EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Join professional mountain guides for an exciting rock climbing and rappelling adventure on the stunning granite walls of Alaska! Your adventure begins with Haines Wilderness & Nature Explorationan interpretive drive through historic Skagway and up into the majestic White Pass Gold Route. A short hike through the temperate rainforest on an interpretive trail will bring you to the base of the spectacular rock face carved by retreating glaciers. Here you’ll gear up with rock climbing shoes, helmet, and harness and then you’re off to enjoy this incredible experience. Choose between multiple climbing routes, each ending in an amazing view of the Skagway River and the surrounding wilderness. You’ll also have an opportunity to try an awesome 70-foot rappel! This adventure is perfect for those looking to try rock climbing for the first time, as well as for experienced climbers. Climbing is not mandatory, you can simply enjoy the tour, a cliffside snack, breathtaking views and watch the others scale the cliffs.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the stunning granite walls of Alaska, with views of the Skagway River and surrounding wilderness.
• Begins with an interpretive drive through historic Skagway and the White Pass Gold Route.
• A short hike through the temperate rainforest leads to the base of a spectacular rock face.
• Multiple climbing routes available, offering amazing views at the top.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise into beautiful Auke Bay looking for humpback whales feeding and breaching the water’s surface, and then enjoy a traditional Alaskan salmon bake. Humpback whales are often spotted there, even close to shore, and the sight is breathtaking. You may see these majestic creatures breaching the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive, and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south. You might even spot them bubble-net feeding, a unique technique in which several whales swim in an ever-shrinking circle while blowing bubbles below a school of fish. The bubbles force the fish upwards and cluster them into a column, presenting the perfect opportunity for the whales to gorge themselves. It is a mesmerizing sight you will not soon forget. Following the whale-watching adventure, you will dine at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake. The Alaskan salmon will be grilled over a fragrant Alderwood fire, imparting the fish with a unique taste.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise a jet-powered catamaran around Auke Bay, looking for humpback whales.
• Observe the whales breaching the water’s surface as they feed voraciously.
• Feast at an Alaskan salmon bake with abundant side dishes and desserts.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Look for whales and other marine life while cruising through the pristine waters not far off from port, a luxury that most other destinations can’t offer. The bays, channels and passages within just minutes of Juneau are teeming with marine life, none more spectacular to watch than humpback whales. They put on quite the show while feeding on massive amounts of shrimp-like krill, their favorite food. A single humpback whale can eat a literal ton of these tiny creatures in one day using its baleen – a sort of strainer attached to its upper jaw – to separate the krill from the water. Sometimes, several humpback whales work together in a behavior known as bubble-net feeding to push the krill into a giant ball before consuming them from underneath right before breaching the water’s surface. It is a spectacular display of the power, beauty and ingenuity of these extraordinary marine mammals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise into the waters just off Juneau and look for marine life, especially humpback whales.
• Hear commentary about the animals that inhabit the waters surrounding Juneau.
• Enjoy whale watching in a time frame that allows for exploration of other areas in Juneau.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

A great combination of two popular Skagway tours! Board the historic White Pass & Yukon Railroad for your scenic and informative ride to Fraser Station in British Columbia, Canada. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your professional guides, well versed in the local history and ecology of the area, for a 15-minute van shuttle across the spectacular Yukon Plateau. Enjoy this stunning country as you travel along the headwaters of the Yukon River to the Summit of the White Pass.

After an orientation and safety briefing, board your bicycle for the 15-mile downhill cruise back to Skagway. Enjoy the refreshing outdoors and scenic splendor as your guides escort you from summit to sea along the paved Klondike Road. Stops are made along the way for photos and views of waterfalls, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, glaciers, majestic mountains, and Alaskan wildlife. You even get to ride your bike through the US Border station! Join this fun excursion for a unique experience in Alaska and the Skagway Valley.

