Alaska: Call of the Wild

•   Jet boat ride in bush Alaska, a look inside a fur trappers cabin and a cultural presentation

Day 1: Arrive Anchorage, gateway to Alaska
Transfers are included upon your arrival at Anchorage International Airport to the Hotel Captain Cook in the heart of Anchorage, the first stop of your Alaskan adventure. Meet your fellow family explorers at our welcome dinner tonight at your hotel, then hit the hay before the fun continues bright and early in the morning.
Overnight: Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Jet boat adventure and treasure hunting
Head out after breakfast for a scenic drive into the wilderness that takes you to riverfront Talkeetna, a two-block town that is steeped in gold rush history and outdoor adventures. One of the best ways to explore the backcountry sights in the Alaskan wilderness is to leave the paved roadways behind and venture into places where nature leads the way. We plan to follow the river today aboard the most technologically advanced jet boat* in Alaska – specially designed to navigate once-inaccessible mountain rivers – for a ride into bush Alaska. Your naturalist guide will help you spot bald eagles, moose and maybe even bears along the route. Back on land, put on your hiking shoes for a visit to a fur trapper’s cabin. See firsthand how these hardy outdoorsmen lived in the great outdoors at the turn of the 20th century, and try to imagine yourself in their shoes – including those web-footed snowshoes, a must for winter survival! Continue on to the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge near the Alaska Range for a two-night stay. Late this afternoon, join in a high-tech treasure-hunting game of “Geocaching” for Tauck Bridges families only. Use your handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) to follow online GPS coordinates and see how skillful you are at finding hidden caches around the lodge.
Overnight: Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Meet Alaskan Huskies in training
Sledding is a great way to get around in snow. In Alaska, dogs join in the fun as they pull sleds for everyday transportation or compete in overland races. Meet future sled dogs on a visit to a summer training facility for the world-famous Iditarod race; see how local “mushers” train these amazing dogs using special voice commands and learn how to harness and hitch up a dog. End the day with a guided wilderness hike around Byers Lake and an interpretive campfire experience tonight that includes wilderness survival tips, storytelling, s’mores and more.
Overnight: Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Flightsee near Mount McKinley
Weather permitting, take off on a breathtaking flightseeing journey over the foothills of Denali National Park this morning for a chance to view the ice-clad summit of Mt. McKinley. At 20,320 feet, Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in North America and is the crown of the 600-mile Alaska Range. The indigenous Athabascan people dubbed the huge mountain “Denali” meaning the “Great One,” and it more than lives up to the name. Touch down in Anchorage for a drive to Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula, nicknamed “Alaska’s playground” for all the adventures you can experience there. Spend two nights at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, tucked into the pristine Chugach National Forest, where the family fun really heats up in this outdoor paradise!
Overnight: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Cooper Landing, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Wilderness fun on the Kenai Peninsula
With so many ways to experience the Kenai Peninsula, everyone in your family can enjoy the activities that suit them best. During your stay, you can choose to go on a 5-mile guided wilderness hike, a kayaking adventure* or a river-rafting trip* – they’re included with Tauck Bridges. Fishing may be available at an additional cost. Tonight, learn about porcupines during an evening wildlife presentation.
Overnight: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Cooper Landing, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Natural riches of the Alaskan coast
Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the shores of Turnagain Arm to see orphaned animals that are being rehabilitated here, from moose and musk ox to bald eagles and grizzly bears; the center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through public education. Depart the wildlife center for the short trip to Crow Creek Gold Mine. At the turn of the 20th century, gold miners with “gold fever” flocked to this area in search of untold riches. Meet a prospector, pan for gold and have a barbecue lunch at the historic gold mine, nestled in the Chugach Mountains; established in 1896, the claims are still producing gold to this very day. The evening is free to enjoy your resort.
Overnight: The Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: A train, a boat and a glacial wonderland
It’s all aboard a self-propelled railroad car along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Whittier where a boat is waiting to take you on an exciting glacier adventure cruise in Prince William Sound aboard a private boat for Tauck Bridges guests only. Glide by thundering waterfalls and two spectacular tidewater glaciers, looming as high as 1,700 feet over the boat; listen to the sounds they make as they groan and crack around us, stopping to touch a piece of real glacier and admire these ice sculptures up close. Look for wildlife along the way, from eagles to otters or harbor seals. Share fond memories – and stories – at our farewell dinner tonight back at the hotel.
Overnight: The Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, AK
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Journey Home
Tour ends: Girdwood. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Alyeska to Anchorage International Airport (approx. 75 minutes) is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your trip.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/9/2012 - 6/17/2012	$3,790
6/16/2012 - 6/24/2012	$3,790
6/23/2012 - 7/1/2012	$3,790
6/30/2012 - 7/8/2012	$3,790
7/7/2012 - 7/15/2012	$3,790
7/11/2012 - 7/19/2012	$3,790
7/14/2012 - 7/22/2012	$3,790
7/21/2012 - 7/29/2012	$3,790
7/28/2012 - 8/5/2012	$3,790
8/4/2012 - 8/12/2012	$3,790
8/8/2012 - 8/16/2012	$3,790
8/11/2012 - 8/19/2012	$3,790
8/18/2012 - 8/26/2012	$3,790
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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