Winterlake Lodge Within the Wild

This itinerary starts AFTER the accompanying cruise itinerary.

After disembarking your cruise ship, you will meet your driver outside the terminal and begin a two and one-half hour private car scenic transfer along the shoreline between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Turnagain Arm to reach Anchorage. You will stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center whose mission is to provide care for injured and orphaned wildlife and to provide continued wildlife awareness and education to the public. Surrounded by mountains and hanging glaciers, the 140-acre Portage Valley preserve is a nonprofit operation that works to rehabilitate injured or sick animals. Besides bears, there are bison, moose, caribou, elk, eagles, owls, musk oxen, Sitka black-tailed deer and a variety of game birds. Visitors can drive through the area and see most of the animals from their vehicles, or walk the neatly cared-for driveway for a close-up tour. It's a great way to photograph wild animals in a setting as close to authentic as you can get. A stop will be made at the Alyeska Prince Resort in Girdwood for time to explore or have lunch on your own. A trip to the top of Mount Alyeska is included on the aerial tram while at the resort. By late afternoon, you will arrive at the float plane basin in Anchorage for your chartered flight to the Winterlake Lodge. You are only allowed 50 lbs of luggage per person on your flight to the lodge so you may want to plan ahead and pack accordingly. You can store your excess luggage at the air carrier's office for pickup upon your return from the lodge. Upon arrival at Winterlake, plan your activities for your stay before enjoying dinner at the main lodge. This evening, relax by the fire and view the lake through the large picture windows, adjourn to the bar area or stargaze from the hot tub. Overnight at Winterlake Lodge.

After breakfast at the lodge, plan your day and evening in the legendary land of the midnight sun. Long days provide enough time to explore and experience all of the wonderful activities. Make a detailed itinerary of your days at Winterlake with your guide. Be as physically rigorous as you like, or lay back and enjoy a lakeside glass of wine. For add-on excursions, the lodge offers fly-out fishing from Winterlake to Redoubt Bay Lodge waters, as well as to other excellent remote fishing areas, weather permitting. Lunch and dinner at the main lodge and the evening at your leisure. Choose one of the many diversions from the daily routine in the main lodge - games to play, an Alaskan library, and stacks of stationery and postcards to write home. Overnight at the Winterlake Lodge.

After breakfast at the lodge, enjoy your morning, and early afternoon at your leisure. After one last delicious meal at the lodge, board your float plane for the flight to Anchorage. Upon arrival in Anchorage you will transfer to the Hotel Captain Cook. The evening is at your leisure. Overnight at the Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage.

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will pick you up two hours prior to your flight time at the rear (4th Avenue) hotel entrance for your private transfer to the Anchorage airport for your flight home.