Day 1(Tuesday) – Fly to Anchorage, AK: Today your Alaskan adventure begins upon arrival in Anchorage. If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, you will be welcomed in the baggage claim area by a Holland America representative, and they will transfer you to the hotel. Overnight: Hilton Anchorage (or similar accommodations)
Day 2(Wednesday) – Palmer & the Great Alaska State Fair: This morning we drive to the agricultural community of Palmer, where we visit the 110-acre Palmer Botanical Gardens. Also included is a visit to the Musk Ox Farm, a family owned farm that specializes in providing fine yarns and fibers. Next, we visit the Great Alaska State Fair, an annual exposition jam-packed with Alaskan-size produce competitions, homemade food, crafts and plenty of fair-fun. Enjoy time on your own to explore your favorite fair booths and exhibits. Overnight: Hilton Anchorage (or similar accommodations)
Day 3(Thursday) – McKinley Explorer Train to Denali National Park: This morning we board the famous McKinley Explorer from downtown Anchorage. Relax, gaze through the large picture windows, and watch the magnificent Alaskan wilderness unfold before you. Mid-afternoon we arrive at Denali National Park, home to Mount McKinley (Denali), at 20,300-feet, the tallest peak in North America. This vast six million acre park offers a wide expanse of wilderness filled with the Alaskan Big Five – grizzly bear, moose, caribou, wolf and Dall sheep. There is time to explore on your own, or take one of the optional park tours. Overnight: McKinley Chalet Resort or McKinley Village Lodge (or similar accommodations)
Day 4(Friday) – Denali National Park: The entire day is devoted to exploring this magnificent and massive wilderness. Travel 54 miles into the park to the Toklat River rest area on the included Tundra Wilderness Bus Tour. Incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants await you on this tour. Tonight, enjoy a few laughs at the Alaska Cabin Night dinner theater (optional extra). Overnight: McKinley Chalet Resort or McKinley Village Lodge (or similar accommodations)
Day 5(Saturday) – Denali to Anchorage: Today we motorcoach south to Anchorage, stopping before leaving Denali to see the Alaska Veteran’s Memorial. In the afternoon visit the Iditarod Headquarters to learn about the “Last Great Race on Earth,” the 1050-mile dogsled race across Alaska. Tour Havemeister Dairy Farm, the only working dairy farm remaining from the original Palmer colony and learn about early Alaskan pioneers. Overnight: Hilton Anchorage (or similar accommodations)
Day 6(Sunday) – Seward and Embark Holland America Cruise: This morning drive south along the Chugach Mountains to Resurrection Bay and the coastal town of Seward. Here we tour the Alaska Sealife Center, a modern 56 million-dollar interactive marine exhibition and research center. Learn about Alaska’s marine ecosystem, including the fascinating native Stellar sea lions, puffins, starfish and squid. You have time to explore this picturesque town at your leisure before we transfer to the cruise terminal for embarkation onto the ms Statendam, your home for the next seven nights.
Your cruise ship: The ms Statendam is a spacious 1260-passenger ship with a wide range of on-board facilities including a library, fitness center, spa, children’s activity rooms, a Culinary Arts Center, Wine Tasting Room, numerous dining venues, and a variety of lounges with nightly entertainment. There’s even a casino and a movie theater. Enjoy three delicious meals a day included during your cruise.
Day 7(Monday) – At Sea, Prince William Sound: Cruise the pristine waters of Prince William Sound, named in 1778 by George Vancouver to honor George III's son. Be on the lookout for sea otters, seals, porpoises and whales. More than 200 species of birds inhabit the Sound, including the most commonly sighted Bald Eagle.
Day 8(Tuesday, Sept. 06) – Glacier Bay (10:00 AM - 7:00 PM): Today we experience the dramatic sights and sounds of Glacier Bay – watching as monumental chunks of ice split off glaciers and crash into the sea. It sounds like thunder as ice ‘calves’ off these tidewater glaciers and then shoots water up hundreds of feet in the air when they hit the water. Gaze around you at the glaciers, snow-capped mountains, deep fjords and freshwater rivers of Glacier Bay National Park. A Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is a unique ecosystem hosting a mosaic of plants and animals living amidst this ever-changing natural landscape. Have your camera at the ready throughout the day as we cruise through this 60-mile passage of nature’s grandeur.
Day 9(Wednesday) – Haines (6:30 AM - 9:00 PM): Haines sits in a spectacular setting; nestled on the shores of America’s longest fjord, and home to an incredible array of more than 100 indigenous Alaskan animals including moose, bear, wolves, and most notably, the American Bald Eagle. Site of Fort William Seward, the first permanent US Army post in Alaska, Haines played an important role in US expansion north. You have the day to explore the town, with its native art galleries, local shops, and the historic Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center. Optional shore excursions include up-close wildlife encounters; river trips by raft or kayak; a Chikoot Lake cruise; Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve river excursions and more.
Day 10(Thursday) – Juneau (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM): Today’s port-of-call is Alaska’s state capital city. Sitting at the foot of snowcapped Mt. Juneau, next to the massive Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau Icefields, this remote yet developed destination offers a variety of activities. Explore the city, nicknamed “Little San Francisco” because of its narrow streets and multicolored houses that hug the hillside. Take the Mt. Roberts Tramway up 1800 feet for incredible panoramic views, and to explore the mountaintop complex with its extensive trail system, Nature Center, bald eagle exhibit, bear viewing platforms, shop and craft displays. Optional shore excursions include sea kayaking or rafting; flight-seeing by helicopter or seaplane; dog sledding; fly-fishing; whale-watching; gold-panning; and much more!
Day 11(Friday) – Ketchikan (12:00 PM - 8:00 PM): Eye-catching and inviting, this distinctive city was built on stilts over the water, with a boardwalk and weathered stairways that cling to the granite cliff shores of Tongass Narrows. There’s plenty to see in this unique fishing port town: stroll along the picturesque waterfront district, visit the Tongass Historical Museum, and wander through the former “Red Light” district with its gold shops, gift boutiques, and restaurants. Ketchikan is also home to the world’s largest collection of Native American totem poles. Optional shore excursions include flight-seeing to breathtaking Misty Fjords National Monument; jetboating; salmon fishing; a jeep, canoe or kayak safari; visiting the Native Saxman Village and more.
Day 12(Saturday) – Scenic Inside Passage Cruising: Enjoy your last day on board the ship while we cruise through the fabled Inside Passage, one of the most scenic sea-lanes in the world. Sail close to the steep mountain walls, beside forests colored with a hundred shades of green, waterfalls, and tumbling turquoise glaciers. When explorer John Muir first sailed the Inside Passage, he could hardly tear himself away from the railing for fear of missing some new marvel. “Never before,” he wrote, “have I been embosomed in scenery so hopelessly beyond description.” Tonight enjoy your last evening aboard the ship.
Day 13(Sunday) – Disembarkation in Vancouver, BC, to Seattle and City Tour: We disembark this morning in Vancouver, Canada, then coach south across the US border to Seattle. Our knowledgeable driver/ guide will show you all the highlights of this landmark city. See the iconic Space Needle, the bustling waterfront and have time to meander through colorful Pike Place Market. Overnight: Holiday Inn Renton (or similar accommodations in the Seattle area)
Day 14(Monday) – Depart for Home: Today you are transferred to the Seattle Airport for your departing flight. Take home a suitcase full of memories and stories to share about your YMT Alaskan adventure!
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I was so impressed with all the knowledge that was provided. All together, it was a lovely experience and I look forward to doing more tours with you folks.
- J. Drinan, FL