Holidays in Alaska

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Alaska, Yukon and the Arctic Circle - the Last Frontier! Experience the arctic wilderness and indigenous culture on one of our most remote and extreme itineraries. Traverse the untouched Alaskan Range and venture north to experience the remote and resourceful nature of the Dene and Inuvialuit people. From the snow-capped mountains and ice-blue glaciers at Denali, to the swift caribou and elusive grizzlies of Kluane National Park, Alaska holidays are always captivating, often astounding, so come ready to explore this truly great land!

Book now and save 20% on selected Alaska, Yukon & Arctic Circle departures leaving before 30 September 2013. Secure your trip today with a low deposit and start getting excited about your next adventure! See Dates and Prices tab for savings. (Discount applies to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other promotional offer).

You can now check your email and keep in touch with family and friends while on the road with our wi-fi enabled vehicles. (Maximum 5 users at a time. Fair usage restrictions may apply. Only available in USA & Alaska).

• Canoeing US$35-US$75
• Scenic Denali flight US$225-$650
• Ice climbing US$140
• Dogsled demo US$Free
• Alyeska mountain aerial tramway US$$20
• Kenai Fjords scenic cruise US$165-$200
• Guided glacier walk US$35-$175
• Flight to Tuktoyaktuk (Arctic Ocean) US$420
• Gold panning US$6
• Whitewater rafting (in season) US$100-$200
• Kayaking US$220
• Ice cave exploration US$55

Alaskan trips pass through rugged terrain and isolated areas. Many areas/campgrounds will only have basic/ rustic facilities and little nightlife.

Want even more adventure? We offer a wild Alaskan bear viewing tour, from US$639, available before or after your trip. Contact us for more information or click here to view more >

Why not arrange your own Grand American Adventures departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.

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Trip Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

As this tour departs at 0730 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation. Please request hotel details at the time of booking.

Day 1: Anchorage to Denali National Park

The largest city in Alaska with only 250,000 people, Anchorage has gone through quite a change since the earthquake of 1964. Now a bustling city fuelled by the oil boom and tourism, it was not that long ago that Anchorage was the last outpost before heading into the 'Last Frontier'. After leaving Anchorage we travel north to Denali National Park and Preserve for our three-night stay in cabins at Carlo Creek.
Accommodation: Cabin included | Meals: Lunch included

Day 2-3: Denali National Park

As we travel along the old Denali Highway to Denali National Park and Preserve keep an eye open for caribou and other wildlife while enjoying the peaceful, unspoiled wilderness. Surrounding Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain peak in North America, Denali offers a vast refuge for a variety of wildlife. Wolves, caribou, and Dall sheep call Denali home, as does the mighty grizzly bear. A wide range of optional activities are available such as river rafting, scenic flights, dogsled demonstrations and hiking, for all fitness and adventure levels.

The following days we are free to explore the pristine backcountry of the park. Take the included Denali shuttle bus, which offers scenic views of the taiga and sub-arctic tundra and offers superb opportunities to view wildlife as well as access to limitless hiking options. For a real treat why not try an optional scenic flight to get a good view of Mount McKinley's towering peak. You could even opt for a glacier landing!
Accommodation: Cabin included | Meals: Lunch included
(Please note the accommodation for the trip departing 12/06/2013 will be in lodge rooms)

Day 4: Alaska Range

We head into the heart of the Alaska Mountain range where we then spend a night camping. Choose to canoe the beautiful Maclaren River or stretch your legs on the tundra covered hills of the Alaska Range and look out for grazing caribous. This is a birder's paradise with many species often sighted and there is a chance to experience excellent fishing for grayling. This range is actually the highest mountain range in North America and includes Mount McKinley.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 5: Dawson City

Heading north on the scenic 'Top of the World Highway', we cross into Canada and head into the Yukon Territory before arriving at Dawson City. This town of just over 1300 people was founded in 1897 and named after a Canadian geologist, George Dawson. It was the capital of the Yukon until 1952 when Whitehorse became the capital.

It is hard to believe that 40,000 people were here in 1896 during the Klondike Gold rush, but by 1899 there were only 8000 people that remained. Dawson City featured in the writings of Jack London, famous for his novel, 'The Call of the Wild'. We camp by the banks of the mighty Yukon River and those interested can try their luck with gambling at Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 6: Yukon & Arctic Circle

It's still further north into Canada's Northwest Territories and across the Arctic Circle to Inuvik.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 7-8: Inuvik

Be prepared for some remote and sparse facilities as we experience first-hand the lifestyle and cultures of the Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit peoples who inhabit in this frontier town. Located on the Mackenzie Delta, the name 'Inuvik' means 'Place of Man'. With a population that fluctuates around 3000, this is the administrative capital and a unique place to visit, largely because of its primarily indigenous population.

