Alaska: America's Last Frontier

What's Included

• Scenic Glacier Cruise

  Enjoy a scenic glacier cruise of Prince William Sound.

• Deluxe Domed Railcar Experience

  View the scenery from Fairbanks to Denali aboard a deluxe domed railcar.

• Tundra Wilderness Tour

  Embark on a Tundra Wilderness Tour with an expert in Denali National Park.

• Musk Ox Farm Visit

  Visit a Musk Ox Farm and learn about the sustainable domestication project.

• Interactive Alaskan Lifestyle Discussion

  Get a local’s perspective on the Alaskan way of life during an interactive discussion.

• Gold Mining Experience

  Learn about Alaska’s gold mining past through the voices of two local sisters and try your hand at panning for pay dirt.

• Trail Breaker Kennel Dining

  Dine on the grounds of the champion owned Trail Breaker Kennel.

What's Not Included

• Optional Flightseeing Tour

  The optional flightseeing tour in Talkeetna with glacier landing is not included.

• River Boat Discovery Tour

  The River Boat Discovery tour with lunch in Fairbanks is an optional activity and not included.

Experiences

• Visit a Musk Ox Farm and learn about the sustainable domestication project.
• Get a local’s perspective on the Alaskan way of life during an interactive discussion.
• Learn about Alaska’s gold mining past through the voices of two local sisters and try your hand at panning for pay dirt.

Options

Fairbanks, AK: River Boat Discovery with lunch Enjoy an included lunch and then step aboard the Sternwheeler Discovery and explore the “last frontier” by river to uncover Alaska’s rich culture and history. You’ll disembark the boat and take a tour of the Chena Indian Village Living Museum to learn about the Athabascan tribe’s way of life and how they thrived in the harsh Arctic. Then, you’ll see a bush pilot demonstration as a plane takes off and lands right on the water next to the boat and hear how these pilots connect the remote destinations in Alaska to civilization. Afterward, meet the dogs and drivers at Trail Breaker Kennel, home of the late four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher. You’ll also dock at Steamboat Landing, a throwback to trading posts where you can shop for unique souvenirs. This is a 3-hour river journey you won’t want to miss. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 5 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Final counts are required 48 hours prior.
Please note, a visit to Trail Breaker Kennel is already included in your tour. This River Boat option also includes it as you will watch a demo from the ship as one of the many featured Alaskan experiences. When you visit the kennel as part of the main tour program, it will be in our Collette group only for a private, more in-depth experience.

Talkeetna, AK: Bird's Eye View of Denali with Glacier Landing Soar among the peaks of Denali National Park during this incredible flightseeing experience. Behold the South Face of Denali and the jagged peaks of Mount Huntington and Moose’s Tooth. Take in the vast expanse of the Great Gorge and make a mid-flight stop for a walk on a glacier. As you step off the plane and out into the quiet stillness, you’ll get a sense of the scale of the Alaskan Range paired with incomparable views. Duration approximately 2.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




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Culinaries

• Dine on the grounds of the champion owned Trail Breaker Kennel.

Must See

• Enjoy a scenic glacier cruise of Prince William Sound.
• View the scenery from Fairbanks to Denali aboard a deluxe domed railcar.
• Embark on a Tundra Wilderness Tour with an expert in Denali National Park.

Choice Highlights

Fairbanks A home rule city in the state of Alaska, Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region. The city of Fairbanks was founded by Captain E. T. Barnette in August 1901 while headed to Tanacross, where he intended to set up a trading post. Fairbanks has a history of gold mining, which dates back to when it was founded. In 1939, major infrastructure in the territory occurred for the first time, in part of a larger effort by the federal government during the New deal and World War II, which fostered an economic and population boom in Fairbanks. The city of Fairbanks is home to a number of attractions and events which draw visitors from outside of Alaska throughout the year.

Gold Mining

Museum of the North

Trans-Alaska Pipeline

Dog Mushing Dog mushing is an iconic Alaskan sport and/or transportation method powered by dogs. A team of trained, athletic dogs are directed by a human musher on a sled, traversing snowy lands. Dog mushing has been a part of Alaskan life since long before it was even a state. This is sometimes still the best way to travel around rural communities today.

Denali National Park In 1917, Alaska named its first national park Mount McKinley National Park and nearly 70 years later the park was expanded and renamed Denali National Park. This vast land has a fascinating ecosystem and is more than a park — it is a wildlife reserve. And perhaps its biggest claim to fame is being the home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, ascending more than 20,000 feet. This massive park is now more than 6 million acres, an area that can be compared to the size of Massachusetts. The park is home to nearly forty different varieties of mammals, but the most popular residents are moose, caribou, wolves, plus brown and grizzly bears. Denali is Alaska’s heartland and brings you up close to its majestic beauty and natural wonders.

Choice on Tour: Denali Nature Walk or Denali Sled Dog Demo with Ranger In Denali National Park, you’ll have the choice between two activities. Your first option is to join your Tour Manager for an easy hike along one of the marked trails just outside the Visitor Center. Walk among wildflowers in bloom and discover gorgeous views in every direction. Your second option is to take a bus into the park where you’ll meet with a Ranger to meet the park’s sled dogs and tour the kennels. These working pups help Rangers reach remote parts of the park and are reflective of Alaska’s traditional wilderness transportation.



Denali Nature Walk

Activity Level: 3

This option requires the ability to walk on an even trail for 1.5 miles. Travelers should wear comfortable shoes.



Denali National Park Sled Dog Demo with Ranger

Activity Level: 1

Travelers will take the free shuttle from the Visitor Center to the demo, then back to the Visitor Center. The Tour Manager will not be taking them but only getting them on and off the bus, so they will do this activity on their own.

Tundra Wilderness Tour The Tundra Wilderness Tour offers wonderful diversity for visitors. Travel 53 miles into the park to the Toklat River area where incredible scenery and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife await you. This tour also provides in-depth information about the history of the park. While we can’t promise or predict when wildlife will show, the tour allows plenty of opportunity to look for Dall sheep, moose, caribou, wolves and grizzly bears.

Talkeetna This historic village is the go-to travel destination for avid mountain climbers. Situated at the bottom of Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, Talkeetna serves as a base for climbers. Aside from its athletic draw, visitors can browse art galleries, local trades, and even the historic Nagley’s General Store (almost 100 years old!) With a population of less than 900 people, Talkeetna is a genuine Alaskan small town.

Musk Ox Farm

Anchorage A young city founded in 1915, Anchorage is a vibrant city of just over 300,000 people. From its humble origins as a railroad town for the Alaska Railroad, the largest city in Alaska maintains its frontier history in an idyllic mountain setting.

Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise Located off the Gulf of Alaska divided by a string of islands, the Prince William Sound offers ideal opportunities to see massive tidewater glaciers and the marine life that lives around them. The Sound is home to dozens of glaciers, as well as otters, seals, and sea lions.

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Mode of Transport

Travel through Alaska aboard a deluxe domed railcar from Fairbanks to Denali, enjoy a scenic glacier cruise in Prince William Sound, and explore the region with guided tours and local transportation options.

Accommodation

Stay at Pikes Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks, Denali Bluffs Hotel in Denali, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge in Talkeetna, and Hilton Anchorage in Anchorage, offering comfortable accommodations with scenic views and convenient access to local attractions.