P.O. Box 690994
San Antonio, TX 78269
(830) 981-2445 Metro number
Metro number is a free call
from San Antonio. No need
to dial a "1" beforehand.
(866) 295-0357 Toll Free
Steve@TheCruiseButler.com
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2012 Overland: Highlights of Alaska (NUGG)
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Countries Visited: United States
Trip Style: Overland - For hands-on adventure, climb aboard! Our overland trucks open up Africa's seldom-visited villages, remote vistas and amazing wildlife. Help set up camp, pitch in at mealtime and work together to cross rivers, plains and passes. With no food kitty, our overland trips offer great value and a truly authentic backcountry experience.
Service Level: Basic - this is grassroots travel at its most interesting
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - Light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels.
Meals Included: 12 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 11 Dinners
Accommodations: Centrally located hotels (2 nts), participation camping (12 nts)
Highlights
Devouring seafood in Anchorage, hiking in stellar Denali National Park, being dwarfed by Mt McKinley, hearing glaciers groan at Prince William Sound, marvelling at views of the Kenai Peninsula.
Description
In North America, you can't get much further off the grid-both mentally and physically-than Alaska. Perched at the top of the continent, it's practically its own planet; an otherworldly land of massive glaciers, towering peaks and rare wildlife. Our adventure up here is suitably out-of-this-world, dropping you deep into the heart of northern nature with glacier cruises, kayak-borne fjord excursions and the raw natural beauty of Denali National Park. It's a huge place, but don't worry; your savvy local CEO will help you tame this vast, sprawling, flat-out gorgeous land.
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| Call (830) 981-2445 for more information or to book today! Mention code 10421453 | | G Adventures | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Anchorage | Day 1 Anchorage
Arrive at any time. | | Day 2 | Anchorage/Homer | Day 2 Anchorage/Homer (L,D)
Travel around the coast of the Kenai Peninsula, where glaciers tumble down from the mountains towards the ocean. Keep an eye out for beluga whales playing out at sea while travelling along the Turnagain Arm on the journey to Homer. | | Day 3 | Homer | Day 3 Homer (B,L,D)
Homer may be the end of the road but it is the starting place for many wilderness adventures in a variety of public lands. The largest wildlife refuge in Alaska, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is headquartered in Homer, offering bird viewing and experiences unmatched anywhere else. While in Homer, you can enjoy the wildlife whether it's hiking on a local trail, exploring a tide pool, horseback riding or flight seeing over the surrounding glaciers. Bald eagles, sandhill cranes, moose and shorebirds are just a few of the varieties of local watchable wildlife available to see. Extend your visit to experience where the road ends and your adventure just begin! | | Day 4 | Homer/Seward | Day 4 Homer/Seward (B,L)
After a hardy breakfast, we'll head out on an amazing hike to the Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield. Considered one of the greatest hikes on the Kenai Peninsula, we'll experience glaciers and the forces that shaped the landscape up close, while exploring only a tiny portion of the nearly 1 million acres that make up Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier, the only area of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by car, is one of thirty-five glaciers that flow off the vast Harding Icefield. The Icefield is the largest in North America, and it remains as a 300 square mile vestige of the last ice age. The 7.4-mile round trip of the Harding Icefield Trail is a spectacular day hike. Starting on the valley floor, the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests, passes though heather filled meadows and ultimately climbs well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the Icefield. The top of the trail is a window to past ice ages - a horizon of ice and snow that stretches as far as the eye can see, broken only by an occasional nunatak, or lonely peak. Then what would be Alaska without bears? This is bear country! The vegetation along the trail is dense and passes through thickets of salmonberries, a favorite food of black bears. Black bears are spotted almost every day from the Harding Icefield Trail! Enjoy a dinner out and reflect on the spectacular natural wonders of the Alaskan Wilderness you experienced today on this amazing hike! | | Day 5 | Seward | Day 5 Seward
At the tip of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age still lingers. In Kenai Fjords, glaciers, earthquakes, and ocean storms are the architects. Ice worms, bears and whales make their home in this land of constant change. Native Alutiiq used these resources to nurture a life entwined with the sea. Explore this site to discover Kenai Fjords, its history, science and remote splendor. Optional boat cruise. | | Day 6 | Seward/Valdez | Day 6 Seward/Valdez (B,D)
Indescribable adventure awaits at every bend of Alaska's incredible coastline. Each magnificent fjord, towering glacier, and historic waterfront town urges you to linger and discover its wonders. Give yourself the freedom to answer this "call of the wild" on an Alaska Marine Highway ferry, through the Inside Passage, across the Gulf of Alaska, into Prince William Sound, and out to the Aleutians. Valdez is a must for your Alaska vacation itinerary. The crashing glaciers and towering Chugach mountains rising from the sea make Valdez absolutely picturesque. Come and see the spectacular natural beauty that entices people from around the world to visit. Prepare to be amazed! | | Day 7 | Valdez/Wrangell St Elias | Day 7 Valdez/Wrangell St Elias (B,L,D)
