Tours of Alaska: Alaskan Hotel Tour
2007

Witness superb scenery of glaciers, mountains and abundant wildlife, all illuminated by the almost continuous daylight of the Alaskan summer. We stay in some of the Yukon and Alaska's historic and unique roadhouses and lodges, meeting the locals of this vast and rugged land.

Following the old Klondike trail, our first stop is in Dawson City before we travel over "Top of the World HIghway" into Alaska. While in Dawson we'll spend the night at the local dancing and gambling hall.

Our first stop in Alaska is just north of  Fairbanks at a historic mining exploration camp now converted into a lodge. Here travellers can witness the infectious gold fever that drove miners form around the world to this harsh, yet breathtaking environment. Travelling south along the George Parks Highway we spend two days in Denali NP where we can observe the Denali Park Rangers exersizing the sled dogs and meet the new arrivals in the kennels. We take the bus into Denali National Park, home of the "Big One" - Mt McKinley - for a day of wildlife viewing. Continuing along the George Parks Highway, we spend four days in the rugged Matanuska - Susitna area. Here, we'll spend one night in Talkektna, the jumping off point for many Mt. McKinley climbers. During our three days near Hatcher Pass, we'll hike above the treeline, view wildlife, berry pick, and fish in the tranquil peacefulness of the great north. We'll visit a local Musk Ox Farm enroute to Glennallen, and take a day of sightseeing in both Anchorage and Valdez.

Our tour culminates in the mountainous setting of Canada's Kluane National Park, home to the largest concentration of grizzly bears in the Yukon.

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Day 1. Dawson City, YT.

• Scenic drive along the Klondike Loop Highway to historic Klondike Gold Rush Town of Dawson City.
• Picture stops along route include: Emerald green -Fox Lake and the mighty rivers of Stewart and Pelly River that feed into the Yukon.
• We'll also stop at Five Finger Rapids, a once troublesome crossing for turn-of the-century sternwheelers, for a 45 minute walk to the Yukon River,
•   We'll also stop at Moose Creek Lodge to view an authentic Trapper's Cabin.
• Upon arrival in Dawson City, our driver guide will give the group a 30 minute tour of Dawson City.
• Later that evening the group can enjoy lively entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Saloon.

Accommodation: Hotel (3 star)

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 2. Fairbanks AK. (Chatanika)  

• Today we cross the Canadian/US border into Alaska via the famous "Top of the World Highway"
• Dropping down from the mountain tops to the goldfields of Alaska we'll visit the quaint settlement of Chicken before returning to the Alaska Highway.
• Stops along the Alaska Highway include: Rika's Roadhouse and Delta Junction, the official ending of the Alaska Highway.

Travelling just north of Fairbanks we spend two nights at a historic bunkhouse of the gold exploration camp Dredge #3 in Chatanika Alaska along the Steese Highway.

Accommodation: 2 star Rustic Lodge -shared bathrooms

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 3.   Fairbanks AK. (Chatanika)

• Today is a relaxing day to explore the many sites and sounds of the Chatanika area.

• Activities include: touring the old gold dredge, gold panning, hiking, berry picking, four wheel rentals, canoe rentals and fishing.

• This area is well known for viewing the Aurora Borealis throughout the year

Accommodation : 2 star Rustic Lodge -shared bathrooms

Meals: Hot Breakfast

Day 4. Denali, AK

• Travelling south along the George Parks Highway we'll make our way to Denali National Park.
• We'll stop at the University of Alaska Northern Lights Museum
• Our first stop will be a the small village of Nenanna where a yearly lottery is decided by the annual river-ice break-up.
• Upon arrival at Denali National Park, we'll stop at the visitor information centre to view a short video about the park.
• We'll also take a short shuttle bus to the Park dog sled kennels to view the huskies and pups of Denali National Park.

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals: Hot Breakfast

Day 5. Denali, AK

• Today we head into Denali National Park on board the local bus.
• Our park guide will entertain us with stories about the park and point out the wildlife as we make our way along the single lane gravel road into the park.
• In the afternoon passengers have the option of glacier or helicopter flights to Mt Mckinley

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 6. Talkeetna, AK

• Continuing south along the George Parks Highway, a short drive takes us to the quintessential Alaskan village of Talkeetna.
• Talkeetna is the jumping off point for climbers scaling the Alaskan Range especially the Big One "Mt McKInley"
• We'll visit the local mountaineering museum before heading to our lodge Accommodation
• In the evening passengers can enjoy an Alaskan Beer at the local watering hole and meet some of the colourful local residents of the area.

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 7. Mat Su Valley, AK

• Today we continue on our final leg south along the George Parks Highway.
• Turning off the highway we plunge into the Alaskan wilderness climbing the Talkeetna Mountains to Hatcher Pass and, crisscrossing old mining roads to get to our wilderness lodge.
• After we check into the lodge passengers will be able to hike and walk the numerous trails in the area and visit the historic Independence Mine State Preserve.
• The Independence Mine offers visitors a chance to see the remainders of a once thriving Gold Mining operation. The Independence Mine was one of Alaska's greatest gold producers.

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals: Hot Breakfast

Day 8. Mat Su Valley, AK

• Today passengers can enjoy the wilderness retreat of the lodge, hiking, walking,

• Optional: mountain bike rentals, horseback riding, glacier trekking and helicopter tours.

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 9. Mat Su Valley, AK (Day trip to Anchorage)

• Today we head to the big city of Anchorage to do some sightseeing. We'll tour TurnAgain Arm, Cook and Beluga Point, Lake Hood, Earthquake Park and Cook lookout.
• Passengers will have the afternoon to explore, shop and partake in optional citifies such as visiting local museums, and bike rentals.

Accommodation: 3 star Lodge

Meals : Breakfast included

Day 10. Glennallen, AK

• We depart our wilderness and head east along the Glennallen Highway to Lake Louise area. Here we will check into our historic rustic Alaskan Lodge.
• Along route we'll stop at the   Musk Ox Farm and tour the giant beasts of the far north.
• Wildlife viewing at the lodge include caribou, trumpeter swans, wolves, black and brown bears, moose, fox and wolverine.
• In the evening passengers can enjoy a swim in the local lake

Accommodation: Rustic Lodge 2 star

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 11. Glennallen, AK (Day trip to Valdez)

• Today we head over Thompson Pass to the seaside town of Valdez
• We'll stop at the spectacular Worthington Glacier and Keystone Canyon.
• Passengers will have option of taking a glacier cruise to the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, fishing or hiking.

Accommodation: Rustic Lodge 2 star

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 12. Tok, AK

• Leaving our wilderness lodge we head north to the town of Tok
• Enroute we'll stop at the Copper Centre historic roadhouse and view the towering peaks of Wrangell-St.Elias National Park.

Accommodation: Motel

Meals: Hot breakfast

Day 13. Haines Junction, YT

• Today's long drive takes us all the way back to Canada and through Kluane National Park. We overnight in Haines Junction at a local motel.
• We'll enjoy a group night for dinner out to say our good-byes and exchange information.

Accommodation; Motel

Meals: Hot breakfast, Farewell dinner

Day 14. Whitehorse, YT

• On our last day passengers will have the option of trying out some white-water rafting on the Tatshenshini River or hiking in Kluane National Park
• Late in the afternoon a short drive takes us back to Whitehorse for 5:00 pm.

Accommodation: None; tour ends at 5:00 pm. Drop-off is at High Country Inn

Meals: Hot breakfast

Hotel Tours of Alaska with Midnight Sun Adventure Travel

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