Cruise to Alaska and West Coast Parks
Day 1: Seattle
Arrive at Seattle International Airport where you will be transported to your hotel (included). With the help of our Road Book, you will schedule the hours you have available to visit the city.
Days 2 & 3: beginning of Cruise – Puget Sound
Passing through the quiet waters of Puget Sound, the ship will pass Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlottes Islands to approach the Ketchikan Fjords.
Day 4: Tracy Arm, Alaska
The Tracy Arm is a narrow, twisting fjord less than 50 kilometres long that winds up to the Sawyer Glaciers. The lush rainforest retreats gradually to make room for bare rock faces, cliffs and peaks over two thousand meters high, and gushing waterfalls.
Day 5: Juneau
Enjoy an afternoon exploring the capital of Alaska. Here the spirit of pioneers continues to live on in an interesting combination of metropolitan chic and rural roughness that still speaks of frontier. Do not miss a visit to the Alaska State Museum, as well as Juneau’s great natural attraction, the Mendenhall Glacier. Just a stone’s throw from the city, you can view it by helicopter, taking in the abundant wildlife. Brown bears, porpoises, seals, sea gulls, mountain goats and black-tailed Sitka deer are all easily visible in many of the possible Juneau excursions
Day 6: Sitka
Today, you will be welcomed by the native peoples of the Tlingit. As you look around at the domes of tSt. Michael Cathedral, you will come to realize that Sitka was an important Russian settlement before Alaska became apart of the US in 1867. In fact, the town was the most important port on the West Coast, the capital of Russian America and the seat of the Bishop of Kamchatka in the early part of the nineteenth century. Explore this area of Alaska by visiting the Sitka National Historic Park or with a guided hike on the Starrigavin Muskeg Trail to disocver the flora, fauna and history of the region.
Day 7: Ketchikan
Ketchikan is an ideal starting point for wonderful excursions by seaplane to the Misty Fjords National Monument, and about 2,200 acres of beautiful nature. This is an area that was completely covered by glaciers 17,000 years ago, creating the marvelous scene of present day. This region showcases long and narrow fjords with cliffs that can rise more than 100 metres high; mountains wrapped in mysterious fog (which the park is namedafter); and incredibly turquoise lakes and waterfalls, and endless evergreen forests. Ketchikan is the ancestral homeland of the Tlingit tribe, and one thing not to miss is the largest collection of totems in the world.
Day 8: End of Cruise – From Seattle to Portland
You will disembark early in the morning in Seattle, where your cruise comes to an end. Here, you will pick up your car and begin exploring the West Coast of the United States. Following the directions of our Road Book, you will head towards Portland and arrive at Cannon Beach where you’ll check in to your hotel hotel. In the afternoon, you will head out on a fascinating hiking trip in the Ecola State Park, from Indian Beach along the Clatsop Loop Trail, among the huge red fir trees. The wildlife of the park, including many bird species, is diverse and interesting. Overnight at the hotel, breakfast is included.
Day 9: Along the West Coast, to the South
Along Highway 101 to Newport, you will take a detour for the Tillamook State Forest. Dominated by large Douglas fir trees, this lush rainforest is crossed with numerous paths that can be walked by by foot and mountain bike. Further south, another exciting detour will take you to Cape Lookout, which – along with Cape Kiwanda and Cape Meares – make up the Three Capes Scenic Route, one of the most famous and spectacular stretches of the Oregon Coast. You’ll arrive in Newport in the evening, and stay overnight at a hotel (breakfast included).
