ALASKA WILDLIFE EXPEDITION

Jul 25 Arrival at Fairbanks
Today, feel free to arrive at a time of your choosing, then spend the rest of the afternoon as you like. Our Welcome Dinner is scheduled for 7:30pm this evening, so you'll have the rest of the day for exploration or relaxation. Fairbanks is situated in the heart of the Tanana Valley and combines modern amenities with a frontier atmosphere. Commonly referred to as the “Gateway to the Arctic,” the city has a long and colorful history dating back to the late 1800’s and the discovery of gold. There is a small downtown area with shopping, and there is a variety of attractions found in the general Fairbanks area. Fairbanks has the widest temperature spread of any city on earth, from –55C in the winter to +38C in the summer. Fairbanks is also home to the 800-mile Trans-Alaska pipeline which carries crude oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. Golden Heart Park is located in the center of downtown Fairbanks, and is the site of the 18-foot bronze monument, “Unknown First Family”. The statue and park were dedicated in July 1986 to celebrate the history and heritage of Fairbanks. Also, just minutes from downtown Fairbanks is the Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary - a 75 acre refuge that is home to over 100 bird species. Enjoy your first day in Fairbanks, and don't worry, your tour leader will be checking up on you to make sure that you have properly arrived and make it to the Welcome Dinner.
Accommodation: Bridgewater Hotel

Jul 26 Fairbanks/Denali National Park 
Just after breakfast, around 9:30am, we will board our motor-coach for a visit to the 'Museum of the North' before our Fairbanks departure. The museum features cultural and natural history exhibits from the entire state. Highlights of the galleries include the state’s largest gold display, the story of the pipeline, and a special section on the Northern Lights. After time at the museum we will depart and visit Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, a popular spot for observing the numerous types of birds that pause in Fairbanks on the way to their final destination. Soon we depart for Fairbanks and head south to Denali National Park. Denali lies in the heart of a curved mountain chain about 600 miles long, the Alaska Range. The centerpiece of these mountains is Mt. McKinley, the tallest peak in North America. At 20,320 feet, "Denali" means "the high one" in a local Athabascan dialect but officially the mountain is still called Mt. McKinley after a former senator (later President), William McKinley. Denali National Park is one of North America’s best locations to view an incredible array of wildlife including the ‘big five’(caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolf & grizzly bears) in a spectacular setting. Weather permitting we may get a glimpse of the majestic mountain once we arrive. We will have the remainder of the evening to rest or to explore on our own, before we gather for dinner at a time set by our tour leader.
Accommodation: McKinley Chalet

Jul 27 Denali National Park/Kantishna 
This morning we get up early and depart on a full day tour into the heart of Denali National Park via the park shuttle. Although other groups and individuals will join us this morning, this is the best, and only, way in which to view and photograph wildlife such as moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and grizzly bears. We will cruise the park, stopping for photographs and other incredible sights until we reach Kantishna, a back country lodge in the heart of the park. Here we enjoy a nice sit down lunch, then board our shuttle and make our way back to the park entrance where our hotel shuttle will be waiting to return us to the hotel. Back at the hotel, we'll search for another glimpse at Mt. Mckinnely, and hope to photograph it in the evening lights. The stunning peak reaches to 20,320 ft (6194m) above sea level and draws many mountaineers to climb it. From its base at 2,000 ft (609m) above sea level, to its summit, climbers must make a journey of over 18,000 vertical feet (5486m), which is a greater elevation gain than that of Mount Everest. Once dinner time is upon us, we will explain about the optional activities the following day and we can all make our decision accordingly.
Accommodation: McKinley Chalet

Jul 28 Denali National Park 
Today is a free day of optional activities such as hiking, sight seeing, river rafting, visiting the park for one of their ranger led hikes or dog sled presentation, or simply relaxing and recuperating from our long flight here. Our hotel shuttle can take us to any of these optional activities. Then this evening, we have a chance to get a taste of old-time Alaska at Cabin Nite. The popular dinner theater performance we'll see is in an authentic, log-paneled roadhouse. We'll join our heroine Fannie Quigley and an unforgettable cast of characters in this true-to-life Gold Rush tale of adventure in early 1900s Alaska. It's a great mix of colorful storytelling, spirited music and humor, brought to life by talented performers. The all-you-can-eat delicious meal is served family-style, and includes: Alaskan Salmon, barbecue Ribs, succotash, old-fashioned baked beans, sourdough rolls, and blueberry pie. After dinner, we'll head back to the hotel for a quick recap and briefing of the next day's activities before retiring to bed.
Accommodation: McKinley Chalet

