Canada, Alaska, USA, Luxury Escorted Touring, Rocky Mountaineer, Lake Louise, Alaska Cruises, Whistler Canada
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96 | ALASKA JOURNEYS Day 11. Vancouver. Get to know Vancouver with your APT Tour Director this morning. Visit Stanley Park, a world-class, 400-hectare evergreen oasis located just steps away from downtown Vancouver. Then head to Granville Island, the bustling heart of Vancouver's cultural scene. You'll also see picturesque English Bay and Vancouver Harbour, before some free time. Perhaps wander through the old cobblestone streets of Gastown, whilst others may prefer to visit the shopping mecca of Robson Street. Today, 15 Day (UTAP15) guests join the tour. BD PRINCESS CRUISES VOYAGE OF THE GLACIERS CRUISE Day 12. Vancouver, Embark Ship. Bound for the glacial waters and wild landscapes of Alaska's renowned Inside Passage, your Princess Cruises ship awaits you on Vancouver Harbour. Step aboard, settle in and familiarise yourself with the facilities. This evening, celebrate the beginning of your ocean adventure with a Sail Away Dinner at the elegant Sabatini's. Seven Night Cruise: Princess Cruises' Island Princess or Star Princess in a Verandah Stateroom. BD Day 13. Cruise the Inside Passage. Enjoy a full day at sea as your ship cruises along coastal British Columbia and the Alaska Panhandle. Glide past rocky headlands and over the icy waters of the Inside Passage, one of the most picturesque sea lanes in the world, and one of the few where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. BLD Day 14. Ketchikan. Arrive at the city of Ketchikan, set right on the shores of the Tongass Narrows. Ketchikan acts as a gateway to a wide variety of attractions, including Misty Fjords National Monument – one of America's largest wilderness areas. It is also known as one of the best places from which to observe the annual salmon run, and can also lay claim to the world's largest collection of standing totem poles. BLD Day 15. Tracy Arm, Juneau. Cruise to the entrance of Tracy Arm, a narrow and twisting fjord which stretches for almost 50 kilometres. Continue your journey to Alaska's capital, Juneau, set at the foot of the majestic Coast Mountains on the Gastineau Channel. Here, you may explore at leisure, or set off on one of the exciting excursions available to you (own expense). BLD Day 16. Skagway. Arrive in Skagway at the northernmost point of the Inside Passage. Once a gateway city for the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway's frontier-style atmosphere remains evident today. Never failing to intrigue visitors with its wide range of historic buildings and stories to be told, there are a variety of unique excursions on offer (own expense). Or, if you'd prefer, you can also choose to set out on your own discovery. BLD Day 17. Glacier Bay National Park. Draw back your curtains to World Heritage- listed Glacier Bay National Park. As you cruise through rivers of ice and between skyscraping peaks, you'll enjoy commentary from local rangers who have come aboard your ship to explain the geological wonders and point out some of the diverse wildlife and marine mammals. BLD Day 18. College Fjord. Relax and take in the scenery today as you cruise through College Fjord, with its five stunning tidewater glaciers, five large valley glaciers and many smaller glaciers, most of which were named after Ivy League schools. Like Glacier Bay, humpback whales can often be seen feeding in the waters of the fjord. BLD EXPLORE ALASKA BY LAND Day 19. Whittier, Disembark Ship, Talkeetna, Denali (Mt McKinley). Disembark your ship for the final time this morning and board Princess Cruises' exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service. Along the way, enjoy listening to insightful commentary about the region. Tonight, after settling in, enjoy dinner at your wilderness lodge. Two Night Stay: Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. BD Day 20. Denali (Mt McKinley), Talkeetna. During breakfast, enjoy views of the Alaska Range and perhaps even Denali, formerly known as Mt McKinley. As the mountain is so tall – 6,194 metres – it can be difficult to catch a completely clear view. Its jagged peaks, however, are known to appear through the mist at any moment. Will today be your lucky day as you venture outdoors and explore on your chosen activity? Take a thrilling ride along the Talkeetna River on a jetboat tour. Or, enjoy a more leisurely option – a float trip down the Talkeetna River. Join a guide for an easy stroll around Byers Lake or take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon. With a free afternoon and evening at hand, you can relax and enjoy the scenery. B Day 21. Denali (Mt McKinley), Denali National Park. Tour the Sun Dog Kennels and meet some of the sled dogs this morning. Then travel by coach to Denali National Park and settle in to your lodge. Enjoy an evening of fun, festivity and traditional Alaskan food at the Music of Denali Musical Theatre tonight. Performed in a rustic-style roadhouse, the musical show gives you a light-hearted overview of the first men to reach the summit of Denali. Two Night Stay: Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. BD Watch enormous caribou roaming the Alaskan tundra