Alaskan experience with a trip to Trail Breaker Kennel for a special "Welcome to Alaska" evening, including dinner and an educational presentation about Alaska and one of its favorite sports, dogsledding. You will even have a chance to meet some of the sled dogs. Overnight Fairbanks, AK. 

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, because after, you are in for a real adventure. All aboard the historic  Denali Star for a scenic journey to Denali National Park. This Alaska Railroad train meanders through the landscape, giving us a chance to see wildlife, small villages and great stretches of forest and 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, including Mt. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America; board a small airplane for a flightseeing tour; 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 are available at your hotel's excursion desk and can be booked on-site and paid locally. Overnight Denali, AK.

• Breakfast

This morning, we set out deep into the wilderness of Denali National Park for an exploration of the park's rich natural and cultural history. Our first stop is Savage Cabin, constructed by the Alaska Railroad Commission in the mid-1920's and used as the original ranger's cabin. Here, we glimpse the past to learn how the cabin once was and how it is used today. Next, we visit Primrose Ridge for a memorable Alaskan Native presentation, where we learn about how the land has been used for the last 10,000 years. 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, visit the Denali National Park Visitor Center or participate in an optional excursion, such as helicopter flightseeing, river rafting or an evening dinner show at Cabin Nite. Overnight Denali, AK.

Enjoy one last breakfast in Denali this morning, then you have some free time to relax, photograph the scenery or take one last hike along the mountain paths before boarding the Alaska Railroad's  Denali Star in Gold Star Class to Talkeetna. En route, soak in views of Mt. Denali's south face, cross the summit of the Continental Divide at 2,363 feet and enjoy one of the best photo vantage points, the arched Hurricane Gulch Bridge spanning 918 feet across and 296 feet above the creek bed. Enjoy lunch onboard. Tonight, you lodge at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which gives you a chance to visit the quaint town of Talkeetna. 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 Our 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, where we board a tram that takes us 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. After, we continue down the Kenai Peninsula to Seward. We will 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 observe sea otters, sea lions eagles and puffins during your 5 1/2-hour Wildlife Cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park today. Following breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred to the dock to board our catamaran for the day. A naturalist joins us on this narrated tour and provides valuable information about the area's history, flora and fauna. The catamaran is skillfully navigated in front of two active tidewater glaciers: Holgate and Aialik Glacier, offering you picture-perfect view. The calm waters of Resurrection Bay make this excursion a wonderful experience for all. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Seward. Overnight Seward, AK.

• Lunch

Savor one last breakfast in Seward this morning before setting off on our journey to Whittier. Along the way, we will experience the famous Anton 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, we will see whales, seals and bird rookeries and pass through the beautiful Esther Passage. The catamaran enters Harriman Fjord, where we will be surrounded by breathtaking mountains and alpine and tidewater glaciers as we make our way to the pinnacle of the tour, Surprise Glacier. On the way back to Whittier Harbor, we stop at a working salmon hatchery for a brief tour. Onboard, we will also be treated to a delicious lunch featuring fresh Alaskan salmon. Back in Whittier, we board the Alaskan Railroad's  Glacier Discovery for our final leg of the tour to Anchorage. Overnight Anchorage, AK.

• Breakfast
• Lunch

Your tour concludes this morning. A complimentary shuttle is provided by the hotel to Anchorage International Airport with prior reservations.