Alaska Sample Custom Designed Tour Itineraries
We offer Alaska tours any time of
the year, but we feel the best timeof the year for your tour is during
the last days of May and
the first days of June. This season offers the best potential for
good
weather and thus better views of the mountains and more enjoyable
outdoor activities. It is also less crowded, and there are fewer
mosquitoes. One of our Alaska custom tailor-made tour itineraries will be specially designed for
your needs and interests. Enjoy a custom itinerary that provides the
opportunity to be away from the crowded cruise ships, buses, and large
groups. For additional information, click on: Alaska
8-Day "Best of Alaska" Tour itinerary
Day 1 ~ Arrival Day, Fairbanks, Alaska
Fly into to Fairbanks AK and meet your guide at the Airport for transportation to a hotel, sharing dinner together that evening.
Depending on arrival time, part of the day could be spent visiting
Fairbanks. Options would include the magnificent UA Museum of the
North, the Large Animal Research Station, a stroll in Pioneer Park with a
viewing of the historic paddle-wheel Nenana, other museums, & the
Georgeson Botanical Garden
Day 2 ~ Travel to Denali National Park
It is a short two-hour drive to the entry of Denali National Park.
Options on arrival include the Visitor Center, a photo nature walk in
the woods from the Visitor Center, a white-water rafting ride on the
Nenana River, and/or an interior park shuttle guided tour.
Day 3 ~ Explore Denali National Park
This will be the primary day to see Denali, the bears, caribous, and
other wildlife. The park’s shuttle bus system is the only access
into the park and reservations are required, especially for the earlier
morning departures. We will ride deep into the park, taking all
our food, water, warm jacket, raincoat, and good hiking shoes.
This is a remarkable opportunity for a low-stress, low-cost wilderness
experience. We will just catch another shuttle bus on the way
back.
Day 4 ~ Flying over Mount McKinley ~ Anchorage Visit
We will get an early start for a 3-hour drive to Talkeetna for a morning
flight over Mount McKinley (if openings are available & weather
allowing). The flight services that carry mountain climbers to the
flanks of North America’s tallest peak can also take us there for a
landing on a high-elevation glacier. After lunch and a walk around
Talkeetna, the Back Door to Denali, we will drive about 2 hours to
Anchorage. Anchorage offers the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. In the evening, we can have
dinner at one of Alaska’s best restaurants.
Day 5 ~ Inlets, Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, Whittier
We will drive along the shore of the Turnagain Arm inlet, stopping at
Girdwood and the nearby Mount Alyeska for a tram ride up the
mountain. We will take a short photo hike overlooking the inlet
and surrounding Mountains.
We will continue the trip to Whittier with some special photo stops
along the way. We will drive through the Anton Anderson Memorial
Tunnel that is cut through the Chugach Mountain Range. The quaint
hamlet of Whittier is nestled at the base of some very photographic
snow-covered peaks on the Kenai Peninsula. The surrounding peaks
cradle alpine glaciers with sheer cliffs that drop into the “Passage
Canal”. Whittier is the gateway entrance to the western Prince
William Sound area and it is at the end of one of the many long, deep
fjords where eagles and marine mammals are common.
Day 6 ~ Prince William Sound Boat TourThe
day will begin with a boat tour into a portion of the western areas of
Prince William Sound. There are a number of boat tour options,
including large group boats and boats for groups as small as three
passengers. If this itinerary is booked, a description of all the boat
tour options will be provided from which one will be selected.
Besides having spectacular scenery, the water is usually calm, making
seasickness unlikely. If there is a concern, these boat tours are a
better option than the rougher seas going to Kenai Fjords National
Park.
After a boat tour, we will travel to Seward. On the way to Seward
we will take a short detour for a close-up walk to Exit Glacier, another
very photographic area. Exit Glacier is the only inland area of the
Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by car.
Day 7 ~ Boat Tour: Seward to the Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords is all about remote mountains, ice and rocks along the
ocean shore and the animals that live in the area. The park
comprises 670,000 acres of the southern coast of the Kenai
Peninsula. The fjords only became a park in 1980, so its history
as such has barely started. Most of the park is difficult to reach and
very remote.
There is one company that provides boat tours to Kenai Fjords especially
designed for photographers. Seas in the area can be rough and sea
sickness is common, so we will need to be well prepared with sea
sickness medication as well as a telephoto camera lens. Other
options are available if this tour is not taken.
