Denali Backcountry

This itinerary starts AFTER the accompanying cruise itinerary.

After disembarking your cruise ship, you will be met outside the terminal building and begin a transfer tour to Anchorage. The road linking Seward with Anchorage passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The Highway holds triple designation: USDA Forest Service Scenic Byway, Alaska Scenic Byway, and All-American Road. You'll 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. Your next stop is at the Alyeska Prince Resort for exploring or lunch on your own. A ride on the aerial tram to the summit of Mt. Alyeska is included. The summit offers unrivaled views of the Chugach Mountains, Turnagain Arm and Glacier Valley. Then on to Anchorage, Alaska's largest city and the gateway to Alaskan adventure. It's known as the City of Lights in the winter and City of Flowers in the summer. Nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, Anchorage has everything you would expect in a major metropolitan area plus oceans, mountains, wilderness, a wonderful mix of cultures, outdoor activities, nightlife and a natural history like no other city. Check-in at the Hotel Captain Cook. The rest of the day and evening is at leisure. Just a reminder that you will only be allowed 50 lbs of baggage per person on your flight back from Denali, so you may want to spend some of your time this evening re-packing. Excess baggage can be stored at the Captain Cook for pickup upon your return from Denali. Overnight at the Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your driver at the 4th Avenue entrance and start your tour with a drive through the Matanuska Valley (home of the gigantic vegetables). Matanuska Valley is known for its rich soil and excellent growing season. You will make a stop for a private visit with four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser at his homestead. Happy Trails is a family run operation, world famous for its championship sled dogs, including four Iditarod championships, the latest in 2002, along with a number of top 10 finishes. Martin guided each of the four Iditarod champion teams. In 1998, Martin was voted into the Iditarod Hall of Fame. Martin will regale you with stories of the races and introduce you to his dogs. A light lunch will be served. Then on to our final destination for today, the small community of Talkeetna. Arrive at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Talkeetna is located in the shadow of Denali National Park and Preserve in the heart of North America's largest wilderness and offers breathtaking vistas, flight seeing to Mt. McKinley, world-class salmon fishing, rafting, hiking, boating excursions, and a wide variety of other Alaskan adventures. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, poised on a hillside above the town, offers stunning views of Mt. McKinley - Denali to the first Alaskans. The evening is at your leisure. We recommend dinner at the lodge where views from the dining room make Denali look close enough to touch. Overnight at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

After breakfast at the lodge, begin the picturesque drive to the Denali park entrance. One hour will be spent at the park entrance to stretch and for those who want to grab lunch before our 5+ hour journey into the heart of the park. Along the way, your driver & naturalist will introduce you to the park, its wildlife and the wild lands in Denali. You'll learn about Denali's history, geology, and much more. Wildlife within Denali is habituated to the busses and vans that ply the park road allowing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The wilderness backcountry of the park supports big game species such as black bear, grizzly, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolf, and wolverine. Forests and high alpine tundra are also home to porcupine, hare, squirrel, marmot, mink, marten, beaver, lynx, fox, and coyote. Numerous native and migratory birds also can be seen in the park. Among the large birds of prey are eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Other prominent bird species include ptarmigan, grouse, ravens, jays, magpies, woodpeckers, swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, and numerous warblers. Whether you are an avid naturalist or photographer, or have casual interest in Alaskan wildlife, the abundance and variety of animals in and around Denali have established its reputation as a premier viewing area of these species within their natural habitats. Visitors on the Denali wildlife tours are advised to bring their binoculars and camera to capture all of the beauty and majesty of the Park's abundant wildlife. Should the weather smile on you; above all of it towers Mt. McKinley (Denali) itself, the highest point in North America (20,320 feet). Your driver will stop along the way for wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. There are scheduled rest stops along the road where you can get off the bus to stretch your legs, use the restroom facilities, and smell the tundra flowers. Arrive at Kantishna where your hotel offers guests the unique opportunity to base themselves deep in Denali National Park. While this may seem to be a rustic outpost by some standards, the clean and cozy cedar cabins with private baths are comfortable accommodations in the heart of Alaska's wilderness. Your lodging, located at the end of the 95-mile Park Road in Kantishna, offers you a complete Denali Park vacation experience. The evening is at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna.

After breakfast at the hotel, set out on a day of guided activities. The hotel features many fantastic opportunities for you to explore the wonders of Denali's wilderness. Each day the hotel offers activities that can be educational as well as fun. A schedule of daily activities will be posted in the lobby every morning. Denali National Park is renowned for its wildlife. During your stay you will have fabulous opportunities to see most of the Park's wildlife up close. Bring your binoculars, and photographers be warned; you had better have your favorite camera ready! Your shutter finger is bound to get the workout of a lifetime. Gold Panning Learn the history and methods of the old-time prospectors and try your hand at panning for a little color. Any gold you find is yours to keep! This is a fantastic trip for photo and video enthusiasts. Hiking-Walking Join the lodge on a daily guided hike or walk. Guided hikes and walks depart the lodge daily and last for one to six hours. This is an excellent opportunity to explore and learn about the wildlife and flora of the Kantishna Hills from an experienced guide. Mountain Biking If mountain biking is on the top of your list as a favorite outdoor activity, rev up the pedals of one of the lodges mountain bikes and spend some time exploring the countryside. Pedal to Wonder Lake or investigate the old mining roads in the area. Ask a guide to assist you with a bike selection and please wear the required helmet for your protection. Enjoy the included lunch before an afternoon of more adventure. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight a representative from Kantishna Air will contact you about tomorrow morning's flight details. Dinner and overnight at the Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your pilot for your mid-morning scenic flight to Anchorage. En-route you will (weather permitting) have an opportunity for flight-seeing past North America's highest peak, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley which has the highest vertical rise from its base in the world. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. This breathtaking flight may just be the highlight of your journey. Upon arrival in Anchorage you will be met by your private driver and transferred to a local artist's home for a visit and light lunch. Next, 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.