The Best of Southeast Alaska

__________________________

Explore the best Southeast Alaska has to offer by boat, plane, helicopter and more!  Trip begins in Juneau and ends in Ketchikan.

DETAILED GUIDED ITINERARY:

Day One - JUNEAU
Arrive in Alaska's capital city,  Founded in 1867, this is truly Alaska first city!  We'll meet for a delicious and inviting welcome dinner at 6pm (please plan your arrival accordingly).  Accommodations are at one of Juneau's top hotels.

Day Two - JUNEAU
Get ready for a day of adventure!  After breakfast on your own, we're off for an exhilarating helicopter trip!  View spectacular mountain peaks, up to six different glaciers and deep glacial cirques with a one hour tour over the Juneau Ice Field and City of Juneau. You will visit either the spectacular Herbert glacier or the Taku glacier, the only advancing glacier in the Juneau Ice Field. Land for a walk on the surface of a living glacier while your experienced pilot points out and describes areas of interest.  Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day Three - SKAGWAY
After breakfast on your own, we'll hop on the ferry and enjoy the scenic cruise through the Lynn Canal from Juneau to Skagway, the birthplace of the Klondike Gold Rush.  Enjoy this colorful town, full of history from the gold rush days. This evening we'll be staying at a charming B&B.

Day Four - WHITEHORSE in the YUKON TERRITORY
We'll enjoy a delicious breakfast at our B&B, then board the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad.  Built in 1898, this narrow gauge railroad is a historic landmark that will take you past mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels and trestles in the comfort of vintage parlor cars.  You'll disembark in Fraser, British Columbia, and complete the trip into the Yukon in a deluxe passenger coach, stopping along the way for lunch.  The afternoon is yours to explore the Yukon's capital city.  Accommodations are at one of Whitehorse's colorful hotels.

Day Five - HAINES
Today features the scenic drive to Haines.  We'll make stops at places such as Haines Junction, Million Dollar Falls, and Klukshu Indian Village--including a stop for lunch.  The sights are spectacular, with more creeks, rivers, lakes and mountains than you can imagine.  Tonight we'll spend the night at a historic hotel.

Day Six - HAINES and GLACIER BAY
The day will start with an exciting raft trip down the Chilkat River through the world famous Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.  This exciting adventure takes you through the site of  the world’s largest concentration of Bald Eagles!  Then, after lunch on your own, we'll hop aboard a bush plane to the homestead community of Gustavus, at the entrance to beautiful Glacier Bay National Park.  At our enchanting inn, we'll feast on a delicious home-cooked meal, then relax for the evening.

Day Seven - GLACIER BAY and JUNEAU
After a sumptuous breakfast at the inn, you are free to discover Glacier Bay.  You might choose the all-day Glacier Bay Cruise, or a guided kayak tour of the Bay (both optional).  Perhaps you prefer to borrow one of the inn's bicycles or fishing poles, or take them up on their complimentary transportation to the Visitor's Center.  Lunch is provided at the inn.  Late that afternoon, we'll fly back to Juneau for a brief stop over.  Dinner is on your own.

Day 8 - SITKA
After breakfast on your own, we'll fly off to the historic town of Sitka, where the day is yours to explore and enjoy its Russian & Tlingit cultural history.  You may wish to take the Comprehensive Cultural tour which features sightseeing, museums and an exhibition of traditional dances.  Also fascinating is the Alaska Raptor Center, an educational facility designed to provide medical treatment for bald eagles and other birds of prey (raptors) and release them back into the wild.  Accommodations will be at one of Sitka's finest hotels, and lunch and dinner are on your own. 

Day 9 - KETCHIKAN
Another day of adventure!  After a short flight to Ketchikan, we'll tour the Saxman Totem Village.  This is Alaska’s only totem park with 34 authentic totems carved by Tlingit and Haida natives, each with its own unique story and history.  We will also see a clan house and a carving center where totems are made. 

When we return to Ketchikan we will stop by the historic Red Light District on Creek Street. We will see Dolly's House,  which was a famous brothel operating until the middle of the 20th century.

After lunch on your own, we'll take off on a float plane for a flight of a lifetime over the Misty Fjords (Misty Fiords) National Monument.  During our 2 hour tour, you will see a myriad of crystal clear alpine lakes gouged out by those very glaciers. Saltwater fjords surrounded by sheer granite walls are alive with waterfalls cascading down thousands of feet. Halfway through the tour we will land on one of the remote lakes within the Monument for a 30 minute stopover. This gives you time to stretch your legs, take some pictures, and breathe in some of the purest air on the planet. Unbelievable scenery will surround you.

Tonight, we'll enjoy our farewell dinner together at one of Ketchikan's best restaurants, recalling the great memories and friendships we've made.  Lodging is at a colorful, comfortable boutique hotel.

Day 10 - DEPART FROM KETCHIKAN