Denali Discovery Adventure

We want you to know that your health and safety always comes first to all of us at Gondwana Ecotours. We apologize in advance in the event that this update is briefly out of sync with the impact and realities from this constantly evolving pandemic.

We are in constant communication with our local guides, partners, charter plane operators, restaurants, hotels, and local and state authorities. Every vendor we use has confirmed that they will observe and put into practice both mandated and recommended practices as they pertain to social distancing, disinfecting, and so forth. We stay updated and informed about the current realities on a macro and micro level so that we can make the best assessments at any given time. That said, we may have to make further tweaks based on new realities and will cancel without hesitation if it is unsafe to travel or if we have to make compromises that negatively impact the experience.

Once you book your trip and closer to your travel date we will communicate any updates and the latest Covid-19 mandates with you so you can

adequately prepare for your trip.

Our cancellation policies have been relaxed to reflect our new reality and you can view them here. We thank you for your flexibility and understanding and are excited to host you on this wonderful adventure!

COVID-19 UPDATEJuly 21, 2021

CONTENTSTrip Highlights >

Pricing & Upcoming Dates >

What’s Included >

Itinerary >

Accommodations & Restaurants >

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Frequently Asked Questions >

Contents Denali Discovery Adventure

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Trip Highlights

EXPLORE Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage—and all points in between.

SEE incredible nature and seek wildlife such as moose, bears, eagles, and the iconic Dall sheep.

FLY over the dramatic landscapes of Denali National Park for a bird’s eye view of the magnificent peaks, glaciers, and valleys.

RIDE the fabled Alaska Railroad from Denali to Talkeetna, taking in fabulous views along the way.

ENJOY great food throughout the tour, from hearty lodge breakfasts, to fresh seafood or tender cuts of meat cooked to perfection.

Trip Highlights Denali Discovery Adventure

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Dates & Prices

August 7 - 13, 2022

Price: $4,399 USDSingle supplement $750

Upcoming Dates Denali Discovery Adventure

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What’s IncludedAccommodations for 6 nights

Transportation by van from Fairbanks to Denali and Talkeetna to Anchorage

All your guides (24/7 local guides and activity day guides)

Flightseeing experience in Denali National Park

Train from Denali to Talkeetna with the Alaska Railroad

All other activities such as hikes, entry to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and the National Park, homestead visit, and more as described in this brochure.

All meals listed as included in the itinerary

To minimize our trip’s impact on the environment we pay to carbon neutralize the entire tour and activities.

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What’s Included Denali Discovery Adventure

Day OneUpon arrival at Fairbanks International Airport, your guide or a driver will be waiting for you in the Arrivals Hall and take you to the Grizzly Lodge, which is situated ten miles out of town. Some guests arrive later in the evening, but if you arrive early enough for dinner, we can help make a recommendation based on your preference and take you back to town.

The activities start in the morning and you can use the evening to relax and meet your fellow travelers.

Itinerary Denali Discovery Adventure

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Day TwoAfter a hearty breakfast at the lodge and a general orientation and introduction to the guide(s) and the rest of your group, we head into town to visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center. Explore world-class exhibits on Alaska’s history and seasons and learn about traditional native art, dance, and music. Following a Fairbanks city tour and a stop to see the famous Trans-Alaska Pipeline, we drive the scenic Chena Hot Springs Road to Frigid Farm.

Frigid Farm is a family homestead and we’re fortunate enough to get a private tour and learn firsthand what it’s like to live and work the land near the Arctic Circle. Back at the lodge you can explore the hiking trails that surround the lodge or just grab a hot cocoa and relax before dinner.

We’ll head back to town a little before dinner so that you can have time to explore downtown Fairbanks. Dinner is at a nearby restaurant.

Breakfast and Lunch included

** Note that this itinerary may change slightly due to seasonality, weather, safety, or availability.

Day ThreeAfter breakfast at the lodge we’ll start the beautiful drive to Denali National Park. We’ll drive southwest from Fairbanks and if the weather is clear, we’ll see the majestic mountain in all its glory throughout the drive. Denali’s summit is 20,310 feet above sea level, which makes it the tallest mountain in North America.

