Our luxury private transport service is customized with leather captains chairs, large picture windows, complete narration and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Our vehicles are limited to 8-13 guests for your sightseeing pleasure. Optional custom itineraries can be designed for your group based on availability. Our Alaska tours are also ideal for senior & corporate travel. Check out our groups page..

Our "Family Packages" are designed with your children ages 5-15 in mind. Choosing from select dates, our AAU guides are also parents and are experienced environmental educators with the enthusiasm and skill to excite kids of all ages to explore and learn. "Family friendly vehicles" allow for educational entertainment via plasma screen TV/DVD. View our family adventure page for details regarding special family pricing and activity restrictions. Join other families in discovering Alaska together.

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Subject to availability, land only, per person, based on double occupancy, US dollars, capacity controlled. 8% bed tax additional. Adult Single Supplement is $699.00. Pre or Post transfers may not be included in published rate, so please check with your agent.

*RATES: Include accommodations, transportation, some meals where listed, activities, etc. (unless stated as optional). Rates do not include all meals, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, or optional activities not listed. Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the escort due to weather, road maintenance & time factors. Please review all terms and conditions prior to booking.

*DEPOSIT: 50% Deposit due at time of booking. 100% Final Payment due by Feb 15, 2010 or at time of booking if after Feb 15, 2010. Cancellations will incur a 100% penalty, no refunds are available. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

GATEWAY OF ALASKA
7-Day Shoulder Season Value Special

This unique tour of Alaska, allows guests to save money with shoulder season dates. Save hundreds of dollars on this budget tour, a great adventure with options that allow every traveler to enjoy all levels of activity. Local Alaskans know the Kenai Peninsula secret - the place to enjoy remarkable scenery, and ocean waters open early and late season!. The Matanuska Valley is the "Playland of Alaska" and offers beauty unmatched. Denali is the cherry on the top of this adventure. Join in on this Alaska glacier tour into both the heart of Alaska, Denali National Park and into the jewel of the Kenai. The size of this tour is 6 to 13 guests per vehicle but if your groups is larger, groups can have more than one vehicle.

" GREAT SAVINGS on shoulder season Alaskan tour"

CLICK HERE TO COMPARE ALL OUR ALASKA TOURS BY ACTIVITY OR DESTINATION

ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

• Alaska Saturday & Sunday Festival Market
• Eklutna Native Village
• Matanuska Glacier Ice Trekking
• Iditarod Race Headquarters & Dog team ride & narrated film
• Talkeetna River Jetboat Safari or Talkeetna Lakes Hike
• Denali National Park Wildlife Tour
• Hatcher Pass & Independence Gold Mine w/ Gold Panning
• Exit Glacier Hike or I-did-a-Ride Dog Sled Kennel Tour
• 2nd Most Scenic Rail Excursion in the World

DAY ONE - ANCHORAGE:
Upon arrival in Anchorage, courtesy transfers will take you to your local hotel for an evening of leisure. Located in Southcentral Alaska on the shores of Cook Inlet, the Municipality of Anchorage is a unique urban environment situated in the heart of the wilderness. There's a special mystique to Alaska. The name conjures up adventure, raw natural beauty -- glaciers, mountains and seas, unmatched the world around -- fascinating wildlife, a unique cultural heritage, and independent, pioneering people. Here you will find four-star restaurants and small cafes, an outstanding Museum of History and Art and a multitude of other fun activities. Enjoy downtown shopping at any of the artist hot spots, or relax and enjoy the nightlife of Anchorage, “the city of lights”. Infamous restaurants dot the downtown area and offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy fresh salmon to prime rib.

DAY TWO - EKLUTNA:
At noon, meet your resident guide and traveling companions. Begin your Alaska vacation via private luxury transport service. We offer vehicles for adults only or for families with children so everyone is comfortable. Stopping at the Alaska Saturday & Sunday Festival Maket, enjoy 2 hours of hand crafted Alaskan wares, local food like salmon quesillas, and local balladiers singing about Alaskan folklore. Next, traveling north through the Matanuska Valley, visit the village of Eklutna, featuring the Russian Orthodox influence on native culture and view native spirit houses, sharing in the local traditions. Late this afternoon, enjoy a stop at the reindeer farm to see some of the local animals including reindeeer, moose, bison and elk. This evening, dine with new friends and overnite in Wasilla in very comfortable chalet lodging. (B)

DAY THREE - CHICKALOON:
Morning brings views of the incredible Knik Glacier & Matanuska River as you travel north to Chickaloon. This photo safari will overwhelm your senses with mountain peaks down to river beds all in one shot. A lunch stop at Sheep Mountain Loge will allow views of teh local Dall sheep in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, step back in time to the glacial age, as you walk onto the Matanuska Glacier. Enjoy the pristine beauty of the diamond-like sparkles of the deep blue ice crevasses. Walk out to the hidden lake and ice fall for phots that take your breath away. No experience necessary! Overnite again at your chalet. (B)

DAY FOUR - TALKEETNA:
Depart on your adventure to Denali National Park. Visit the Iditarod Race Headquarters for interactive moments with a dog sled team and puppies! Learn about the trail and race conditions these athletes endure. En route to Talkeetna, several scenic wildlife opportunities exist and we stop to observe offering a high powered scope for close-up views. Take in the beauty of Talkeetna, Alaska featuring a river boat adventure or a hike along the lakes of the area. Choose one:

2) River Jetboat Safari Adventure: Your exciting trip will begin aboard the fifty-one passenger "Talkeetna Queen" as it whisks you into the heart of the wilderness in comfort. You will visit an authentic trapper’s cabin and view how trappers lived in "Bush" Alaska at the turn of the century. Your experienced guide will display raw furs from the local area and demonstrate trapping methods. Naturalists will acquaint you with the wildflowers and plants that grow in abundance along the river system and you will learn about the edible plants that were used by the Native Indians for cooking and medicines. As you travel ten miles of river you will have opportunities to view nesting bald eagles, beaver activity, and moose and you just might see black bear and grizzly bear roaming the shore. Wildlife, folklore, artifacts and a panoramic view of Denali in the Alaska Range combine to make this an unforgettable Alaskan river adventure.

