The ultimate Alaskan vacation would include a trip deep into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness PLUS an Alaskan cruise. Don’t you agree?
Holland America Line offers this ultimate Alaskan vacation on their 12-day Yukon+Denali (Land+Sea) Journey. You’ll see the best of Alaska and the Yukon in one epic journey. All Land+Sea Journeys offered by Holland America Line are available in either direction meaning you can choose to start your vacation with the land tour followed by a cruise, or vice-versa.
Let’s take a sample journey that starts with a land tour first.
DAY 1: You’ll fly into Anchorage, Alaska where your vacation begins.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
There’s no shortage of fun things to do here, and we’ve found some great places to eat and shop. Check out our recent blogs on the best of Anchorage:
The Best of Anchorage: The Top 5 Things to Do
The Best of Anchorage: The Top 5 Places to Eat
The Best of Anchorage: The Top 5 Places to Shop
DAY 2: ALL ABOARD! The following day, you’ll board the McKinley Explorer domed rail car and head to Denali National Park for two nights stay at a rustic lodge along the river.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
DAY 3: While in Denali you’ll venture into the Tundra Wilderness on a luxury motorcoach.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
You can also choose to go on guided rafting, hiking, fly-fishing or McKinley Glacier Landing flightseeing tour, an off-road safari on a four-wheel ATV on a Black Diamond ATV Tour.
Photo courtesy of Black Diamond ATV Tours
On a Husky Homestead Tour you’ll get a look into the Alaskan lifestyle of an Iditarod trainer who creates champions out of cute, adorable puppies into dogs that explode out of the starting line.
Photo courtesy of Husky Homestead Tours
Come and play with the Future Iditarod champions. Photo courtesy of Husky Homestead Tours
The Best Places to Eat Near Denali National Park
Day 4: It’s off to Fairbanks where you can develop your skills panning for gold at the Gold Dredge 8.
Photo courtesy of Gold Dredge No. 8
Check out our blogs on Fairbanks for more great things to do here.
The Top 5 Things to do in Fairbanks
Shopping off the Beaten Path in Fairbanks on your Alaska Cruisetour
Day 5: You’ll take a quick flight over to Dawson City where you’ll spend one night. Learn about Dawson’s history on the Tales of Dawson City Tour. Cruise the Yukon River on the Klondike Spirit Yukon paddle-wheeler boat.
Photo courtesy of the Klondike Spirit
And if you’ve ever wanted to see the Arctic Circle, take the Journey Above the Arctic Circle, Fort Yukon excursion.
Take a hike while you’re in Dawson City. Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines.
Day 7: You’re journey heads to the town of Whitehorse made famous during the gold rush. For a different kind of rush, take a jet boat ride on a Wild Wonders River Safaris down the Yukon River.
Photo courtesy of Wild Wonders River Safaris
Day 8: Hang on to your hat! You’ll be boarding the historic White Pass & Yukon Route railroad to Skagway.
Photo courtesy of Jed Thompson
In Skagway you can see the views from above at the Adventure Park & Zipline for a canopy tour, hike the historic Chilkoot Trail or take an expedition to Glacier Point for a picnic. Hop on Skagway’s original street car to take you around town.
Finally, you’ll board your cruise ship for a 4-Day Inside Passage cruise to Vancouver. Take advantage of the spa and get a much needed massage to begin your relaxing voyage to Glacier Bay National Park. The views are simply stunning. The thundering calving glaciers, the breaching humpback whales and sunbathing sea lions are an exciting surprise while you’re relaxing onboard.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
Day 9: You’ll spend the first day of your cruise maneuvering the Tracy Arm Fjord to the Twin Sawyer Glaciers.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
Day 10: Spend the day in Ketchikan–a quaint fishing town with plenty to do and great places to shop and eat unique Alaskan cuisine. Salmon fishing is really popular here because it’s likely you’ll reach your limit here. Plus, you can have your catch vacuum-packed, flashed-freezed and shipped home. Another popular activity would be a canopy (zipline) tour with Alaska Canopy Adventures.
