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ALASKA
& THE YUKON - 2010
12
days from Anchorage to Anchorage (CO-8360)
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France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours Vacation
Overview
This vacation
features many of the most popular scenic vistas that Alaska and the Yukon
have to offer. Begin your trip in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, with
time to explore and tour on your own. Then, travel to Whittier for a
cruise on Prince William Sound and view as many as 26 tidewater and
hanging glaciers. Also, watch for whales, seals, and eagles. Next, travel
along Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest park in
the U.S., and continue on to the Yukon. Overnight in Whitehorse, the
capital of the Yukon and the territorial headquarters of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police. Follow the Trail of ’98 over the same mountains
that determined gold seekers traveled in the middle of winter, and
continue to Skagway, with its wooden sidewalks and colorful saloons.
Spend two nights in Dawson City and soak up the exciting history of this
Gold Rush town on your sightseeing tour. Cross back into Alaska via the
Top of the World Highway and see spectacular scenery. In Fairbanks,
Alaska’s second-largest city, enjoy your sightseeing tour and board a
sternwheeler riverboat cruise on the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Ride the
legendary Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park for free time to
explore on your own. Or take an optional wildlife tour to seek out
grizzly bear, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; take an optional helicopter
ride over the park; or raft down the Nenana River. On your way back to
Anchorage, stop at the Iditarod Visitor Center to learn more about this
epic race—a great way to end your Alaska and the Yukon vacation! On this
tour, you experience fun-filled activities and beautiful scenery—a
vacation of a lifetime!
Itinerary
Day
1 Wed. ANCHORAGE Experience the beauty Anchorage has to offer
Enjoy
time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Cosmos
Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.
Day
2 Thu. ANCHORAGE
Journey
to Whittier and board your deluxe catamaran for a once-in-a-lifetime
adventure. Cruise to College and Harriman Fjords in Prince William Sound
and view as many as 26 tidewater and hanging glaciers. There is a good
chance you’ll spot whales, seals, and eagles during the cruise. Return to
Anchorage in the evening. (L)
Day
3 Fri. ANCHORAGE–TOK
Travel
northeast through Palmer in the Matanuska Valley, a lush farming region
where cabbages can grow to weigh more than 70 pounds in the 24-hour
daylight. Up over scenic Tahneta Pass with spectacular vistas of
Matanuska Glacier. Travel along WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK &
PRESERVE, the largest park in the United States. The area boasts glaciers
larger than the island of Manhattan and is home to nine of the 16 highest
peaks in North America. Overnight in Tok, the “Dog Sled Capital of the
World.”
Day
4 Sat. TOK–WHITEHORSE Whitehorse
Join
the Alaska Highway and follow along the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.
Skirt the shores of Kluane Lake, once a meeting place for crews
constructing the Alaska Highway. Behold the spectacular vistas of the
rugged mountains of Kluane National Park, home to 19,625-foot-high Mount
Logan, Canada’s highest peak. The next two nights are in Whitehorse, the
capital of the Yukon and the territorial headquarters of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police.
Day
5 Sun. WHITEHORSE. VISIT TO SKAGWAY
Follow
the Trail of ‘98 over the same mountains that thousands of determined
gold seekers scaled on foot in the dead of winter while heading for the
Klondike. From Carcross, your Tour Director will suggest an optional
train trip on the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Railway to Skagway.
Otherwise, continue through the mountains by motorcoach to Skagway.
Stroll the wooden sidewalks past charming false-front buildings and
colorful saloons. Return to Whitehorse in the late afternoon.
Day
6 Mon. WHITEHORSE–DAWSON CITY
Head
northwest through the town of Carmacks, once an important supply station
for gold seekers on their way to the Klondike. A stop at the fiery Five
Finger Rapids, a major obstacle to the hordes of fortune seekers that
passed this way. Reach Dawson City, the center of excitement after the
first gold strike in the Klondike in 1896, which led to the world’s
largest gold rush. Tonight, enjoy the high-flying entertainment of
DIAMOND TOOTH GERTIE’S SALOON, featuring ragtime music, can-can girls,
and an old-fashioned casino.
