Alaska Land and Cruise Tours | YMT Vacations

Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour – Northbound

Tours Starts: Vancouver, BC

Tours Ends: Fairbanks, Alaska

Day 1

Arrive in Vancouver &
Embarkation (Departs at 4:30 PM)

Today your adventure begins upon arrival
in Vancouver. If you purchased your airline
tickets from YMT, you will be welcomed by a
representative. Embark on Holland America’s
ms Noordam in the afternoon.

Day 2

Cruise the Inside Passage

Cruise along Vancouver Island and Alaska’s
spectacular Inside Passage. The Inside Passage
is one of the most scenic sea lanes in the
world. Look for marine animals while you pass
turquoise glaciers, forests in a hundred shades
of green, and coastal villages.

Day 3

Ketchikan (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

This distinctive frontier town is famous for its
bawdy history and wooden boardwalk, which
has remained perched on stilts above Ketchikan
Creek for over a century. Take a stroll along
Creek Street, the former “Red Light” district.

Day 4

Juneau (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM)

Nestled at the feet of snowcapped Mt. Juneau
and Mt. Roberts, Alaska’s state capital is
nicknamed “Little San Francisco” because of its
narrow streets and multicolored houses built
into the hillsides.

Day 5

Skagway (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM)

Skagway, where the Gold Rush began, was
the turbulent staging point for prospectors
determined to find riches in the Klondike gold
fields. Even today, Skagway’s well-preserved
history and atmosphere can transport you back
to the 1898 Gold Rush like no other Alaskan city.

Day 6

Scenic Cruising Glacier Bay
National Park

Covering 3.3 million rugged acres, Glacier Bay
National Park is one of the most scenic sections
of Alaska’s massive 25-million-acre protected
World Heritage Site. Spend the day cruising
through a 60-mile passage rich with glaciers,
exotic wildlife, and pristine nature. Your route is
the frequent site of glacier calving, where great
chunks of ice fall into the bay with a deafening
crash. You’ll never forget the sight or sound.

Day 7

College Fjord Scenic Cruising

Cruise through the Gulf of Alaska and enjoy a
relaxing day at sea. Today the ms Noordam sails
through Prince William Sound to College Fjord,
which contains five tidewater and large valley
glaciers, a spectacular site. Take full advantage
of your last night aboard the ship; the daily
newsletter outlines a variety of shipboard
activities and the experienced crew will be
happy to help with suggestions.

Day 8

Disembark in Whittier
(Arrives at 7:00 AM) & Anchorage City Tour

Disembark in Whittier and begin your land tour.
Stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
in Portage. You can see wolves, bears, moose,
lynx, bald eagles, and prickly porcupines, the
world’s third largest rodent. Take a deluxe motor
coach tour of Alaska’s largest city, home to
nearly half of Alaska’s population. See highlights
of the city and learn about life in Anchorage
from its turbulent past up to the present.

Crowne Plaza Anchorage – Midtown or similar

Day 9

Anchorage to Denali via
Talkeetna

After a final morning in Anchorage, stop
for lunch on your own in the community of
Talkeetna. There’s plenty to see and do here.
Along with excellent dining, great shopping,
and a charming museum, the Talkeetna Historic
District is on the register of National Historic
Places. Some of its buildings are from the early
1900s, including Nagley’s General Store and the
Talkeetna Roadhouse.
Guests who choose an optional Alaska Railroad
Upgrade will board the train in Talkeetna, then
rejoin the rest of the group in Denali. Enjoy an
evening of free time in Denali.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 10

Denali Natural History Tour

Get a deeper look at this amazing park on a
Denali Natural History Tour. With a focus on
the rich cultural history of Denali National Park,
this memorable tour provides insight into the
diverse native and early pioneer influences in
and around the park. Your dedicated naturalist will provide a great introduction to Denali’s
landscape, geology, and past.
Visit Savage Cabin, the original ranger’s cabin
that is still used by the Park Service today.

This afternoon you will have free time to
spend in the park at your leisure. Along with
awe-inspiring mountain views, it’s not rare to
see some combination of Alaska’s Big Five.
Look for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall
Sheep, and wolves, along with other animals
such as wolverines and countless songbirds.

Denali Park Village or similar

Day 11

Denali to Fairbanks

Take a scenic drive down the George Parks
Highway towards Fairbanks.

Enjoy a guided tour of Fairbanks. Learn the
secrets of the “Golden Heart City,” built
as a gold rush boomtown in 1902 after the
precious metal was discovered on the banks
of the Chena River. See the highlights of the
city, and view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Springhill Suites or similar

Day 12

Depart for Home

Note:Arrival flights from Vancouver from some
cities are overnight and arrive the following day.
Most flights out of Fairbanks require at least two
connections.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.