GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Alaskan Discovery: Denali National Park & the Kenai Fjords 2021 Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation Grand Circle Travel ® Worldwide Discovery at an Extraordinary Value 1 Grand Circle Travel ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive. Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle travelers, Program Directors, and coach drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new, updated health and safety protocols are described inside. The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Alaskan Discovery: Denali National Park & the Kenai Fjords vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Alaska, thanks to our groups of 42 travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our Alaskan Program Director will reveal their country’s secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional office in Boston, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise. Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the regional culture. Visit the daughters of a gold miner in Fairbanks to learn about this Alaskan tradition; then try panning for gold yourself. You’ll also meet a professional dog musher near Denali to see how loyal sled dogs are raised and trained. Plus, a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place. We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 49% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Alaska: Juneau, post-trip extension to Alaska: Valdez & Anchorage, or both of these extensions to your Alaska vacation. I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610. Warm regards, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2 WHAT’S INSIDE TRIP SUMMARY It’s Included . 4 Departure Dates and Prices . 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . 6 DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . .7 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . .22 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . N/A Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 24 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 27 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 29 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 32 Climate & Average Temperatures . 36 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 38 Demographics & History . 43 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 46 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 49 MAP . .51 3 New! Alaskan Discovery: Denali National Park & the Kenai Fjords Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Seward, Anchorage Countries: 1 | Cities: 4 | National Parks: 2 Humpback whale, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska Immerse yourself in the pristine wilderness and proud culture of America’s last frontier IT’S INCLUDED 11 days from $5995 Including international airfare • Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers, from Seattle government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make Travel from only $545 per day your own air arrangements • Accommodations for 10 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths • 21 meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners 11 days from $5195 Tour only • 8 included features: 4 guided tours and 4 exclusive Discovery Series events: Gold Rush experience • Northern Lights conversation • Dog musher Travel from only $473 per day visit • Musk ox farm visit Single Supplement: FREE • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers) • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers MAXIMIZE YOUR DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip • Private motorcoach land travel OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips all with FREE Single Supplements • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip Juneau, Alaska 3 nights pre-trip from $1895 Valdez, Alaska To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 3 nights post-trip from $1895 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/aks2021 Alaskan Discovery: Denali National Park & the Kenai Fjords 4 ALASKAN DISCOVERY: RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 DENALI NATIONAL PARK & We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for THE KENAI FJORDS any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2021 DATES & PRICES DEPART FROM: MAY; SEPTEMBER JUNE-AUGUST Seattle $5995 $6195 Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco $6095 $6295 Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, Orlando, Tampa, $6195 $6395 Washington, DC Philadelphia $6295 $6495 Land tour only $5195 $5395 Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. AKS2021 Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/aks2021pricing SAV FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL WITH OUR GOOD BUY PLAN on your main trip and extensions. New travelers you refer will instantly The earlier you reserve your departure We don’t charge you more for your save $100, and you’ll earn increasing and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up own room. rewards—up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.gct.com/va For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd available—call today. Publication Date: 12/29/20 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/aks2021 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Trip, Your Way Extending the length of your stay in a destination can improve your overall travel experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening cultural interactions. Your local Program Director will help ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking for. In fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 85 countries. Call us at 1-800-221-2610 to discuss personalizing your vacation today or visit us online at www.gct.com/ personalize-aks2021. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension combined two vacations rated it excellent See more of the world and maximize your value by Consider combing this vacation with Enhanced! Best of the taking advantage of your already-included airfare. Canadian Rockies: Calgary to Vancouver. If you’re already On this vacation, you can choose between Juneau, overseas, why not see more of the world and avoid another Alaska and Valdez, Alaska. international flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person when you reserve two trips right after one another. “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose to arrive early or stay late in their destination Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break customize their flights away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring We make every effort to provide you with non-stop entirely on your own. flights and acceptable connection times to and from your destination. You also have several other ways you can Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more. is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers. Glacial mountain lake, Juneau, Alaska Alaskan Discovery: 6 Alaskan Discovery: Denali National Park & the Kenai Fjords 2021 11-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Juneau, Alaska POST-TRIP Valdez, Alaska Your Day-to-Day Itinerary 7 GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and others. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers. More than two million people have traveled with us, and the overwhelming majority say they’d gladly do so again. LAND TOUR During your Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site local Grand Circle Travel Program Director throughout your trip.