Ultimate Luxury Alaska Adventure with Seabourn

Upon arrival into Vancouver Airport transfer by private sedan to your overnight hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

This morning you will depart from your Vancouver Hotel and find out about how Vancouver’s fascinating past and present came together as you travers through urban cityscapes, seaside parks, and ancient rain forests. Begin with the highlights of downtown, including Canada

Place, the Arts and Financial Districts, and Robson Street. Enter the 1,000-acre urban rainforest, Stanley Park where you visit the First Nations Totem Poles. Continue across the Lion’s Gate Bridge to Vancouver’s scenic North Shore, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Don’t miss the impressive collection of First Nations artwork and the historic Story Centre. From the spectacular Cliffwalk, gaze out over the Capilano River before you walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge to the other side where man unique experiences await. Return to downtown Vancouver and get ready to engage all your senses as you step out into Granville Island Market. This market is an artisan haven for all things local and hand-made, including delicious food, coffee, tea, eclectic artwork, and west coast music. Carry on through bustling Chinatown and continue to historic Gastown, the heart of Vancouver.

Today you will take a Seaplane flightseeing tour departing from downtown Vancouver bustling Coal Harbour. Discover even more of the majestic mountains and expansive coastline that surround breathtaking Vancouver. You will following the coast further north towards Whistler, then loop back down over the Islands and explore the incredible Sunshine Coast.

Today you will embark on your 11 night Alaska Cruise onboard Seabourn’s Sojourn. Overnight onboard the ship as you transit the Seymour Narrows

The southeastern-most town in Alaska is also arguably its most colorful. Ketchikan’s early history is forever tied to the rollicking brothels lining the raised wooden catwalks that snake along Creek Street. Here a pioneering population of enterprising women provided rest and recreation for the predominantly male workforce powering the timber and fishing industries of the Southeast. Founded in 1885, the town is the state’s oldest continuously governed municipality, having been incorporated in 1900. But Ketchikan also celebrates its earlier heritage. The city is a treasury of Native American culture, with the largest collection of Native totem poles in the world. The Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, Saxman native village and the Totem Heritage Center display both originals and reproductions created over the years by carvers trained in the traditional symbolism and craft. A restored salmon cannery shows how the city became the Salmon Capital of the World, and a visit to a hatchery reveals contemporary efforts to ensure the continuation of this vital resource. Tours of the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument are available by air or sea, and sport fishing is also popular with visitors. A visit to the Native American village of Metlakatla on Annette Island provides an in-depth look at the local Tsimshian and Haida-Tlingit cultures both past and present.

Alaska’s first capital had been an active village of native Tlingit people for over 10,000 years when the Russian Alexander Baranov arrived by sea in 1799 and established his Fort Archangel Michael. His presumption as the Tsar-appointed Governor of Russian America evidently aggravated the Tlingits to the extent that in 1802 they stormed the fort and decimated the Russian population, taking a number captive and forcing the others to flee. Baranov returned two years later with a military force and re-established the community which he renamed New Archangel. It served as the capital of Russian America until the purchase of Alaska in 1867. The reminders of its Russian heritage are everywhere in Sitka, and the city contains 22 buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Among the most recognizable are the copper-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Pioneer Home and the Russian Bishop’s House. It was here that the contract of sale was signed that ended Russia’s American adventure and transferred the Alaska territory to the United States. Ironically, Sitka saw the first Native Alaska Brotherhood formed here in 1912 to oppose race discrimination against native people, and the Native Brotherhood Hall was built in 1914. Favorite sights for visitors include traditional Russian performances by the New Archangel Dancers and visits to the fascinating Alaska Raptor Center. Sport fishing for salmon and halibut are also popular, as are various activities in the nearby Tongass rainforest including fly-in hikes and jet-boat tours to view wildlife in the surrounding waters

