Grand Alaska

Day 1 – Welcome to Alaska!

Optional transfers from our departure points this morning will have you at the Los Angeles International Airport for a flight to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and a surprising metropolis. Guests making their own flight arrangements may arrive in Anchorage at any time and still take advantage of the included meet and greet at the airport followed by an included transfer from the airport to the hotel. Enjoy an overnight stay in Anchorage.

Day 2 – Anchorage to Valdez, Prince William Sound

Following an included breakfast, begin a panoramic tour of Anchorage. Explore Anchorage’s historic downtown area, visit Lake Hood, Earthquake Park and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Continue south this afternoon along the scenic Seward Highway to the port town of Whittier to board a ferry for a scenic journey through Prince William Sound. As you travel through these pristine waters, enjoy views of glaciers and towering mountains and keep an eye out for an amazing array of wildlife including whales, seals, sea otters, bears, eagles and puffins. Arrive in the quaint port community of Valdez this evening for an overnight stay. (Breakfast)

Day 3 – Valdez to Fairbanks

After an included breakfast, continue north by motorcoach into Alaska’s interior. The route follows the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and skirts along Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States. Arrive in Fairbanks this evening and begin a two-night stay. (Breakfast)

Day 4 – Fairbanks

Following an included breakfast, enjoy a driving tour of Fairbanks – known to Alaskans as the “Golden Heart City.” Learn how the gold rush affected Alaska’s interior during a visit to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska. Enjoy time at leisure for browsing and lunch on your own in Fairbanks’ charming downtown area. This afternoon, board a sternwheeler for a 3-hour cruise on the Chena River to experience what life was like when traditional riverboats plied the waterways of Alaska’s interior during the late 1800s. Enjoy an included, authentic salmon bake dinner this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 – Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star, Denali National Park

After an included breakfast, a short transfer to the Fairbanks Train Depot where you’ll board the deluxe railcars of Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star. Sit back, relax and enjoy a four-hour rail journey south through some of the most scenic and rugged territory in Alaska. Just north of Denali, the train winds along Healy Canyon, following the curves of the Nenana River below. After disembarking the train in Denali, you’ll reboard the motorcoach and continue into Denali National Park (elevation, 4,000 feet). Denali National Park & Preserve features North America’s highest mountain, Mt. McKinley and is one of the world’s last unspoiled frontiers. Enjoy an interpretative guided hike along Otto Lake followed by a “Welcome to Denali” reception. Late this afternoon, arrive at your resort located near the entrance to Denali National Park, to begin a two-night stay. (Breakfast)

Day 6 – Denali National Park

Following an included breakfast, you’ll travel into Denali National Park on a Tundra Wilderness Tour that takes you deep into the wilds of this six-million-acre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Traveling through forest and alpine tundra and over high mountain passes, you may see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears and, depending on weather and visibility, awe-inspiring Denali itself – North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet! Return to the resort this afternoon with optional excursions available for additional fees. Optional excursions may include white water rafting or a scenic float trip, an ATV wilderness adventure, flight-seeing Mt. McKinley aboard either a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, fly fishing, a Denali bike tour, a Denali photo tour or a behind-the-scenes tour of Husky Homestead, home of Iditarod Champion Jeff King. Note that all optional excursions are subject to change and all excursions may not be available. All bookings/payments for the optional excursions are made with your tour director while on tour. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 7 – Denali to Anchorage, Talkeetna

After an included breakfast you’ll reboard the motorcoach and continue south to the charming, climbing town of Talkeetna. Enjoy time at leisure exploring Talkeetna’s historic downtown – classified a National Historic Site it features buildings dating from the early 1900s. This afternoon, continue south towards Anchorage, keeping your eyes open for a glimpse of the majestic Mt. McKinley or black bears along the banks of the Susitna River. This evening, enjoy an included farewell dinner and share tales from the road with your traveling companions before an overnight stay in Anchorage. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 8 – Journey Home

Enjoy an included breakfast followed by an included transfer to the Anchorage Airport and a return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests not taking advantage of the optional group air, may depart the Anchorage Airport at any time today. Back in Los Angeles, those with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-off destinations with many fond memories of this incredible Alaskan adventure. (Breakfast)

The land portion of this unique tour is operated by a local tour operator partner of ours that specializes in Alaska and provides a professional, Alaskan tour director to lead the group upon arrival in Anchorage. Our group will be joined by guests from other parts of the U.S. A Good Times Travel tour director will accompany our group only with a minimum number of Good Times Travel guests. This tour will operate with a driver-guide in a deluxe Sprinter van if there are nine or fewer guests on tour. Hotels are subject to change to similar properties. Alternate departure dates are available (based on availability).

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.