This Alaska tour is a dream come true for value-minded travelers seeking to experience Alaska's breathtaking scenery and thrilling experiences. You'll start and end your tour in Anchorage and also have overnights in Denali National Park and Valdez. In between destinations, you'll have the opportunity to witness scenery unlike anywhere else, with untamed wilderness and exciting wildlife sightings. A tour highlight is your cruise across the striking Prince William Sound. Witness the three-mile face of the Mears Glacier as you keep your eyes open for marine wildlife, such as otters, seals, and whales, all while you admire stunning glaciers. Another tour highlight is your journey to Talkeetna, a quaint town exemplifying small-town Alaska, from Anchorage, aboard the Alaska Railroad. On this train trip, you’ll travel through gorgeous wilderness and understand Alaska’s allure. Two nights in Denali National Park gives you the opportunity to explore this amazing park, home to six million acres and North America's highest peak (20,310-foot Denali). Perhaps go for a hike or participate in an optional outing, such as a wilderness tour to seek out grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and more. But that’s not all…on this Alaska vacation, you’ll witness stunning views as you travel over the top of Thompson Pass, where you’ll admire unforgettable scenery, and into Alaska’s interior across the Denali Highway, a seldom-traveled road through true wilderness with frequent wildlife sightings.You’ll embark on your Alaskan cruise in Whittier and cruise the magnificent Inside Passage. Watch for seals lounging on the calved ice from Hubbard Glacier and orcas (killer whales) that patrol the waters here. Dock in Skagway and imagine the gold prospectors who braved the winters here. Explore its shops and saloons along the wooden walkways of this historic Alaskan town. Sail for Juneau—the Alaskan capital and home to Mendenhall Glacier on the Gastineau Channel. Visit Ketchikan along the rugged Tongass Narrows on the fjords of the Inside Passage with its rich cultural sights of the Native Alaskan cultures. Continue south through the spectacular Inside Passage from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. It is along this course of true wild beauty that humpback and killer whales may be spotted as well as bald eagles above or brown bears on the shore. Disembark in Vancouver with tales of the Alaskan wilderness to tell.With magnificent scenery, opportunities to witness wildlife in its natural environment, and awe-inspiring experiences, this Alaska tour is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation!
The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your adventure includes a journey on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Talkeetna and a cruise on Holland America’s MS Nieuw Amsterdam or MS Noordam! Your tour includes Holland America’s ‘Have It All Premium Cruise Package,’ featuring a signature beverage package, dinner in a specialty restaurant, $100 shore excursion credit, and Wi-Fi package.Enjoy the spectacular colors of Alaska on our special Fall Foliage departures on August 18 & September 1 (Mother Nature permitting).
Meals
Meals & Itinerary
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Notes:
Wildlife in Alaska is often seen in early season (May-early June).Visiting and participating in activities in these locations is subject to favorable weather conditions.At least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.Cruise itineraries are provided by Holland America Line and are up to date at time of printing. Your travel documents will contain the most current information.Enjoy the spectacular colors of Alaska on our special Fall Foliage departures on August 18 & September 1 (Mother Nature permitting).
Itinerary
Day 1 ANCHORAGE
Welcome to Anchorage! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3pm-6pm to answer any questions.ANCHORAGE-SKYLINE.jpg
Day 2 ANCHORAGE–ALASKA RAILROAD TALKEETNA–DENALI NATIONAL PARK
This morning, board the world-famous Alaska Railroad for a memorable train journey to Talkeetna, the jumping-off point for climbers attempting to summit Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, Denali is the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Enjoy strolling along the shops in downtown or take a walk to the river. Early this afternoon, journey to Denali National Park for a 2-night stay.ALASKA-RAILROAD-DENALI.jpg
Day 3 DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Denali National Park and Preserve, majestically dominates the park’s six million acres. Enjoy a free day for independent activities; a hike along the many wilderness trails might be of interest. Perhaps take advantage of several exciting optional outings, including a wildlife tour to spot grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep; a Denali photography excursion; a raft trip down the Nenana River; or an exhilarating flightseeing tour over the park. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions.DENALI-MOOSE.jpg
Day 4 DENALI NATIONAL PARK–THOMPSON PASS–VALDEZ
Relish one last look at the outstanding scenery and wildlife of Denali, before traveling across the Denali Highway. This seldom-traveled road was the first road to allow access to Denali National Park—a true wilderness with frequent wildlife sightings and amazing views of the Alaska Range. Next, climb over the top of Thompson Pass, well-known for the annual snowfall in the winter months, the pass offers summer guests unforgettable views. End today’s journey in the town of Valdez, nestled between the waterfront and mountains, giving it the nickname, Alaska’s Little Switzerland.VALDEZ-HARBOR.jpg
Day 5 VALDEZ–WHITTIER–PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND–ANCHORAGE
Board a boat and travel across magnificent Prince William Sound. Explore the 3-mile face of the mighty Meares Glacier and hear tales of the region as told by the Alaskan crew. Keep your eyes open and cameras ready for marine wildlife such as otters, seals, and whales while viewing spectacular glaciers. Return to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.PRINCE-WILLIAM-SOUND-SEA-OTTERS.jpg
Day 6 ANCHORAGE–WHITTIER (EMBARKATION)
