4 days/ 3 night Cruise

Round trip from Anchorage/Whittier

Day 1 - SAIL FROM WHITTIER

Day 2 - COLLEGE FJORD

Wake up near the face of Harvard Glacier at the very end of College Fjord. Dozens of glaciers of all types pour from the mountains to the sea here. The most impressive sight you can hope to see is skyscraper-sized pinnacles of ice plunging from the glaciers into the water. Continue on to narrow Esther Passage, a waterway only small ships can navigate. Watch for orcas, sea otters, and bald eagles here; your Captain knows where the best sightings will be found. Explore the serene Eaglek Bay. BLD

Day 3 - CHENEGA GLACIER AND ISLAND EXPLORATION

Narrow wilderness waterways – some just 200 feet wide – lead to Knight Island in the wild southwest corner of Prince William Sound. Winding Icy Bay leads to a spectacular glacier calving icebergs into salt water at the head of the fjord. The rest of the day is a sheer delight, as you indulge in leisurely exploration of islands with hardly a trace of human habitation. BLD

Day 4 - DISEMBARK TO ANCHORAGE

Visit a large kittiwake colony before continuing to Whittier for disembarkation. Transfer by motorcoach back to Anchorage. B

3-night Cruise + Denali National Park and Preserve

8 days/ 7 nights)

4-day Cruise + Kantishna Roadhouse

(10 days/ 9 nights)

Day 1 - ARRIVE IN FAIRBANKS
Transfer from the airport to meet your Exploration Leaders and fellow travelers for a wine and cheese reception.  Overnight at a Fairbanks Hotel.

Day 2 - FAIRBANKS SIGHTSEEING
Breakfast at your Fairbanks Hotel.  Sightseeing today features a delightful riverboat excursion, a historic city tour and admission to the University of Alaska's Museum of the North.  Enjoy dinner and overnight at your Fairbanks Hotel. BLD

Day 3 - FAIRBANKS TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE TO KANTISHNA ROADHOUSE
Transfer by deluxe domed railcar to Denali National Park and Preserve with breakfast served on the train. Arrive in Denali where you will board a bus to take you 90 miles deep into the Park to the Kantishna Roadhouse, for the next two nights. BD

Day 4 - AT KANTISHNA ROADHOUSE
Experience the Denali that most only dream of, with two nights and a full day deep within Denali Park. Kantishna Roadhouse offers guided hikes and opportunities for trail rides, canoe trips, and wildlife spotting. When the weather is clear, viewpoints in this area enjoy unparalleled panoramas of the Alaska Range, including 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley. Delicious home-cooked meals are included at the Roadhouse. BLD

Day 5 - KANTISHNA TO ANCHORAGE
Drive Denali National Park's sole road to the Park entrance. Along the way, watch for Alaska's big mammals - grizzly bears, moose, caribou, and Dall's sheep. From Denali travel back to Anchorage via deluxe domed railcar. Dinner is included onboard. Overnight at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. BD

Day 6 - KAYAKING IN WHITTIER, SAIL FROM ANCHORAGE
Travel by motorcoach down beautiful Turnagain Arm to Whittier. After brief paddling instructions, enjoy a spectacular time kayaking in Prince William Sound. You will glide past waterfalls and visit an active bird rookery, then land at a secluded beach for a hearty picnic lunch. Return to Whittier to board the Spirit of Columbia and settle into your comfortable stateroom. Sail into Prince William Sound to begin your 4-night cruise. BLD

Day 7 - COLLEGE FJORD AND ESTHER PASSAGE
Wake up near the face of massive glaciers in College Fjord. You will ease close to the active faces of the numerous glaciers that calve icebergs into the tidal waters below. Continue on to narrow Esther Passage, a waterway only small ships can navigate. Playful sea otters live here often floating placidly on their backs in a bed of kelp, dining on shellfish. Explore serene Eaglek Bay. BL

Day 8 - CORDOVA
Make a port call at tiny Cordova. This fishing village, which is inaccessible by highway, has become world famous for its Copper River salmon. These delicious fish are caught in the pristine delta of the Copper River. Upon your arrival enjoy an included cultural experience highlighting the area's rich Native history. Optional wilderness tours include sea kayaking, hiking, and river rafting. BLD

Day 9 - CHENEGA GLACIER AND KNIGHT ISLAND
Today explore southwest Prince William Sound, where sculpted wilderness islands lie offshore from the craggy mountains of the Kenei Peninsula. Narrow Icy Bay leads towards a stunning glacier experience at the head of the fjord.  Later, enjoy "gunkholing" around the nearby islands - a nautical term for poking around the next corner just to see what's there. BLD

Day 10 - TRANSFER TO ANCHORAGE
Disembark this morning in Whittier and travel back to Anchorage via Turnagain Arm for your return flight home. B

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner