Destination : Canada & Alaska : Alaska

Climate Alaska seasons are the reverse of Australia and are considerably different. Summer is from June to August, the weather is mild and the days are long, at night the sun is never much below the horizon, the further north you go the more daylight you get and in some places you won’t see darkness for several months. Alaska is not the place to view the 4th of July fireworks. Autumn, known as Fall is in September and October. Winter is from November to March and it is bitterly cold and the days are short with less than 3 hours sunlight and in the north you will not see daylight for months. Rivers ice over and the snow fall is heavy, average temperature for Anchorage is minus 5 degrees, and in the north it get as low as minus 40 degrees. Spring is in April and May and is known as the break up season, one day the ground is covered in snow and has been for months the next it starts melting and there are puddles everywhere.  Currency Coins include 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime) and  25¢ (quarter). Notes include  $1, $5, $10, $20 and higher denominations, all notes are the same green colour, so check your money carefully before handing it over. Taxes Almost everything you buys in the USA is plus a sales tax and Alaska is not an exception. Make sure you check the amount payable when making a purchase. Tipping Tips or service charges are not usually included in the bill.  As a rule, a tip of 10-15% of the total amount should be given.    Distances km Anchorage – Kenai 237 Anchorage – Talkeetna 182 Anchorage – Denali National Park 380 Anchorage – Fairbanks 576 Anchorage – Tok 528

Alaska is a rare treasure.

Where else in the world apart from this phenomenal place can you see glaciers carve new valleys, whales feed for their long migrations north & south, wild flowers compete for life with only 100 days of summer before frost returns to blanket the ground. Salmon struggle to spawn, meanwhile becoming meals for bears who are feeding to survive the next winter in hibernation.

Enjoy the magnificent & dramatic landscapes of the Kenai Peninsula & Denali National Park as you hike, fish, relax, cruise or raft in this wonderland of nature.

Anchorage:
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, home to over 260,000 people; nearly half of the entire population of Alaska resides here! The city is located on the shore of Cook Inlet, with a panoramic backdrop of the Chugach Mountains setting the stage. Anchorage provides the unique aspect of a modern city surrounded on all sides by wilderness. With a good selection of hotels and restaurants Anchorage is the main transportation hub for the State with the majority of international and domestic flights arriving here. Lake Hood is the largest seaplane airport in the world. The Performing Arts Centre and Museum of History and Art are major local attractions. Proximity to the port of Seward makes Anchorage a convenient transit point.

Denali National Park:
At 6 million acres, Denali National Park is larger than the state of Massachusetts. It is one of the world's last great frontiers for wilderness adventure. World renown for wildlife viewing, the park includes large animals such as grizzly bear, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, and moose. Denali National Park also includes North America's highest mountain, Mount McKinley which stands at 6,194 metres. Its impressive vertical drop of 5,486 metres is even greater than that of Mount Everest. From the small town of Talkeetna, known as the gateway to the Alaska Range, activities include Mt. McKinley flightseeing tours with glacier landings, and river tours by jet boat. From the park entrance there are several guided bus tours into the park, as well as hiking, mountain flightseeing, nature photography and ranger led activities. Within the park are select wilderness lodges that offer first class wilderness experiences with comfortable cabin accommodations and daily guided activities. Denali National Park and Talkeetna are accessed via Alaska Route 3, the George Parks Highway, or the Alaska Railroad

Juneau:
Juneau started life as a small mining camp. By 1880 it was a boomtown as gold fever spread north, and Juneau owes much of its early history to successful gold mining operations in the region. The city is nestled between Mount Juneau and the Gastineau Channels, although gold mining is discontinued Juneau thrives as the seat of State government and on tourism. With a population of 30,000 the city is well positioned as a major cruise ship port and is a busy regional centre and State Capital. Local highlights include, Governor's Mansion, University of Alaska Southeast campus, fish hatchery and the Mendenhall Glacier, all found on sightseeing itineraries. Juneau is a favourite jumping-off point for the nearby attractions of Glacier Bay, Admiralty Island and Point Adolphus.

Ketchikan:
Ketchikan (population 13,500) is located on Revillagigedo Island on the Tongass Narrows and for many cruise ship passengers it is their first Alaska port. Originally the site of a Tlingit Indian fishing camp and in 1887 with increasing interest in commercial fishing and mining, Ketchikan was formally established. Most of the community is built along the waterfront with many of the colourful buildings set on wooden pilings that add greatly to the charm of Ketchikan. Highlights of the town are Creek Street (once a red light district) plus the bustling boat harbour and salmon canneries. Totem Bight State Historical Park is located 10 miles north of Ketchikan, here replicas of original totem poles have been carved and painted reflecting the rich culture of Southeast Alaska Natives. The authentic ceremonial clan house is interesting Ketchikan's Heritage Centre displays Alaska's only collection of original totem poles plus a remarkable collection of contemporary Northwest Indian art; emphasizing the culture of Tlingit, Haida and Tshimshian Indians.