Alaska and the Yukon

Sunday 26 May

Depart Auckland on an evening Air New Zealand flight, crossing the International Dateline to arrive in Vancouver mid-afternoon and check into your downtown hotel. Afternoon to rest before meeting up with your fellow travellers at the Welcome Dinner.

Monday 27 May

After breakfast, a morning Vancouver city tour is included with the afternoon free to explore and enjoy the city.

You also have the option of experiencing Vancouver fly over - which utilizes state-of-theart technology to give you the feeling of flight or visiting the Vancouver Lookout Tower or the Vancouver panorama outlook classic sea plane tour.

Tuesday 28 May

Today is yours to explore Vancouver or an optional 12 hour tour of Victoria and Butchart
Gardens.

Wednesday 29 May

Today enjoy an inlcuded Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge tour before being dropped off at your airport hotel for an overnight stay.

Thursday 30 May

Fly to Whitehorse, the day is free to independently explore or choose from the local sightseeing and adventure options in Kluane.

Friday 31 May

Follow the route of the Klondike gold stampeders from Whitehorse – the capital of the Yukon and surrounded by mountains and clear lakes.

Saturday 01 June

After a morning of optional touring, enjoy a nostalgic Yukon River paddle-wheeler cruise aboard ‘Klondike Spirit’.

Dawson City is the heart of the world famous Klondyke Gold Rush. The town today pays tribute to these men who risked everything, including their lives during the rush from 1896.

Sunday 02 June

Today fly to Fairbanks, Alaska golden heart city. Later enjoy a sumptuous dinner at your hotel.

Monday 03 June

This renowned Gold Rush town still has working gold mines. Take a step back in time aboard the Sternwheeler Discovery (lunch included) and pan for gold at the historic Gold Dredge No 8 at the El Dorado Gold Mine.

Tuesday 04 June

Morning at your leisure before travelling by coach bound for Denali. Afternoon at your leisure.

Denali is home to North America’s highest peak, Mt McKinley and the national park covers approximately 24,000 sq km of abundant Taiga forests and rolling tundra. You may see Alaska’s ‘Big Five’ bear, grey wolves caribou, Dall sheep and moose

Wednesday 05 June

After breakfast venture deep into Denali on the Tundra Wilderness Tour – a six to eight hour spectacular scenery adventure - the best way to see the wildlife and hopefully Mt McKinley. Return to your lodge.

Thursday 06 June

After an early breakfast, travel to an Iditarod Husky training and breeding centre.  Spend time with champion sled dogs, cuddle the puppies and tour the kennel.  Afternoon free for other optional tours and to explore independently.

Friday 07 June

Board the luxurious McKinley Explorer train to Anchorage. Relax and enjoy the scenic beauty, including spectacular views of Mt McKinley and wildlife, before checking into your lodge with time to explore on your own in the evening. There will be photographic opportunities along the way.

The dome rail cars feature seating in the upper dome and an outdoor viewing deck.

Saturday 08 June

Enjoy a morning tour of Anchorage with the balance of the day free to explore with a variety of exciting sightseeing options and leisure time available.

Anchorage - home to half the population of the state of Alaska with the high-rises complementing natures towering peaks in the surrounding countryside. Shopping, performing arts, museums and the Alaska Native Heritage Centre all make Anchorage a must-visit.

Sunday 09 June

A transfer by train to Seward to board the ‘Westerdam’ early afternoon. Settle into your stateroom with dinner served as you sail out of Anchorage and later entering the scenic wonders of the iconic Inside Passage, one of the most spectacular waterways in the world.

Monday 10 June

Enjoy a leisurely day cruising and explore the onboard activities and facilities.

Tuesday 11 June

Cruise the stunning, ice-studded fjords of the national treasure for a full eight hours as a Park Service Ranger narrates. A wonderful experience!

Wednesday 12 June

We spend today at the port of Haines- known as the adventure capital of Alaska. Haines is more unusual than most with its unique rustic feel. It’s almost as if time has stopped.

Thursday 13 June

Enjoy a full day exploring Alaska’s capital city which balances frontier ruggedness with cosmopolitan flair – choose from exciting shore excursions and still have time to wander.

Mendenhall Glacier, a river of ice measuring 2.5km wide and more than 9.5km in length, hugs Juneau’s north side and is part of the 3885sq km Juneau Icefield.

Friday 14 June

A day to explore this uniquely Alaskan port, famous for its rich native culture, salmon fishing and scenic, misty Fjords.

Ketchikan is the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, carvers of the world’s largest collection of totem poles. The name comes from the Tlingit phrase ‘katch kanna’ which roughly translated means ‘spread wings of a thundering eagle’ – a tribute to the hundreds of eagles that nest in the nearby mountain forests.

Saturday 15 June

Enjoy a leisurely day cruising the Gulf of Alaska passing Queen Charlotte Island, the archipelago on the North Coast now known as Haida Gwaii.

Sunday 16 June

After breakfast disembark the ‘M/S Westerdam’. You have time at leisure before you return flight home tonight. Or take optional extension Vancouver at Rocky Mountaineer

Cross international Dateline

Tuesday 18 June

Optional Extension

June  Sunday 16      Vancouver – Victoria Island

Cross by ferry to Victoria Island and transfer to your hotel for a two night stay.

Monday 17               Victoria Island

Sightseeing includes an extensive tour of the renowned Butchart Gardens – a highlight.

Tuesday 18               Victoria Island – Vancouver – Auckland

Morning at leisure before transferring to Vancouver Airport to connect with an evening flight to New Zealand.

Cross International Dateline.

 Wednesday 19           Arrive Auckland