OVERVIEW

Experience Alaska from every angle—gliding across glacier‑fed waters and trekking near ancient ice. Your journey begins at breathtaking Mendenhall Lake, where towering cliffs, floating blue icebergs, and the thunderous Nugget Falls create a dramatic natural backdrop. After a full safety briefing, paddle your canoe toward the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, keeping watch for Arctic terns nesting along the cliffs, mountain goats navigating rocky outcroppings, and the occasional black bear in the brush. Upon reaching the glacier beach, hike across the rugged terrain sculpted by centuries of ice. Standing at the glacier’s edge offers a powerful, up‑close perspective of this constantly evolving natural wonder—an experience that is both humbling and unforgettable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle past icebergs, waterfalls and arctic tern nesting cliffs.
• Step out of the canoe and hike over the rock terrain carved out by the glacier.
• Get an up close and intimate perspective of the glacier from the edge, all while learning about the recession of the glacier and the wilderness that surrounds it.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit a musher’s camp and ride a wheeled sled that Alaskan huskies will effortlessly pull through the Alaskan wilds. The camp lies in Dyea, a gold rush boomtown that is now somewhat of a ghost town. The last leg of the journey there will be in an all-terrain Mercedes Unimog made to negotiate the off-road terrain. After learning a bit about competitive mushing in events such as the famed Iditarod, you will hop onto a custom-designed wheeled sled behind a team of powerful dogs. They will then whisk you down a zigzagging, one-mile trail in the Tongass National Forest. The sheer strength and stamina of the dogs will be apparent from the get-go. Back in camp, the mushers will elaborate on their dog-sledding strategies, trace the history of the sport and demonstrate how the dogs and mushers train. Afterwards, you can interact with some of the puppies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a musher’s camp to learn how the dogs are trained to pull sleds through the snow.
• Ride in a wheeled dog sled along a forested trail behind a team of Alaskan huskies.
• Hear colorful tales of mushing and the Iditarod competition.
• Interact with Alaskan husky puppies at the musher’s camp.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Retrace the historic gold rush route to the Klondike while coasting down from the White Pass Summit on a bicycle! This fun tour starts with a 20-minute van ride to the top of the 3,292 foot pass. Along the way your knowledgeable guides versed in the ecology and history of the area will inform and entertain you. After a bicycle orientation and safety briefing, enjoy the refreshing outdoors and scenic splendor while you cruise downhill on your bicycle for 15 miles on the paved road back to Skagway. Stops are made along the way for photos of waterfalls, the White Pass Yukon Railroad, glaciers, wildlife, and the majestic mountains. This exciting excursion offers a unique way to tour Skagway and the surrounding area.