Alaska’s capital is inaccessible by road, due to the rugged surrounding terrain. Set beside the deep Gastineau Channel in the state’s Southeastern panhandle, it was founded as a mining camp by Joe Juneau in 1880, and was the first Alaskan town officially established after the purchase of the territory by the United States. It was designated as the capital in 1906, after its important mining and fishing industries eclipsed the waning whaling and fur trades at the former capital Sitka. Today seasonal tourism is its second most important enterprise, after only government administration. The town receives visitors with colorful floral displays in summer, and offers an impressive range of options for experiencing its heritage and the bounty of natural attractions near by. In the mountains back of town, the huge Juneau Icefield spawns no fewer than 30 glaciers, including the mighty Mendenhall Glacier, the only glacier within a city’s limits. Juneau’s extensive limits enfold over 3,200 square miles, making the borough larger than the U.S. states of Rhode Island or Delaware. It is also the only state capital that shares a border with a foreign country (Canada). Popular adventures for visitors include flight tours by seaplane or helicopter, many including landing on glaciers; whale-watching and wildlife viewing excursions by boat; sport fishing for salmon or huge Alaskan halibut; dogsled mushing and panning for gold in sites such as Gold Creek. Hiking tours visit the Tongass National Forest, and there is also a breathtaking mountain tramway at Mt. Roberts

Icy Strait Point is a unique community on Chichagof Island near the entry to Glacier Bay National Park. It was created and is owned by a corporation of over 1300 Native Americans of various local Tlingit tribes, for the purpose of offering visitors an enjoyable, educational experience of Alaska’s native cultures, as well as the human and natural history of the region. Your tender will dock at the historic 1912 salmon canning facility, which today is a museum. The surrounding grounds offer cultural performances, Native American-owned shops and galleries, restaurants and a variety of tours and excursions for every interest from sport fishing to whale watching, guided nature walks and excursions to view bears and other wildlife, ATV tours and even a zipline adventure that is said to be the longest (over a mile) and highest (over 1330 feet of drop) in North America. The small village of Hoonah is just over a mile away, and can be reached either by walking or on a shuttle. It also has shops and eateries, as well as a totem-carving enterprise run by the corporation. The Huna Totem Corporation maintains complete control of the content and access to the community, which has won a number of prestigious awards for its sustainable approach to exploiting the natural and historical heritage of Alaska and its native peoples for their benefit

Disembark the ship and begin your coach adventure touring towards Anchorage; you will have the opportunity to enjoy spectacular scenery of scenic Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. Few roads in the United States can offer the diversity of scenic landscapes and unique natural features all concentrated in one area. After a short stop in Anchorage continue to the Denali National Park Entrance. Your driver will give you some history of the area as you travel the George Parks Highway. Weather permitting; you can admire the marvelous views of Denali (Mount McKinley) - the tallest mountain in North America.

This full-day narrated coach trip explores the entire 148km /92mi of the restricted Denali Park Road on your way to the Denali Backcountry Lodge. During your journey to Denali Backcountry Lodge, your experienced driver-guide will help in the search for bear, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and other wildlife while pointing out the biology and geology of the area. There are numerous stops for wildlife viewing, photography and to stretch your legs and enjoy complimentary snacks. Lunch is included on this full day journey at the Denali Backcountry Lodge and while at the Lodge you can take a nature walk or try panning for gold. You will return to the park entrance via a flightseeing tour in a small bush plane. (lunch included)

This morning is open for optional activities such as: whitewater rafting down the Nenana River, helicopter flightseeing over the Park, landing on a glacier, or hiking. After lunch (not included), take the shuttle to the Alaska Railroad Station and board the Denali Star Train in the Goldstar Railcar to Fairbanks. Enjoy the late afternoon scenery as you travel north to Fairbanks. (Dinner is included onboard the train today) Overnight: Fairbanks

Today you ultimate Alaska adventure comes to an end. Check out of your hotel and board your flight to Seattle, Washington, State. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Full day at leisure to explore.

Take your Private transfer from your Seattle Hotel to the Airport and board your flight back to the UK