Alaskan Explorer

Day 1 London - Anchorage Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Gatwick, for a scheduled Icelandair flight to Anchorage via Reykjavik. Upon arrival we transfer to the Hilton Anchorage (4T) for an overnight stay. Day 2 Anchorage - Alaska Railroad - Denali Today we board the Alaska Railroad train, taking our seats in the dome railcar for the scenic transfer to Denali National Park. Our journey takes us almost eight hours, via Talkeetna and passes small communities, the native village of Eklutna, Wasilla and Talkeetna. There are endless scenic photo opportunities including the mighty Matanuska River, Hurricane Gulch and of course Denali which becomes more and more visible. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Denali Bluff Hotel (3T) or the Denali Park Village Lodge (3T). Day 3 Denali National Park At some 6 million acres, including the surrounding preserve, Denali National Park offers excellent chances for seeing wildlife, including moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. The soaring Mount Denali divides the park into north and south sides. Today is free for you to relax and make your own explorations or join an optional excursion to discover the natural wonders of the park on a Tundra Wilderness Tour. Day 4 Denali - Girdwood Today we board your coach for your scenic transfer to the resort town of Girdwood, home of Mount Alyeska. En route visit the Iditarod Headquarters to learn all about the ‘Last Great Race’. Upon arrival in Girdwood, check into the Hotel Alyeska (4T), and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure for optional excursions, relaxing at the resort or exploring on your own. Day 5 Girdwood - Seward This morning we take the scenic ride on the Alyeska Tram to the top of Mount Alyeska for unforgettable views of the Turnagain Arm and the endless peaks deep into the Chugach Mountain range. Later this morning, we board our coach and make our way along the Seward Highway to the coastal community of Seward. Upon arrival we embark Holland America Line’s MS Noordam (4T) to commence our Alaskan cruise. Day 6 At sea Enjoy a day at sea, to relax and familiarise with the surroundings on board MS Noordam. Enrichment programmes with naturalists and park rangers ensure that you can make the most of your Alaskan cruise. Day 7 Cruise Glacier Bay Take in the aesthetic barrage of Glacier Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wonder to behold. When a monumental chunk of ice splits off a glacier and thunders into the sea, the impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. Indeed, Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world. Day 8 Haines Nestled on the shores of America's longest fjord, Haines is in a spectacular setting. Perhaps fill your day with a float trip through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve which protects the habitat of the nation's avian symbol, or visit the Sheldon Museum, art galleries and local shops in town. Optional high-speed catamaran access for shopping and excursions in Skagway will also be available. Day 9 Juneau No roads lead to Juneau, which gives the Alaskan capital a misty inscrutability. Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on the Gastineau Channel, the town has the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields at its back door and is the place to let your imagination run wild. Explore the lush Tongass National Forest; visit the rustic shops in town; or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee or fish. There’s no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. Climb aboard the Mount Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike. Day 10 Ketchikan Ketchikan clutches the shores of the Tongass Narrows, with many shops and houses built right out over the water. Besides the main attractions - Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park and Saxman Village, try a flightseeing trip to breathtaking Misty Fjords National Monument - a transformational adventure not to be missed. These deep water fjords left by retreating glaciers left granite cliffs towering thousands of feet above the sea and countless waterfalls cascading into placid waters. The souvenir photos you'll take from the pontoons of the plane are worth the trip alone. Day 11 Scenic Cruising (Canada’s Inside Passage) Watch the dramatic coastline of south-central Alaska roll by, and witness the serene beauty of the Inside Passage. This is a peaceful and picturesque ‘marine highway’ between British Columbia’s islands and mainland, characterised by intricate fjords, dense forests and snow-draped mountains. Keep an eye out too for the wildlife that calls this region home - harbour seals, humpback whales and swooping eagles. Day 12 Vancouver We arrive into the beautiful waterfront city of Vancouver this morning and disembark to enjoy a guided city tour which introduces its standout highlights before we check into our well-located hotel, the Westin Bayshore (4T) or Hampton Inn (3T). Day 13 Vancouver - In flight Time for shopping or more exploration of this cosmopolitan city, before we transfer to the airport for a scheduled Icelandair flight to London, via Reykjavik. Day 14 London Arrival at London Gatwick, where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.