OVERVIEW

Follow a mountain trail that prospectors took during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush and see landmarks in Skagway that commemorate that time period. While driving through the city’s National Historic District, you will pass block after block of wooden buildings that were constructed as hotels, stores and saloons in the late 19th century. The Red Onion is the most notorious saloon as it was also a brothel during the gold rush. At the Skagway Centennial statue, you will see a representation of an indigenous Tlingit packer leading a prospector into the gold fields. You will then follow the famed Trail of ’98, which is the route countless stampeders took in search of gold. It was a longer but less treacherous path than the Chilkoot Trail, which was steeper and prone to avalanches. As you will see while pausing for photos on the way to the White Pass Summit, the scenery is majestic.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through Skagway’s Historic District, which dates to the late 1890s.
• See blocks of original wooden buildings, including the notorious Red Onion Saloon.
• Pause at the Centennial statue that marks the 100-year anniversary of the gold rush.
• Ascend into the mountains on the Trail of ’98 that the stampeding prospectors took.
• Snap photos of the gorgeous natural beauty on the way to the White Pass Summit.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Join us on an excursion where you learn about Alaska’s official state sport with a trip to Dog Sledding Summer Camp. Your adventure begins on the breathtaking drive along Gastineau Channel, through the historic AJ Gold Mine site and into the remote and scenic Sheep Creek Valley. As you arrive at the summer camp training site, you will be greeted by a professional dog musher and some of the state’s most famous athletes: the Alaskan Huskies! You will receive an educational tour of the camp and visit a 19th century replica Iditarod Outpost. Next, climb aboard a comfortable wheeled cart and relax as your energetic Alaskan Husky team guides you along the one-and-a-half-mile trail through beautiful landscapes. You’ll return to Dog Sledding Summer Camp for your chance to meet the dogs and snuggle the next generation of great Alaskan athletes: sled dog puppies! This family-friendly excursion is truly an authentic Alaskan experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dog sled along a forested trail behind a team of Alaska huskies.
• Hear colorful tales of mushing and the Iditarod competition.
• Discover how huskies are trained for mushing.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Delve into the gastronomy of Sitka, which reflects the rich heritage of this city once known as the “Paris of the Pacific" As the second largest exporter of seafood in the state with a rich history of diverse cultures, Sitka has become a mecca for the culinary arts. Sitka’s breweries use the local naturally filtered glacial water to produce their hand-crafted beers, several of which you will sample at a popular tap room. Similarly, during a tasting of Alaska Pure Sea Salt Company, you will discover how the salt extracted from the local waters is used in various foods, chocolates, sauces and seasonings. The versatility of sea salt may surprise you. The restaurant Sitka Pelmeni serves Russia food that pays homage to the city’s past as the capital of Russian America. Pelmeni means “dumplings” in Russia so they are a likely choice for your sampling there. The guide will bring you to other venues for tastings that may include cod tips, reindeer hot dogs, ceviche and chowder, all made with locally sourced ingredients.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a variety of delicious seasonal foods and beverages unique to Sitka.
• Meet restaurateurs and food vendors and learn how their unique products are made.
• Enjoy a selection of craft beers made with glacial water at a local brewery.
• Discover the versatility of sea salt as a seasoning in foods and beverages.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Join this small group tour for a scenic two-mile hike on the Chilkoot Trail, which winds through a lush rainforest and board a raft for a tranquil, scenic float back to historic Dyea. After a safety orientation, board a van and drive through Skagway to the backcountry deep in the heart of the Dyea Valley. You’ll travel to the historic town of Dyea to hike the first two scenic miles of the Chilkoot Trail, the centerpiece of gold rush history in Skagway. Now a tranquil place of incredible beauty, the trail winds through a lush rainforest alive with birds, animals, and wildflowers. Your route climbs and descends 350 feet over Saintly Hill. Along the way, your guide will share information about the natural history and Klondike folklore with you. Photo opportunities abound as you retrace the footsteps of the gold-hungry stampeders who forged this route 100 years ago. Arrive at the banks of the Taiya River, where your 18-foot raft awaits for the scenic float back to Dyea. The forest gives way to fields of beach greens and wild iris, and the granite walls of the fjords rise steeply to the snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers. Enjoy a riverside snack of homemade cookies and a hot beverage before returning by van on the 30-minute drive to Skagway. This VIP experience is designed for smaller groups and limited to 10 guests.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Begin with a drive through Skagway to the backcountry of Dyea Valley, leading to the historic town of Dyea.
• The route climbs and descends 350 feet over Saintly Hill, offering numerous photo opportunities.
• After the hike, board an 18-foot raft for a tranquil float back to Dyea along the Taiya River, with stunning views of fjords, wild iris fields, and snow-capped peaks.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in layered clothing, a jacket, hat and gloves.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Relive a bit of Alaskan history through experiences that reflect the gold rush days of Skagway. For an understanding of the importance of sled dogs both past and present, you will visit a musher’s camp in Dredge Town and watch these canine athletes demonstrate their strength and stamina. Prospectors in the gold rush era used the breed to pull their heavy, gear-laden sleds through the snow. You will get to meet the next generation of puppies who are there for you to cuddle and hold. Puppy kisses guaranteed! You will also pan for authentic Yukon gold just like those prospectors, except valuable gold will be guaranteed in this case and an assayer will be nearby to weigh and evaluate your golden fortune. You will see the route the prospectors took in Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 by boarding a private train car on the White Pass Railway en route to the summit. Where you will celebrate the occasion with a toast. Your costumed guide just for your group will describe the attractions as you take in the breathtaking panoramic views.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a musher’s camp and watch sled dogs demonstrate their strength and stamina.
• Interact with the sled dogs and puppies.
• Pan for authentic Yukon gold much like the prospectors during the gold rush. Valuable gold is guaranteed!
• Travel in style aboard a private railway car to the White Pass, following a route that the prospectors took.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.