Day 10: From Newport to Florence: The Siuslaw National Forest
On Highway 101 you will cross the short distance between the two towns of Newport and Florence. You’ll find yourself in the Siuslaw National Forest, which stretches along the central coast of Oregon. Observe the prominent sand dunes along the beaches and jagged shores of the scenic area of Cape Perpetua. The Douglas fir, big spruce, red alder and broad leaf maple are the predominant tree species in this forest. Among the animals, there are 26 species of amphibians and reptiles, 235 species of birds, 69 species of mammals and at sea more than 200 species of fish. Before arriving in Florence, a must-visit attraction are the Sea Lion Caves: a vast and scenic system of caves that hosts a remarkable colony of sea lions as well as several species of sea birds (closes at 4pm). Arrive in Florence late in the afternoon where you will check in to your accommodation at the River House Inn or Drift Shore Inn in double room, breakfast included.
Day 11: From Florence to Crescent City Passing Through the Oregon Dunes
On Highway 101, halfway between Florence and Coos Bay, you will pass the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Located within the Siuwslaw National Forest, you can admire dunes as high as 500 feet towering over the ocean. The sand dunes stretch for about 40 miles along the coast and are the largest in North America. From Coos Bay, continuing on Highway 101, you can admire the spectacular views of the Oregon Coast through Bandon, Port Oxford, Gold Beach and Brookings. Shortly after crossing the border between Oregon and California, you will arrive at Crescent City and settle down at the Crescent Beach Motel or similar, in a double room with breakfast included.
Day 12: California: The big Sequoia Parks
Crescent City is the natural northern gateway to the Redwood National and State Parks, which together cover 209 square miles of land. The trees that make up the forests of these parks are sequoia, among the tallest and most ancient in the world. These parks also protect large meadows, oak forests and almost 25 miles of wild coast, which host diverse wildlife. Trekking in the Sequoia Forest, especially in the morning, can be an unforgettable experience. At the end of this intense day of exploration, you will arrive at Eureka and settle down in a delightful and refined lodge, in a double room with breakfast included.
Day 13: Mendocino National Forest
The Mendocino National Forest is the only California National Forest without paved roads and is a favourite destination for those who like to practice outdoor activities in tranquility. This forest is about 65 miles long and about 35 miles wide on 99,000 acres of mountains and gorges, offering various opportunities for activities including trekking, boating, fishing, hunting and photography. Among the plant species are various varieties of coniferous, oak woods, savannah, annual and perennial herbs and wet meadows. The fauna is very diverse, and includes white tail deer, black bears, mountain lions, lynx and coyotes. After exploring this forest, having enjoyed its wonderful solitude and perhaps one of the many outdoor activities, you will continue on the road to San Francisco, where you will settle in a 3/4-star hotel.
Day 14: Calaveras Big Tree State Park
From San Francisco you will head out on a guided trekking excursion to the Calaveras Big Tree State Park, a forest of beautiful giant sequoia and tourist attraction since the 1930s. If you’ve always dreamed of walking right into the centre of a sequoia tree, Calaveras is the right place. The park is divided into two zones, north and south, with the northern part busier due to its location, which is near the 4th highway and allows camping. The South Grove area is quieter, where you can enjoy the views of the giant sequoia in a more relaxed atmosphere. Park attractions include the Stanislao River, Beaver Creek, Lava Bluff Trail and Bradley Trail. In the evening, you will head to Fresno where you will arrive after about 3 hours drive and will settle in your hotel for overnight stay. Breakfast is included.
Day 15: Fresno – Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
After a rich breakfast, you will be ready for your hike to the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks – two bordering parks where you will find huge trees, high peaks and deep canyons. The park contains many diverse habitats, with 1,200 species of plants making up dozens of unique communities; and underground, over 200 marble caves with widespread fauna. The largest of the sequoias are as tall as 26-storey buildings, and their diameter at the base exceeds the width of the streets of many major cities. The ages of the famous sequoias known as General Sherman and General Grant are unknown, but it is estimated that they range between 1,800 to 2,700 years old. Various outdoor activities are available within the two parks, including hiking along the nearly 1,300 km of trails. When the excursion is complete, return to Fresno and stay overnight at your hotel.
Day 16: Return Flight from San Francisco
Head to the San Francisco Airport, return your rental car and board your return flight home.