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Bree and I recently had an amazing experience completing the ABX tour with Princess Cruises. The tour lasted for 10 days and included a 3-day land tour as well as a 7-day cruise of Alaska. In this blog, we'll be focusing specifically on the land portion of the tour, aiming to provide valuable information for independent exploration. We understand the value of saving money and enjoying activities at our own pace, so we'll share plenty of useful insights and tips for each stop on the tour. So let's begin!
NOTE: this is not a post sponsored by Princess, we are simply wanting to provide information about what you can do at each destination whether you visit on a tour or not. However if you did choose to do this tour then this post will give you more of an idea on what to expect.
Why did we choose to do this tour ?
When we were researching activities, accommodations, and transportation options in Alaska, we found it to be quite expensive and a bit of a hassle to organise. After considering our options, we discovered that cruises not only provided a way to see the state but some companies also offered land tours. As we delved deeper into Princess Cruises, the ABX cruise package stood out and we were pleasantly surprised by the fantastic value it offered. The land portion of the tour amounted to approximately $1,400pp AUD. To put this cost into perspective, on the first night in Anchorage you stay at the 'Hotel Captain Cook' which is roughly $700 AUD per night! So safe to say we were getting bang for our buck!
NOTE: Depending on the dates and how much in advance you book this tour, the cost could be cheaper, so you can probably get even more value!
When did we go ?
We visited in the middle of June, which is North America's summer time. This season is one of the more popular times to visit the state due to the long daylight hours, including experiencing the midnight sun. In contrast, winter brings the opposite with much shorter daylight hours. It's important to be aware that this time is more 'touristy' because it's the most reasonable time for people to travel here. However, despite being a popular time, we didn't feel the areas to be too overcrowded, so we would highly recommend visiting in June.
Day 1 - Anchorage
Of course, depending on your flight arrival into anchorage will depend on what you can do. However we will still be providing exactly what we did and our recommendations to help you plan your day in Anchorage.
FUN FACT
Anchorage is Alaska's Largest City!
When you arrive, you'll be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel via a bus that has already been arranged for you by Princess. The cost of this transportation is already included in the total price of the tour, but if you prefer, you can opt out of this service by booking directly with the company over the phone. In our experience, asking to remove this service saved us about $30 AUD, as the alternative option of catching the bus was both cheaper and easy to do. To catch the bus, simply head to the Airport South Terminal bus stop located outside the airport and look for bus #40 to the city. It takes about 20-25 minutes and costs $2pp USD. Alternatively, you also have the option to order a Lyft or Uber ride to the hotel, which typically costs around $17-$21 USD.
If you happen to arrive at the hotel before the 4pm check-in time, there's no need to worry! You can leave your bags at the hotel free of charge, allowing you to start exploring the city right away.
Now jumping straight into it, we highly recommend renting a bicycle and riding along the Tony Knowels Coastal Trail as the main activity to do in Anchorage. This 11-mile/17km long trail offers a scenic coastal ride and great opportunities to see wild animals such as moose and bears. For bicycle rentals, Downtown Bicycle Rental is the cheapest option, offering a standard 8-gear bike for $20 USD with a 3-hour rental time. Other rental places charge similar or higher prices for fewer hours with the same type of bike.
Allowing 3 hours for the trail is generally sufficient for a round trip, but taking long stops for photos may require you to rent the bike for longer. The good thing about Downtown Bicycle Rental is that an extra hour costs only $4 USD which becomes even cheaper for each subsequent hour.
Our overall experience on the trail was fantastic, with multiple opportunities to capture the incredible scenery and we even saw a wild moose! All an all it was a fantastic activity and if theres one thing you need to do in Anchorage, it is that!
Now being the backpackers we are we didn't eat out a lot so we can’t personally recommend any restaurants or cafe’s to eat at. Although, through our own research and hearing recommendations from other people, we can confidently list a few. These include:
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop
49th State Brewing
Sandwich Deck Restaurant
Some extra activities you can do if you have the time, can be to explore the city. This includes visiting the Captain Cook Monument or head to the Ship Creek Overlook Park where you can see fisherman catching the fresh salmon from the river.
Day 2 - Talkeetna
As you follow the ABX tour, you'll have the opportunity to depart from Anchorage aboard one of the most stunning trains available. You'll be boarding the McKinley Explorer, where you can enjoy the unique experience of sitting under dome windows that extend the entire length of the car, providing expansive views of the picturesque landscape. The journey is truly breathtaking, and you'll be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will share interesting information about the surroundings. Additionally, there's a friendly bartender on board, so if you feel like enjoying a drink while you ride, the option is readily available.
When you arrive in Talkeetna, you'll have the option to either take the bus straight to the lodge or head into town. For us, we were eager to explore, and we found the town itself to be quite charming. It's not a very large town to explore so we just strolled along the main road, visiting many of the souvenir shops, and grabbed a pizza for lunch. If you decide later in the day that you want to head into town from the lodge, you do have that option but it will cost you $10USD.