Jul 29 Denali National Park/Anchorage 
After an early breakfast, we will say our goodbyes to Denali and travel south on the Parks Highway. Along the way, we drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley which is considered one of the most important agricultural areas in Alaska. The valley is rimmed by three major mountain ranges: the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna and the Chugach Mountains. Next, during a stop in Wasilla, we will learn about the “Greatest Race on Earth” otherwise known as The Iditarod. At the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race headquarters an employee will tell all about the race that spans over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. During the Iditarod, mushers and their dog teams navigate through jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast. And all of this often occurs through blinding snowstorms. From Wasilla, we move on to the historically charming town of Talkeetna en route to Anchorage. Talkeetna is the main staging area for climbers waiting to start their Mt. McKinley ascents, and the Talkeetna area is one of the best locations on the highway to view “the Mountain”. Moving on, as we approach Anchorage, we will pass by the bedroom community of Eagle River and the two military installations in Anchorage; Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base. Once in Anchorage, we'll check-in to our hotel, refresh, and spend an hour of the evening as we choose until dinner. Now would be a good time to go through and sort photos and write all our postcards!
Accommodation: Ramada Hotel Anchorage

Jul 30 Anchorage/Kenai Fjords National Park/Seward 
We travel southwards again this morning on the Seward highway along scenic Turnagain Arm which has been designated an All-American Road. This designation means it has features that do not exist elsewhere in the United States and are scenic enough to be tourist destinations unto themselves. Seward Highway showcases the natural beauty of south central Alaska between Anchorage and Seward. From jagged peaks and alpine meadows to breathtaking fjords and crystal lakes, we will find a concentrated series of diverse landscapes and experiences. Once in Seward we will board a sightseeing vessel to cruise through the wildlife rich and glacier-filled waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. This six hour journey takes you to the face of a tidewater glacier where we might see large chunks of ice ‘calving’ into the sea. Some of the wildlife that we are likely to encounter are sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals and marine birds. A deli-style lunch will be served on-board our vessel. Then, after our spectacular cruise, we will have the remainder of the evening free to explore Seward. Seward has a bustling harbor and historic downtown district filled with quaint shops and art galleries, and has been voted an "All American City" three times.
Accommodation: Seward Windsong Lodge

Jul 31 Seward/Anchorage 
Seward is located at the head of Resurrection Bay and is home to the Alaska Sea Life Center, a research and rehabilitation facility that focuses on marine mammals, seabirds and fish species of the Northern Pacific. Following breakfast, we will spend some time exploring the center’s wildlife and interpretive displays. Then, after a brief tour through Seward’s downtown, we will visit Exit Glacier. This is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, where we can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and learn how plant life reclaims the barren rocky land exposed by a glacier’s retreat. Once we've thoroughly explored this area, we travel north on the Seward highway back to Anchorage. Before checking into our hotel in Anchorage, we will enjoy a short city highlight tour. The tour will include the historic downtown area, the Ship Creek fish ladder, and Lake Hood. Our tour will conclude with a stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center where we have the opportunity to learn about Alaska’s distinct Native cultures, and the beautiful artworks associated with them. After time at the Heritage Center, we will be transferred to our hotel. We will check in, drop our luggage and refresh before gathering for our traditional re-cap and briefing, followed by a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Ramada Hotel Anchorage

Aug 1 Anchorage/Katmai National Park
Today is destined to be one of the most exciting days of our trip. This morning we will transfer to the Anchorage Airport for our 7:30am flight from Anchorage to King Salmon. Upon arrival at King Salmon at approximately 9am, we transfer to a seaplane for a short 20 minute scenic flight to Brooks Lodge. Brooks Lodge is located in the heart of Katmai National Park, long known for its excellent fishing, spectacular volcano and beautiful countryside, but more importantly for us, Brooks is widely known for its bear viewing. Each year millions of salmon burst from the Bering Sea into the lakes and streams of Katmai National Park. These fish provide a food source for the world's largest population of brown bears. Upon arrival in Brooks, we'll meet with park service staff for a brief orientation and instructions on how to be safe in bear country. Afterward, we'll experience independent bear viewing at Brooks Falls, just a short walk from Brooks Lodge, where (from special platforms) we can enjoy unobstructed, up close views. The afternoon is ours to use as we wish. Your tour leader will be hosting an hour long, instructional photographic session from the viewing platforms, but you may also want to try your hand at fishing. When we meet with the park rangers, we'll also check at what time the park naturalist will head out for an afternoon nature walk on the "Valley of 10,000 Smokes" History Tour. The hike is a bit strenuous, but thoroughly educational and enjoyable. It is recommended that you dress in layers so you can layer on or off as exercise and the weather dictate. A raincoat and comfortable walking shoes are a must. Please remember, due to the bears, we are not allowed to bring food, so leave your granola bears in your room! Following our recap, briefing and dinner, we can enjoy any number of slide shows, films, lectures, or simply the bar for evening enjoyment at the lodge.
Accommodation: Brooks Lodge

