“A very well organized tour which gave us a remarkable experience of an amazing state – ALASKA.” Becky & Chris – Stillwater, MN
Day 1 – Home to Anchorage, AK
We fly to Anchorage today, and meet our coach driver/guide. We’ll make a lunch stop, then we’ll experience a fish hatchery tour before a stop at the native Alaskan ULU Factory for an interesting knife demonstration and shopping. We check into our hotel for the next two nights. Relax, unpack, and join us for dinner at one of our favorite Anchorage restaurants.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Anchorage (2 Nights)
Day 2 – Anchorage
Today we take a day trip to Whittier, Alaska to experience Prince William Sound from the water’s perspective. Get ready for an adventure as we take a cruise with a naturalist guide who will help us spot bald eagles, common murres, cormorants, kittiwakes, and other various birds. Steller sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, orca & humpback whales, and porpoise are also common sights. Listen for the unmistakable rumbling of a calving glacier, waiting for the moment when a huge block of ice crashes into the sea. We will discover a waterfall & glaciers up-close! We enjoy a luncheon onboard. This will be a day you will long remember! We’ll head back to Anchorage tonight.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Anchorage to Seward, AK
Today we’ll journey to Seward, AK. We’ll travel the picturesque Seward Highway with several scenic stops along the way. Then we check into the historic Hotel Seward located in central downtown. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a meal together at a lodge outside of Seward. You’ll have time under the midnight sun to check out this port city set on an inlet on the Kenai Peninsula.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hotel Seward (2 Nights)
Day 4 – Seward
Today we’ll experience a narrated, 4.5-hour natural history and wildlife cruise through Resurrection Bay and its surrounding waters. Marvel at the hanging glaciers of Thumbs Cove and the awe-inspiring Bear Glacier, the largest in Kenai Fjords National Park, originating from the vast Harding Icefield. These stunning landscapes provide the perfect setting for unforgettable photos! Keep an eye out for horned and tufted puffins, common murres, bald eagles, and other pelagic seabirds. Sail past Steller sea lion haul-outs and explore lush coves like Emerald and God’s Pocket. As we journey through the nutrient-rich, pristine waters, watch for sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, orcas, and humpback whales. Listen closely for the iconic call of “There she blows!” An included lunch will be served on board as we take in the magnificent sights. Once we depart our cruise for the day in late afternoon, you’ll be able to explore more of Seward and have dinner on your own downtown.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 – Seward to Homer, AK
After breakfast we’ll spend some time at Exit Glacier, derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains. Departing, we’ll stop for lunch on your own along the way in Soldotna. We’ll continue to Homer, AK, known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World and our home for the next two nights. We’ll visit the Norman Lowell Art Gallery where we’ll be awed by the breathtaking masterpieces of this talented resident artist of Alaska. Then check into the Aspen Hotel for two nights.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Aspen Hotel (2 Nights)
Day 6 – Homer
Sleep in this morning or take a walk in downtown Homer before we head to where the action is, the Homer Spit; filled with restaurants, gift shops, and wonderful spots along the marinas for watching the fishing boats come and go. You might take the opportunity for an optional halibut fishing excursion if you’d like. If you choose not to join the fishing excursion, there is much to explore in and around Homer. We’ll gather as a group once the fisherman return, for a pizza party and fishing stories.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Fairbanks to Valdez, AK
Today we’ll enjoy breakfast then head out for an adventure cruise across Prince William Sound from Whittier to Valdez, aboard a narrated cruise through the sound. See beautiful glaciers, abundant wildlife and unprecedented scenery along the route. We’ll enjoy dinner on board then arrive in Valdez and check into our hotel. Valdez is a spectacular place that’s “untouched yet within reach”. Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is a mix of tidewater glacier, rainforests, and the majestic Chugach Mountains. Valdez offers unparallelled natural scenery matched only by the abundant activities offered throughout the year. We only have a short time in Valdez to explore the area, but thankfully we’re in the Land of the Midnight Sun!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Totem Hotel
Day 8 – Valdez to Fairbanks, AK
Today is a travel day through the heart of Alaska past some of the most breathtaking scenery as we make our way on Richardson Highway from Valdez to Fairbanks. Even though the travel time is an investment, like most Alaskan highways, the views are incredibly rewarding. In fact, there are two 100 mile sections that have been designated as State Scenic Byways, with views of glaciers, towering mountain ranges, and more! We’ll stop for lunch in Big Delta. Arriving in Fairbanks, we’ll check into the Bear Lodge for three nights.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Bear Lodge (3 Nights)
Day 9 – Fairbanks
