Most people only ever get to see a few miles’ worth of Denali National Park. But if you want a fuller experience, the renowned Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour will take you up to 60 miles deep into the park, increasing your odds of seeing wildlife and the Great One—Mt. McKinley—up close. Discover Alaska offers as a optional, the extended Tundra Wilderness Tour which takes you deep into the Park, affording more opportunities for observing and photographing the wildlife and a better possibility of an elusive glimpse of Mount McKinley.

Everything about Denali National Park is big: the scenery, the mountains, the incredible beauty, and the animals. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is an excellent way to spot the wildlife for which Alaska is so famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and more. Fully narrated by a naturalist, this seven to eight-hour tour travels 53 miles into Denali National Park to the Toklat River. The tour focuses on scouting out the wildlife in the park, in addition to explaining the historical and geographical background of the area. The tour offers frequent photo opportunities. Rest stops are made approximately every 90 minutes and a light snack with hot beverage is included.

The Tundra Wilderness Tour bus features drop-down video screens. When your tour driver is able, they will take video footage of animals along the road and project the image onto the screen so you can get a close-up look at the action. At the end of the day, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a “Windows into Wilderness” DVD which features some of the video footage shot from your tour!  (Note: Since the DVD must be created following your fabulous adventure, it will be mailed to your home. For more information about this DVD, please send questions to denalidvd@aramark.com.)

The tip of Mount McKinley first comes into view at Mile 9. You’ll ride over high mountain passes and usually see Dall sheep on the mountainsides. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bears too. It’s not uncommon to see wolves from Teklanika on. A high point—literally and figuratively—is the drive over Polychrome Pass, which offers a grand view of the Plains of Murie, stretching to the Alaska Range on the horizon. The colors of the mountains seem to change depending on light and time of day. Just on the other side of Polychrome Pass is the Toklat River and Toklat Bridge. If clouds cover Mount McKinley, the tour turns around here. On a clear day, the tour continues to Stony Hill Overlook to provide truly awe-inspiring views of North America’s highest peak. (Hint: morning tours have the best chance of moving on.) On this fully narrated 7- to 8-hour tour, you’ll benefit from your driver and guide’s years of experience, but you’ll also get upclose views with the drop-down screen on your bus. The tour includes a box lunch and frequent rest stops.

• Tour is on comfortable, upgraded coaches
• Tour stops approximately every 90 minutes for a restroom break
• Wheelchair accessible buses are available on request when you make your reservation, and all stops are wheelchair accessible
• Suggested items to bring: warm clothes, raingear, camera and film or memory card, binoculars and personal medication as necessary

Note: Due to Denali National Park Service operating guide lines, the 7-8 hour Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour may be modified to the 4-5 Tokat Tour on dates before May 20 and after Aug 25. The fully narrated Toklat Tour travels to Mile 53 of the Park Road to the Teklanika River Overlook. The Land+Sea Journey you are booked on could be affected by this modification.