Alaska Tour

Alaska Tour

May 29 to June 6, 2006

(other departure dates also available, see below)

Here is the tour which I have long waited to offer, a glacier wonderland, 10 days, 9 nights by the Arctic Circle...

• Four night Prince William Sound Cruise
• Two nights at Denali National Park (Mt. McKinley)
• Tundra Wilderness Tour
• Sightseeing in Anchorage and Fairbanks
• See huge Glaciers, find whales, sea otters, grizzly bears and more.
• Travel by cruise ship, motor coach, domed railcars, riverboat and more.

We will be in the expert hands of Cruise West, the small boat people (intimate, informal, relaxed).   I have been using them for years on the Columbia River.

Cost, depending on cabin selection and time of enrollment: from $2799, up to $3899. (2005 prices)  Flights, in to Anchorage and out of Fairbanks are on your own. (We can help you get tickets.)

Call me at 800 836 2128 to enroll or to receive color brochure.

Join me on this unforgettable, very special tour.

Click Here for details about our ship. This page shows cabin layouts, and there is also a printable version (shows enlarged details).

Note: Here is why you should enroll early (right away!)

1. The Spirit of Columbia is a small, intimate vessel; only 39 cabins. These will go quickly
2. Your cost benefits will depend upon early enrollment.

Cabin costs per person, double occupancy, are as follows (2005 prices shown):

Category C ----- $3099

Category B ----- $3149

Category A ----- $3649

Category AAA --$3899

Then, from these prices deduct the following:

Enroll by December 10 of this year, deduct $200

Pay in full by December 10 deduct $100

(if you are a member of AARP there is an additional $100 deduction available towards on board expenses or tips.)

Most meals, but not all, are included. During the four day cruise all meals are included.

Daily Itinerary:

Sunday, May 29

Arrive in Anchorage. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel.

Monday, May 30

From Anchorage travel by motorcoach down beautiful Turnagain Arm to Whittier. Your route is along beautiful Turnagain Arm, famous for its sweeping tidal changes, in the shadow of the Chugach Range. Keep watch for the sure-footed Dall sheep that nibble grass on the steep cliffs overhead.

Arrive in Whittier where the crew welcomes you aboard the Spirit of Columbia, your home for the next four nights. The ship departs for seldom visited areas of Prince William Sound and will anchor in a secluded cove.

Tuesday, May 31

College Fjord and Esther Passage. Wake up near the face of a glacier in College Fjord. You will ease close to the active faces of numerous glaciers that calve icebergs into the sea.

Continue on to narrow Esther Passage, a waterway only small ships can navigate. Playful sea otters live here and your captain knows where the best sightings will be found. The whiskery otters are often floating placidly on their backs in a bed of kelp, dining on crab. In Eaglek Bay you may welcome onboard a local oyster farmer who will share tales of her unique life in the wilderness.

Wednesday, June 1

Cordova. Make a port call at tiny Cordova. This fishing village, which is inaccessible by highway, has become world famous for its Copper River Salmon. An included sightseeing tour of Cordova highlights area history, including a stop at the delta of the mighty Copper Rier. If you have energy to burn, there are optional wilderness tours including sea kayaking, hiking and river rafting.

Thursday, June 2

Chenga Glacier and Knight Island. Today explore southwest Prince William Sound, where sculpted wilderness islands lie offshore from the craggy mountains of the Kenai Peninsula. Narrow Icy Bay leads toward a stunning glacier experience at the head of the fjord. Watch for seals on the icebergs and mountain goats on the cliff faces. Later enjoy "gunkholing" around the nearby islands - a term for poking around the next corner just to see what's there.

Friday, June 3

Arrive back in Whittier. After a cruise past a kittiwake colony, disembark the Spirit of Columbia at Whittier. Transfer to a motorcoach for your trip back to Anchorage. Sightseeing in Anchorage features the extraordinary Alaska Native Heritage Center. Dinner is included at the Sheraton.

Saturday, June 4

Anchorage to Denali via motorcoach and rail. Meet your Exploration Leader who will accompany you to Denali Park and Fairbanks. Board a motorcoach to travel north to Talkeenta, where you will board deluxe domed railcars to continue your journey toward Denali Park. Sweeping views are everywhere as you cross over Hurricane Gulch and Broad Pass. Stay overnight at a comfortable Denali hotel.

Sunday, June 5

Tundra Wilderness Tour. Denali's wild landscape is the natural habitat of bears, Dall sheep, moose and many other mammals. Watch for views of Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. You will have time for some optional adventures such as flightseeing by helicopter or bush plane, whitewater rafting and float trips, horseback riding and more. Dinner will be enjoyed at the lively Music of Denali dinner theatre.

Monday, June 6

Denali to Fairbanks via motorcoach. Drive north to Fairbanks, just over 100 miles from the Arctic Circle. Sightseeing features a delightful riverboat excursion on the Chena and Tanana Rivers, University of Alaska Museum and lunch. Enjoy a farewell dinner at Pike's Waterfront Lodge.

Tuesday, June 7

Transfer to the Fairbanks airport for your flight home.

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additional departure dates to be announced