Water is provided on all Denali National Park tours. I am going blind and am checking off my bucket list. Denali park tundra wilderness tour or park shuttle? - Fodor's Thank you so much, Debbie San Diego, CA. Smoking or consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on tour buses. It is highly recommended that all parties traveling together book together on one reservation to prevent being split across multiple buses. Today, what is now known as Stampede Road begins near the Nenana River and is popular with travelers on foot, bicycle and snow machine. My wife and I were in the right hand front seat - the one that many people don't seem to want - and had a front row view of the lynx running across in front of the bus. Alaska Cruisetours: 12-Day Denali/Alyeska Explorer - Norwegian Cruise Line Alaska for Connoisseurs: Tour S | Princess Cruises These bears are solitary creatures that hunt, fish and forage on their own. Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge Tour 2022 | Princess Cruisetour The driver opened the door and trained his bus camera on the lynx and everybody else could see it clearly on the monitors mounted around the bus. J. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge at 3:30 a.m. after receiving a call that the northern lights were dancing across the sky. Went to guest services, they couldn't get hold of the vendor so called me back and said nothing was available for the next day. Would appreciate opinions on the differences between Tundra Wilderness & Natural History tours giving no consideration to difference in costs. The park road isn't paved after mile 15. You have to keep traveling to increase your chances of seeing more. All but one of the five Princess Lodges in Alaska reopened for the 2022 season. I can see the interest in having both options. If Princess says yes you can upgrade. CC Help Jenn . My parents used to do activities, with visiting family and friends, and have done both, according to who the visitor was. Hop on an ATV Side-by-Side machine and strap in for this exciting backcountry adventure through valleys and streams, up foothills and on tundra that offers breathtaking mountain scenery. This tour offers wonderful diversity for visitors. If you dont have your Itinerary number, please call 1.800.622.7275. (There's no firm timeframe yet on when the road will be . Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge - Cruise Critic A small snack and bottled water are offered on this tour. Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc. Does anyone know if Princess will allow upgrading to the Tundra Wilderness Tour? You can use ABTA's approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process if you have a complaint that is not resolved. Hear about the history and culture that surrounds you at a Living History presentation while visiting Savage Cabin. Weighing over a thousand pounds and towering above the heads of most people, moose are an impressive sight. While theyre called reindeer in other parts of the world, that name is strictly reserved for domesticated caribou in Alaska. Advance reservations are highly recommended. This is what our view was like with a 200mm zoom lens: Learn how to make an etched, dichroic, fused glass pendant or keychain from a local glass artist. I have read about the shuttle as an option. Hi, we are planning our 6th cruise and I finally got my wife convinced to cruise Alaska. Free rein in Iceland: A horseback tour through the country's barren wilderness is an adventure like no other Irish I was somewhere else! If you are more interested presentations on the cultural and natural history of the area, choose the Natural History Tour. NOTE: Exact departure times are based on tour demand and will be assigned 48 hours before your departure day. Variations of this tour have been in existencesince 1923,with the first concessioner offering bus trips as far as the road extended at that time. Pick-ups take place steps from the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge lobby, allowing guests to practically roll out of bed and go. Wolves symbolize Alaska wilderness. Due to Park Service regulations, school buses are used. Tour overview: On this Alaska flightseeing day tour, enjoy an aerial view of the eastern boundary of Denali National Park as you travel along the . Soar through the trees and over the tundra on over half a mile of ziplines.. Get out and ride ATVs in the Alaskan bush! Finally, stop at Primrose Ridge to experience a memorable Alaska Native presentation that will enlighten you with how the land has been used for nearly 10,000 years! (Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge opened briefly, but was forced to close in June due to staffing shortages. Enjoy all the benefits of a Tundra Wilderness Tour while also exploring the Eielson Visitor Center. Is there any difference or advantage to purchasing it through Princess? Best Places for Wildlife Sightings | Holland America Line With an estimated 30,000 making Alaska their home, bald eagles can be seen