Day 1:
Calgary
Canada’s North and Alaska hold a wonderful fascination for all travelers! The Alaska Highway was built in 1942 and opened up the North for modern-day adventurers. Stunning vistas, friendly towns and cities, plenty of history with a goodly supply of adventure- join us on a journey to explore the Yukon and Alaska! Plan to arrive in Calgary by 5:00 PM today. Airport transfers included. Join your tour director and traveling companions this evening for a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Calgary – Grande Prairie
“North to Alaska!” as you travel through central Alberta to Peace River Country. Grand Prairie, northern Alberta’s most progressive city, is today’s destination.
Day 3: Grande Prairie - Fort Nelson
Dawson Creek, BC, marks the beginning of the legendary Alaska Highway- Mile “0” The entire highway is 1422 miles (2275 km) long. Continue northwest on the Alaska Highway over a rolling landscape, arriving in Fort Nelson for the night.
Day 4: Fort Nelson – Muncho Lake
Today’s journey traverses peaceful valleys and alpine meadows. We arrive at Muncho Lake – known as the Northern Rocky Mountains - just in time for lunch. The afternoon is free to enjoy this lakeside resort in the wilderness. Our coach will do an afternoon run to the nearby Liard Hot Springs Pools for those guests wishing to enjoy a soothing dip in the thermal hot springs. Optional guided fishing and hiking trips, or even a flightseeing tour can be arranged independently with the resort owners.
Day 5: Muncho Lake - Whitehorse
An incredible landscape unfolds today as you travel through the southern Yukon to it capital city, Whitehorse-a proud city with a unique combination of pioneer values and urban sophistication. On the way stop in at the “Sign Forest” at Watson lake browse the more than 10,000 signs brought by visitors from around the globe. Add your sign to this collection if you like. Optional: late afternoon cruise on the MV Schwadtka on the Yukon River. Historical evening entertainment at the Frantic Follies Show at the Westmark Hotel in Whitehorse.
Day 6: Whitehorse – Beaver Creek
Picturesque lakes and vast forests flank the route today en-route to colorful Haines Junction at the gateway to famous Kluane National Park. Travel the Alaska Highway with the magnificent St. Elias Range to the west and then along Kluane Lake. Pass historic Burwash Landing on your way to Beaver Creek. Overnight.
Day 7: Beaver Creek - Fairbanks
Continue along the Alcan Route into central Alaska, following the massive Tanana River valley with the towering Alaska Range to the south. A late-afternoon arrival is planned to Fairbanks, the state’s second- largest city, for a two-night stay.
Day 8: Fairbanks
The Binkley family welcomes you aboard the Riverboat Discovery for a leisurely and informative journey and cruise along the banks of the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Explore on your own this afternoon before joining the group for dinner and entertainment at Alaska Land this evening.
Day 9: Fairbanks – Denali National Park - Anchorage
Depart today from Fairbanks to Denali National Park, home to more than 40 species of mammals and 155 species of birds. Here you will be hosted to a guided 4 hour natural history tour of the Park. Be sure to bring a camera to record the magnificent Mount McKinley: North America’s highest peak. After lunch, we carry on to Anchorage, Alaska’s most cosmopolitan and largest city.
Day 10: Anchorage – Prince William Sound - Glenallen
En-route to the town of Whittier; the departure point of today’s cruise, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This organization is dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wild animals. Later, enjoy an incredible sightseeing journey as you cruise the calm protected waters of Prince William Sound to see as many as 26 glaciers in one day! See magnificent tidewater glaciers calving into the sea and watch for sea otters, seal, humpback and orca whales, and over 200 species of birds that inhabit the Sound. Today’s experience will surely be one of the many highlights of your travels through Alaska!
Day 11: Glenallen - Tok
The scenery continues to fascinate as you drive through Alaska’s great farming country in the Matanuska Valley to Glenallen. Skirt along Wrangell St. Elias National Park on the Glenn Highway to Tok Junction where you will overnight.
Day 12: Tok – Dawson City
Leave Alaska today and return to the Yukon, as we travel through the lonely and remote lands of the “Top of World Highway”. Many people consider this to be the highlight of their visit north as the breathtaking vistas typify the “Great Land”. Today’s destination is the historic center of the Klondike, Dawson City.
