Day 1 - Arrive Anchorage, Alaska

Upon arrival in Anchorage, you are privately transferred 15 minutes to your accommodations. Guided sightseeing as time permits.

Anchorage is a delightful blend of urban parks and museums, while the nearby Chugach Mountains foreshadow Alaska’s potential for adventure. Despite Alaska’s reputation for wilderness and wildlife, modern Anchorage has much to offer. Cultural experiences in the city include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Museum, art galleries, and restaurants featuring fresh local seafood.

The Hotel Captain Cook, inducted into the Historic Hotels of America, provides fine lodging in the heart of Anchorage. The upper floors have expansive views of the Cook Inlet and Chugach Mountains. The Captain Cook is the perfect base for your Anchorage experience, offering the best cultural, retail, and natural highlights just steps from your door. Featuring four restaurants, twelve shops, and top-notch guest services, the Captain Cook has something for everyone.

Overnight: Hotel Captain Cook or Marriott Anchorage Downtown

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Anchorage-Talkeetna

This morning you are privately transferred two hours north of Anchorage to the charming village of Talkeetna. On a clear day, you can stroll past cafés and galleries and enjoy views of Denali rising above the mountains. Talkeetna is the classic Alaskan town: blessed with natural beauty and home to sled dog mushers, bush pilots, artists, and moose.

After lunch, an exclusive tour takes you up the Susitna River to the ghost town of Curry. You will travel in a comfortable, covered jet boat custom-built for the braided glacial rivers common to Alaska. On the way upriver, there are chances to see wildlife, wildflowers, and beautiful views of the Alaska Range. Curry once thrived as a stop on the Alaska Railroad, but a series of fires caused the town to be abandoned. Your return journey includes a stop at a Native Alaskan Dena'ina camp and a visit to a historic trapper's cabin.

The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge features scenic mountain and forest views, a stunning 'big timber' lobby complete with a three-story river rock fireplace, and an expansive deck offering spectacular vistas of Denali and the Alaska Range. Located on the highest point for miles, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge overlooks the Susitna and Talkeetna Rivers. Casual and fine dining options include the Foraker Dining Room, the Base Camp Bistro, and Base Camp Bar.

Overnight: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Meal Plan: B

Day 3 - Private Dog Mushing / Shared Denali Glacier Flight

Visit the Talkeetna kennels of Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey for a private dryland mushing tour. On this 2-hour visit, you will meet the dogs (including this year's puppies) at the kennels and learn about how these endurance athletes are raised and trained. You'll also hear about the life of a musher and what it takes to win the world's most iconic dogsled race. Then, climb aboard a wheeled racing rig used to train dog teams without snow. Finish with an exhilarating ride through the Talkeetna woods.

Later, your two-hour flightseeing adventure takes you from Talkeetna to within 6 miles of Denali's summit, which rises to 20,320 feet above sea level. Denali is the highest peak on the North American continent. Enter a world of snow-capped mountains and glacier-filled valleys as you explore the south and east faces of Denali. You'll see the Ruth Glacier and the mile-high granite walls of the Great Gorge. Your highlight will be landing on a glacier, where you have the chance to step outside and enjoy the solitude of the Alaska Range.

Overnight: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Meal Plan: B

Day 4 - Private Guided Hiking

There is a limitless range of hiking in Alaska, and today your guide will tailor your outdoor experience to your interests and desired activity level.

You may explore Talkeetna’s best trail with a local naturalist guide. This is a moderate, 3-mile hike suitable for anyone interested in getting away from town and out into nature. Your guide will talk about Alaskan flora, fauna, and local history. Watch for wildlife along the way, as moose, bears, and birds are often seen. Denali looms above a lush, old-growth forest alive with songbirds and wildflowers.

Or you may choose to head north to Denali State Park to hike up the Curry Ridge Trail, more strenuous but rewarding. On a clear day, you’ll enjoy views of the Alaska Range and perhaps Denali itself.

Overnight: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Meal Plan: B

Day 5 - Talkeetna-Girdwood

Today you are privately transferred three hours to Girdwood, on the edge of the Kenia Peninsula.

The Kenai Peninsula is located in south-central Alaska, just an hour south of Anchorage. Classic Kenai landscapes include snow-capped mountains, turquoise rivers, and glacier-filled fjords with orcas and eagles. You can fish for salmon, take a wildlife cruise or hike through an alpine meadow. There’s a reason why locals call the Kenai Peninsula Alaska’s Playground.

Set out with your naturalist guide on a scenic float down the Portage River. This mellow float is great for guests of all ages and offers the chance to relax while enjoying views of the Chugach Mountains, hanging glaciers, and thick spruce forests. Moose, and other wildlife, are sometimes seen as you float through the Portage Valley. After your raft trip, an authentic Alaskan salmon bake is served.

Nestled in a lush valley in the Chugach Mountains, the chateau-style Hotel Alyeska is the luxury accommodation at the center of Alyeska Resort. Only an hour from Anchorage but a world away from the city, the resort is surrounded by towering peaks, hanging glaciers, and the Alaskan wilderness. Onsite amenities include restaurants, shops, a saltwater pool, a hot tub, and The Spa at Alyeska.

Overnight: Alyeska Resort

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 6 - Private Glacier and Wildlife Cruise

You are privately transferred to the tiny port town of Whittier, where you’ll meet your captain for a day of cruising Prince William Sound in a small vessel. You will explore shorelines, bird rookeries, marine wildlife, and calving glaciers. Today could include the thrilling experience of cruising among the numerous glaciers in Harriman Fjord and cruising to the face of towering tidewater glaciers. Or cruise into the heart of Prince William Sound looking for humpback and killer whales. During the trip, your captain will find a remote beach to go ashore for some tide pooling or a short hike into this northernmost rainforest. Other wildlife you can expect on this full-day excursion includes sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, Dall's porpoise, and plenty of sea birds (including puffins).

Overnight: Alyeska Resort

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 7 - Depart Anchorage

Today, you are privately transferred one hour to Anchorage for your departing flight. Additional touring as time permits.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B