EXCURSÕES EM TERRA

Your journey begins with an entertaining historic tour through downtown Skagway, and along nine miles of stunning coastline to our Adventure Camp in Dyea. Kick off your visit with a “Musher Talk.” In the Musher Talk, we will share fascinating information about this extreme Alaskan state sport and welcome any additional questions you may have. Of course, we make sure you have plenty of time to meet some of the actual athletes who do these amazing things, our sled dogs! Not to worry—we have litters of puppies too that are ready for cuddles and kisses. Human socialization is actually essential to their development and racing success. After that, take a chance to pan for gold in our riverside sluice! Once your guide shows you the art of gold panning, you can test your luck to see what you can find while learning about the history of the gold rush that took off from this area. Then you will have time to take a short self-guided nature hike next to a beautiful waterfall and dense Alaskan forest or browse the gift shop and relax in our saloon with a deck overlooking the picturesque stream. All of this in a spectacular Alaskan setting! This is a tour full of Alaskan adventure, history, and awe-inspiring wilderness.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a musher’s camp to learn how the dogs are trained to pull sleds through the snow.
• Interact with the dogs, which are superb athletes with remarkable strength and stamina.
• Pan for gold with a sluice much like the ones prospectors used during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Hike through the Alaskan wilderness and along the hillsides of Chichagof Island. Drive through the village of Hoonah, the largest Tlingit village in the world, on your way out to the Spasski River Valley. Continue through the Tongass National Forest up one of the old logging roads to the trail head. Once there, you will hike approximately two miles through private Native-owned lands, up an abandoned logging trail, to the secluded locally known viewing area. As you come to the top of the mountain, feel the serenity and see the breathtaking 360 degree views of Chichagof Island and its surrounding waterways and islands with nothing but nature all around you. Your local guide will share knowledge of the flora and fauna that inhabit the area, along with history of the land and its rich diverse culture. The opportunity to see brown bears, Sitka black tailed deer, eagles, and even humpback whales abound. With very little time spent in the forest area, this our provides spectacular views of the area with ample opportunities for photography.

Your journey begins with an entertaining historic tour through downtown Skagway, and along nine miles of stunning coastline to our Adventure Camp in Dyea. Kick off your visit with a “Musher Talk.” In the Musher Talk, feel free to ask questions about these fascinating dogs. Then, meet some of the athletes who do these amazing things, our sled dogs and our adorable litters of puppies! After that, hit the trail for a hike through the remains of the old Dyea townsite. Along the way, your guide will point out the few remnants of the town that once boasted a population of nearly 10,000 people! Also, learn about the plant and animal life found around you in the Tongass National Forest---the largest temperate rainforest in the world! All of this in a spectacular Alaskan setting! This is a tour full of Alaskan adventure, history, and awe-inspiring wilderness.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a musher’s camp to learn how the dogs are trained to pull sleds through the snow.
• Interact with the dogs, which are superb athletes with remarkable strength and stamina.

This excursion combines a trip over the Klondike Highway with a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, leaving you time for further exploration during your visit to Skagway. This tour is presented in multiple foreign languages simultaneously.

Your experience begins onboard a comfortable mini-bus whose large picture windows afford spectacular views as you travel through Skagway and north along the Klondike Highway up through the West White Pass in the St. Elias Range. This is the highest coastal range in the world, and one of North America's most scenic mountain roads. Your guide will tell a century’s worth of White Pass stories, and there are plenty of landmarks along the way including Dead Horse Trail, the old Brackett Wagon Road, Pitchfork Falls and Moore Bridge. Photo opportunities of numerous glaciers and peaks abound.

Upon arrival at Fraser, British Columbia, you’ll board a vintage narrow gauge railcar for your trip aboard the world famous White Pass & Yukon Railroad. The train takes you through the opposite side of the Pass, and down the other side of the canyon, with new breathtaking panoramas of mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls back down the grade to Skagway.

Enter the fly-zone on this rain forest eco-adventure that is designed for those seeking, excitement and exhilaration. Featuring eight zip-lines, ten lofty tree platforms, and rappelling, this is the ultimate Alaska action experience. Your adventure begins with a ride up a steep hillside in a custom all-terrain 4x4 Unimog to the briefing camp. After outfitting and orientation, it’s an uphill hike via an improved rain forest trail to a ground-based practice zip-line, where your guide introduces you to zipping. This is your first encounter with the zip-line course, providing an aerial view of Bear Creek and a forest waterfall. You will be challenged as you descend from platform to platform on Western Hemlock trees and then rappel to the ground from the last tree platform. Experience panoramic ocean, forest and mountain views from the tree platforms on this exciting adventure at a rain forest reserve, just eight miles from Ketchikan. In addition to tall stands of spruce, hemlock and cedar, the ecosystem here supports an extensive wildlife population. Eagles and bears are often sighted. Time permitting, grab a freshly brewed coffee or a cold Alaskan beer and explore our Tsimshian totem park, see a master carver working, check out our historic sawmill and watch our local blacksmiths at work. Stop by the General Store to see photos taken during your zip-line experience and to shop for mementos of your Alaska adventure. Your excursion concludes with a scenic drive back to the ship.

