Day 1:
Arrive in Anchorage. Welcome to Alaska! Meet your Tour Director this evening between 5 pm and 8 pm in the hotel reception area.

Day 2:
Anchorage–Denali National Park. Traveling north into the majestic wilds of Alaska, visit the IDITAROD HEADQUARTERS, home of the world-famous dogsled race. Arrive in Talkeetna, the jumping-off point for climbers attempting to summit Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet. Board the historic ALASKA RAILROAD for a scenic trip to Denali National Park. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. (B,D)

Day 3:
Denali National Park. This morning, a guided tour takes you into the 6-million-acre DENALI NATIONAL PARK to explore the majestic wilderness and seek out grizzly bear, caribou, moose, and other wildlife! Your afternoon is free for optional adventures such as float trips, a dogsled demonstration, a helicopter ride over the park, or a delicious dinner and rollicking musical comedy performed in a camp house reminiscent of the Gold Rush era. (B,L)

Day 4:
Denali National Park–Fairbanks. Travel into the heart of Alaska to Fairbanks, where you will enjoy lunch at the historic Pump House restaurant on the banks of the Chena River. The afternoon and evening are at leisure in Fairbanks. (B,L)

Day 5:
Fairbanks. This morning, board the sternwheeler Discovery for a CRUISE on the Chena and Tanana Rivers with a stop at a recreated Chena Indian Village to learn about Athabascan native culture. Later, visit the UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA–FAIRBANKS MUSEUM during your Fairbanks city tour, and also stop at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. (B)

Day 6:
Fairbanks–Dawson City. Continuing the journey into Gold Rush history, motor over the Top of the World Highway and enter the Yukon. Passing through the village of Chicken, today promises to be filled with breathtaking scenery. Tonight, you have reservations at DIAMOND TOOTH GERTIE’S, featuring ragtime music, can-can girls, and an old-fashioned casino. (B)

Day 7:
Dawson City. Today, step back in time at the site of CLAIM #1, where the first gold strike was made. Continue to an old GOLD DREDGE to learn how gold changed this land forever and to try your own hand at gold panning! Next, stop at the DÄNOJÀ ZHO CULTURAL CENTRE for a tour on the First Nations’ traditions and culture over the past 100 years. (B)

Day 8:
Dawson–Whitehorse. Today, trace the trail of the gold seekers on their way to the Klondike. View the Five Finger Rapids, which once posed a major obstacle to the hordes of fortune seekers stampeding into the Yukon. Your day concludes in Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon. (B,D)

Day 9:
Whitehorse. A city tour stops at the YUKON BERINGIA INTERPRETIVE CENTRE, where you can meet the ice-age giant mammals that once ruled the ancient subcontinent. Stop at the SS KENO RIVERBOAT and learn about its importance on the Yukon River in the Gold Rush days. Later, head to Whitehorse’s premier dogsled facility, UNCOMMON JOURNEYS, where you will personally meet the huskies and their trainers. Here, learn about the training and care of Alaskan Huskies as well as the lifestyle required to race in world-famous competitions such as the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. (B)

Day 10:
Whitehorse–Tok. Return to Alaska, traveling through the rugged mountains of KLUANE NATIONAL PARK, home to 19,625-foot Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. Continue on the Alaska Highway to Tok, the “Dog Sled Capital of the World.” (B)

Day 11:
Tok–Valdez. Head to Alaska’s southernmost ice-free port, Valdez, home of the Alyeska Pipeline Terminal. As you travel toward some of the highest coastal mountains in the world, enjoy views of Thompson Pass, Worthington Glacier, and Bridal Veil Falls before arriving in the “Switzerland of Alaska”—Valdez. Visit the unique VALDEZ MUSEUM late this afternoon. (B)

Day 12:
Valdez–Whittier–Anchorage. Board a BOAT today and get a closer look at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal, the 3-mile face of Columbia Glacier, and the playful sea life of PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND. Keep your eyes open for eagles, whales, mountain goats, dolphins, and sea lions! This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at the Alyeska Prince Hotel before returning to Anchorage. (B,L,D)

Day 13:
Anchorage–Seward (Embarkation). Transfer to the pier to embark on your Holland America cruise ship, the MS Statendam or MS Zaandam. (B,D)

Day 14:
Scenic Cruising: Gulf of Alaska. Enjoy breathtaking scenery as we travel the route of Alaska’s Marine Highway. The entire shoreline of the Gulf of Alaska is a rugged combination of forests, mountains, and tidewater glaciers. Be on the lookout for Alaska’s wildlife including whales, seals, otters, puffins and more. (B,L,D)

Day 15:
Scenic Cruising: Glacier Bay. This Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site protects a unique ecosystem of plants and animals living in an ever-changing glacial landscape. Here, witness an amazing spectacle of thunder and flying spray as tremendous slabs of ice break off and “calve” into the sea—making for lasting memories. National Park rangers accompany the ship to add expert commentary to the day’s events. (B,L,D)

Day 16:
Haines. Nestled on the shores of America’s longest fjord, Haines enjoys a spectacular setting. You may choose to fill your day with a float trip through Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the largest annual gathering of Bald Eagles, the nation’s avian symbol. Or, visit the Sheldon Museum, art galleries, and local shops in town. (B,L,D)

Day 17:
Juneau. Visit one of the most scenic and remote capital cities—Juneau. Accessible only by air and water, Juneau is located at the base of two towering mountains in the heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage, and is home to a rich Gold Rush history, Native culture, wildlife, and a wealth of natural wonders. Step ashore to shop for gold nuggets; visit the stately Governor’s Mansion; saunter through the swinging doors of the Red Dog Saloon, the city’s famous watering hole; or visit mighty Mendenhall Glacier, an impressive river of ice that is 12 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. (B,L,D)

Day 18:
Ketchikan. Experience Native Alaska firsthand. Meet the spirits of the raven, whale, and eagle as you view the largest collection of totems in the world at Saxman Totem Park or Totem Bight State Historic Park. Or, explore Creek Street, now home to contemporary art galleries and quaint boutiques. (B,L,D)

Day 19:
Scenic Cruising: Inside Passage. Sit back and relax as you cruise through the beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery of the Inside Passage. Keep your cameras ready for spouting whales, soaring eagles, barking seals, and other wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 20:
Vancouver (Disembarkation). Airport transfers are provided. Please schedule flights after Noon. (B)