If you’re looking to visit Alaska then this vast wilderness doesn’t end by cruising the Inside Passage. I found that the inner National Parks were far more spectacular in their grandeur. Please don’t cut yourself short by not travelling just a short journey further into the likes of Denali, Mt McKinley, Fairbanks or Copper River.  Princess Cruises has set up a series of seamless programs that transfers you from the ship to their numerous Princess Cruises hotels. Part of the beauty of travelling with them is they will take care of your luggage just like they do onboard the ship.
There are a number of land and sea cruisetours to choose from. You have a choice of the following options:
- Denali Explorer: These predominately focus their attention on a stay within the township of Denali, which is a must visit. As part of these itineraries, there is a Natural History tour pre-organised for Denali National Park and depending on the duration, they may also include a Sternwheeler Riverboat cruise down the Chena River tour within Fairbanks. Transportation between the hotels is included and it will be combination of a scenic rail journey and/or coach.
- On Your Own: This option is along similar lines as the Denali Explorer itinerary – the hotels and transportation in between are included however the tours at the destinations aren’t. So if you want to do your own thing whilst in these locations, then this is the best option for you. Please note, that tours do book out so be sure to book well ahead of arriving into Mt McKinley, Denali and Fairbanks if you choose this one.
- National Parks: This option is for a more leisurely paced sea and land holiday with a emphasis on the national parks within Alaska. You will visit Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park and Wrangell St Alias National Park plus the Glacier Bay National Park whilst on the cruise.
- Connoisseur Escorted/Escorted : If you like the comfort of having a tour leader with you the moment you hop off the ship, as well as a pre-organised breakfast and dinner each day, then Connoisseur is for you.
- Off the Beaten Path: So beyond the likes of Mt McKinley and Denali, these land and see holidays take you to more remote locations within Alaska – either Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge or Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. I personally did this itinerary and visited Copper River plus Mt McKinley & Denali and loved it.
Off the Beaten Path gives you the opportunity to travel further afield into the depths of the Alaskan region – namely to their Copper River Wildness Lodge or/and Kenai Wilderness Lodge. These stays will be combined with stays in the Denali Explorer option. Getting from one location to another is by coach due to the remoteness. It’s incredibly scenic. I myself have visited the Copper River Wilderness Lodge and found the views outstanding. They also have an amazing inhouse Northern Lights show that you can watch if you don’t manage to see the real deal.
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If you are more independant, then you can choose to do it alone with their On Your Own option. This gives you the freedom to explore yourself – do it in your own time but includes the hotel stays and the cruise. Or if would prefer the opposite, you have the Connoisseur option. Connosseur land and sea holidays have a tour escort meet you once you disembark the cruise and they will travel with you throughout your journey. What I love about this is they have a wealth of knowledge and their whole job is to enlightening you on what you’re seeing, and give you depth of understanding to the history, ecology and culture of the surrounding region.
