Highlights include: Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, journey aboard the “Scenic Railway of the World” to the White Pass Summit, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Inside Passage & Vancouver, British Columbia
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1: Tues., June 4 – The tour will depart from Collingwood Legion at 11:30a.m., Stayner Arena at 11:50a.m., Barrie, Bayfield Mall behind Canadian Tire Store at 12:25p.m. & The Tour Office at 1:00p.m. Please note: Overnight parking is only available at our Tour Office. We will travel to Pearson International Airport for our flight to Whitehorse, Yukon. The flight path is Toronto departing at 4:00p.m. arriving into Vancouver at 6:06p.m. with a 2-hour layover departing for Whitehorse at 8:30p.m. with arrival at 11:00p.m.into the Yukon – total travel time is approximately 10 hours. A Canadian Passport will be required for identification at the airport and later in the tour for our border crossing into the USA. We will be transferred to our hotel by our motor coach carrier that will be with us for the entire tour. This evening we will reach Whitehorse, the Capital City of the Yukon, our home for the next 3 nights. Overnight: The Sternwheeler Hotel.
Day 2: Wed., June 5 – Whitehorse: Today we will explore the town, starting with a visit to the Whitehorse Fish Ladder. It is the world’s longest wooden fish ladder that helps migrating Chinook salmon on the final leg of their journey. We will visit the McBride Museum of Yukon History and learn about the local history and folklore of Sam Magee. Then it is on to the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, S.S. Klondike Paddle Wheeler & photo stops. Later this afternoon there will be free time to go shopping, hike one of the great trails along the Yukon River, explore the town or perhaps just relax with a good book. (B &D)
Day 3: Thurs., June 6 – Whitehorse: Today we will travel to Haines Junction and explore Kluane National Park & Reserve. We will return in the late afternoon to Whitehorse. (B & L)
Day 4: Fri., June 7 – Dawson City: Following the same basic route as the old prospectors of the Klondike Gold Rush we will drive to Dawson City, our home for the next two nights. We will make photo stops and meal breaks along the way, stopping at Braeburn for cinnamon buns in the morning, Five Finger Rapids at noon and Moose Creek Lodge in the afternoon. Dawson City is a national historic treasure. The old buildings have been preserved from the gold rush period at the turn of the 20th century, making you feel like you’ve travelled back to those colourful times. Overnight: Tripe J Hotel (B, L & D)
Day 5: Sat., June 8 – Dawson City: Today we will have a guided tour and learn all about the history of the gold rush, gold panning techniques as well as more large-scale methods of prizing the shiny metal out of the earth. The afternoon can be enjoyed on your own. You may want to see Pierre Burton’s homestead, visit the Robert Service Cabin or Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, visit the quaint shops or just relax in this peaceful village setting. (B)
Day 6: Sun., June 9 – Fairbanks: The drive to Fairbanks takes you to the Top of the World and back. This highway gives you a sense of the vastness of the land. We will enter Alaska at Poker Creek, travelling through unique settlements like Chicken and Tok as we make our way to the northern terminus of the Alaska Highway in Fairbanks. Overnight: Bear Lodge at the Wedgewood Resort for the next 2 nights (B & L)
Day 7: Mon., June 10 – Fairbanks: Sternwheelers once serviced the gold seekers in Dawson by navigating the Yukon River all the way through Alaska from the Bering Sea. Today, you can relive some of that experience on the Riverboat Discovery Cruise. You’ll see a wonderful interpretive site depicting Alaska of old as well as have a chance to see a dog sled demonstration. This afternoon you can explore the Antique Auto Museum on site, walk the trails or visit the Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a beautiful, 75-acre refuge that provides habitat for a variety of Interior Alaska’s wildlife, located next to Wedgewood Resort. This evening we will visit Pioneer Park to enjoy a Salmon BBQ dinner and Vaudeville show. (B, L & D)