We’re staying near the park entrance tonight and when we arrive, you have options for the afternoon’s activities. You may opt for a guided hike, a stop at the official Visitor Center, or go white water rafting ($102 and up; not included in the tour price). The hike will be tailored to the group’s preference. The Denali Visitor Center offers various exhibits, a 20-minute movie about the National Park and its scenery and wildlife, as well as a chance to visit the resident sled dogs and learn about them from the park rangers.

We’re staying at nearby McKinley Chalet Resort tonight. Following dinner you’ll likely want to retire early in advance of a long and incredible day tomorrow.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Itinerary Denali Discovery Adventure

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Day FourFollowing an early breakfast at the lodge, we’ll board a bus around 6:30am to take us deep into the National Park. The 90-mile park road traverses beautiful, remote landscapes. We’ll stop for views of Denali, Wonder Lake, and chance wildlife encounters such as bears, moose, and Dall sheep. We’ll enjoy lunch as Kantishna Roadhouse before we board a chartered Alaskan bush plane to take us back to the park entrance. The flight offers an incredible perspective of the National Park, which is part of the 300-mile long Alaska Range. Tectonic plates uplift 20,000 feet of granite rock form the neighboring tundra valleys, creating one of the more dramatic mountain views on the planet.

We’ll gather for a nice dinner to cap off the day and head back to McKinley Chalet Resort for a good night’s rest.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Itinerary Denali Discovery Adventure

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Day FiveEnjoy a relaxing morning today with breakfast at the hotel. We’ll pack up and leave for the nearby Alaska Railroad station. The train departs at 12:30pm and you’ll enjoy a scenic ride and lunch before we get off in Talkeetna, which is south of Denali National Park. We’ll be staying at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which offers majestic views of the Alaska Range. Dinner is on your own tonight. It’s a small town, great for walking around and our guide is of course available to make dinner recommendations.

Breakfast and Lunch included

Day SevenEnjoy breakfast at the hotel before being dropped off at the airport or on to your continuing adventures. If you’d like to stay longer, we can help recommend, plan, and book activities and excursions in advance. Options include fly-in bear viewing, a glacier cruise of the Prince Williams Sound, and more.

Breakfast included

Day SixFollowing breakfast at the hotel, today’s activities depend on your preference. You may choose to go fishing, ziplining, embark on a jet boat adventure, go for a hike, or simply relax and explore the small town of Talkeetna. Note that third party activities are not included in the tour price.

We’ll continue driving south again in the afternoon, headed for Anchorage where we’ll be staying at the Historic Anchorage Hotel.

Tonight we gather for a final group dinner together and celebrate our adventures.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Itinerary Denali Discovery Adventure

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Accommodations

Photo from McKinley Chalet Resort

Nights 1 & 2

The cozy Grizzly Lodge is a bed and breakfast owned and operated by long-time Gondwana guides Fred & Janet Vreeman. The lodge is tucked away in the woods approximately ten miles outside of Fairbanks. The building features a comfortable lounge, dining area, and a large deck. Guests frequently report sighting moose, eagles, and even bears on the property. It’s possible to walk to the famous Alaska Pipeline via nearby trails.

Nights 3 & 4

McKinley Chalet Resort sits in the heart of the Denali Canyon on the banks of the Nenana River, less than 2 miles from the entrance to Denali National Park. It features modern amenities, comfortable accommodations, and warm northern hospitality at the edge of the wilderness.

Night 6

Historic Anchorage Hotel is a beautiful building located downtown and close everything in the city center. Enjoy its comfortable rooms, work out in the fitness center, and sit down for full breakfasts in the morning. Explore downtown by foot or walk a few blocks to access the gorgeous coastal trail, which is an 11-mile paved trail for walkers and bikers..

Accommodations Denali Discovery Adventure

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Night 5

Set on a ridge above the small community of Talkeetna on the south side of Denali, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge offers unforgettable views of Denali and the Alaska Range. The comfortable rooms feature a full private bath, hair dryer, coffee maker, refrigerator, satellite television, telephone, and wireless internet.

