Alaska and the Yukon by Land & by Sea with the Canadian Rockies

Welcome to Anchorage! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions. Once settled into your downtown hotel, perhaps venture out and start exploring Anchorage. Browse the many unique shops and restaurants or take a stroll along the waterfront on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Be greeted by panoramic ocean, mountain, and glacial views as you emerge from North America's longest tunnel to Whittier—gateway to Prince William Sound. Embark on a cruise to marvel at the natural beauty of the fjords and glaciers while watching for eagles, whales, mountain goats, porpoises, and salmon jumping out of the cold, pristine water!

Travel northeast through Palmer in the Matanuska Valley, a lush farming region where cabbages can grow to more than 70 pounds thanks to the 24-hours of daylight! Travel over scenic Tahneta Pass for spectacular vistas of Matanuska Glacier and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest park in the United States, visible in the distance. The area boasts glaciers larger than the island of Manhattan and is home to nine of the sixteen highest peaks in North America. Overnight in Tok, the “Dog Sled Capital of the World.”

Journey on the scenic Alaska Highway, making a brief but memorable stop at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Then cross into Canada tracing the shores of Destruction Bay and stunning Kluane Lake, once a meeting place for the crews who built this legendary highway. Behold spectacular vistas of the rugged mountains of Kluane National Park, home to 19,551-foot-high Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak. Spend two nights in Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon and the territorial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Follow the Trail of ‘98 over the same mountains which thousands of determined gold seekers scaled on foot in the dead of winter en route to the Klondike. From Fraser, continue by motorcoach or optional scenic narrow-gauge railway to Skagway to stroll the wooden sidewalks past facades of frontier-era Old West buildings and colorful saloons.

Please Note: Operation of the White Pass & Yukon Railway to Skagway is subject to seasonal conditions.

Head northwest through the town of Carmacks, once an important supply station for gold seekers on their way to the Klondike. Stop at the Five Finger Rapids, a major obstacle to the hordes of fortune seekers that passed this way. Reach Dawson City, the center of excitement after the first gold strike in the Klondike in 1896, which led to the world's largest gold rush. Tonight, enjoy the high-flying entertainment of Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon, featuring ragtime music, can-can girls, and an old-fashioned casino.

Highlights on your morning sightseeing tour include Bonanza Creek, site of Claim #1, where the first gold strike was made; and a presentation by Parks Canada regarding the Gold Rush Era. Enjoy a photo opportunity at the SS Keno, the last sternwheeler to run between Dawson and Whitehorse. The rest of your day is free to soak up the exciting history of this Gold Rush town at your own pace. Perhaps a return to Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon is in order!

A full day and well worth it, as the scenery is magnificent. Have your camera ready for photo opportunities at Dawson overlook and Top of the World Highway as you re-enter Alaska. Visit one of the state's last surviving Gold Rush towns before heading west on the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks.

Morning sightseeing features highlights of Alaska's second-largest city and a visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Then try your luck at gold panning for a chance to strike it rich! Free time this afternoon offers an optional Chena River cruise aboard the Sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery III. Witness bush floatplane take off alongside the boat, see the home and kennels of the late four-time Iditarod winner, Susan Butcher, and watch her champion sled dogs in action.

Then be immersed into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture when Alaskan Native Guides take you on a tour of the Chena Indian Village. This evening, catch a local tradition with an optional salmon bake dinner.

Board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a memorable journey through untamed wilderness as you sit back in comfort and enjoy the spectacular scenery through the wide windows and domed-roof car. Your ride ends in Denali National Park & Preserve where North America's highest peak, 20,310-foot Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, dominates the park's six million acres of glacial streams, river valleys, and multi-hued tundra. After a brief orientation tour, the afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Enjoy a free day for independent activities—a hike along one of the many wilderness trails or any of today's exciting optional excursions, including a wildlife tour to seek out grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; a raft trip down the Nenana River; a sled-dog kennel tour, or an exhilarating flightseeing excursion over the park. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions.

Relish one last look at the outstanding scenery and wildlife of Denali before traveling south toward Anchorage where you'll say goodbye to your Tour Director and transfer to Whittier to board your cruise ship. Set sail on breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters and killer whales, so have your camera ready! (D)

Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier (ending at the ocean) in North America. However, unlike nearly every other tidewater glacier on the continent, Hubbard is advancing, not retreating as it endlessly creeps further into the bay—with breaking ice providing a floating haven for resident seals. (B/L/D)

A relaxing day at sea provides time to explore the ship's many amenities. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Keep your binoculars and camera on hand as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you may have a chance to witness the thrilling spectacle of ice calving.

Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so keep a watchful eye to catch the fluke of a humpback breaking the surface or a lone grizzly wandering a windswept beach. (B/L/D)

Skagway is historically considered the gateway to the Gold Rush of 1898 when thousands of men with dreams of striking it rich poured into the city and withstood treacherous winter conditions traveling on to the Yukon Territory. Explore gold rush lore at the Trail of '98 Museum or at the Red Onion Saloon, with its treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. Or simply walk on the boardwalks along the dirt streets and enjoy perusing the shops. (B/L/D)

Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska's capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town—or take advantage of optional outdoor excursions to kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. With long daylight hours, opportunity for adventure is endless. (B/L/D)

Named Alaska's “First City,” Ketchikan is so named as it's the first major landfall for most cruisers entering the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage. The town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. An important hub of the salmon-fishing-and-packing industries—Ketchikan offers the opportunity to try your luck on a sport-fishing excursion or simply savor fresh seafood at a local restaurant. It is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. (B/L/D)

One of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska's most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orcas plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead, and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. (B/L/D)

Your cruise ends this morning with a transfer to your Vancouver hotel. Once settled, feel free to explore this vibrant city nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. Take a walk to the harbourfront or dig into the city's thriving culinary scene offering a wide array of delicious cuisine. (B)

Welcome to Vancouver! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions. Take the day to discover this culturally diverse metropolis, consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities. Visit bustling Chinatown or spend time strolling the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown, Vancouver's oldest neighborhood, featuring Victorian architecture and its iconic Gastown Steam Clock.

This morning, enjoy an included city tour highlighting Stanley Park, the harbour, beaches, and more. Enjoy the remainder of the day to explore. Perhaps take a water-taxi to Granville Island to visit its bustling Public Market and waterfront cafés or a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, Canada's largest aquarium, in the heart of Stanley Park.

Depart Vancouver and journey through British Columbia's fertile valleys and rich mountain forests to Okanagan Lake. Travel along the lake to the resort city of Kelowna, beautifully situated on the lakeshore and surrounded by orchards and vineyards.

Head north through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its peaches and vineyards, and climb up 4,364-foot-high Rogers Pass, a National Historic Site in Glacier National Park. Make a photo stop at the Pass to enjoy the vistas of rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Enter Yoho National Park and ascend Kicking Horse Pass at 5,332 feet. Reach Banff National Park, nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies. An orientation tour highlights Banff's unspoiled beauty.

Enjoy the day exploring Banff with a hike, shopping, or relaxing soak in the hot springs. As Canada's first national park and home to 53 species of mammals—with most commonly spotted being deer, elk, and big horn sheep—Banff National Park is also home to more elusive creatures such as grizzly bear, wolf, and mountain lion. Consider exploring the park from above with an optional helicopter ride for spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies!

First, to Lake Louise, its turquoise waters creating a perfect natural mirror that reflects the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Traveling northward, you'll see steep gorges, snowcapped summits, and serene lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view. Stop for a one-of-a-kind experience at the Columbia Icefield to ride on the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Arrive in Jasper and enjoy an orientation tour of the town.

A free day to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer—from quaint shops to meandering wildlife. Find serenity on the glacial blue waters of Maligne Lake this morning on an optional narrated cruise to Spirit Island*, revealing the history, geology, flora, and fauna of the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. Later, go with the flow on an optional scenic float trip down the Athabasca River.

Depart Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, peaking at 12,972 feet. Continue following the Yellowhead Highway south along the North Thompson River—a route pioneered by fur trappers. Enjoy an overnight stay in the mountain resort village of Sun Peaks.

Head south, following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. Via Lillooet, “Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route,” you'll follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes with a late-afternoon arrival in Whistler. Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore this wonderful resort town with its stunning mountain scenery.

Spend the day in Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains. Have free time to explore the many sites of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games held here. Chart your own adventure with a choice of optional excursions, including zip-lining through an old-growth temperate rainforest, a guided Tree-Trek Canopy Walk via suspension bridges and boardwalks high above in the treetops, or a ride on the Guinness World Record holder Peak 2 Peak Gondola* between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains!

Set sail across the Strait of Georgia, known for its Mediterranean-type climate, for beautiful Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Afternoon sightseeing includes world-famous Butchart Gardens with 55 acres of floral displays. Then, tour this picturesque city featuring Bastion Square, Inner Harbour, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles.

A day at leisure offers the opportunity to discover this charming city. Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, shop on Government Street, or take a leisurely stroll around the harbour. Or get back to nature on an optional Wildlife and Whale-Watching Expedition with a cruise on the pristine waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands keeping watch for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.

Take a scenic ferry crossing to the mainland where the tour concludes at Vancouver International Airport. Please schedule flights after 2:00 pm.