T14: Denali and Kenai Fjords Fall Aurora Tour

Tour Overview

Ask us about optional excursions and extra nights of lodging if arriving early or staying late. We can help plan any extra time you may have in Alaska. We have scheduled this trip in conjunction with our Glacier Discovery Cruise: begin your exploration of Alaska with a scenic cruise through the famed Inside Passage beginning in Vancouver, Canada.

 

Logistics

• Tour only guests - need to arrive in Anchorage (ANC) by 04:00 pm September 1st.

• Tour ends in Fairbanks (FAI) the morning of September 8th. Cruise guests can book flights home from Vancouver, Canada (YVR) September 18th in the afternoon or later.

• The associated cruise departs from Vancouver, Canada on Sunday evening August 26th. Guests cruising north will meet up with the tour after disembarking in Seward, Alaska on Sunday morning September 2nd.

Highlights

• City Tour of Fairbanks, Alaska’s Golden Heart City
• Look for aurora borealis (northern lights) if conditions permit
• Relaxing soak in the outdoor Rock Lake at Chena Hot Springs
• Visit to the fascinating Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs
• Explore Denali National Park including its Visitor Center
• Wildlife viewing excursion into Denali National Park
• Look for bears, Dall sheep, moose, and caribou
• Several opportunities to see Denali (Mt. McKinley), North America’s tallest mountain
• Alaska Railroad journey along the coast and past glaciers to Seward
• Day cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park to see glaciers, whales, otters, puffins, eagles and more
• Visit to Mad Myrnas, Alaska’s LGBT party spot
• Tour concludes in Anchorage
• Excellent, locally popular restaurants
• Charming locally owned (LGBT when possible) lodging including Inns, B&Bs, and cabins.

Optional Activities

Anchorage Optional Tours and Activities

 

Bicycle along Anchorage’s Coastal Trail - $15+
Rent a mountain bike and helmet and explore Anchorage’s fabulous Tony Knowles Coastal Trail along Cook Inlet.

 

Alaska Native Heritage Center - $24.95
Experience and learn about the rich heritage of Alaska's eleven cultural groups drawing upon the lifeways of long ago, the wisdom of our elders, and the traditions that endure.

 

Knik Glacier Tour - $100
Fly over the water on an airboat upriver to the Knik Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in south central Alaska. See icebergs and the face of the glacier, before returning to civilization.

 

Float-plane Glacier flight Seeing Tour - $245
Take an exciting float-plane flight over the rugged Chugach Mountains to see glaciers and look for moose. Flying time about 1.5 hours.

Fly-out Bear Viewing Tour - $595
Depart from Lake Hood, the busiest float plane airport in the world for a scenic flight across Cook Inlet to Redoubt Bay. Your naturalist guides will take you in a covered pontoon boat through a chain of lakes where spawning salmon attract numerous brown and black bears. This half day trip includes lunch.

 

 

Denali Optional Tours and Activities

Whitewater rafting - $87

Raft the exciting class 3-4 rapids of the Nenana River Canyon, which borders Denali National Park. This glacier fed river features huge waves up to twenty feet! Guests are outfitted with wet suit booties and a drysuit, which protects you from the chilly water.

 

Denali (Mt. McKinley)– Flightseeing Tours

Circle Denali Flight - $350
This flight follows the spine of the Alaska Range, taking you (weather permitting) as close as 1 mile away from Mt. McKinley. View colossal glaciers and magnificent peaks. Fully narrated by the pilot, detailing the geography and wildlife of Denali National Park. Flights average about an hour in length. All seats are window seats!

Denali Glacier Landing - $450
Enjoy a breath-taking flight along the peaks of the Alaska Range to Mt. McKinley! Your pilot will take you through the Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier (the world’s deepest gorge) and cap the experience by landing on the glacier with skis! Marvel at the mass of frozen ice and towing cliffs before your plane takes off from the glacier and makes the scenic return trip. Total flying time is about 100 minutes.

 

Helicopter Flightseeing Tours

Denali Excursion - $340 - Tour Length: 2 hours - Total Flight time: 50 min.
This flightseeing tour offers a panoramic view of Denali National Park. Travel along the spine of the Alaska Range through unexplored backcountry of towering peaks and ancient glaciers. View the impressive Cantwell Glacier as it cascades over a 900-foot cliff, while North America’s Highest peak, Mt. McKinley, towers on the horizon. Keep an eye out for park residents, such as bear, moose, and Dall sheep.

