10-Day Grand Discovery Alaska

Upon arrival in Anchorage, proceed to baggage claim to collect your luggage. Courtesy on-demand hotel shuttles will take you to your local hotel for an evening of leisure. Located in Southcentral Alaska on the shores of Cook Inlet, the Municipality of Anchorage is a unique urban environment situated in the heart of the wilderness. There's a special mystique to Alaska. The name conjures up adventure, raw natural beauty -- glaciers, mountains and seas, unmatched the world around -- fascinating wildlife, a unique cultural heritage, and independent, pioneering people. Here you will find four-star restaurants and small cafes, an outstanding Museum of History and Art and a multitude of other fun activities. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy your evening at leisure, downtown shopping at any of the artist hot spots, or relax and enjoy the nightlife of Anchorage. Infamous restaurants dot the downtown area and offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy everything from fresh salmon to prime rib. Be sure to get to sleep early, as tomorrow is the start of your tour.

This morning, rest up from your flight, and enjoy a look around in Anchorage. Breakfast is included at your hotel (Deluxe Package has full cook to order) (Quality Package has Continental breakfast). Our representatives will meet you at one of our 2 pick-up locations between 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM, to begin the adventure with other guests as they arrive. NATIVE HISTORY: Begin your Alaskan adventure with additional guests. Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel. Travel across town to the spectacular Native Heritage Center, a renowned cultural center and museum, an exciting place where all people can come to expand their understanding of Alaska's first people. AAU will provide a picnic lunch today at the Heritage Center. Here, you will share the rich heritage of Alaska's eleven cultural groups drawing upon the life ways of long ago, the wisdom of our elders, and the traditions that endure. The Welcome House is a celebration of contemporary Alaska Native cultures while the outdoor facilities and sites allow the exploration of ancient tradition and the presentation of stories from the past. The Center provides a unique opportunity to experience Alaska's many diverse Native cultures at one location. In facilitating the transmission of Alaska Native knowledge, heritage and tradition, the Center promotes self-esteem and pride among Alaska Natives. The Alaska Native Heritage Center improves understanding among all Alaskans and encourages appreciation of Alaska Native people and their traditions, history, and contributions to Alaska. Upon leaving the Anchorage area, we will travel north to the Matanuska Valley, the farming belt of Alaska. Along the way, we will visit the native village of Eklutna. Enjoy the Russian Orthodox influenced Chapel and native influenced “spirit houses”, while sharing in their cultural traditions.

This morning at 8:00 am, after included continental breakfast starts your day, AAU brings one of the most scenic drives in the state. As you head north to Glacier View, the Matanuska River winds its way north beside us, cutting a cavern of beauty through the Matanuska Valley. Several overlook stops reveals views of mountains, valleys, and glaciers in their full glory. Next, you will have the option of choosing between two types of river rafting, slow float or white water. The “Glacier Run” float trip is great for relaxed sightseeing and photo opportunities. This easily negotiable class II water makes it a great way to experience rafting and the great outdoors. This raft excursion lasts 2 ½ hours. The “Lion’s Head” raft trip offers the roar of whitewater. This is an excellent first-timers whitewater trip that is popular with experienced enthusiast as well. The most popular trip for over 28 years, this class III & IV whitewater experience offers you a hand-on adventure. This raft excursion lasts 3 ½ hours. Around 1 PM, it’s off to Sheep Mountain Lodge, for an included bite to eat. Sheep Mountain Lodge offers spectacular homemade soups, halibut tacos, chili with sourdough rolls, triple berry pie, and glacier cookies!! This area is also a great viewing spot for Dall sheep. So keep your cameras handy. After your lunch, at around 3:00 pm, discover the true beauty of glaciers up close. Ice cramp-ons and walking sticks are your first step to enjoying your glacier trek adventure.

Rise & Shine, enjoy your continental breakfast, as you depart at 8:30 AM. Next it's off to visit the home of Mt. McKinley. Today will present one of many highlights of your adventure. Talkeetna is a local town sporting the most photographed scenes in our state, the towering peaks of Mt. McKinley & the Alaska mountain range. Only 1 ½ hours north, this town is a hub of international mountain climbers. Here you will have time to enjoy lunch on your own (NOT INCLUDED). Consider “Mountain High Pizza Pie”, for wonderful hummus & vegetable pita sandwiches, or the “West Rib” for Musk Ox burgers or “Twister Creek” for their infamous sweet potato fries. Here, you will be able to choose ONE of the following adventures to enjoy in Talkeetna:

Everything about Denali National Park is big: the scenery, the mountains, the incredible beauty, and the animals. Departure this morning is between 8-8:30 AM after your included continental breakfast in your room. Your guide will escort you to the Wilderness Access Center to embark on the Denali Park Shuttle Tour, an excellent way to spot the wildlife for which Alaska is so famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep. The bus stops every 1 hr 10 min. for restrooms and whenever wildlife is sighted as you travel. Opened in June 2008 the completely reconstructed Eielson Visitor Center was built as sustainable construction and features informative interpretive exhibits. This is the turnaround point, allowing 30 minutes to explore the visitor center or the surrounding area with a short hike. This shuttle time is 8 hours’ roundtrip, including all stops. AAU arranges for and includes a picnic style lunch and beverage for the trip. So bring your camera and binoculars. Mount McKinley National Park was established in 1917 to protect its large mammals, not because of majestic Mt. McKinley. In 1980, the boundary was expanded to include both the Denali caribou herds wintering and calving ground and the entire Mt. McKinley massif. This more than tripled the size of the park and was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve. It was also designated an International Biosphere Reserve significant for the potential for sub-arctic ecosystem research.

