Top 10 Land Excursion Options for Alaska Cruisetour Passengers in 2011

Wilderness Living & Dog Cart Adventure – Learn about wilderness living near Denali National Park at a riverside camp, plus take a dog cart ride along a rustic trail for a taste of dog sledding. Your hosts are hunters, trappers and woodsmen who share their lifestyle stories.

Denali Excursion Via Helicopter – See areas of Denali National Park only accessible by air. Follow Riley Creek over rugged foothills to the Sanctuary River and watch for bear, moose, caribou and more. Plus you’ll marvel at stunning Cantwell Glacier, a virtual waterfall of ice cascading 900 feet to the valley below.

Denali Heli-Hiking Adventure – You’ll be awed by the grandeur of the Alaska Range from high above as a naturalist interprets the flora and fauna of the area at each stop. You’ll take flight and overlook the spectacular Yanert and Moody River valleys and see Mt. McKinley in the western horizon.

Discover Denali Flightseeing – This tour offers views of glaciers of the rugged Alaska Range and the wonders of Denali National Park, including circling Mt. McKinley. This tour features professional narration, headsets and window seats for all passengers.

McKinley Glacier Landing by Plane – Stand on a glacier high on the flanks of 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley. Your plane will land squarely in the middle of Mt. McKinley and you’ll have time to hike over a glacier before your return flight.

Summit McKinley Flight Tour – Fly above North America’s highest peak, at 20,320 ft, in the comfort of a twin-engine aircraft. You’ll also enjoy fantastic views of the north and south faces of Mt. McKinley as well as glaciers and gorges with a narrator offering insights along the way.

Denali Jet Boat Fly Fishing – All anglers will enjoy a unique tour combining fly fishing and a jet boat ride. With a guide to offer instruction, you will set off by jet boat to a remote stream in search of the native Arctic Grayling.

Jet Boat Safari – Enjoy a fun-filled adventure into the Alaska Bush with chances to view wildlife along the way. Head miles along the Nenana River and meet the people who call this land of extremes home. Pan for gold and enjoy a hearty snack at a remote camp deep in the wilderness.

Nenana Gorge Whitewater – Brace yourself for an 11-mile whitewater adventure through the Nenana River Gorge. Experienced guides will row you through a dozen major rapids. No paddling necessary; all you have to do is hang on!

Nenana River Scenic Wilderness Run – This scenic voyage traverses the upper Nenana River on the eastern border of Denali National Park. You’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Alaska Range and the region is prime habitat for moose, Dall sheep, caribou and bear.

Black Diamond Treasure Hunt – Travel as a group into the wilds of Alaska in a Polaris ATV with your own private guide. You’ll use maps and GPS to navigate the remote trails as you follow clues that lead you to a rustic pavilion where a camp-style meal is served. Wildlife viewing abound as you travel through their natural habitat.

Denali Jeep Adventure – Take a thrilling ride in a 4WD Jeep Wrangler on a backcountry excursion along the historic Stampede Road. This historic trail was carved out by the miners who worked in the Kantishna gold fields.

Husky Homestead Tour – Visit the home of champion Iditarod musher Jeff King and experience the warmth of a husky homestead. Learn about the fascinating sport of sled dog racing.

Music of Denali Dinner Theatre – Discover the legend of the first expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley in a rollicking musical comedy that will have you singing along with the cast right up to the finale.

Tundra Mountain Golfing – Enjoy a golfing excursion in the panoramic region of the northern edge of Denali National Park. Watch for wildlife on this rugged 9-hole course nestled 11miles in the Nenana River Canyon.

Byers Lake Nature Walk – Experience Alaska’s incredible beauty on a two-mile nature walk in Denali State Park, with magnificent views of Byers Lake and perhaps even Mt. McKinley. Learn about the flora and fauna from an expert naturalist and explore the historic log cabin of a wilderness family.

Denali Wilderness Hike – Explore Alaska’s spectacular wilderness with a naturalist guide offering insights along the way. You’ll walk through lush forests, view wildlife and the Alaska Range, hear stories of the area’s wildlife and people and enjoy a picnic lunch.

McKinley Wilderness Trail Ride – Enjoy a guided horseback ride through the Alaska wilderness on mountain trails as a guide directs you to majestic views of Mt. McKinley, glaciers and the surrounding peaks of the Alaska Range.

Talkeetna Wilderness Trail Ride – Enjoys the sights of Talkeetna and a guided horseback ride along the river while taking in the views of Mt. McKinley and the surrounding Alaska Range.