Denali Glacier Landing Expedition - $440- Tour Length: 2 hours - Total Flight time: 50 min. (also 15-20 min. of glacier exploring)
Fly over the Yanert Valley and view how the Pacific and North American tectonic plates have collided with each other. Highlight your flight seeing adventure by landing on the Yanert Glacier. Step out onto the ancient ice and explore the glacier with your pilot/guide. Glacier walking boots are provided for your added safety on this tour.

 

Back Country ATV Adventure - $110
Join your guide as you drive your own 4-wheel all terrain vehicle (ATV) on a truly exciting journey! This experience takes you back on old coal mining trails and spills you out onto the Dry Creek river bed where Athabascan Indian artifacts have been found. Your trek takes you high up on Black Diamond Peak where you can view the entire Healy Valley.

 

 

Fairbanks Optional Tours

Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center – Free!
This fabulous facility includes the Fairbanks Visitor Bureau, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and Tanana Chiefs Cultural programs. Stop here first for visitor information, beautiful displays and dioramas, plus cultural events.

 

Arctic Circle Drive Adventure - $189
Guided ground tour up to the Arctic Circle and back

 

Arctic Circle Air Adventure - $389 (7am), $469 (1pm), or $419 (1pm)
Scenic flight north of the Arctic Circle to the rugged Brooks Range. Enjoy a fascinating tour of Wiseman an very remote gold mining community.

 

Anaktuvuk Pass Adventure - $529
Amazing scenic flight north of the Arctic Circle through the Brooks Range to the native village of Anaktuvuk Pass (in the heart of Gates of the Arctic National Park). Learn about the history and culture of these rugged people – the only inland Inupiaq Eskimos.

Print the Tour Details

T14: Denali and Kenai Fjords fall Aurora Tour

Day 1 - D

Welcome to Alaska! Arrive in Anchorage by 4pm today. Take a taxi to our lodging in downtown Anchorage. We will meet, get to know each other, and discuss details of our upcoming trip.

 

• 6:30 pm Group orientation – meet in hotel lobby
• 7:30pm Welcome Dinner
• Optional drinks together at Mad Myrna’s Bar

Day 2 - (meals included today): B, L, D

Today we rise early to take the scenic Alaska Railroad along Turnagain Arm and through the mountains to coastal Seward. Upon arrival, we head immediately to a Kenai Fjords tour boat that will whisk us out to our island home for the night. We will be welcomed out at Fox Island with a hearty grilled salmon lunch and then the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the island’s beaches or forest trails, relax, or join a kayak tour of the island (additional cost).

 

• Coffee and brown bag (to go) breakfast
• 05:45 am Transfer to the Anchorage Depot
• 06:45 am Train departs (watch for glaciers and wildlife)!

• 10:00 am Out in Alaska guide arrives Seward (driving) and meets cruise guests
• 11:05 am Tour guests arrive Seward, shuttle to harbor
• 12:00 pm Short cruise to Fox Island Lodge
• Salmon BBQ lunch, cabin check in
• Afternoon Explore, relax, join a National Park Ranger led walk, or paddle around in a sea kayak
• 06:45 pm Dinner cooked by Fox Island’s private chef
• Accommodations are comfortable cabins right on the beach of beautiful Fox Island (past Out in Alaska guests discovered their room's guest book had been signed by Jimmy and Roslyn Carter!). The only sound you will hear at night is the waves crashing on the rocky beach.

 

Day 3 - B, L

We begin the day with a lovely breakfast cooked by the gourmet chef at Fox Island Lodge and then pack up for the day and check out of our rooms. For the rest of the day, we join Kenai Fjords Tours’ preeminent cruise out to remote Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. Keep your binoculars and cameras handy for sightings of whales, seals, sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, and glaciers.

• 08:00 am Breakfast
• 09:45 am Full-day wildlife and whale-watching cruise to glacier-clad Northwestern Fjord
• Lunch on board
• 06:30 pm Arrive Seward
• Check into charming LGBT owned BnB in the woods just outside Seward
• Dinner

Day 4 - B, L, D

This morning we will explore the dramatic Exit Glacier on a short hike (1 mile each way - optional).  This large glacier is a small part of the massive 1,100 square mile Harding Icefield.  Now it is time to head north.  Half-way back to Anchorage, we can stop in at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for an up close and personal view of some of Alaska’s most famous residents.  We will bypass Alaska's largest city and head on to the charming village of Talkeetna (thought to be the inspiration for Northern Exposure's fictional Cicely, Alaska).