Today is at your leisure in the Grand Denali National Park area. Many guests love the Visitor’s Center and all it has to offer. From Alaskan movies, hikes, ranger talks, dog sled demonstrations, the park has much to enjoy. Or choose to visit “Glitter Gulch”, the locals nick name for the boardwalk of shops with trinkets to prove “you were there”! Another option for the more active, is to get out there and enjoy the great trail system in the park, starting at the Visitors Center. A great beginning to moderate trail is “Horse Shoe Trail”. As your guide for more information. Discover the Muir Science Center and the great geology and wildlife of the park. A café is available right next to the Park Visitor Center as well as theater, bookstore and more. These are all included in your package. Your guide is available to help take you to your choice of above events or shops. After all your morning adventure, a lunch stop is provided before returning to Wasilla. (

Rise & Shine, as the midnight sun never sets! Continental breakfast is included for you to begin your day. Around 9 AM, today experience spectacular views of Hatcher’s Pass and the Independence Gold Mine, built in the early 1900’s. Try your hand at gold panning, even though it won’t pay for your vacation!. We bring our own gold pans and just have fun trying the “real thing’. This is not a salted trough. On a sunny day, you will be amazed at the “sparkle” in your pan, but is it real? A park naturalist is available to share the history of the mine, as well as flora & fauna of the area. Hatcher Pass is a favorite of guests, for its beauty, wildflowers, berries and wildlife and the best photography in later summer! Independence Mine does not open until June 15th, and sometimes later, depending on the snowmelt. So be aware that your tour may substitute this morning adventure with a fun trip to the Musk Ox Co-op, if snow is still in the pass. Lunch will be INCLUDED at a local area favorite restaurant.

Early this morning, (usually 5:30 AM) private transfer service will whisk you off to the Alaska rail station, where, based on your package (MODERATE OR DELUXE), .....if you booked the DELUXE package, you will board your First Class Gold Star glass-domed train.. (Breakfast INCLUDED) .....if you booked the QUALITY package, you will board your vintage Adventure Class rail cars. (Breakfast NOT INCLUDED) Luggage should be dropped in front of the train station upon your arrival, and it is then taken to your hotel in Seward, awaiting your arrival after your day cruise. Adventure class moderate package passengers are seated on the first level of the train, for the 6:45 AM departure. They have access to a vista dome car, but there is no assigned seating in that dome. Passengers may visit the vista dome car for about 20 minutes at a time, to allow other passengers to sit in the dome. Adventure class passengers may walk through all of the Adventure cars but may not enter the GoldStar dome. Guests that have Adventure Class Rail will have already enjoyed breakfast provided by your hotel before boarding.

Today begins a day of fun and adventure. You have a choice of activities today. Read the options below and choose ONLY one. If you want one activity in the morning and one in the afternoon, it will be an additional $75.00 per person upgrade. Fishing is NOT included on either the MODERATE or DELUXE package, but available to purchase. CHOICE ONE: I-did-a-ride Dog Sled Tour: Today, your tour begins with a two-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of the amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to the comfortable wheeled sleds. The intrigue of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, also known as Alaska's Superbowl, comes alive as you mush through the Alaskan wilderness to the base of Resurrection Mountain and along Box Canyon Creek. Your Iditarod veteran guide will thrill and excite you with stories from the trail as you experience the raw power of 13 Iditarod sled dogs. Upon return to the kennel, tour the beautiful kennel facilities, laugh as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher, and cuddle adorable husky puppies. The guides are all Iditarod racers, and offer a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family's training for the most demanding race on earth. Guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your vacation, this tour was chosen as one of Alaska's Top Twenty Attractions, and is a must-do for all visitors to the Greatland.

This Alaskan outdoor adventure tour does it all! Alaska helicopter glacier tours – flight seeing, a glacier landing, and a dog sled ride makes this triple adventure a unique and unforgettable experience and the highlight of any Alaskan adventure tour vacation. Pristine beauty, majestic mountains and ancient glaciers are seemingly within arm's reach as you near your destination... the Godwin Glacier! A breathtaking view of Resurrection Bay and glacier-carved mountains unfold to this unspoiled wilderness, home to mountain goats, bears, moose and eagles that may be spotted along the way. On the glacier, wait to share an essential part of Alaskan culture . . . Alaska dog mushing! Experienced guides explain that Seward, Alaska was the historical start of the famous Iditarod Sled Dog Trail. Hear unique personal accounts of their own Iditarod races and backcountry experiences. As they answer your questions you feel the excitement as the team is hooked up, then... you're off! Imagine yourself standing on the runners of a dog sled with a team of huskies loping across the ancient snowfield nestled among the peaks of the Chugach range. The lure of the trail and thrill of driving a dog team creates the ultimate Alaskan vacation! As your adventure comes to a close, you will have gained memories that will last a lifetime. With good-byes to new friends, you have two transportation options for return to Anchorage from Seward on Day Ten. • This evening, can depart Seward via Deluxe Rail at 6 PM with arrival in Anchorage at 10:30 PM at the Downtown Train Depot. Taxi is required for transfer to airport. (Not included.) Flights should not leave Anchorage until 12:30 AM of the following morning. • This evening, if you wish to arrive in Anchorage sooner, a Deluxe Motorcoach departs at 6:30 PM, arriving at 9:30 PM at the Anchorage Airport. Ask your Tour Coordinator for details. You can optionally add a POST-NIGHT hotel overnight here if you wish to stay in Anchorage to catch a following day flight. With this amount of flexibility, you can customize your tour just as you always dreamed!