Today is filled with a variety of sights and even a chance for some adventures on your own if you choose! We’ve got a full day packed, first we’re off to a local reindeer ranch for some reindeer education and a chance to walk with the animals. After lunch on your own, there will be Christmas themed shopping at Santa’s House in North Pole, Alaska. Check out the huge displays of ornaments, clothing, and Christmas-themed gifts. Maybe even get the Santa letters ordered for your grandkids! Then we’ll make a stop at the Morris Thompson Cultural Visitor Center and at Golden Heart Plaza. We’ll return to our hotel early enough to enjoy some free time on your own to tour the Antique Auto Museum on the resort grounds, or join the rafting adventure. *If you prefer to forego all that makes up our tour today to partake in some optional adventure challenges, today is your chance! Visit with the R&J office once you’ve made your tour reservation and we can help you get signed up for the side by side and/or rafting excursions! Don’t wait as excursion space is extremely limited. These costs are not included in your tour price and will be an additional cost to you.*
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 – Fairbanks
Board the Sternwheeler “Discovery” for an exciting cruise along the scenic Chena and Tanana Rivers. You’ll hear native guides share their unique culture and traditions at a recreated Athabascan Indian Camp. You’ll also see sled dog demonstrations along the way. Lunch is at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge. Later visit the Gold Dredge 8 and learn about goldmining techniques and its colorful history. And you’ll have your own opportunity to pan for gold. We’ll gather tonight for an authentic Alaskan salmon bake.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 – Fairbanks to Denali National Park, AK
Today we’ll have breakfast then we’ll motor in luxury on the beautiful Parks Highway towards Denali National Park. We’ll first make a special stop in Healy to travel like the Alaskan pioneers did, in horse-drawn covered wagons! As we’re pulled through the Alaska tundra by draft horses, with the mountains of Denali National Park looming nearby, our guide will share the history, culture, and environmental features of the area. We’ll finish our horse-drawn tour with a family-style meal in the heart of the backcountry! Back on the coach, our journey into Alaska’s grand interior gives us an idea of how vast the “last frontier” really is. Then we’ll continue on to our hotel nestled amongst the beautiful scenery and wilderness of Denali National Park. Join us this evening for an Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner and Entertainment.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Denali Park Village
Day 12 – Denali National Park to Anchorage, AK
Early morning is the best time to see wildlife in the park, so off we go deep into Denali National Park on a bright & early Tundra Wildlife Tour. Keep in mind that you are entering a self contained undisturbed preserve and the animals are in their natural habitat. This is truly an experience to remember as you may see your first wild grizzly bear, wolf, moose, or dall sheep. If weather permits, you may see Denali towering over 20,320 feet. We’ll then drive from the park to the charming village of Talkeena where we’ll board the Wilderness Express Dome Train for some spectacular views as we rail to Anchorage! Dinner is served aboard the train.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Anchorage
Day 13 – Anchorage to Home
This morning we’ll head north to the Iditarod Trail Headquarters to learn about the “Last Great Race.” This afternoon we’ll visit the 25-acre Alaska Native Heritage Center and tour this museum devoted to the unique cultures and traditions that make up this great state. Tonight we’ll enjoy one last farewell meal together at a local favorite, The Peanut Farm, before our coach drops us at the airport for our overnight flight home.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14 – Arrive Home
Arrive bright & early to the MSP airport after a Grand Alaska Tour!
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Roundtrip airfare from MSP including baggage fees, all taxes & surcharges approx. $100 per person included, 26 Meals, all hotels & activities as stated in brochure, Expert Local Driver/Guides incl. their Tips.
07/13/2025 07/26/2025
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
Anchorage
Native American history at multiple venues!
Denali National Park/Fairbanks
Morning is the best time to see wildlife in the park, so we travel deep into Denali National Park on a Tundra Wildlife Tour. Keep in mind that you are entering a self contained undisturbed preserve and the animals are in their natural habitat. Truly an experience to remember as you may see your first wild grizzly bear, wolf, moose, or dall sheep. If weather permits, you may see Denali towering over 20,320 feet. Travel in style aboard the Wilderness Express Railroad to Anchorage in domed railcars for the best views. While in Fairbanks, pan for gold & enjoy a sternwheeler river cruise.
Prince William Sound Cruise
We’ll cruise twice in the sound: First exploring the beauty and grandeur of breathtaking scenery, towering waterfalls, massive glaciers and wildlife such as: eagles, harbor seals, otters and whales. Floating among the icebergs gives us plenty of time to take in Mother Nature’s glorious ice sculptures. Listen to the glaciers as they groan and crack, an indication that enormous sections of ice are about to calve off and splash into the bay! Later in the tour we’ll take an across-the-sound narrated cruise from Whittier to Valdez as we journey to Fairbanks.
Kenai Peninsula
We’ll cruise magnificent Resurrection Bay and experience lunch onboard before heading along the Sterling Highway to the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, Homer, for more discovery & maybe a whole lot of fishing! Continue along one of America’s most scenic roads, the Seward Highway, to the lovely village of Seward. Drive along Turnagain Arm, a fjord of water which boasts some of the highest tide waters in the world, keeping an eye out for Beluga whales.
