ALASKA: CALL OF THE WILD ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Arrive Anchorage, gateway to Alaska
Tour begins: 6:00 PM at Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage.
Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Anchorage
International Airport to Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage, a
lakefront hotel with great views of Alaska’s mountains. Your
Alaskan family adventure kicks off with a welcome dinner at the
hotel tonight. Meals D
Day 2 – Explore the wilderness by jet boat
Venturing north into the interior of this last great
frontier near the mountains of the Alaska Range, you’ll set off
on two exciting outdoor adventures today. First, it’s all aboard
the most technologically advanced river jet boat in Alaska –
specially designed to navigate once inaccessible mountain rivers
– which whisks you into the heart of the
wilderness; with help from a local naturalist guide, look for
bald eagles,beavers, moose and even bears along your river
route, and get to know the region’s abundant wildflowers and
plants. Then hike into the backwoods of bush Alaska for a visit
to an authentic trapper’s cabin. See firsthand how hardy fur
trappers lived and worked in this challenging environment at the
turn of the 20th century, and try to imagine yourself in their
shoes, living a life of wilderness adventure! Dig into a picnic
lunch right along the riverbank before saying goodbye to the
bush country and continuing on to Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge in
Talkeetna or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in
Trapper Creek for a two-night stay. If the weather cooperates,
you’ll enjoy incredible views of Mt. McKinley, North America’s
tallest mountain at 20,320 feet above sea level. Meals BLD
Day 3 – Meet Alaskan Huskies and a “musher”
Dog sledding is popular as both a sport and a practical form
of transportation in Alaska’s interior; the Alaskan Huskies who
pull the sleds in frigid weather have become beloved living
symbols of the state, in part because of Alaska’s world-famous
annual dog sled race, the Iditarod. Today, meet an Iditarod
“musher” and future sled dogs on a visit to a summer training
facility, where you’ll see how these amazing dogs are trained,
taught voice commands and fed along the race trail, and learn
how to harness and hitch up a dog. Some of the Huskies you’ll
meet may one day compete in the Iditarod, the length of which
actually varies but is symbolically listed as 1,049 miles – it’s
always at least 1,000 miles long, while the 49 represents
Alaska’s position as the 49th state. The remainder of the day is
free to enjoy the amenities of your wilderness lodge at your
leisure – perhaps exploring the nature trails through some of
Alaska’s most spectacular scenery, or engaging in an array of
optional activities at an additional cost that are available for
children ages 8 and older. Meals B
Day 4 – Flightsee near Mount McKinley
Get set for an amazing bird’s-eye view of the vast Alaskan
wilderness as you take off on a breathtaking flightseeing
journey over the foothills of Denali National Park en route to
the Kenai Peninsula. As you view the ice-clad summit of North
America’s highest peak, Mt. McKinley, from the air, try and see
if you can spot any determined climbers challenging the mountain
along its massive south face. Out of the 1,000 or so
mountaineers who attempt the ascent every climbing season (which
runs between April and July), only about half successfully make
it to the summit of what Native Americans call Denali (“the
great one”). After this inspiring airborne excursion, you’ll
have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own in Anchorage
this afternoon; Alaska’s largest city began life as a tent city
for construction of the Alaska Railroad in
1914. Your family travel adventure continues to the Kenai
Peninsula, fondly called “Alaska’s playground,” and your lodge
accommodations for the next two nights at Seward Windsong Lodge
in Seward or Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Cooper Landing.
Meals BD
Day 5 – Discover the Kenai Peninsula
The beautiful Kenai Peninsula extends from the Alaskan
mainland between Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska; explore the
region today on a choice of selected activities including a
kayaking adventure, a scenic river rafting trip, or a guided
5-mile wilderness hike. Optional opportunities for fishing are
also available on a limited basis for an additional cost; river
fishing is available to guests on departures staying in Cooper
Landing, while those on departures staying in Seward can engage
in open-water fishing. Meals BLD
Day 6 – Alaska SeaLife Center / Kenai Fjords cruise
An exclusive program for Tauck Bridges guests awaits this
morning on a visit to Seward’s Alaska SeaLife Center, dedicated
to understanding and maintaining Alaska’s incredibly diverse
marine life from king crabs to the giant Pacific octopus. Watch
diving puffins and a gliding, one-ton Steller seal through
underwater viewing windows or a harbor seal resting on a rocky
beach, all in carefully built naturalistic habitats.
Later, embark on a cruise through the Kenai Fjords coastal
region, one of the best places in North America to see a wide
variety of wildlife and marine mammals. A naturalist will point
out fascinating sights as you cruise; enjoy lunch on board.
Arrive this afternoon at the Hotel Alyeska at the Alyeska
Resort. Meals BD
Day 7 – Glacier rail journey / Iceberg rafting
Start another incredible day in Tauck Alaska with a visit to the
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the shores of
Turnagain Arm. Meet orphaned animals that are being
rehabilitated here, from moose and muskox to bald eagles and
grizzly bears. Get an eyeful of some pretty remarkable alpine
scenery as you roll through rugged gorges, past spectacular
peaks, and along a glacier-carved valley during a brief train
ride on the Alaska Railroad to Spencer Glacier. Then climb
aboard a raft for a scenic float trip among the icebergs and
glacial ice of Spencer Lake and down the Placer River. Cap your
family’s amazing week in the wilderness with our farewell dinner
at the resort tonight. Meals BLD
Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Anchorage, Alaska. A transfer from Alyeska Prince
Hotel to Anchorage International Airport is included. Allow a
minimum of 2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
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