Historic Anchorage Hotel

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

McKinley Chalet Resort

RestaurantsPump House

The menu is served “Alaskan Style”, with large portions of fresh seafood, meat and pasta dishes. Enjoy the unique decor and cozy atmosphere. Don’t miss their famous seafood chowder or delicious elk meatloaf!

49th State BreweryThis brewery features a wide selection of house beers, favorites like Hot Pretzels, Alaskan seafood like Parmesan Crusted Halibut, and local game like elk. The dough for their pizza is made in-house! The dining space features moose-antler chandeliers and a rooftop patio.

OrsoOrso is a fine dining restaurant in Anchorage that offers a wide range of dishes. From Alaskan sockeye salmon, to crab legs, rib eye steak, and hearty salads, the hardest part is choosing only one dish.

229 Parks Restaurant & TavernExecutive Chef and owner Laura Cole strives to highlight Alaska throughout the dishes on the menu, whether it would be reindeer ragu, Kodiak scallops, or Alaskan octopus with squid ink noodles in a smoked ham broth. Be sure to save room for dessert!

Restaurants Denali Discovery Adventure

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** These are sample restaurants. The actual restaurants we visit may differ due to availability, seasonality and quality control.

Guides Denali Discovery Adventure

Fred Vreeman is an environmental engineer/scientist who loves showing Alaska to our guests. He came to Alaska in 1978 and he loves exploring wilderness as a pilot, boat captain, scientist and adventurer. His public service career includes management positions with Alaska’s Natural Resource and Environmental agencies.

His private career includes National Park development, engineering for the army, and various energy and water projects. He has degrees in Natural Science, Sociology and Environmental Engineering. In addition to land tours he is a riverboat captain for adventurous guests discovering the Yukon River.

Meet Your Guides

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Janet Vreeman is a tour director and travel consultant. She’s lived in Alaska for decades and has spent many years guiding tours for multiple Fairbanks operations including the Alaska Railroad. She has degrees in Anthropology and Photography, and is an accomplished artist who creates unique pieces from birch bark. Janet is an expert on the Northern Lights and is great at helping our guests capture the perfect shot. Her warm personality and expertise on all things Alaska will make your trip an unforgettable experience.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy Travel With Us?Our promise is to deliver custom crafted and authentically local travel experiences that send you home with lifelong memories of your unique adventure. We strive to put our values into practice with every Ecotour that we create.

Small-Group Size: We limit our group to 18 so you can have a unique and personalized experience.

Local Guides: Enjoy the company of local guides who share their culture and customs with you for an unbeatable authentic experience.

Carbon Neutral: To minimize our trip’s impact on the environment we pay to carbon neutralize the entire tour and activities, Good for our conscience and good for our planet.

Low Impact: Our ecotours leave a small impact on the environment because of the accommodations, restaurants, small group size of 18, and the activities.

Unique Lodging: Feel the heart of the destination by staying at unique hotels that are locally owned and/or eco-friendly.

One-of-a-Kind Activities: Many of our activities have been created by our passionate local guides and our founder exclusively for our guests; you truly cannot get these experiences with any other company.

Is This Trip For Me?Our Denali Discovery Adventure does not require a high level of physical fitness. However, guests will get the most out of the experience if they are able to comfortably walk on uneven, natural hiking trails for several miles involving a moderate amount of elevation change. Guests must be able to comfortably enter and exit a passenger van. The itinerary includes a scenic flight using a safe, but small aircraft. If you are uncomfortable with small aircraft we can arrange to travel back to the park entrance using a similar bus as we traveled into the park with.

How do I sign up?To reserve your spot simply request (via phone or email) an invoice for your $500 deposit. This deposit is refundable for any reason within 30 days of booking.

Upon signing up we will send you a confirmation message and valuable information to prepare you for the trip. We will also send you two easy forms to fill out for your personal information and flight details.

Thanks so much for contacting us and if you have any other questions please email info@GondwanaEcotours.com or call us at 877-587-8479.

FAQs Denali Discovery Adventure

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CONTACT US

WEBSITE EMAIL 877-587-8479