McKinley Discovery Tour – Soar to places you can only imagine. Fly by the south face of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Foraker and Mt. Hunter before crossing over the Kahiltna Glacier, the longest glacier in Denali National Park. Descend into immense Sheldon Amphitheater through Great Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.

Summit Flight Tour – This exhilarating flightseeing tour will take you more than 20,000 feet in the air for dramatic views of Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and the Alaska Range from the comfort of your aircraft.

Alaska Sportfishing – Board a jet boat or raft and travel to a secluded spot to fish in the shadow of Mt. McKinley for salmon, trout, grayling and more. Your guide will offer fishing instruction and tips and take you to the best fishing holes in the area.

Argo Adventure Tour – Explore the Alaska wilderness on an 8-wheel vehicle with a guide navigating and sharing knowledge of the indigenous plants and wildlife. Do you know how big a bear is just by looking at its tracks? You will! Ideal for families.

Byers Lake Paddle Trip – Glide through tranquil waters on a single or tandem kayak. Be on the lookout for wildlife and views of Mt. McKinley. This trip is great for both beginners and experienced paddlers.

Canyon Float & Nature Hike – Come enjoy a relaxing float along the Chulitna River while marveling at Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. Then take a nature walk through the wilderness, followed by an ATV ride back to where your adventure began.

Catch & Release Fly-Fishing – This wade-in fly-fishing adventure takes you through the wilderness for some excellent fishing opportunities for trout and grayling. Your guide offers fishing and safety instruction. For experienced and novice anglers. Maximum guide to guest ratio is 3:1.

Chulitna River Rafting – This four-hour rafting adventure floats through 20 miles of untouched wilderness in search of wildlife. You’ll float past active eagle nests and through the habitat of bear, moose, wolf and beaver with Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range in view.

Devil’s Canyon Adventure – This tour takes you 130 miles into the National Wild River Park of “Devil’s Gorge,” where you’ll experience the unforgettable thrill of an Alaska river experience on a fully enclosed vessel. Along the way, you will visit an authentic trapper’s cabin, learn about early Alaskan Indians and enjoy lunch on the river.

Susitna River Airboat Adventure – Piloted by a captain who knows the waters well, the airboat navigates narrow channels allowing guests an up-close view of the area. Enjoy the beauty of the Susitna while looking for wildlife and their tracks.

Talkeetna River Float Trip – Take a leisurely two-hour float on the Talkeetna River, gliding though the serene wilderness as your guide points out bear, moose, beaver and spectacular Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range.

Three Rivers Tour – Board the McKinley Queen Jet boat for a thrilling 60-mile river cruise on the Talkeetna, Susitna and Chulitna Rivers en route to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of Mt. McKinley, visit an authentic trapper’s cabin and Native Alaskan encampment.

Wilderness Jet Boat Adventure – Board the 55-passenger Talkeetna Queen and speed 200 miles into the Alaska wilderness in comfort while looking for wildlife and spectacular scenery. You’ll also enjoy a nature hike and a visit to an authentic trapper cabin to learn how early Alaskans lived in the “bush.”

South Denali 65 Mile ATV Tour – Travel far into the backcountry for views of cascading waterfalls and amazing wilderness. You'll also have the chance to pan for gold in Peter's Creek.

Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride – Experience the only horse-drawn covered wagon ride that provides spectacular views of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. You learn about the history and geology of the area at an open-pit bonfire, get a chance to gold pan and visit with reindeer.

Iditarod Sled Dog Kennel Tour – Discover everything you’ve always wanted to know about the grueling Iditarod. Meet musher Bill Hall for an in-depth look at the sport and see a demonstration by a team of sled dogs, as well as receive sled dog souvenirs.

Sun Dog Kennels – Learn about the history of Talkeetna and sled dog racing as you visit the rustic log home of champion sprint musher Kathleen Holden and Iditarod musher Gerald Sousa. You’ll learn about the training program and see a demonstration by a team of sled dogs.

Trapper Creek Homestead Tour – Visit an authentic homestead for a glimpse at the lifestyle of early settlers in untamed Alaska. Take a walking tour to see the garden and livestock areas and visit with an original homestead family.

Klutina Whitewater Jet Boat Adventure – Enjoy the excitement of Class III whitewater as you power 30 miles up the Klutina River in a custom jet. Watch for bald eagles, Dall sheep, trumpeter swans, bear and more.  Hear stories of the early settlers who braved glaciers and passes of the Chugach Mountains and the power of the Klutina River.