This morning, a city sightseeing tour of Anchorage, with a visit to the Anchorage Museum, where you will see a fascinating display of artifacts of the native people of Alaska. After Anchorage sightseeing, say goodbye to your Tour Director and return to Whittier to board Holland America’s MS Noordam or MS Nieuw Amsterdam for an unforgettable Inside Passage cruise. The remote village of Whittier is nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters and killer whales, so have your camera ready. WHITTIER.jpg
Dinner
Day 7 CRUISING: HUBBARD GLACIER
Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier (meaning it ends at the ocean) in North America. However, unlike nearly every other tidewater glacier on the continent, Hubbard is advancing, not retreating; it is forever pushing a little further into the bay. Chunks of ice that break off become floaties for seals. HUBBARD-GLACIER.jpg
Day 8 SCENIC CRUISING: GLACIER BAY
A relaxing day at sea provides time to explore the ship’s many amenities. With the serene majesty of snow-flecked and forested mountains defining its shores, Glacier Bay National Park offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Keep your binoculars and camera on hand as you cruise Glacier Bay to the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, where you may have a chance to witness ice calving. Wildlife abounds in Glacier Bay, so stay ready—you never know when you will see the fluke of a humpback rise out of the water or spot a lone brown bear wandering a wind-swept beach. GLACIER-BAY-NATIONAL-PARK-MARGERIE-GLACIER.jpg
Day 9 SKAGWAY
In winter, the sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway, so you can imagine the frightful conditions endured by gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon. Take your time and poke your head into every little shop, from the Trail Bench to Lynch & Kennedy’s Dry Goods. The Red Onion Saloon, with its honky-tonk piano and costumed barmaids, is a treasure trove of memorabilia featuring pictures of Klondike Kate, Peahull Annie, and other historic characters. To complete the picture of those rip-roaring days, visit the nostalgic Trail of ’98 Museum. SKAGWAY-TOWN.jpg
Day 10 JUNEAU
Located at the foot of grand mountain peaks on Gastineau Channel, Alaska’s capital city of Juneau has massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield at its back door. Visit the rustic shops in town—or get out and kayak, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee, or fish. There is no end to the adventure because of the long daylight hours. JUNEAU-CITY-VIEW.jpg
Day 11 KETCHIKAN
Alaska’s “First City” of Ketchikan is so named because it is the first major landfall for most cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain. An important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries— visitors can try their luck on a sport-fishing excursion or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. It is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. KETCHIKAN.jpg
Day 12 SCENIC CRUISING: INSIDE PASSAGE
Arguably one of the greatest cruising routes in the world, the Inside Passage stretches through stunning landscapes, from Misty Fjords National Monument to famed Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Sailing the Inside Passage offers opportunities to spot some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife, with humpback whales and orca plying the bountiful waters alongside the ships, bald eagles soaring overhead and brown bears lumbering on the shoreline. INSIDE-PASSAGE-WHALE.jpg
Day 13 VANCOUVER (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends this morning. Please schedule homebound flights after noon. VANCOUVER-SKYLINE.jpg
Breakfast
Tour Director
With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
WADE GRUHL
Escorting tours for more than 10 years
Escorting tours for more than 10 years
“Hi, I am Wade Gruhl. After growing up in Iowa, I have lived in Alaska since 2000. What attracted and keeps me here are the mountains, animals, lakes, rivers and the wide open spaces. I enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, dog walks, travelling and exploring Alaska. I started as a wilderness hiking guide in Skagway in 1998, and have been sharing this amazing place with people ever since. I began Tour Directing in 2015 and am excited for the opportunity to enhance your visit to Alaska and the Yukon which is my favorite region on this planet.”
Optional Excursions
No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else,
we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination,
so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities.
Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value.
Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences.
We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.
Price Ranges
$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)
Denali National Park
Valdez
Denali National Park
Denali Park Dinner Theater
Enjoy a light hearted evening out and get a taste of old-time Alaska at this popular dinner theater performed in an authentic, log cabin in Denali Park Village.
Price Range: $$$
Denali Wilderness Walking Tour
Enjoy a moderate walk through local terrain narrated by a naturalist local guide.
Price Range: $$$$
Flightseeing over Denali
Stunning views of the Alaska Range, ancient glaciers, and towering peaks combine to make a flightseeing excursion of Denali a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Choose from a selection of flight experiences, including a more active heli-hiking excursion!
Price Range: $$$$
Denali Photography Excursion
The Alaska Range provides some of the most spectacular and inspiring scenery on earth. Discover how to use your camera as an instrument while exploring the best of the Parks and Denali Highways.
Price Range: $$$$
Artic Circle Air Adventure
Fly above the Arctic! This thrilling tour allows a guest to experience the Brooks Range, cross the Arctic Circle and fly the wilderness airways of Alaska's Arctic.
Price Range: $$$$
Valdez
Valdez Flightseeing
Enjoy a flightseeing tour that provides beautiful views of the spectacular glaciers and the stunning Chugach Mountains around Valdez. Wildlife, waterfalls and multiple glaciers included!
Price Range: $$$$
The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.