Day
7 Tue. DAWSON CITY
A
full day to soak up the exciting history of this Gold Rush town.
Highlights on your morning tour include Bonanza Creek, site of Claim #1
where the first gold strike was made; Robert Service’s cabin; and a photo
stop at the SS Keno, the last sternwheeler to run between Dawson
and Whitehorse. Suggestion for the evening: attend the Gaslight Follies,
a variety show and melodrama typical of the entertainment enjoyed by
turn-of-the-century miners.
Day
8 Wed. DAWSON CITY–FAIRBANKS Fairbanks
A
long day and well worth it, as the scenery is magnificent. Motor over the
Top of the World Highway and re-enter the state of Alaska. Travel through
the village of Chicken and west along the Alaska Highway. Make a stop at
an authentic Alaska roadhouse before your early evening arrival in
Fairbanks, Alaska’s second-largest city.
Day
9 Thu. FAIRBANKS
Morning
sightseeing features the highlights of this historic Alaskan city and
includes an up-close visit to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Board the
STERNWHEELER RIVERBOAT DISCOVERY III for a leisurely cruise on the Chena
and Tanana Rivers. Listen as the ship’s guides discuss the wildlife,
history, geology, and customs of the region. This evening, take the
optional outing to Alaskaland, a pioneer theme park featuring early
20th-century buildings. Afternoon and evening are at leisure in
Fairbanks.
Day
10 Fri. FAIRBANKS–DENALI NATIONAL PARK View Mount McKinley, the highest mountain
peak in North America
Board
the world-famous ALASKA RAILROAD for a memorable journey through untamed
wilderness. Sit back in comfort and enjoy spectacular scenery through
wide windows. Be sure to take advantage of the domed-roof car. Today’s
ride ends in DENALI NATIONAL PARK. North America’s highest peak,
20,320-foot Mount McKinley, dominates the park’s 6 million acres of
glacial streams, river valleys, and expanses of multicolored tundra. The
afternoon is free for exploring on your own. Tonight, join our optional
“Wilderness Banquet” at an Alaska cabin, where colorful characters tell
tales of Alaska’s past.
Day
11 Sat. DENALI NATIONAL PARK
A
free day for independent activities. A hike along the many wilderness
trails might be good fun. Also take advantage of several optional
outings, including a wildlife tour to seek out grizzly bear, caribou,
moose, and Dall sheep; a raft trip down the Nenana River; or a helicopter
ride over the park. Your Tour Director will have plenty of other
suggestions.
Day
12 Sun. DENALI NATIONAL PARK–ANCHORAGE
Continue your exploration
of DENALI NATIONAL PARK as you head south toward Anchorage. A stop along
the way at the IDITAROD VISITOR CENTER, home of the great dogsled race.
The motorcoach continues to Anchorage and the Ramada Inn Anchorage
Downtown for guests extending their stay in Alaska. The trip ends at
Anchorage International Airport for those guests with homebound flights.
Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm.
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
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Return
Date
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Land/Cruise
Price Only
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Status
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5/12/2010
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5/12/2010
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5/23/2010
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$2,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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5/19/2010
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5/19/2010
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5/30/2010
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$2,249.00
|
Available
|
|
5/26/2010
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5/26/2010
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6/6/2010
|
$2,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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6/2/2010
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6/2/2010
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6/13/2010
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$2,409.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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6/16/2010
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6/16/2010
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6/27/2010
|
$2,409.00
|
Available
|
|
6/23/2010
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6/23/2010
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7/4/2010
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$2,409.00
|
Available
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7/21/2010
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7/21/2010
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8/1/2010
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$2,409.00
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Available
|
|
7/28/2010
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7/28/2010
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8/8/2010
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$2,409.00
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Available
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8/11/2010
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8/11/2010
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8/22/2010
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$2,409.00
|
Available
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8/18/2010
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8/18/2010
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8/29/2010
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$2,409.00
|
Available
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9/1/2010
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9/1/2010
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9/12/2010
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$2,409.00
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Available
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Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
Single Room Supplement:
$926
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