Jet Boat Salmon Fishing – Enjoy a full day or half day of world-class fishing for king, red or Sockeye salmon. Jet boat up the mighty Klutina River and fish one of the tributaries of the Copper River, with a professional expert guiding novices and experienced anglers alike.

Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise – Enjoy a scenic drive to Valdez where you’ll sail through majestic Prince William Sound and to see the amazing icebergs of the Columbia Glacier. You’ll have the chance to see whales, seals, sea lions, puffins and other wildlife.

Salmon Fishing by Raft – Enjoy a full day or half day of fishing for famous Alaska salmon as you float by raft along the scenic tributaries of the famous Copper River and fish from the riverbanks under the watchful eye of professional fishing guides. For both novice and experienced anglers.

Scenic Wilderness Rafting – Experience a spectacular Class II scenic river adventure along the Gulkana “National Wild and Scenic River” and the Copper River. You’ll enjoy awesome viewing and photo opportunities of the Wrangell Mountains and the abundant wildlife. A great introduction to river rafting as your guides do all the work and offer commentary along the way.

Sea Kayaking at Columbia Glacier – Visit Valdez and the impressive Columbia Glacier. After kayak instruction, paddle through a massive floating icefield  to the face of mighty Columbia Glacier watching for seals, otters and bald eagles along the way.

Fly/Drive to Kennicott & McCarthy – Take a 3-hour drive to the frontier town of McCarthy to explore the town and enjoy lunch. Then take a tour of the historic Kennicott Copper Mine, where you’ll take a 3-hour tour followed by a spectacular flight in a bush plane as you take in the beauty of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Historic Kennicott & Wrangell-St. Elias Flight Adventure – Board a bush plane for a stunning flight over Wrangell-St, Elias National Park en route to the frontier mining towns of McCarthy and Kennicott and wander though their museums, shops and visit the abandoned Kennicott Mine and its 14-story mill.

Historic Carriage Ride – This four-mile trip takes you along a scenic country road in a comfortable seven-passenger carriage. Your guide interprets the area’s natural and culture history as you make your way through the forest, watching for wildlife. Great for groups and families.

Kenai Nature Hike – Stretch your legs on a leisurely five-mile guided nature hike through verdant meadows of wildflowers, past mountain creeks, a spruce forest and wildlife habitat. Your naturalist guide will give you insight on all the natural beauty you see along the way.

Kenai Canyon River Rafting – For the thrill seeker, this exciting 20-mile rafting trip has it all-wildlife, scenery, a gentle float and exhilarating rapids, followed by a picnic lunch. You’ll also head through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge where viewing opportunities are incredible.

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise – Travel to Seward for a cruise to the unspoiled wonders of Kenai Fjords National Park, where a wide range of marine life will be on spectacular display. Cruise through ice floes as you approach one of the area’s numerous glaciers and marvel at the sight of glaciers calving into the turquoise waters.

Kenai Lower River Sportfishing – Fish for mighty King or Silver salmon (depending on season) in the lower stretches of the the Kenai or Kasilof rivers. Expert guides will take you to their favorite hot spots for unforgettable fishing. Anything you catch can be processed and shipped back home.

Kenai River Scenic Float – Experience the natural beauty of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on a scenic river-rafting trip. An experienced guide will lead you on an 11-mile float along the Kenai River as you watch for eagles, moose, Dall sheep and more.

Kenai Upper River Sportfishing – Experience world-class fishing amidst dazzling mountain scenery onboard a non-motorized drift boat or raft as you angle for Kenai’s famed trophy-sized fish. Depending on the season, you may fish for Sockeye salmon, Dolly Varden or rainbow trout.

Explore Copper Landing – Immerse yourself in the beauty and splendor of this historic community on the Kenai River. You’ll take a leisurely drive to stunning lookout spots, see spawning salmon, watch a gold panning demonstration, visit the local museum and drop by a husky sled dog kennel. Your guide will share stories of the area’s pioneer spirit as you watch for wildlife at every turn.

Explore Historic Seward – Enjoy the stunning scenery along Alaska’s only National Scenic Byway and learn about the history of the area as you travel to Resurrection Bay and the city of Seward. Known as the “Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park,” you’ll have time to explore the historic old town, browse the art galleries, museums and quaint shops and sample the local cuisine.

Gold Panning with Prospector John – Enjoy a true gold-panning experience as Prospector John takes you back to the days of the Gold Rush. Learn old and new techniques of gold panning, do some panning yourself and take your riches home!