Day 13: Dawson City
With buildings faithfully maintained in period styling, the whole ambience of Dawson can only be described as “magical”. It was here that so many came in the late 1800’s seeking gold. This little village situated on the huge Yukon River will be the peak experience for many. You’ll visit an actual gold-mining dredge and try panning gold for yourself! If you’re a gambler, try your luck at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall this evening.
Day 14: Dawson City - Whitehorse
Southbound today, along the Klondike Highway and the mightly Yukon River with it’s Five Finger Rapids , you will pass Carmacks and Lake Laberge; made famous by Robert Services poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee” The evening is free to explore on your own.
Day 15: Whitehorse - Skagway
Later this morning we travel to Fraser BC where its “All Aboard” for the historic White Pass and Yukon Rail journey to Skagway, following the old White Pass Trail that thousands of gold seekers struggled on, on their way to the goldfields of the Yukon. The scenery here is breathtaking! On arrival in the Alaska port village of Skagway, we will check into our overnight accommodation. Later this evening we will be entertained at the Historic Musical Comedy of Skagway and its Legendary Con Man – Soapy Smith.”
Day 16: Skagway – (Inside Passage) Juneau - Skagway
Today we will cruise through the most spectacular part of the Inside Passage to Juneau. In Juneau there will be a city tour followed by a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier with enough free time left to shop before returning to Skagway. During the cruise we will be passing through waters that are home to the humpback and killer whales, Stellar sea lions, porpoise, harbor seals and hundreds of nesting bald eagles surrounded by cascading waterfalls and hanging glaciers. Hot beverages and a morning snack will be provided on the way to Juneau and on the return journey there will be bowls of hearty smoked salmon chowder for all our passengers.
Day 17: Skagway - Whitehorse
Today we have some free time in Skagway before we coach back to Whitehorse. When we arrive we will visit the SS Klondike National Historic Site and then go on to the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre and embark on a prehistoric journey when wooly mammoths and scimitar cats roamed Beringia.
Day 18: Whitehorse – Dease Lake (Cassiar Highway)
Today’s journey will take us along the famous Stewart-Cassiar Highway with it’s interesting and unique landscape. We will stop at Cassiar Mountain Jade Store for coffee; here you can see local jade being cut and polished before core continuing on to our overnight destination, Dease Lake.
Day 19: Dease Lake - Smithers
Today we continue our journey south passing by Mt. Edziza Park and the Glaciers en route to Smithers BC. Stopover at the native communities of Ksan and Hazelton with a impressive collection of historic totem poles.
Day 20: Smithers - Prince George
The Yellowhead Highway winds through the Coast Mountains and through the rich farmland of North-Central British Columbia. The vast forests and sparkling rivers create a wonderful panorama. Today’s destination is dynamic Prince George.
Day 21: Prince George – Jasper National Park
Continuing eastward today you will re-enter the great Canadian Rockies. Be sure to save some film for a shot of Mount Robson, one of Canada’s highest peaks. Enjoy the friendly ambience of the mountain community of Jasper for the balance of the day.
Day 22: Jasper – Icefield Parkway – Lake Louise
The Icefield’s Parkway is often referred to as the most scenic highway in the world. Towering mountains dotted with age-old glaciers, thundering waterfalls with their very own rainbows-today’s journey is definitely a feast for the eye. Explore Athabasca Glacier, the largest accessible glacier in the Rockies in a “Snocoach” . Later you will pay a visit to the beautiful Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Overnight in Lake Louise.
Day 23: Lake Louise - Calgary
This morning we will take a ride aboard the Lake Louise sightseeing gondola for a bird’s eye view of these mountains. A walk through the Wildlife Interpretive Centre will give you a better understanding of the wild animals that roam here. Afterwards, we journey on to the town of Banff, for a town tour and a “farewell luncheon” at the historic Banff Spring Hotel. Later, a brief guided tour of the hotel will introduce you to some of the folklore and history of this famous “Castle in the Rockies”. Your “Legendary Alaska and Canada” experience concludes today, with the transfer back to Calgary International Airport arriving there at approximately 3:30 pm for your journey home.