Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  • Self Drive Tours

    Our extensive selection of Alaska and Northern Canada custom self drive tour packages include a choice of moderate and first-class hotels and lodges, a rental car and sightseeing tours. All packages are well designed to provide a maximum of convenience and comfort and may be the perfect way to explore the "Land of the Midnight Sun" after your cruise or rail tour.

  • Alaska Rail Tours

    We featuring the largest selection of comprehensive and affordable standard or first-class rail tour packages in Alaska. Our destinations include: Anchorage, the Denali - and Kenai Fjords National Parks, Talkeetna & Fairbanks. Choose between luxurious dome and vintage car options, a large hotel selection and sightseeing tours throughout the State of Alaska.

  • Wildlife Observation

    We provide an extensive selection of world-class outdoor soft adventure tours. Among them are: Bear Viewing at Brooks Lodge, Rafting on the Tatshenshini - and Alsek Rivers, Kayak Tours at Glacier Bay, Hking Trips throughout the remote Brooks Range and many Wilderness and Fishing Resorts accessible only by floatplane. The choice for unlimited adventure is yours

  • Custom Tour Packages

    We provide the freedom to design your own group - or individual tour package. Choose your preferred hotels, transportation, sightseeing tour and other additional programs for a totally personalized tour itinerary within Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory. Our comprehensive rates are widely recognized as the best within the Alaska tourism industry.

  • Individual Winter Tours

    The 1149-Mile Iditarod from Anchorage to Nome along the Bering Sea as well as the 1000-Mile Yukon Quest from Whitehorse to Fairbanks are recognized as the most competitive and challenging sled dog races in the world. The winter months are also the best time for Northern Lights  viewing and Heli or downhill skiing at the Alyeska Resort.

  • National Park Adventures

    The customized "Discover National Parks" multiple day travel packages are available with flight, car and railroad transportation options throughout Alaska and the Yukon. Our tours including first-class wilderness lodging, national park sightseeing, wildlife viewing, guided hiking and backcountry lodging at Denali, Glacier Bay, Katmai and Kluane.

Bear Viewing in Alaska

When it comes to must-see Alaska animals, it's a little bit like the food chain - Bears are at the top of the list. Nearly every visitor wants to see a grizzly (or brown bear). And Alaska is the best place to see them in their natural environment. Alaska contains more than 98 percent of the U.S. population of brown bears. The state also hosts large populations of black bears and polar bears, although most visitors won't see polar bears. In addition to lots of bears, Alaska also has plenty of bear-viewing companies. Most trips require a bush plane flight, often across Cook Inlet to Katmai National Park and Preserve, where the world-famous Brooks Falls are an annual gathering place for dozens of brown bears. (Brown and grizzly bears are essentially the same; brown bear is the term generally associated with coastal bears, which get larger thanks to a more calorie-dense diet. Grizzly bears live in the Interior.) Grizzly bears also are frequently spotted by visitors to Denali National Park while on one of the bus tours. Private vehicles are not allowed beyond Mile 15 of the Park Road.

Alaska being Alaska, occasionally a bear-viewing opportunity will present itself at an unexpected time and place. Last summer, bears were actually a problem in Anchorage, with a young bicyclist getting mauled during a race in Far North Bicentennial Park. And while bear sightings are impossible to guarantee, there are some nearly sure bets. One of those is Brooks River Falls in Katmai National Park. The most recent survey indicated a population of about 2,000 brown bears in the park. Officials say up to 80 bears congregate around Brooks Lodge near the falls when salmon return to the river. And despite being in a remote, roadless part of Alaska, Brooks River is fairly easy to get to. Provided you have at least a day to spend and plenty of cash. A trip to Katmai isn't cheap. Katmai offers a day trip from Anchorage for $619 per person. It includes a flight to King Salmon and a floatplane flight from to Brooks Lodge. Other operators also offer trips to Katmai and Brooks River Falls. National Park Service rangers provide an orientation, which lasts 20 to 30 minutes and explains some simple rules visitors should follow around the bears. Once out of the orientation, visitors are free to roam about looking for bears. There are three main viewing platforms -- falls, riffles and lower platforms -- for bear-watching.

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Southeast Alaska Ferry Trips

A new ferry service is in the works for Alaska's rainforest islands. Stretching out through the pristine waters of the Inside Passage, the rainforest islands offer access to glaciers, mountains, ancient forests and caves and is a destination known for fishing and bear viewing opportunities. The 70-passenger, 14-vehicle ferry features an observation deck, recliner lounge, coffee shop and food and beverage service.

Alaska Ferry Service Bellingham to Whittier

June 4 is the departure date from Bellingham, Washington State., for the first-ever Alaska Marine Highway ferry run directly to Southcentral Alaska that won't require a highway trip from Haines to Valdez and a change of vessels in Southeast Alaska. The MV Kennicott will stop en-route from Bellingham in Ketchikan, Juneau and Yakutat before crossing the Gulf of Alaska to Whittier bi-weekly reports the Turnagain Times Newspaper.

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More Gray Whales in Alaska

Recent scientific reports show that more gray whales were spotted this summer off the coast of Alaska than in any other year. The previous record for a full season from July through October was 18 calves, but in July 2012 alone, researchers counted more than 50 calves, according to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. That's good news for travelers who may have whale watching on their Alaska must-see list.

The Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is entirely north of the Arctic Circle, in the center of the Brooks Range; at 8.2 million acres, it's the size of four Yellowstones. This is parkland on a scale suitable to the country. It includes the Endicott Mountains to the east and the Schwatka Mountains to the southwest, with the staggeringly sharp and dramatic Arrigetch Peaks in between. To the north lies a sampling of the Arctic Alaska foothills.

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RokSprocket

A powerful content-centric addon with multiple layouts, such as Tabs or Lists.A powerful content-centric extension with Mosaic, Lists, Headlines, Tabs and Features layout modes.RokSprocket has a combined and intuitive administrative inferface for all layout types, for quick and easy setup.

Read More
image

RokSprocket

A powerful content-centric addon with multiple layouts, such as Tabs or Lists.A powerful content-centric extension with Mosaic, Lists, Headlines, Tabs and Features layout modes.RokSprocket has a combined and intuitive administrative inferface for all layout types, for quick and easy setup.

Read More