year-round. The one that interests me is the 6 day Princess Copper River tour which starts in Anchorage and circles through Denali, Copper River, Valdez to Whittier. Personally, I agree with you 100% - we have never had any interest in doing any of the tour buses. So her friend took that last seat. THE TOP 10 Denali National Park Tours & Excursions in 2023 - Viator I always try to remember, for the majority of our travelers, this [is] a bucket-list trip.". This tour has two shorter variations due to spring and fall road conditions. We would like to extend the cruise by taking advantage of the cruise tours. Discover Kantishnas fascinating history and role in the formation of Interior Alaska. We are considering one of Princess Cruise Tours, Off Beaten Path, but only of them the tours only include The History Tour in Denali. The lines exclusive MedallionClass experience continues to expand and improve the overall Alaska cruising experience onboard Royal Princess. As do I if I'm not driving. But we didn't do it until we got there. Alaska Princess Cruise/Tour, McKinley, Denali, Juneau, Ketchikan. AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS WITHOUT A PARK TOUR: Experience the rich diversity of Denali National Park from stunning scenery and abundant wildlife to historical sites and interpretive centers on this popular Natural History Tour. We provide experienced river guides . Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. This fee is charged separately with Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses. As you travel through the park, youll likely find them wandering the open tundra in search of their next meal, or you may uncover their footprints that tell a story of their latest adventures. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the premier tour of Denali National Park and Preserve! 5 - 5 1/2 hours, depending on weather and road conditions. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. If you have a need for a wheelchair seat on your tour, please call us at 866.761.6631 or 907.276.7234, so we can assign you to the correct bus to meet your needs. With only one park road, nature exists as it has for thousands of years, and your visit offers a glimpse into an era that most cant imagine, even in their wildest dreams. A bottle of water is included with this tour. Visit the home and kennel of Iditarod musher Mike Santos and learn about sled dogs, the Iditarod race and life in rural Alaska! We traded the History tour for the Denali Backcountry Adventure tour. Need Assistance? . Alaska's arctic tundra is found in Alaska's interior toward its northern or western coast. I would not take the NHT since my interests are scenery and wildlife. Fly with the original flightseeing company in Denali for your best odds of seeing The Mountain while circling it "face to face". If this is not possible, leave the itinerary number or last name of the party in the Comment section, or call 1.800.622.7275. WIth your DH priority of wildlife, do try to take the Eilson Shuttle. From suggesting how to dress for daily activities to streaming daily, custom playlists during our time onboard the bus, Gomez took care of every detail as we racked up miles traveling to Kenai, Denali National Park and, finally, Fairbanks. In an effort to preserve the fragile ecosystem of Denali National Park and Preserve, the National Park Service has limited access on the Park Road for private vehicles. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the premier tour of Denali National Park and Preserve! Since you asked specifically about tours and have decided against the transit bus, take the longer Tundra Wilderness Tour if you want the best chance to view wildlife. Do you have to pay the full price of the excursion to upgrade? However, if those issues aren't a concern to you, being picked up and dropped off at your hotel is certainly handy. With the Tundra Wilderness Tour, you cannot get off and head back. Whichever you chose, you'll get to see a part of Alaska you can't explore any other way! At 20,310 feet, its the tallest peak in North America. Princess Cruises is a member of ABTA, (membership number V8764) which means you have the benefit of ABTAs assistance and Code of Conduct. Very tight mostly uncomfortable quarters for me in that school bus but we did see some bears through binoculars. Renting a car near Denali - Alaska - Cruise Critic Community The buses do not have restrooms; however, rest stops are made approximately every 90 minutes. IMPORTANT NOTE: Dress in warm layers. Weve enjoyed not only the economy and flexibility of the transit buses over the years but also often the camaraderie that develops over hours on the transit bus with visitors from around the world. Every effort will be made to reserve your tour at the time requested, but please note that due to National Park Service bus limitations, you may be moved to a different time slot. Cruise Tour Package vs Do It Yourself - Alaska - Cruise Critic Community Denali Tour Options - Natural History vs. Tundra Wilderness