Hidden
Fjords & Glaciers of August 26-September 2, 2006 Optional Pretour:
with
optional excursion on the |
~Itinerary~
Day 1 — Juneau, Alaska (Embark)
Your adventure begins this afternoon in Juneau,
an exceptionally picturesque and vibrant city accessible only by air and water.
After dinner on board, you may stroll to nearby downtown Juneau or just relax
aboard ship.
Day
2 — Skagway
Skagway’s history as the gateway to the Yukon during the gold rush of
1898 is apparent in the town’s preserved wooden sidewalks, authentic
framed buildings, and lively saloons. Join an optional excursion aboard a
restored 1890 parlor car of the famous White Pass & Yukon Railroad. Follow
the route used by the gold rushers, riding along the narrow gauge railway
laid during the peak of the Klondike Gold Rush. Witness some of the Klondike’s
most scenic splendor before returning to Skagway, where you may explore at
your own pace or join an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion that includes
a glacier landing.
Day 3 — Haines
Nestled beneath the jagged “Cathedral Peaks” of the Chilkat Mountains,
Haines is a town of classic Alaskan beauty and frontier culture. An optional
rafting excursion through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve may offer the best
chance to see American bald eagles, as well as bears and wolves that roam
the riverbanks. This float trip could easily turn out to be one of your most
memorable travel experiences. You may explore Fort Seward and scenic Chilkoot
Lake on another optional excursion. You’ll also have an opportunity
for an independent visit to the Alaska Indian Arts Center, or you may browse
through the town’s galleries.
Day 4 — Elfin Cove
We’ll anchor off Chichagof Island and launch our motorized landing craft
to the charming fishing community of Elfin Cove. In this quaint town, the
homes of the 50 year-round residents are built on stilts, and the only sidewalk
is an elevated boardwalk. Explore this tiny hamlet on your own, or join our
naturalists for a hike into the nearby temperate rain forest, where delicate
ferns, dwarf dogwoods, and a mosaic of mosses grow in the shade of Sitka spruce
and western hemlock.
Day 5 — Glacier Bay National Park
At the top of the fabled Inside Passage lies a magnificent stretch of Alaskan
wilderness coastline — Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. A visit
here is based on the special permission of the National Park Service. In Glacier
Bay, the air is clear, the scenery incomparable, and the wildlife abundant.
Known by scientists worldwide for having the fastest retreat of glacial ice
ever recorded, Glacier Bay National Park will be discussed en route by our
staff naturalists.
Day 6 — Sitka
Once the ancestral home of the Tlingit Indians and located on the western
shore of Baranof Island, Sitka was the capital of Russian-ruled Alaska for
126 years. Although it has been American since 1867, the city today —
accessible only by plane or boat — conveys a pleasant blend of Indian,
Russian, and American cultures. The Sitka National Historic Park features
Native artists at work and a rain-forest trail lined with totem poles. Explore
Sitka on your own, or join an optional narrated tour that includes a visit
to the Eagle/Raptor Rehabilitation Center, where injured birds are treated
and released. Or join an optional walking tour to learn more about this remote
community. This evening, enjoy a dance and song presentation by Native Tlingit
performers.
Day 7 — Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glacier
The spectacular fjord of Tracy Arm is comprised of Yosemite-like granite rocks,
countless waterfalls, glass-smooth water, and mountain peaks rising more than
5,000 feet. Search the near-vertical cliffs for mountain goats and spy the
many species of seabirds found here. At the end of Tracy Arm is Sawyer Glacier
— arguably the bluest and most beautiful of the glaciers in a land renowned
for them; here, the cracks of falling ice seldom disturb harbor seals resting
on nearby ice floes.
Day 8 — Juneau (Disembark)
Disembark the Yorktown Clipper after breakfast and transfer to the airport
for your return flight home.
IRT MEMBERS RECEIVE A $200 PER CABIN DISCOUNT OFF RETAIL RATES!
Category of accommodations |
Retail Rate |
IRT
Discounted rate |
Category
1 |
$2,760 |
$2,560 |
Category
2 |
$3,150 |
$2,950 |
Category
3 |
$3,410 |
$3,210 |
Category
4 |
$3,700 |
$3,500 |
Category
5 |
$3,950 |
$3,750 |
Category
6 |
$4,200 |
$4,200 |
|
Single Occupancy |
$4,660 |
$4,460 |
|
Third
person in stateroom |
$1,445 |
$1,245 |
Port charges of $130 are included in the cruise rates above; government taxes and fees are additional and will be advised at time of booking.
Reservations: A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirm reservations. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Alaskan
Heartland Adventure
Optional Precruise Excursion
5 Days/4 Nights
Begin your adventure in Fairbanks, where you’ll board the only authentic operating sternwheeler in Alaska for a narrated cruise into the interior’s historic backcountry. Travel at a leisurely pace via motorcoach to our scenic hotel just outside Denali National Park and Preserve. Enjoy an included tundra tour to explore the flora and fauna of Denali. Take a hike on the park’s marked trails or along the river, view films at the hotel, or join optional flightseeing, white-water rafting, and river float tours. Board the window-domed observation car of a deluxe train and experience spectacular views of the tundra, seemingly endless mountain ranges, and deep river canyons on the ride to Anchorage. Airfare from Anchorage to Juneau to embark the ship is included.
Rates:
$1,750
per person, double occupancy
$2,100 single occupancy
Click here for complete tour terms and conditions.
Click
here to download our booking form.
(requires Adobe Acrobat)
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881 (Outside the U.S.: (502) 454-0277)
Click here to e-mail our Tour Desk
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
