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ALASKAPASS BOOKING SERVICE $75 per itinerary
Custom Itinerary Preparation
After consulting with you, we develop a draft itinerary of your
Alaskan trip. Upon approval, we make basic reservations for transportation-ferry,
rail, motorcoach-including requesting a cabin aboard the marine
highway. Then we book lodging, optional tours and car rentals following
your itinerary. Your credit card (visa or mastercard) is required
to guarantee reservations for lodging and optional excursions.
We prepare a detailed final itinerary for you with confirmation
references, prices, cancellation policies, contact information
and departure times.
This is a list of the most popular programs based upon our own
travel research and comments from our customers.
Denali National Park
Consistently the most popular point of interest in Alaska. The
park can be very crowded. Advance reservations for tours and shuttles
are essential and required.
Important information:
. All shuttle bus trips offer some commentary about the park.
You must bring your own food and drinking water, as there are no
food facilities in the park. There are grocery stores at the park
entrance.
. Statistically July offers the best time of year to see Mt. McKinley
but overall Denali is only visible 20% of the time.
. The park and preserve are immense. There is only one "dead
end" road into the park. All trips return the same way they
went in.
. The farther you go into the park, the better your chances for
spotting wildlife but these are crowded school buses. On hot days
the road is dusty, on rainy days the road is muddy. Not everyone
enjoys a long trip into the park. In spite of the discomfort considering
the cost there is no better wildlife, scenery or natural history
tour on earth.
. Binoculars and extra film are essential.
SHUTTLE CHOICES
Park Shuttle to Eielson Visitor Center Approx. $28 per person.
About 7 hours
Morning and afternoon departures about 65 miles into the park.
Eielson offers outstanding viewing opportunities for Mt. McKinley.
(Weather permitting.) Probably the most popular.
Park Shuttle to Wonder Lake Approx. $35 per person. About 12 hours
(Two nights lodging required in the park area) This full day trip
goes about 30 miles further into the park. Wonder Lake offers a
postcard vantage of Denali . Requires one full day in Denali Park.
Park Shuttle to Toklat River Approx $18 per person. About 5 hours
Toklat River saves some time while still allowing views of Polychrome
Pass and Denali. (This is as far as the more costly "wildlife
tour" goes.) The best if you don't like school buses. Shorter
trip.
Denali Park Wildlife Tour Approx. $75 per person. about 6 hours
To Toklat River. A box lunch and hot chocolate are provided otherwise
very similar to the shuttle buses. If the shuttles are full, this
tour is a must.
Kantishna Wilderness Trails Approx. $115 p.p. about 12 hours
The most extensive one-day wildlife tour available takes you 96
miles into the park by Wonder Lake-to Kantishna Roadhouse. Lunch
at the roadhouse is included along with a short native cultural
program. The narrated tour makes stops for wildlife sightings and
scenic vistas as well as Eielson Visitor Center. A good value.
Denali Wilderness Lodges Usually, 3 days, 2 nights. Approx. $750-$1500
p.p.
Kantishna Roadhouse, Camp Denali or North Face Lodge each offer
slightly different experiences featuring the luxury of seclusion
in the preserve. Opportunities to view wildlife, and learn more
about the natural and human history of the park are superior. While
expensive, these lodges offer huge returns they are worth the investment.
Even if you have to sacrifice elsewhere.
Anchorage-excursion to Seward
Kenai Fjords Wilderness Cruise Approx. $135 per person about 6
hours
Cross Resurrection Bay and visit Kenai Fjords National Monument.
Enjoy excellent opportunities to view marine life including whales,
porpoises and otters. Birdlife is particularly abundant. Lunch
is included. (The 6-hour cruise connects with the stopover made
by the Alaska Railroad on its daily Seward excursion from Anchorage.)
Transfers from the Seward rail depot are included. There is a short
crossing of some possibly choppy open water.
Anchorage-excursion to Whittier
26 Glacier Cruise Approx. $129 per person about 5 hours
Tidewater glacier viewing and spectacular, "calving" icebergs
are on this excellent cruise along with opportunities for viewing
seals, otters and abundant varieties of birds in Prince William
Sound. This is a large, high-speed catamaran the company offers
a "no seasickness-money back guarantee". Lunch is included.