Visit the famous Columbia Glacier. Columbia Glacier itself is receding, leaving huge blocks of ice and an impassible moraine. It is always changing and each day the bay is filled with floating ice. Some of this ice floats all the way out to the Gulf of Alaska, where it becomes a hazard to shipping. Captain Cook named the Columbia Glacier as he explored Prince William Sound in 1890. At that time the glacier was advancing and an impressive wall of ice greeted the Captain. This remained unchanged until about 1990 when the Glacier suddenly halted and started its retreat. It has since retreated over 6 miles. Visit The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline terminus, located at Valdez, 800.5 miles from its origin on the Arctic Ocean. The 48 inch diameter pipeline was completed in 1977 at a cost of $8 billion, and is one of the largest pipelines in the world. It has a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil per day. Since the opening of the line, more than 19,000 oil tankers have loaded up at the terminal in Valdez, take crude to refineries along the coast in Washington and California. Stop at Worthington Glacier. Located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass-the snowiest place in Alaska-Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot and viewing shelter right off the Richardson Highway. Like most of Alaska's glaciers, this valley glacier has been steadily retreating for the last 150 years, but not as dramatically as many others. The upper basin sits at 5,500 feet and collects about 28 feet of snow each year. | | Day 8 | Wrangell St Elias National Park | Day 8 Wrangell St Elias National Park (B,L,D)
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is located in the Eastern region of South-central Alaska. The Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges converge here in what is often referred to as the "Mountain Kingdom of North America." It is the largest national park in the United States, six times the size of Yellowstone. Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses over 20,000 square miles of mountain wilderness - that's over 50,000 square kilometers, or 25% larger than Switzerland! The combination of ease of access, incredible natural beauty and great summer weather make Wrangell-St. Elias a great destination for your Alaskan itinerary! Spend a full day exploring this amazing National Park! | | Day 9 | Wrangell St Elias National Park | Day 9 Wrangell St Elias National Park (B,L,D)
Explore Kennicott, a ghost town frozen in time. When the Kennicott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938 they left behind their equipment, their buildings, and their personal belongings. However, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on. Come see what it was like to live and work in this remote wilderness as you tour the town site with one of our knowledgeable guides; listening to tales of lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. Visit the historic town of Mccarthy and discover the real Alaska! McCarthy is surrounded by more mountains and glaciers than anywhere else in Alaska! | | Day 10 | Wrangell St Elias/Tangle Lake | Day 10 Wrangell St Elias/Tangle Lake (B,L,D)
Copper River salmon are fattier than others because they have to travel hundreds more miles, and need more reserves. Yes, they're considered the best in the world. Salmon from any Copper River Valley river, no matter what its name, are Copper River. Copper River Country is where the wilderness meets the road in roadside Alaska. Far enough away from both Anchorage and Fairbanks to develop a certain independent self-reliance, people are unfettered by local government. When something needs to be done you don't wait for somebody else to do it here. You step up to the plate and pitch in. The continue to Tangle Lake. | | Day 11 | Tangle Lake/Denali | Day 11 Tangle Lake/Denali (B,L,D)
The highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley has been the goal of aspiring high altitude climbers since it was first climbed in 1913. Its reputation as a highly coveted summit derives from its location near the Arctic Circle and the Pacific Ocean giving it some of the most ferocious weather in the world. Because of its weather and ease of access, some climbers use McKinley as a training ground for climbing the 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalaya, including Everest. Mt. McKinley is also known by its Athabascan name Denali meaning "The Great One" and some climbers refuse to use "McKinley" when referring to this mountain. In fact, at least half a dozen names exist for the highest mountain in North America and most translate to "The Great One". | | Day 12 | Denali | Day 12 Denali (B,L,D)
Everything about Denali National Park is big: the scenery, the mountains, the incredible beauty, and the animals. The shuttle in Denali is an excellent way to spot the wildlife for which Alaska is so famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and more. Enjoy a full day exploring the Alaskan Wilderness in Denali National Park! | | Day 13 | Denali | Day 13 Denali (B,L,D)
Full day to explore and hike Denali National Park. With the parks shuttle service dropping us off in the heart of Denali National Park our adventure begins. Denali is well-known for its diversity of wildlife. There are 39 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish, and one species of amphibian known in Denali. Summer is a time for raising the young and preparing for migration, hibernation, or survival during the winter and with a little luck, we witness it all! Yet there is more to come. On our hikes we discover the dynamic glaciated landscape providing large rivers, countless lakes and ponds, and unique landforms which form the foundation of the ecosystems that thrive in Denali. Enjoy a picnic lunch and just be in awe of this amazing place. | | Day 14 | Denali/Anchorage | Day 14 Denali/Anchorage (B,L)
Transfer to Anchorage. Anchorage is a rugged city beautifully settled between the base of the Chugach mountain range and Cook Inlet. An urbanized wilderness, humans are not the city's only inhabitants: They share the city with bears, moose and a small wolf pack. Year-round outdoor recreation is very accessible and venues are well-maintained to make the most of the city's setting. Anchorage is something rugged and wild, beautiful and urban all at once, so enjoy all it has to offer, and be sure to watch out for the wildlife! Discover this amazing city with a city tour until it's time to say good bye. Enjoy a last group dinner! | | Day 15 | Anchorage | Day 15 Anchorage
End of tour. Depart at any time. |
| | Dossier Disclaimer: The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances. |
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