Wilds of Alaska & the Northwest Passage

Your adventure starts today with a visit to Anchorage's Alaska Native Heritage Centre, a gathering place that celebrates, perpetuates, and shares Alaska Native Culture, language, heritage, and tradition. Sit back and watch Native artisans as they work on their crafts and enjoy live traditional dance performances before a private visit with an Alaskan native storyteller, who will bring you into their culture as they share the stories about their history and people.

Drive through the scenic Matanuska-Susitna Valley, considered one of the most important agricultural regions in Alaska. The valley is rimmed by three major mountain ranges: The Alaska Range, and the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. Indulge in expansive views of alpine peaks and valleys, rivers and streams, and vast spruce and birch forests before arriving at your lodge for the next two-nights.

This evening you will have a unique opportunity to meet a local Alaskan, Howard Carbone. Revel in his stories of climbing Denali, nature in the area, and living in Alaska through photographs, videos, and stories. (B/D)

Freechoice: Enjoy a jet boat ride down the Susitna river with an onboard naturalist and visit a Dena'ina Indian Encampment. Alternatively, set out to explore Talkeetna's best hiking trails with a naturalist guide on a hike through old-growth forest, alive with songbirds, wildflowers, berries, and mushrooms.

Watch for loons and kingfishers on the lakes, moose and bears in the woods and enjoy the view of Denali on the horizon. Enrich: A classic Alaskan experience awaits. Fly into the heart of Denali National Park, soaring over glaciers and icebergs, keeping an eye out for moose, black bears, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Land on a snow field high on a glacier and take a walk in this remote environment before returning back to your lodge. (B)

Travel aboard luxury dome rail cars from Talkeetna to Denali National Park. Large, panoramic windows allow for mostly unrestricted views of the scenery around you and provide an excellent vantage point for photos. As you approach Denali National Park, journey along the snaking Indian River and enjoy expansive sights of Hurricane Gulch, and make sure to look to your left to view the highest mountain in North America, Denali, and the stunning Alaska Range.

On arrival visit the Denali Education Centre and enjoy a talk from a local resident about what it takes to live life in Alaska, before checking into your lodge for a two-night stay. (B/L/D)

Freechoice: Discover the spectacular wildlife that call Denali National Park home as you travel 62 miles towards the Stony Hill Overlook. Board a comfortable national park's tour bus and immerse yourself in a scenic journey of natural wonders, a narrated history of Park Road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park's inhabitants.

Alternatively, spend up to 8 hours exploring Denali National Park on a hiking adventure with your guide. Hike, identify the flora and fauna, capture photos and simply enjoy having a professional, local Alaskan guide take you on a sightseeing adventure. (B/L)

Today we journey back through scenic mountain scenery to Anchorage. Stop in the small community of Willow for a visit to an authentic sled dog kennel. Meet with a veteran Iditarod musher before an exhilarating and adorable dog sled ride through the property, while safely in an ATV. After your dogsled run, meet the canine athletes that pulled your ATV and interact with the puppies.

Following lunch with Vern Halter the owner of the kennel and an Iditrarod champion, continue to Anchorage and your hotel, the Anchorage Marriott Downtown Hotel for a one-night stay. Tonight, relive your experiences at your farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Exciting days lie ahead as you venture into the Northwest Passage, navigating delicately through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, this once impassable route is a place where few are lucky enough to have travelled. From John Cabot to James Cook and Sir John Franklin, many explorers set out to conquer this fabled route and failed.

On board Scenic Eclipse you will go further than these intrepid explorers were ever able to. Due to the extraordinary nature of this very remote Arctic region, our route is dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our experienced Captain and Discovery Leaders will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, with each day a highlight. Discovery: Scenic Discovery excursions by Zodiac, kayak and onshore landings for nature walks and visits to remote communities. (B/L/D)

Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island on the planet, however it is home to the remnants of the Thule settlement that date back to 1000 AD. This interesting place has been a focus of the research community. With land that remains frozen for almost the entire year, dominated by frost shattered rocks and minimal plants and animals, it is a barren wasteland that has very similar conditions to the planet of Mars.

It is also the location of the Haughton impact crater, formed when a meteorite about 2km in diameter crashed into the surface 39 million years ago. Flat top mountains, glacial valleys and a substantial ice caps, Devon Island has a unique and majestic beauty. Discovery: Scenic Discovery excursions by Zodiac, kayak and onshore landings. (B/L/D)