Bar and gift shop aboard. (The cruise is designed to fit into the
stopover made by the Alaska Railroad on its daily Whittier excursion
from Anchorage.)
Katmai National Park
Brooks Lodge bear viewing Approx. $600 per person from Anchorage
These one, two and three night packages include air arrangements
from Anchorage and lodging at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park.
Depending upon season, bear viewing at Brooks Falls and elsewhere
in the park are remarkable. The area is very scenic. The van tour
to the "Valley of 10,000 Smokes" is highly recommended.
There are opportunities for kayaking, fishing (catch and release)
and hiking in the area. Because of the expense involved, Katmai
Nat. Park is secluded and uncrowded.
Departing from Juneau
Glacier Bay Tour 2 days, one night. All meals included. Approx.
$485 per person
This tour offers stunning tidewater glaciers and unique opportunities
to see wildlife including sea creatures and abundant birdlife.
Day 1 transfer from Juneau to Gustavus. Upon arrival in Gustavus,
transfer to the beautiful Gustavus Inn. (The inn enjoys a reputation
for delicious meals.) Day 2-take the 7-hour cruise to the West
Arm of Glacier Bay. National Park Service rangers provide detailed
and informative commentary. Transfer to the airport for the short
afternoon flight to Juneau.
Departing from Fairbanks
Arctic Circle/Brooks Range fly-tour Approx$269 p.p. about 6 hours
(An evening departure) Fly north of the Arctic Circle on twin
engine 8 passenger airplanes to the foothills of the Brooks Range.
The approach to Coldfoot airport is directly over the Trans-Alaska
oil pipeline. Upon landing meet your guide who orients you to this
remote and beautiful region of the Arctic. Winter temperatures
here can plunge to minus 80 degrees while the short summer provides
lush vegetation and wildflowers. There is a 16-mile van excursion
north to the village of Wiseman. You are met by a resident who
leads you on a short walking tour of the village, home to about
35 hardy individuals. About 11:00 PM (with the arctic sun still
in the sky) fly back to Fairbanks arriving just past midnight.
You earn a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle. (Picnic
style dinner is available--approx. $10 p.p.) This program was introduced
in 2003. It received outstanding reviews from our customers.
Arctic
Circle Drive Adventure Approx. $119 per person about 15 hours
These van or smaller mini-bus tours offer the best and most economical
way to visit the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks. Driver-guides provide
interesting commentary of Fairbanks and the vast interior region.
There is opportunity to view wildlife and the magnificent scenery
of Alaska's interior. The route crosses the Yukon River and follows
roughly the route of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. A celebration is
included upon the crossing of the Arctic Circle during which guests
receive an Arctic Circle certificate.
Barrow one day air tour Approx. $399 per person-full day
A morning jet flight takes you far north, across the Arctic Circle
to Barrow, largest of Alaska's Inupiat Eskimo communities. See
the Museum of the Arctic, examples of native crafts and dances
and tour the community--at 72 degrees north the farthest north
in the continent. Return to Fairbanks this evening. (2 day Barrow
overnight tours are also available to allow you to experience the
midnight sun.)
We are knowable about other worthwhile excursions
Terms and conditions
While providing an excellent independent trip, the booking service
is not a tour. For example, transfers from lodgings to transportation
depots (unless provided as a courtesy by the establishment) are
not included. It is your responsibility to verify times noted in
your itinerary and re-confirm these with carriers. We select lodging
establishments based on overall value for money, convenient location,
previous favorable customer recommendations and logical and acceptable
reservation and cancellation polities. If your plans change, if
you shorten your stay or if you "no-show"--for any reason,
even beyond your control, hotels and tour operators may hold you
responsible for reservation guarantees which might include forfeited
deposits. We will provide you with a confirmation reference for
all arrangements. Should you change or cancel, always obtain a
reference number and name. Certain lodging establishments, particularly
at Denali National Park, usually charge a full night's lodging
at time of booking. We inform you of these in your final itinerary.
If we book a stateroom aboard the Alaska Marine Highway, we will
usually process that charge to your credit card and arrange payment
directly with the ferry.
The booking fee is non-refundable.
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