JEWELS OF ALASKA (CLASSIC GROUP)

• Welcome to Alaska, an adventurous land of wildlife, mountains, national parks and glaciers.
• Savour a dinner accompanied by wine in the company of your fellow travellers.

Welcome Meet your Travel Director at 18:00

• Get acquainted with Anchorage with on an immersive city tour.
• During a visit to the renowned Alaska Native Heritage Center, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you enjoy an exclusive presentation on Agutak (Eskimo ice cream) while learning how it’s made by Alaska’s first people.
• Learn how this culinary treat establishes a link to the past, inspires a sense of pride and spurs a dialogue on a culture’s remarkable ability to survive.
• This afternoon, travel through the fertile Matanuska Valley and stop at a local farm to see how the long summer days and glacial silt create the perfect environment for growing vegetables and flowers.
• Depart Anchorage for the quaint community of Talkeetna.
• The evening is yours at leisure, feel free to ask your Travel Director for suggestions on the best spots to grab a bite.

• This morning, you can choose between an immersive jet boat tour up the Chulitna River with a visit to a trapper’s cabin, or enjoy a scenic float on the Talkeetna River.
• The rest of the day is yours to explore, perhaps discovering more of Talkeetna or joining an optional experience such as a flightseeing tour of the Alaska Range or a hike along Talkeetna’s best trail with a naturalist guide.

• Enjoy a Relaxed Start this morning before boarding the world-famous Alaska Railroad train for a spectacular journey over swift-rushing streams, toward Denali National Park and Preserve.
• View the majestic surroundings from the comfort of your glass-domed rail car.
• Upon arrival settle in at the lodge before meeting a local climber who will share stories about what it’s like to a climb Denali, one of the most daunting and tallest land-based mountains in the world.
• You’ll learn about the incredible physical and mental fortitude required to withstand the 17- to 18-day round trip that presents conditions so challenging climbers are forced to build snow walls for protection against the elements.
• For tonight’s Dine-Around dinner, the choice is yours between a charming local brewery or the lodge’s rustic restaurant.

• Embark on an extensive Tundra Wilderness Tour for some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife.
• You’ll have the whole afternoon free to participate in an array of optional activities.
• This magnificent land is nature at its most pure yet has something to offer all.
• From a blissful stroll through one of the meadows, to a rewarding hike, this Park is for everyone.
• You will also find that to be true with the exciting optional experiences which include a rafting trip down the Nenana River, (waiver required) to a helicopter flightseeing tour – just don’t forget your camera!
• End the day back at your lodge where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of your surroundings under the star filled night.

• Travel south on the George Parks Highway through Matanuska-Susitna Valley, a region shaped by glacial activity and known for its fertile farmland.
• Then, follow the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, where the extreme tidal range—up to 40 feet—creates one of the world’s most dramatic bore tides.
• Arrive in Girdwood, home to Alaska’s only year-round resort, Alyeska, set at the foot of the Chugach Mountains.
• This evening, join your Travel Director for a dinner accompanied by wine, offering a chance to unwind and discuss the day’s discoveries.

• Take this morning to enjoy the surroundings and amenities at the beautiful Alyeska Resort.
• Travel to Whittier to board the 26 Glacier Cruise for a 100-mile (160-kilometre) boat tour of Prince William Sound and into the College Fjord with the chance to see the glaciers up close.
• Visit with the Captain in the wheelhouse to learn how he expertly navigates the icy waterways and sit down to a sumptuous lunch against an incredible backdrop.
• Those saying farewell today will travel back to Anchorage.

Departure Transfer: Arrive at the airport at 20:30