There is the unique domed Our Lady of Victory Church, which is often referred to as 'Igloo Church'. In our free time we can take an optional flight to the town of Tuktoyaktuk on the coast of the Arctic Ocean to gain a unique insight into this remote and hardy community.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 9-10: Yukon & Dawson City

Return south along the scenic Dempster Highway through the Yukon Territory we head back to Dawson City. We have another chance to sample the legendary Sour-Toe cocktail, try our hand at gold panning or enjoy a hike up to Midnight Dome.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 11: Whitehorse

We follow the trail of the original Sourdough miners along the Yukon River to Whitehorse and wander the streets of this old frontier capital. Whitehorse is named after the White Horse Rapids in Yukon, which resembles the mane of a white horse. It is also the largest city in the Yukon with a population of over 26,000.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 12-13: Kluane National Park

The Yukon's premier national park, Kluane, beckons us next with a lovely waterside campsite along the shoreline of Lake Kluane. This park is full of mountains and glaciers that include Mount Logan (5959 metres or 19,550 feet) - the highest mountain in Canada. There have been over 100 species of birds recorded in the park including the bald eagle and the rock ptarmigan. We have time to enjoy the splendour of this park. Options include hiking up Sheep Mountain or relaxing by the lake and soaking up the serene beauty.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 14: Tok

We travel back to USA and the state of Alaska. The small community of Tok sits at 1600 feet in the mountains and is located on the junction of the Glenn Highway and the first Alaskan Highway, built in the 1940s. With a sizeable number of its 1400 inhabitants being of native Athabascan origin, this town is also the home of the world famous Pancake Toss competition that takes place at the Sourdough campground. If you manage to toss the pancake into a bucket, you could win a hearty pancake breakfast the next morning!
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 15-16: Wrangell St.Elias National Park

We travel on to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and spend two nights at our historical hotel in the 'bush town' of McCarthy. Bordering Canada's Yukon Territory, this stunning national park is the largest in the country, containing glaciers five times the size of Manhattan and nine of the sixteen highest peaks in North America! We have plenty of time to explore the historic abandoned copper mining town of Kennecott or hike along the Kennecott and Root Glaciers. Optional activities available include ice climbing, hiking, sightseeing and glacier walking or taking a scenic flight past the towering mountains and endless glaciers to experience this vast and rugged wilderness.
Accommodation: Cabins included. Meals paid locally

Day 17-18: Valdez

Valdez (pronounced 'Val-dees') is tucked away at the end of a glacier-carved fjord and called the 'Switzerland of Alaska' due to its surrounding snow-capped mountains, this is the most northerly ice-free port in the Western Hemisphere and the terminus of the Alaskan Pipeline that stretches 1300 kilometres (over 800 miles) to Prudhoe Bay. We enjoy a free day here and a memorable optional activity is kayaking to the foot of either the Shoup Glacier or the larger Columbia Glacier. The Shoup Glacier excursion is a shorter one, but both offer amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 19-20: Kenai Fjords National Park

We board the Valdez to Whittier ferry across Prince William Sound, where we are greeted by ever more stunning scenery as we pass by the immense Columbia Glacier en route to the colourful fishing village of Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Optional activities include hiking to views of Exit Glacier, fishing the waters of Resurrection Bay or enjoying an amazing boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park.

Located on the south-eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula, this park covers more than 600,000 acres (2400 square kilometres). We get to enjoy spectacular views of this rugged coastline and the Kenai Mountains. This is the perfect opportunity for an optional boat cruise to view sea mammals, including pods of orcas. You can also enjoy premier bird watching opportunities and a visit to a tidewater glacier to experience the sights and sounds of icebergs being calved into the sea which are all part of this perfect day out.
Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally.

Day 21: Kenai Fjords National Park to Anchorage

We journey north along the Kenai Peninsula returning to Anchorage in the afternoon where our Alaska Yukon adventure comes to an end. If you're not flying out tonight, it's the perfect opportunity for a farewell dinner and a fine Alaskan brew.

This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.

• You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest)
• Full payment is due 8 weeks before the tour departure
• We are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe at all times
• If you prefer to book by telephone please contact our UK sales office
• Prices below are land only. Call us on 0844 576 1370 for a flight inclusive quote

You won't pay an additional supplement on this tour when you travel with us as a single traveller. The accommodation is based on twin-share, so if you're travelling on your own, you'll share with a fellow passenger of the same sex. However, if you would prefer your own space we offer a Solo Sleeper upgrade so you can pre-book guaranteed single rooms and your own tent throughout the tour (excludes 3 cabin nights in Denali).

Our Solo Sleeper Upgrade is available from on this trip. The number of single upgrades we can offer per tour is limited, so it's best to book early if you would like this option. Select the "Solo Sleepers" check box on the booking form or request over the phone.

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