Day 8: Tues., June 11 – Denali Park/Denali: This morning we’ll enjoy a late checkout from our hotel. We will visit the Fairbanks Cultural Centre & have lunch in the downtown core. We will travel through Denali National Park with hopes of viewing Denali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain on the continent, as we make our way to the Denali Interpretative Centre. This afternoon we’ll check in to the Denali Bluffs Hotel for our overnight stay. (B)
Day 9: Wed., June 12 – Denali Park/Denali: This morning will be an early rise as we are booked for a Natural History Tour of Denali Park which will take us to Mile 17 within the park limits with hopes of viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. This afternoon we’ll travel to Anchorage, the largest city north of the 60th parallel and check into the Springhill Suites Anchorage for our 2-night stay. (B)
Day 10: Thurs., June 13 – Anchorage: Following breakfast we’ll experience a guided city tour. There will be free time for shopping and lunch in the downtown core. This afternoon there will be time to do laundry and repack before we set sail on our southbound cruise. (B)
Day 11: Fri., June 14 – Anchorage/Seward: Today we will visit the Alaska Wildlife Centre at Girdwood before departing for Seward. It is a beautiful drive south to Seward with the mountains on your left, ocean on the right. We will arrive in the early afternoon to board the Celebrity Summit cruise ship for our amazing southbound cruise. All accommodations have balcony (B, L & D)
Day 12: Sat., June 15 – Hubbard Glacier, Alaska: Stretching over 90 miles long and covering over 1,350 square miles in area, Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. It is also one of the most impressive, a 300-foot wall of ice rising sheer & jagged from the ocean. (arrive 2:00pm/ depart 6:00pm) (B, L & D)
Day 13: Sun., June 16 – Juneau, Alaska: Accessible only by air or sea, Alaska’s capital is surprisingly urban and cultured for such a remote destination. When you arrive by sea, you will be greeted dockside by numerous flags and an abundance of summer flowers. For further insight into the Inuit culture and crafts, visit the museum. (arrive 8:00am/depart 9:00pm) (B, L & D)
Day 14: Mon., June 17 – Skagway, Alaska: Skagway was born during the great Klondike gold rush. Those were the days when Skagway had 80 saloons and was known as “the roughest town on earth”. This afternoon our tour group will experience an unforgettable journey aboard the “Scenic Railway of the World” to the White Pass Summit. We begin our excursion as we board the train in Skagway and travel 20 miles from tidewater to the Summit of the White Pass – a 2,865 foot elevation! We will return to the town by bus, making photo stops enroute. (arrive 7:00am/depart 8:30pm) (B, L & D)
Day 15: Tues., June 18 – Icy Strait Point, Alaska: Icy Strait Point, established in 1912 is a new port of call for cruise lines and enthusiasts of the real Alaska. Icy Strait Point opens its untouched, pristine lands to visitors. Hosting only one ship at a time, it provides guests with rich wildlife tours and authentic native Tlingit culture. This port requires that we arrive by tender. (arrive 7:00am/depart 4:00pm) (B, L & D)
Day 16: Wed., June 19 – Ketchikan, Alaska: Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. The canneries are busy and the stream below Creek Street’s rustic boardwalk bustles with life. Visit the ancient grove of Totem Bight, the largest collection of authentic totem poles anywhere. (arrive 9:00am/depart 6:00pm) (B, L & D)
Day 17: Thurs., June 20 – Inside Passage: Stretching from the Canadian border in the south, to the start of the Gulf of Alaska in the north, the Inside Passage runs through the area known as Southeast Alaska, just below Glacier Bay National Park. (B, L & D)
Day 18: Fri., June 21 – Vancouver, British Columbia to Home: We will arrive in port at 7:00am. Following breakfast and departure from the ship we will board our coach and enjoy a brief guided city tour of Vancouver. You will discover why this is one of Canada’s most popular destinations. We will head to the Vancouver Airport for our return flight at 2:00p.m. Arriving at Pearson International Airport at 9:30p.m. Our Hammond coach will meet us and return us to our original departure points. (B)
