Good Times Travel – Alaska’s National Parks

Alaska’s National Parks

Featuring Denali & Kenai Fjords National Parks, Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star, Seward, Anchorage, Alaskan Tour Director

Departing: Thursday, August 17, 2023

8 Day Package
10 Meals Included

Price:
$2799 Per Person / Double Occupancy
$3699 Per Person / Single Occupancy
Land tour prices; Roundtrip airfare available – please inquire for price

Bald eagles, whale tails, calving glaciers, a spectacular rail journey and the majestic wilderness come to life on this grand adventure featuring two of Alaska’s most majestic national parks. On this comprehensive eight-day Alaskan land tour, you’ll be led by an Alaskan tour director as you travel aboard a train, boat and motorcoach as you explore the spectacular coastline in Kenai Fjords National Park and the majestic tundra wilderness in Denali National Park. Discover the true essence of Alaska – our nation’s largest, and perhaps most spectacular natural wonder – on this adventure of a lifetime. 
 
Tour Highlights:

• A unique land tour aboard a train, cruise boat and motorcoach led by an Alaskan at the time of year when the weather is most favorable 

• Travel deep into Denali National Park on a narrated Tundra Wilderness Tour in search of quintessential Alaskan wildlife including grizzly bears, moose, caribou and Dall sheep 

• During an afternoon at leisure in Denali National Park, enjoy complimentary National Park Service activities or optional excursions (with additional fees) such as white water rafting, a scenic float trip, a jet boat safari on the Nenana River, flight-seeing Mt. Denali or a visit to an Iditarod champion’s dog kennel 

• Ride the rails aboard Alaska Railroad’s deluxe Denali Star from Denali to Talkeetna 

• Enjoy a Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park in search of whales, seals, otters, sea lions, bears, eagles and puffins 

• Experience Anchorage on a guided city tour and a visit to the Anchorage Museum 

   Fine Hotels / Great Locations:

• Nights 1, 7: Hilton Anchorage – Anchorage, AK

• Nights 2-3: Denali Park Village – Denali, AK

• Night 4: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge – Talkeetna, AK

• Nights 5-6: Seward Windsong Lodge – Seward, AK

Day By Day Itinerary: Day 1

Thursday, 8/17/2023 – Welcome to Alaska!
Optional transfers from our departure points this morning will have you at LAX for a flight to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and a surprising metropolis. Guests making their own flight arrangements may arrive in Anchorage at any time and still take advantage of the included meet and greet at the airport followed by an included transfer from the airport to the hotel. Overnight in Anchorage. 

Day 2

Friday, 8/18/2023 – Anchorage to Denali National Park
Following an included breakfast, you’ll travel north into Alaska’s interior by motorcoach along the scenic Parks Highway. Make several stops and keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. Enjoy an included welcome dinner and begin a two-night stay at your resort located at the entrance to Denali National Park (elevation, 4,000 feet).

Breakfast
Dinner Day 3

Saturday, 8/19/2023 – Denali National Park
After an included breakfast you’ll travel into Denali National Park on a Tundra Wilderness Tour that takes you deep into the wilds of Denali National Park, a six-million-acre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. One of the world’s last unspoiled frontiers, Denali National Park & Preserve features a myriad of spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Traveling through forest and alpine tundra and over high mountain passes, you may see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears and possibly the awe-inspiring Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) – North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet. This 6-8 hour narrated journey provides an incredible insight into the animals, flora and fauna. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure exploring this pristine area by participating in a complimentary park service activity or an optional excursion available for additional fees. Optional excursions include white water rafting or a scenic float trip, an ATV wilderness adventure, flight-seeing Mt. Denali aboard either a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, fly fishing, a Denali wilderness walking tour with a naturalist, a Denali bike tour, a Denali photo tour or visit Husky Homestead, home of Iditarod Champion Jeff King to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating a championship Iditarod team and carving a life in Alaska’s Interior. Note that all optional excursions are subject to change and all excursions may not be available. All bookings/payments for the optional excursions are made with your tour director while on tour.  