 

• 08:00 am Breakfast
• Visit Exit Glacier (Kenai Fjords National Park)
• Lunch
• Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• 04:00 pm pass through Anchorage
• 07:00 pm Arrive Talkeetna

 

Day 5 - B, L

After spending the morning exploring charming Talkeetna, we continue north to Denali National park.  We will marvel at the fall colors of the tundra and if we are lucky enough to hit a clear day, we will enjoy amazing views of Mt. McKinley along the drive. Locals call the mountain, Denali – a native Athabascan word meaning ‘the high one.’ At 20,320 feet, Denali is the tallest mountain in North American, but is only visible about 20% of the time in summer. There are a couple of scenic overlooks to stop at and view Mt. McKinley if the mountain is ‘out’. Depending on group desires, we can go for a short hike along the way before arriving in Denali.

Talkeetna is also the best place for a Denali flightseeing trip (also a great option while staying near the National Park entrance area).  Let us know if you'd like to schedule a jaw-dropping flight!

 

• 08:00 am Breakfast
• Depart Talkeetna
• Lunch
• Arrive Denali National Park, explore Visitor Center, optional hikes

• Dinner on your own tonight (or together Dutch treat)

Day 6 - B, L, D

 

Today we start with a relaxing morning and then spend the day exploring the remote wilderness of Denali on a wildlife bus safari.

Breakfast
• 10:00 am Depart Lodging
• 11:00 am Wildlife bus tour in Denali National Park. Bag lunch (no food nor water is available for purchase inside the park)
• 07:00 pm Return to Denali Park entrance
• Group Dinner

Virtually the only way to enter Denali National Park is the park’s shuttle bus system. This is a long bumpy trip on a gravel road in a modified school bus, yet it is an incredible journey through the alpine wilderness of Denali. While wildlife and mountain sightings are never guaranteed, bears, Dall sheep, caribou and moose are often seen from the bus. In fact, this bus trip is the best chance to see bears in the wild without going on a spectacular, but pricey ‘bear viewing flight tour’. For many previous Out in Alaska guests, this wildlife safari in Denali was the highlight of their entire trip. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars!

 

Day 7- B, L, D

North to the Future is the motto of the State of Alaska.  Today we conclude our time in Denali and head north to the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks.  We will plan to have some downtown in the afternoon to save some energy to stay up late and look for the northern lights!  Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights and September is a great time of year to see them.  We will need clear skies for an opportunity to see the aurora and whether or not "the lights are out" depends on solar activity.  The lights are most active from midnight to 2am, so we will plan to stay up late (optional) and if the skies and aurora forecast look favorable, we will drive north from Fairbanks away from the city lights.

• Breakfast
• Depart Denali
• Lunch
• Visit Nenana's historic Railroad museum

• Arrive Fairbanks
• Several hours free - nap/downtime, or explore on your own

• 08:00 pm Farewell dinner

• 10:30 pm depart on aurora tour

Day 8 - B

Our adventure has come to an end. Fly home anytime today or later.  Let us know if you would like us to arrange additional nights lodging or additional activities and tours for you.

• Breakfast at our lodging

Print the Itinerary

T14: Denali and Kenai Fjords fall Aurora Tour

Date

September 1-8

Price

 $3275 per person, double occupancy

($3925 single)

 

This trip includes

• Accommodations: 7 nights of comfortable, eclectic lodging (gay B & Bs, locally owned lodges, unique cabins, etc.). All lodging has private bathrooms.
• All activities and transportation as described above (airport transfers not included).
• Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners (alcoholic beverages and espresso drinks not included).
• Equipment: Use of Out in Alaska’s high quality tents, sleeping bags, sleeping bags, and group camping gear. See the Packing list for this trip for more information.
• Taxes: All local taxes are included

 

Items of a personal nature are not included.
Gratuities (For hotel maids, guides, etc. ) are not included.

 

All information subject to change due to weather, current conditions, road closures, or other reasons!

 

For more information and to inquire about a trip contact us: (907) 339-0101 or email us:

info (at) outinalaska.com

Print the Date & Prices

T14: Denali and Kenai Fjords fall Aurora Tour

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