Photo courtesy of Chip Porter and Misty Fjords Air
For an absolutely unforgettable experience take a floatplane tour with Misty Fjords Air for spectacular views of the Misty Fjords.
Photo courtesy of Chip Porter and Misty Fjords Air
For some great places to eat in Ketchikan, read our blog:
Check Out These Great Ketchikan Restaurants
Day 11: You’re last day at sea will be spent relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views of Alaska’s icy coastline and towering walls of ice along the Inside Passage.
Photo courtesy of Holland America Cruise Lines
Day 12: Your journey ends in the beautiful city of Vancouver. There is so much to do here—you just might want to stay and play a little longer. See our blogs about the Best of Vancouver:
The Best of Vancouver: Top 5 Things to Do When on an Alaskan Cruise
The Best of Vancouver: Top 5 Places to Eat when on an Alaskan Cruise
The Best of Vancouver: Top 5 Places to Shop when on an Alaskan Cruise
Want more information on an Alaskan cruise and land tour?
If you’re interested in taking an Alaskan Cruise this summer, now is the time to book. The staff at CruiseExperts.com can not only help you plan your itinerary, we can also provide suggestions for interesting places to visit when you’re off the ship. We love to travel and want you to have as much fun as possible!
13 Comments
My wife and I are very interested in this 12 day Land/Cruise to Alaska. Could you please get back to me with pricing for early September 2015. If the cost is reasonable we will bring along two more people.
Hi Randy! There are some great prices on this 12-day land + sea journey. Hopefully, one of our CruiseExperts.com agents have contacted you with prices. And what a great idea to invite more people–the more the merrier! And Alaska is one of those places you want to share with people–it’s that fantastic. Let me know if you have any more questions.
I would love taking grand kids next summer ( 2015) on a land and cruise Tour. I went last year and would love to return with grandkids
What a great idea, Gail! The grandkids would love it! The wildlife abounds in Alaska and the kids are fascinated by everything they see. It’s a different kind of playground and everyone enjoys experiencing it together. I would start planning for 2015 now since the sailings are on sale already. The warmest summer months are the most popular, so it would be a good idea to reserve your cabins early. All I can say, what LUCKY grandkids!!
This looks extremely interesting. Can you give me an idea as to the cost per person with trip insurance and plane fares?
Thank you,
Frec
Hi,
My wife and I (and probably a few others) are very interested in this tour but only in August 2016. We live in Johannesburg, South Africa and would fly to Toronto (where my daughter lives) for a few days then on to either Vancouver or Anchorage to pick up the tour. Afterwards we would want to go back to Toronto then on to London and finally back to Johannesburg. Would you be able to organise the whole trip including international flights? If so, please give me the cost at today’s prices so we will have an indication of what we can expect to pay in two years’ time.
Regards,
Ian Walker
Hi Ian! Jeremy is so excited to help you make your arrangements for your land + sea journey in 2016. Even thought the 2016 Alaskan itineraries haven’t been released yet, it’s never too early to start planning so you can be ready as soon as they come out.
Please let us know dates and prices. Thanks
Hi Sue! One of our CruiseExperts.com agents should have contacted you with dates and prices–especially since we have an exclusive price on this itinerary. We have the best deal offered right now. Are you signed up for our InnerCircle? If so, you should have our special offer in your email inbox.
Three of us are interested in a 12 day, land first, trip in August of this year. Please send some information on when these might start, stops and costs for a cabin for 3.
Thanks
Hi Bob! Great question! Here is a link to all of the Holland America cruisetours. http://alturl.com/fbg9d One of our experts, Jeremy, will be contacting you via email with more specific information for the type of cruisetour you are interested in. We also have a special package on a cruisetour that is cruise first and can get information on that here: http://alturl.com/amubi You can call us anytime as well for more details. Hope you and your family end up experiencing Alaska this summer!
Would love to do this in 09/2016 please send information
Thanks for the inquiry Cheryl! One of our cruise experts will be getting in contact with you. We won’t have specific information for 2016 quite yet, but we can answer most of your questions about the cruise plus land tour. This particular cruise plus land tour is popular and people cannot stop raving about it!