Breakfast Day 4

Sunday, 8/20/2023 – Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star
Following an included breakfast, enjoy additional time at leisure for optional tours in the Denali area. Later, arrive at the Denali Park Train Depot to board the deluxe railcars of Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star. Sit back, relax and enjoy a four-hour rail journey south through some of the most scenic and rugged territory in Alaska. This evening arrive in the quaint town of Talkeetna which began as a trading post when gold was first discovered in the Susitna River. Talkeetna’s downtown is classified as a National Historic Site, with buildings dating from the early 1900s.  

Breakfast Day 5

Monday, 8/21/2023 – Talkeetna to Seward
After an included breakfast, travel south onboard the motorcoach to Seward. As you travel along Alaska’s scenic Turnagain Arm, keep an eye out for Dall sheep high up in the rocky cliffs, as well as moose, bear and eagles. This evening, begin a two-night stay in Seward.

Breakfast Day 6

Tuesday, 8/22/2023 – Kenai Fjords National Park
Following an included breakfast you’ll explore the coastal community of Seward. This afternoon, enjoy a Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise which explores the calm, protected waters and rugged coastline of Resurrection Bay. Experience up-close encounters with wildlife as the boat skirts past massive bird rookeries and sea lion colonies, stopping along the way to view any whales, seals, sea otters, bears, eagles and puffins. Get up-close to the face of a glacier as you cruise through the majestic Kenai Fjords National Park on this half-day cruise that includes lunch onboard.  

Breakfast
Lunch Day 7

Wednesday, 8/23/2023 – Seward to Anchorage
After an included breakfast, travel north by motorcoach to Anchorage. Enjoy a driving tour of Anchorage including the historic downtown district. The town was originally settled in 1915 at the mouth of Ship Creek to support railroad construction and has grown steadily since to become the business, cultural and distribution epicenter of Alaska. Nowadays nearly half of Alaska’s 700,000 residents live in Anchorage. Visit the Anchorage Museum, a world-class museum which preserves, exhibits and interprets the art and history of Alaska. This evening, enjoy an included farewell dinner and share tales from the road with your traveling companions.  

Breakfast
Dinner Day 8

Thursday, 8/24/2023 – Journey Home
Enjoy an included breakfast followed by an included transfer to the Anchorage Airport and a return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests not taking advantage of the optional group air, may depart the Anchorage Airport at any time today. Back in Los Angeles, those with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-off destinations with many fond memories of this incredible Alaskan adventure. 

The land portion of this unique tour is operated by a local tour operator partner of ours that specializes in Alaska and provides a professional, Alaskan tour director to lead the group upon arrival in Anchorage. Our group will be joined by guests from other parts of the U.S. A Good Times Travel tour director will accompany our group only with a minimum number of Good Times Travel guests. This tour will operate with a driver-guide in a deluxe Sprinter van if there are nine or fewer guests on tour. Hotels are subject to change to similar properties. 

The following optional pre-night and post-night hotel stays (with included breakfast) are available to lengthen your time in Alaska and allow further exploration in Anchorage:

Pre-Night Anchorage: $170 p.p./double; $280 p.p./single
Post-Night Anchorage: $170 p.p./double; $280 p.p./single 

Breakfast

Tour Inclusions:

• 7 Nights deluxe hotel accommodations

• 10 Meals: 2 dinners, 1 lunch, 7 breakfasts

• Comprehensive sightseeing with a professional Alaskan tour director/local guide

• Admissions per itinerary

• Transportation aboard a deluxe motorcoach and Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star

• Roundtrip airport-hotel transfers

• Luggage handling throughout the tour

Additional Information:

• Package-Partner Tour (operated by Premier Alaska Tours) Good Times Travel tour director will go with a minimum number of passengers

• Roundtrip airport transfers are available from the following departure points: FV, LHS, LBCC-O, & SBL as an optional add-on price of $99 p.p.; or you may meet the group at LAX, the arrival airport or the hotel

• Full payment due at time of booking

• Roundtrip airfare available – please inquire for price

• Travel protection/cancellation insurance is available and highly recommended

• Tour Pace: Moderate (visit our common questions page for details on activity levels)

• Activity Level: Moderate (visit our common questions page for details on activity levels)

• To ensure a healthy and enjoyable travel experience for our guests, this tour will operate with additional health and safety measures in place.