Alaskan Highlights

Day 1: Anchorage - Kenai Fjords National Park

Our tour starts at 7:30 am at the Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites in Anchorage. As this is an early start we recommend that you book a night's pre-tour accommodation at this hotel, which can be booked at the same time you book this tour. The largest city in Alaska with only 250,000 people, Anchorage has gone through quite a change since the earthquake of 1964. Now a bustling city fuelled by the oil boom and tourism, it was not that long ago that Anchorage was the last outpost before heading into the ‘Last Frontier’. After leaving Anchorage we round Cook Inlet's Turnagain Arm and venture on to the Kenai (pronounced ‘keen eye’) Peninsula and the colourful fishing village of Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Day 2: Kenai Fjords National Park

Located on the south-eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai National Park covers more than 600,000 acres (2400 square kilometres and is a place where we get to enjoy spectacular views of the rugged coastline and the Kenai Mountains and also look out for wildlife. There is much to do on our free day. We can hike in the high-country of the Harding Icefields, try our hand at fishing or enjoy a spectacular cruise through Resurrection Bay and Aialik Fjord, with views of local marine life, migrating birds and tidewater glaciers along this remote wilderness coast.

Day 3 & 4: Valdez

After leaving the Kenai Peninsula, we ride on the awe-inspiring Alaska Marine Highway Ferry through Prince William Sound to Valdez (pronounced ‘Val-dees’). Tucked away at the end of a glacier-carved fjord and called the ‘Switzerland of Alaska’ due to its surrounding snow-capped mountains, this is the most northerly ice-free port in the Western Hemisphere and the terminus of the Alaskan Pipeline that stretches 1300 kilometres (over 800 miles) to Prudhoe Bay. We enjoy a free day here and there is much you can do including gliding past the rugged coastline, gazing upon the snow-capped Chugach Mountains and checking out spectacular icebergs released by the immense Columbia Glacier. A myriad of forested islands dot the seascape on our way to Valdez and the towering mountains that surround this fjord make for stunning views. There's probably no better way to experience this pristine environment than with an optional sea kayaking trip. A variety of hiking trails make this area a walker's paradise.

Day 5: Maclaren River Lodge

We head into the heart of the Alaska mountain range on the most beautiful drive in the state, climbing Thompson Pass and past Wrangell-St Elias National Park, en route to Maclaren River Lodge. With spectacular views of the surrounding valley this rustic lodge, complete with a river-stone fireplace and log cabins, provides the ideal setting for an authentic Alaskan experience. We get to experience the quiet lakes of the tundra and look out for grazing caribous. This is also a birder's paradise with many species often sighted and there is a chance to experience excellent fishing for grayling. This range is actually the highest mountain range in North America and includes Mount McKinley - the highest peak in North America, measuring an impressive 6196 metres (20,327 feet). Also with this range are three national parks - Kluane, Wrangell-St Elias and Mount McKinley, which was later re-named Denali National Park and Preserve.

Day 6 - 8: Denali National Park

We then follow the old Denali Highway to Denali National Park and Preserve, where nature survives in a timeless state. Surrounding the tallest mountain peak in North America, grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, marmots and wolves all roam the park. Activities such as river rafting, dog sled demonstrations or walking on a quiet nature trail are available near our lovely campground setting bordering the park. The following days we are free to explore the backcountry. Take the included Denali shuttle bus, which offers scenic views of the taiga and sub-arctic tundra and offers superb opportunities to view wildlife as well as access to limitless hiking options. For a real treat why not try an optional scenic flight to get a good view of Mount McKinley's towering peak. You could even opt for a glacier landing!

Day 9: Anchorage

On our final day we return to Anchorage where our tour concludes upon arrival at approximately 5 pm at the Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites. Optional post-tour accommodation is available - please inquire when booking your tour. If you are planning to fly out of Anchorage tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 9 pm (21:00 hrs).