Aug 2 Katmai National Park/Anchorage
This morning we depart from Brooks Lodge and journey back to Anchorage. If you like, you can sleep in, or you can join your tour leader for a last walk to Brooks Falls to capture photos of the bears in the morning lights. Our float plane will then take us from Brooks Lodge to King Salmon, where we will catch our 9am flight from King Salmon back to Anchorage. Upon arrival in Anchorage, our transfer will take us back to our now familiar hotel. We'll have a few hours to relax before dinner, so feel free to use this for local exploration. Embraced by six mountain ranges and warmed by a maritime climate, Anchorage is alive year round with adventure, recreation, seasonal festivities, sporting events and more. Like Seward it has been recognized several times as an All-America City. During summer the days seem endless. Dazzling displays of flowers adorn homes and storefronts, live music fills the air, Wild Salmon on Parade sculptures appear along city blocks, while kings and silvers are caught right downtown in Ship Creek.
Accommodation: Ramada Hotel Anchorage

Aug 3 Anchorage to Juneau 
We meet this morning for breakfast with our luggage fully packed, since we fly from Anchorage International Airport to Juneau today. Just a little over 100 years ago, the same rugged shorelines and thick forests met prospectors arriving in Southeast Alaska, just as it does us today. The landscape has remained little changed as tumbling waterfalls cascade across nearly vertical faces of imposing mountains. Juneau lies nestled between the steep, forested flanks of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts. Initially the town was called Harrisburg and then Rockwell. Finally in 1881 the miners met to officially rename the town Juneau (after Joe Juneau). A post office was established and the name has stuck ever since. In 1906, after the decline of whaling and the fur trade, the Capitol of Alaska, Sitka, became less important and the Capitol was moved to Juneau. Juneau is unique in that it can only be accessed by air or water. Once we arrive, we'll meet our coach for a city tour and transport to the hotel. During our tour we'll see Juneau's beautiful downtown and surrounding areas, and time allowing, a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier. Our city tour will conclude at our hotel. After check-in, we can relax, or now that we have an orientation of the city, we are welcome to spend the remainder of the evening to explore Juneau on our own.
Accommodation: Westmark Baranof Hotel

Aug 4 Juneau/Gustavus
Taking to the skies again this morning after breakfast, we fly from Juneau to Gustavus. Spread across a large plain created by receding glaciers, Gustavus is an oasis of humanity surrounded by Glacier Bay National Park. It is also located adjacent to the Tongass National Forest and offers 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains. In summer, wildflowers bloom in the fields and rain-kissed vegetables grow in local gardens. The Salmon River meanders through town, where occasional visitors include moose, eagles and maybe a bear or two. The wild and sparsely populated roads, beaches, and waters of Gustavus invite individual exploration and relaxation. Once in Gustavus, we will transfer to our Lodge and take off soon afterward to explore the surrounding wilderness on foot. Dinner will be served at our lodge, followed by a presentation on the national park's wildlife.
Accommodation: Glacier Bay Lodge

Aug 5 Glacier Bay 
Today we board a sightseeing vessel right from our lodge and depart on a breathtaking Glacier Bay cruise. We will spend the entire day exploring this icy wonderland aboard our high-speed catamaran. We'll be accompanied by a National Park Service Ranger, who will provide narration on the wildlife and history of the Park. This will be a great opportunity to ask any and all questions you have been wanting to know about the park. En route traversing the 60-mile bay, we also have a chance to see some of the nine active tidewater glaciers. Remember to charge your batteries the night before, and keep your cameras handy in case one of them decides to calve... an experience you won't soon forget. We also have a great opportunity to see any number of sea life, including whales, otters, eagles, and sea lions. After our cruise we will take off on another short trip to explore Gustavus and the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Glacier Bay Lodge

Aug 6 Glacier Bay 
Today we will have another adventure on the sea, as we embark on an afternoon Pt. Adolphus Whale Watching Tour. We'll keep our fingers crossed for breaching humpback whales, bald eagles, Steller sea lions, seals, sea otters, Orca whales and many species of birds. Our on board naturalist will give us an understanding of these wild animals and their unique environment. Our Farewell Dinner will be enjoyed on board our boat before we return to the lodge for the evening.
Accommodation: Glacier Bay Lodge

Aug 7 Gustavus/Juneau/homebound
This morning we will board a flight from Gustavus to Juneau. Upon arrival in Juneau, we will be met by a private coach and transfer to the Juneau International Airport for our international departures home-bound. We hope you enjoyed this incredible taste of Alaska, have a safe flight home. Those of you joining us on our Aleutian Islands extension, a whole new horizon for sea-based wildlife adventures lie ahead of us.