Discover McKinley – This flightseeing excursion takes you within six miles of Mt. McKinley’s summit. See the base camp where climbers attempt to reach its summit at 20,320 feet, and head through the Great Gorge, the deepest in the world and fly over the entire length of Ruth Glacier before making a memorable photo stop at a remote mountain lake.

Explore Knik Glacier – On this flightseeing adventure, you’ll glide over the Knik River Valley, a winding gorge carved by prehistoric glacial ice and search for bears, eagles, moose and Dall sheep. Your experienced bush pilot will bring it all to life as you soar over Knik Glacier with fascinating commentary.

Redoubt Bay Lodge Bear Viewing – Take a scenic flight to Redoubt Bay Lodge where your naturalist/guide will take you to view the amazing sight of brown bears while they feast on salmon making their run. You’ll enjoy a lodge meal and breathtaking mountain views.

Alaska Guided Fly-In Fishing Adventure – Experience two of Alaska’s most popular activities – flying and fishing. Take a seaplane to some of Alaska’s finest fishing holes, where you can angle for salmon, trout or arctic grayling, depending on season. Your guide will take you by riverboat for a day of fishing, with all your gear included.

Glacier Discovery Train and Float Tour – This tour features an unforgettable train ride to Spencer Glacier that includes spectacular scenery and the insights of an onboard naturalist. You’ll then board a raft for a guided float among icebergs and the glacier as you journey down Placer River Valley.

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with Transportation – Step aboard a 90-foot cruising vessel and sail through Resurrection Bay to the breathtaking 300-foot Holgate Glacier. Watch for calving icebergs crashing into the sea and marvel at the amazing wildlife, including thousands of exotic birds at the Chiswell Island Marine Wildlife Refuge.

Wildlife Viewing by Bush Plane – Search for moose and Dall sheep by bush plane as you skim the wetlands and soar along the peaks of Alaska’s interior. This tour is so confident that you will see moose and Dall sheep that you will receive a $100 refund if you only see one of the species and a full refund if you don’t see either!

Riverboat Discovery Cruise – Take a narrated authentic sternwheeler cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers. See a bush pilot’s demonstration, watch a fish wheel in operation and see the “Wedding of the Rivers” where the Chena and Tanana converge. An Alaska Native guide takes you ashore to an authentic Athabascan village where you can sample the traditional Native lifestyle and meet Susan Butcher’s famous Iditarod sled dog team.

Chatanika Gold Camp ATV with Dinner – Enjoy a hearty dinner at the gold camp, then travel by ATV along a scenic mining trail used by early miners to access the surrounding gold fields.

Alaska Salmon Bake in Historic Pioneer Park and Palace Theatre “Golden Heart Revue” – Enjoy a true Alaskan salmon bake, complete fire-cooked salmon, deep fried halibut and Bering Sea Cod. After dinner, stroll to the Palace Theatre for an entertaining music and dance review that celebrates Fairbanks history and folklore.

An Evening in North Pole, Alaska – Take an exclusive tour of Santa’s hometown, the North Pole, Alaska! Visit the Santa Claus House, where you can photograph reindeer and arrange for a letter from Santa to be sent to someone special. You’ll enjoy dinner at Pagoda, the city’s most popular restaurant and take a driving tour of Santa’s hometown.

Chena Hot Springs Resort and Ice Museum Tour – Experience the hottest and coolest attractions in Alaska. Visit Chena Hot Springs Resort and learn about its more than 100 years of history. You’ll enjoy a buffet dinner and then head to the Aurora Ice Museum to see an amazing world made of ice and snow, including a life-sized igloo, 12-foot Polar bear and other “cool” galleries.

City of Gold Tour – Visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North for a lesson in the state’s natural and cultural history. You’ll also learn about life in the Arctic, view the 800-mile long Trans-Alaska Pipeline, responsible for transporting 25% of the nation’s oil and make a visit to the city’s historic downtown.

El Dorado Gold Mine Tour – Hop aboard a narrow-gauge train and stake your claim at the El Dorado Gold Mine, where you’ll learn about the state’s mining history. You’ll also visit a mining camp and meet miners who explain today’s mining methods. Then take a step back in history and pan for gold on your own!

Museum of the North: Self-Guided Tour – This stunning museum and its unmistakable design are just the beginning. You’ll see Alaskan artifacts and collections reflecting northern natural and cultural history. You’ll also enjoy an audio/visual show depicting life in Alaska.