FUN FACT
Talkeetna's Mayor is a Cat!
After spending some time exploring the small town, we then made our way to the lodge. The lodge provides frequent bus services, with buses running about every hour on the half hour, (except for 1:30) up until 7:30pm. We believe that about 1-1.5 hours are sufficient to explore the town, so we recommend catching the next available bus after that. The journey to the Princess Lodge takes approximately 50 minutes, and upon arrival, you'll be greeted with incredible views of Mt. Denali. The lodge is strategically situated up high to offer spectacular views of the mountain, and there's a patio in the main lodge that is a perfect place to take in the amazing view.
There are also a variety of activities you can enjoy in and around the lodge. First, we recommend heading to the ‘Treehouse’ which was built by the popular show ‘Treehouse Masters’. It is situated up in the forest, offering amazing views of Mt. Denali. It's about a 10-minute walk uphill from the lodge, and at certain times, there is a ranger there who gives presentations about some of the local wildlife.
It's important to note that you will be given an itinerary of what's happening in and around the lodge, but we won’t list times here as they may be different from when you attend.
On-site, there is also a theater area where many rangers and special guests speak about certain topics. We attended a presentation where a ranger spoke in depth about wolves, including their hierarchy, hunting techniques, and what to do if you see one. Afterwards, we listened to someone who hiked Mt. Denali and he shared stories of his personal experience. Both presentations were really informative and definitely ones not to miss if they interest you. In addition, the area is a great place to walk around, and there are a few restaurants on site to have dinner.
Day 3 - Denali
Once again we are travelling but unfortunately not on the glass dome train, instead by motorcoach. It’s about a 2 hour drive to the lodge in Denali and you’ll roughly arrive at 12:00pm.
When first researching what to do in Denali, Bree and I struggled to find an easy and cost effective option. We then looked on the Denali National Park website to find that they offer a variety of buses which include free, non-narrated and narrated buses. However, we noticed that the closest stop that these buses depart from was about a 35minute walk away from the lodge! So before we arrived, we were under the impression that we just had to suck it up and do the walk. However, something that was not mentioned anywhere on Princess Cruises website was that they offer a free shuttle bus to the likes of the Bus Depot and the Denali visitor centre! This allowed us to then easily connect to the other buses!
We found this such useful information to know as now you have way more options to visit Denali National park! Rather than having to book the organised excursion through the tour company which does cost a pretty penny.
We first took the complimentary shuttle from the Lodge to the Denali Visitor Centre, which operates every 30 minutes. At the Visitor Centre, we had the opportunity to explore the array of shops and museums that they had to offer. Additionally, there is a movie shown in the theater at various times throughout the day, although we found it to be quite boring. Following our visit to the Visitor Centre, we boarded the free bus to the Sled Dog Demonstration, a popular attraction that many people seek to experience. Which is why there are three show times scheduled throughout the day, and they make sure to provide enough buses to accommodate everyone who are wanting to attend. Contrary to online information and signs, the journey from the centre to the demonstration site only takes about 5 minutes. Upon arrival, we had the opportunity to interact with the Alaskan Huskies, petting a few of them before proceeding to the demonstration area. During the demonstration, a knowledgeable spokesperson shared insights into various aspects of sled dogs and answered any questions from the audience. Afterwards, the staff harnessed a few of the dogs to the sled, taking them on a lap around the small course, which was both fascinating and informative. We highly recommend attending this demonstration, and the best part is that it's completely free of charge!
FUN FACT
At these kennels, the sled dogs are made to retire at 9 years old and then they are adopted out to local families!
Afterwards we caught another one of the free shuttles from the visitor centre, this time to Savage River. It's about an hour round trip which includes about 10-15 minute stop at
the lake which is enough time to take some photos but of course you can stay longer. Buses back to the centre run every 30 minutes from there. Do keep in mind though that the last shuttle bus from the centre to the lodge is 6:30pm so make sure you are back in time for that.
As mentioned before there are some other options you can do. At the bus depot you can pay for a non-narrated or narrated bus which takes you further into Denali National Park.
Day 4 - Journey to Whittier
Today, you'll be embarking on an approximately 7-8 hour bus journey to Whittier, where you'll board your cruise ship. During the journey, you'll have the opportunity to spend 1-2 hours in Anchorage for a leisurely lunch, as well as make a few rest stops along the way. One of the most exciting aspects of this journey is the experience of traveling through a one-way tunnel into Whittier. This tunnel is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) long and features a narrow passage where traffic from either side takes turns going through.
Summary
So that is our experience on the 3 day land tour (ABX) with Princess Cruises along with our tips and tricks to help you plan your time in Alaska more effectively. If you have any questions please leave a comment below and if you’d like to hear our experience on the cruise portion then leave a like on this post!
But for now
Goodbye
Bree & Aiden
Looks like you're having a good time and keeping us well informed too. Well done.
Well written Aiden. Very informative.