Watch a traditional tribal performance that reflects the long and fascinating history of the Tlingits as a prelude to a feast of fresh seafood and other classic Alaskan dishes. After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at the Native Heritage Center Theater to watch the local Tlingits perform an inspiring tribal interpretation. The Tlingits have lived in this part of southeastern Alaska for thousands of years and their traditions run deep. They express them beautifully through interpretive songs and storytelling. The performers will be dressed in full regalia, including masks and headdresses. The entertainers will share their history from the time when advancing glaciers forced them out of their original homeland in Glacier Bay. They called their new settlement Hoonah, a word that means “where the north wind doesn’t blow.” With their rich history of harvesting resources from the sea and land, the Tlingit have always had great respect for the environment. Many of their performances express the significance of indigenous animals such as the raven, seal and eagle. Others tell of the tribe’s struggles with the harsh environment and poignant social issues. Following the performance, you will dine on a sumptuous meal of classic Alaskan dishes. The menu will include seasonal shrimp and crabs, Andouille sausage and all sorts of sides. Afterwards, you can make s’mores around the campfire. This is a set menu and accommodations cannot be made for special diets.

Watch a team of sled dogs demonstrate their pulling power and then try your hand at panning for gold like the prospectors that once poured into this area to make their fortunes. The venue for these eye-opening experiences is Dredge Town, a collection of buildings that look like they’re right out of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. The sled drivers, known as mushers, will describe how the dogs are cared for and trained to maximize their strength and stamina to pull the sleds, often competitively in contests such as the demanding 1,000-mile Iditarod. As you will see, the dogs are spectacular athletes. Enter the Gold Rush Training Camp, where you will learn how to extract paydirt, sluice, and assay your results. Learn the art of gold panning with a humorous and educational show. Practice your technique in heated water troughs. Gold is guaranteed and so is a great time! Weigh your fortune with our assayers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a sled dog camp and watch the animals demonstrate their prodigious skills.
• Interact with the sled dogs, including the puppies.
• Pan for gold much like the prospectors during the gold rush.

Fast, fun, and exhilarating, this adventure is sure to excite nature lovers and thrill seekers alike. Get a running start on solid ground and take flight into the treetops of the Alaskan rainforest. Enjoy an entertaining tour through historic Skagway and along stunning coastline to Dyea. After you suit up in gear that meets the highest safety standards, your guide will explain how to safely navigate the course.

Then clip in and fly away through a course of 10 ziplines and 4 suspension bridges. And this is more than just any zip course, these lines will bring you directly above glacially fed waterfalls. This course also includes specialty lines such as "The Pipeline," that’s longer than two football fields combined. Zoom across the lines where you can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour. For the more cautious adventurers, rest assured that your guides will show you how to control your own speed.

Victoria is one of the most picturesque cities in North America – it exudes old world charm and has a distinctively British flair. You’ll discover the heart and soul of the “City of Gardens” on this tour and appreciate why so many visitors from around the world come each year to visit. Starting at Ogden Point you’ll head into the residential neighborhoods, complete with manicured lawns, abundant flowers of all shapes and sizes, and million dollar views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountain range.

Your tour will continue through the city's impressive Beacon Hill Park, complete with free flying peacocks and the world's tallest freestanding totem pole. After enjoying the sites of old town and Chinatown, you’ll enter Victoria's Inner Harbor. This lively area is home to the Royal British Columbia Museum, numerous street performers, craft vendors, food stalls, legislative buildings and the world famous Fairmont Empress Hotel.

OVERVIEW

Cruise the scenic Tongass Narrows to downtown Ketchikan and enjoy a sampling of locally brewed beer along the way. The views will be spectacular the entire time and a naturalist will be on board to point out and describe the wildlife. Bald eagles, porpoises and seals are often spotted as the waterway is protected and makes for an ideal habitat. Bawden Street Brewing will provide 2 beer samples for the tasting, which may include a blonde Belgian-style ale and a brown porter with a hint of blueberry. As an alternative, champagne is available. During the hour or so that it takes to reach Ketchikan, the crew will offer suggestions and a detailed walking map to maximize your time there. You might stroll the boardwalk along historical Creek Street, snap photos of the colorful totem poles throughout town and shop for locally made merchandise such as fine jewelry and artwork.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the pristine Tongass Narrows as an alternative to riding the shuttle bus to Ketchikan.
• Sample inspired selection of locally brewed beers or a glass of champagne while cruising.
• Admire the gorgeous scenery along the way and look for iconic wildlife such as bald eagles.
• Make the most of your time in Ketchikan with suggestions from the crew.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Race through the wilderness on a utility task vehicle and then cruise along the gorgeous shoreline to a waterfront lodge for a hearty crab feast and beer pairing. After taking the wheel of the UTV, you will tear through mountainous terrain and along old logging roads at adrenaline-pumping speeds that will make this driving adventure all the more memorable. Upon reaching the coast, you will board 46-foot enclosed sightseeing vessel and cruise down an inland arm of the sea. The views will be spectacular, especially while passing the Mahoney Glacial Cirque, an amphitheater-like valley that ancient glaciers carved through the rugged landscape. Wildlife is abundant throughout this remote area, especially bald eagles. A sumptuous meal awaits you at George Inlet Lodge, a former 1940s bunkhouse for a fish cannery. It is a beautiful setting to dine on freshly caught Dungeness crabs paired with a number of unique craft beers from several local breweries.

Look for wildlife while zipping along the rugged coastline in an open-air, high-speed boat. You will ride in a Rigid Hull Inflatable vessel that is 27 feet long and designed to race through the sea with maximum maneuverability. The exact route will depend on the weather conditions, but you can expect to enjoy close-up views of tidal flats and land animals such as brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer. The seas here are also teeming with iconic Alaskan animals. You may spot humpback whales breaching the water’s surface, pods of orcas, frolicking sea otters and sleek seals. Be sure to look up, as bald eagles and puffins also make their homes in the area. Along the way, the captain will throttle back and elaborate on the importance of the waterways to the native Tlingit, many of whom still follow a traditional lifestyle around Icy Strait Point.