Day 8 ~ Morning Touring around Seward & return to Anchorage
On the return trip to Anchorage, we will make photo stops at any
locations missed on the first drive. Before departure from Seward,
visitation options in this small-town include the Alaska Sea-Life
Center, the Iditarod Trailhead, the Seward Museum, and the steep-roofed
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Your departure for home can be any time in the evening or on the next day.
19-Day "Alaska discovery tour"
The following itinerary is one that we refer to as an "Outline or Short Description
Itinerary". Your itinerary would be very detailed, scheduled and
planned according to your needs, requests and interests.
Fairbanks. Flight from Phoenix to Denver to Fairbanks
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Fairbanks
Day 2
SITES ~ Georgeson Botanical Garden, Univ. of Alaska Museum of the
North. Morris Thompson visitor center has advice about outdoor
activities. Yukon Quest Sled Dog Headquarters.
ACTIVITIES ~ Touring Fairbanks.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Fairbanks
Day 3
ROUTE ~ Chena Hot Springs Road
SITES ~ Chena Hot Springs Road and Resort
ACTIVITIES ~ Hike, Hot Springs bath, Historical review
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Fairbanks
Day 4
ROUTE ~ The Richardson Highway through the town of North Pole and Copper Center on highway 2 and 4
ACTIVITIES ~ Scenic highway stops. Museum & Park visits; views of Mount McKinley if weather allows
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Copper Center
Day 5
ROUTE ~ Drive from Copper Center to Chitina for a morning air flight to
the Kennecott/McCarthy area within the Wrangleli-St. Elias National Park
and Preserve (Largest U.S. NP). Van shuttle back to
Chitina. Drive back to local accommodations.
ACTIVITIES ~ Take a short hike.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Copper Center area
Day 6
ROUTE ~ Drive to Valdez over scenic Thompson Pass on Highway 4.
ACTIVITIES ~ Hikes/walks, lots of scenic view stops, Bridal Veil Falls, wildlife stops, all on the way to Valdez.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Valdez
Day 7
ROUTE ~ Take a ferry from Valdez to Whittier.
ACTIVITIES ~ Explore Whittier area; possible sea kayaking in protected cove
SITES ~ Prince William Sound,Glaciers, whales
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Whittier
Day 8
ACTIVITIES ~ Morning walks and activities in Whittier; 12:30 to 5:30 Glacier Cruise or an all-day cruise.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Whittier
Day 9
ROUTE ~ Drive to Seward, stopping at a Visitor Center, scenic vistas, and other sties along the way.
ACTIVITIES ~ Visit the “Alaska SeaLife Center”, Explore Seward,
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Seward
Day 10
SITES ~ Many glaciers and lots of wildlife.
ACTIVITIES ~ Cruise to Kenai Fjords NP.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Seward
Day 11
ROUTE ~ Drive to Soldotna
ACTIVITIES ~ Explore Kenai Wildlife Viewing Areas; visit the town of
Kenai & the overlook where the Kenai River enters the ocean
ACCOMODATONS ~ Soldotna area
Day 12
ROUTE ~ Drive to Homer for the day
ACTIVITIES ~ Tour Homer and historic sites along the way
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Soldotna
Day 13
ROUTE ~ Drive to Anchorage along the shore of the Turnagain Arm inlet
SITES ~ Girwood and Mt. Alyeska
ACTIVITIES ~ Ride the tram up Mt. Alyeska, take a walk/hikeACCOMMODATIONS ~ Anchorage
Day 14
SITES ~ Anchorage harbor
ACTIVITIES ~ Explore Anchorage; visit the world-class Anchorage Museum
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Anchorage
Day 15
ROUTE ~ Drive North 112 miles to Talkeetna (Approx. 2 hours.)
SITES ~ Denali/Mt. McKinley
ACTIVITIES ~ Morning flight over Denali/Mt. McKinley, weather permitting. Otherwise, do flight tomorrow.
Or tour Talkeetna area, shopping, walking, hiking, etc.
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Talkeetna
Day 16
ROUTE ~ Drive North 150 miles, or 3 hours to Denali NP
SITES ~ Denali Visitor center
ACTIVITIES ~ Early morning flight over Denali if not done yesterday. Explore along the drive to Denali as time permits
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Denali
Day 17
SITES ~ Denali NP, wildlife, etc.
ACTIVITIES ~ Take NP bus tour through the park
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Denali
Day 18
ROUTE ~ Drive to Fairbanks
SITES ~ Sled Dog Demonstration; Great vistas on the way back to Fairbanks
ACTIVITIES ~ Sled Dog Demonstration; Hike/walk in the Denali park area relax
ACCOMMODATIONS ~ Fairbanks
Day 19
ACTIVITIES ~ Fly Home