Continue on to Denali National Park late this afternoon. Evening dinner at your leisure. Overnight at Denali National Park. Hotel or Inn accommodations are determined based on your booking dates. (B)

DAY FIVE - DENALI:
Everything about Denali National Park is big: the scenery, the mountains, the incredible beauty, and the animals. Early this morning, transfer to the Visitors Center where you will embark on an Alaska Wildlife Tour, an excellent way to spot the wildlife for which Alaska is so famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, dall sheep. With over 365 million acres of wilderness in Alaska, Denali National Park boosts an adventure around every corner. This tour affords the best chance to see an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. It's a fascinating 6-8 hour shuttle tour into the park that you won’t want to miss. Snack and beverage will be supplied. So bring your camera and binoculars, you won’t want to share. This Denali tour ends around 4 PM, but you do have the option of catching a returning shuttle earlier in the day if you choose. Finally upon everyone’s return, relax and take in the scenery on our return to Wasilla and your chalet lodging. (B, L)

DAY SIX - WASILLA:
Today, your escort will whisk you off to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Gold Mine, built in the early 1900’s.  Here you have your choice of taking a walk on paved trails, or hiking back into the mountains for a real adventure.  Those who love photography, will have a real photo safari here with the arctic flora and fauna.  Or if learning about the history of the area is your choice, a park naturalist is here to share the history of the mine, as well as the lifestyle of the engineers to the flunkies who worked tirelessly on the mine. A lunch stop will be provided at the Hatcher Pass Lodge, with views of the surrounding area.

A great luch stop is available at the Hatcher Pass Lodge with views that rival any. Late this afternoon, after your return drive to Anchorage, you will begin a 3 hour extremely scenic motorcoach drive to Seward where your day will end with the arrival at your accommodations in Seward. (B)

DAY SEVEN - SEWARD:
Today you can choose one of the first two tours adventures listed below. You can participate in the morning or afternoon, your choice. Then enjoy the afternoon at leisure, visiting the fishing town of Seward. Watch as the Halibut, Salmon and Ling Cod arrive on the local docks. Or chose to visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, North America's only coldwater research facility.

1) I-did-a-ride: Your real Alaskan adventure begins with a two-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of our amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to our comfortable wheeled sleds. The intrigue of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, also known as Alaska's Superbowl, comes alive as you mush through the Alaskan wilderness to the base of Resurrection Mountain and along Box Canyon Creek.  Your Iditarod veteran guide will thrill and excite you with stories from the trail as you experience the raw power of 13 Iditarod sled dogs. Upon return to the kennel, tour our beautiful kennel facilities, laugh as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher, and cuddle adorable husky puppies. Our guides are all Iditarod racers, and offer a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family's training for the most demanding race on earth. Guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your vacation, this tour was chosen as one of Alaska's Top Twenty Attractions, and is a must-do for all visitors to the Greatland.

2) Mystical Island Sea Kayaking: This paddle is one of our Kayak Guides Favorite half day paddles. The water taxi takes you to the eastern remote side of Resurrection Bay and lands in Humpy Cove. There, you will paddle around Orca Island area, and into magical rock gardens teaming with marine wildlife in them... lots of starfish... and other wildlife too! Kayakers will paddle to a salmon stream area, where there is a beautiful waterfall area cascading down pillow basalt formations that are absolutely gorgeous.... Starfish are everywhere... this calm cove is a beautiful emerald green and commonly seen here are sea lions, sea otters, mountain goats, and sometimes orca and humpback whales. Bald Eagles are common. From Orca Island and Humpy Cove we travel south to Kayaker's Cove, where we wait in a comfortable wilderness lodge/hostel for the water taxi to take us back to beautiful Lowell Point. This paddle is appropriate for any athletic ability. No experience is required.

This evening, your rail adventure from Seward to Anchorage begins at 6 PM and arrives in Anchorage at 10:30 PM.  Ride the rail THAT IS AMONG THE MOST SPECTACULAR RAIL TRIPS IN THE WORLD.  Travel through mountainous passes full of wonder, north to the city of Anchorage. The train travels along the magnificent Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, through mountains and tunnels, over gorges, and within a mile of three majestic glaciers - Spencer, Bartlett and Trail

With good-bye’s to new friends, you arrive in Anchorage. You may enjoy a great night's sleep an optional hotel or you can save dollars by taking a taxi right to the airport and take our regularly timed flights out of Anchorage at teh midnight hour.  With this amount of flexibility, you can customize your tour just as you always dreamed!

(*May departure date has a sligtly revised itinerary on day three and five due to snow and early season. Ask your agent for details!)

INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET TOUR:

• ALL LODGING ADD-ON PRE OR POST HOTEL NIGHTS IF NEEDED
• ALL ACTIVITES EXCEPT IF STATED AS OPTIONAL
• ALL TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING RAIL, VAN & BOAT
• ESCORT DRIVER W/ NARRATION
• ALL PARK & ENTRANCE FEES NATIONAL & STATE PARK FEES
• COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES WATER, SODA OR JUICE
• SOME BREAKFASTS & LUNCHES (B, L) WHERE LISTED
  
  NOT INCLUDED IS AIRFARE TO ANCHORAGE FROM YOUR HOME TOWN, DRIVER GRATUITIES (SUGGESTED $7 PER PERSON PER DAY) AND SOME MEALS.