Welcome to the Green Tortoise!

Meet at the bus loading zone at the intersection of Columbus and Montgomery Street in downtown San Francisco with your e-ticket.

Plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the departure time. 

Day 1

We begin our journey with a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Say farewell to the city bustle and head north over the hills of Northern California. Enjoy getting to know your fellow travelers on the scenic ride.  Grab lunch in the quaint town of Ukiah. Onward to the breathtaking redwood groves along the Avenue of the Giants and Redwoods National Park. Take a walk beneath the massive trees and cool off in the Eel River.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2

Northern California’s “Lost Coast” guides us through redwood forests and alongside sandy beaches into Oregon.  Trek across sand dunes and marvel at the famous Oregon haystacks rising out of the Pacific Ocean.  In the evening, head inland through the Siuslaw National Forest to our country campsite.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3

The opportunity to visit one of Oregon’s “Crown Jewels” will be sure to delight the waterfall chasers!  At Silver Falls State Park, walk behind a curtain of water and hike to a number of enchanting spectacles!  In the afternoon, the adventure bus heads north to the final destination: Seattle, Washington.  See the fish flying at the famous Pike’s Place Market, sip a latte from the original Starbucksand saunter along the waterfront.  We’ll see you on the next adventure!

Hostel Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch

Showers Available

Day 4

Get your first glimpse of the behemoth mountains of British Columbia after we cross the border into Canada.  Watch as the beautiful scenery begins to change. Our camp is nestled in a forest of Douglas fir, pine and aspen trees.  This evening, take a hike along the lake’s shoreline and take a dip!

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 5

Glacier National Park of Canada reveals itself on our adventure today.  Hike to some magnificent waterfalls and watch the mountains rise higher as we roll through the Canadian Rockies.  This evening, we arrive in Banff National Park.  Our campsite near Lake Louise allows ample time to explore the alluring nature surrounding the azure water. 

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Showers Available

Day 6

Rent a canoe for a scenic paddle or just enjoy the view from the luxurious Fairmont Chateau. Sip tea at high altitude after a hike through the dense subalpine forests to Lake Agnes – a hidden gem complete with a teahouse, lovely turquoise waters, a steep wooden staircase and a waterfall.  Hike another one of Banff National Park’s most beloved trails to views of spectacular ice hanging at the scenic Plain of Six Glaciers.  Or just enjoy the view and people watching at the luxurious Fairmont Chateau.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Showers Available

Day 7

Start the day with a hike along the dramatic catwalks of Johnston Canyon to the cascading upper waterfalls.  Discover the natural beauty created by thousands of years of water erosion through the limestone bedrock.  Later, a short drive brings us to the historic town of Banff, where we’ll dine out on the town before we polish off the evening relaxing those sore hiking muscles in Banff Upper Hot Springs.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional Swim & Soak / Showers Available

Day 8

We’ll travel through the vast wilderness, alongside gigantic mountains, on the Icefields Parkway to the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks.  A stop to stretch our legs sends us on a journey through time on an interpretive walk up to the face of the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefields. Beautifully striped erratics, or pebbles and boulders carried by the glacier, decorate the trail along the way.  Tonight, we’ll spend an evening getting to know the quaint, riverfront town of Jasper, Alberta.  

Hostel Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch

Showers Available

Day 9

Explore the mountain wilderness of Jasper National Park.  Spectacular 165-foot sheer limestone walls of the impressive Maligne Canyon guide you on an unforgettable hike across six bridges suspended over the thundering Maligne River.  This afternoon, soak in the inviting Miette Hot Springs or keep moving on the Sulphur Skyline Trail for sweeping views of the endless wilderness.  Tonight, we’ll camp in the shadow of Mount Robson, known as North America’s “most prominent” peak. 

Camp Night

Meals Included: Lunch / Dinner

Optional Soak / Showers Available

Day 10

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife on a scenic ride through an unscathed wilderness.  Along the way, we’ll stop for a trek through a captivating ancient forest of impressive Douglas fir trees.  Tonight, our destination is Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, situated in the charming Bulkley River Valley framed by the Telkwa and Bulkley Ranges of the Hazelton Mountains.  Trade stories around the campfire as loons call from the lake.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Showers Available

Day 11

Visit a First Nations village that dates back over 3,000 years.  The Gitksan people will take you on a journey through time with a cultural history tour of their 10,000 year old heritage.  Explore the long houses and museum of the K’San Village.  In Kispiox, we’ll visit magnificent totem poles, detailing native family histories.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 12

Today, we forge on to the coast.  Our ferry awaits in Prince Rupert and we certainly don’t want to miss this epic voyage!

Ferry Night**

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 13

Delight in a panoramic ferry ride. As we glide through the Inside Passage, consider the impressive force of the glaciers that formed it millions of years ago.   Keep an eye out as we wind our way around lush islands and magnificent fjords, as this is home to orcas, humpback whales, American bald eagles, Dall’s porpoises, and bears that prowl the nearby shore.  You’ll view the natural world as it existed a millennia ago. Without a doubt, this is one of the highlights of the trip! 

Ferry Night**

Showers Available

Day 14

Welcome to Juneau, the capital of Alaska!  Today, we’ll stretch our sea legs at the Mendenhall Glacier.  Take a hike for dramatic views from above or walk straight to a waterfall pounding into Mendenhall Lake at its base.  Juneau is enclosed by the largest temperate rainforest in the world, so we’ll take the road as far as we can!  On our way back into town, we may even take a break at the Alaskan Brewing Company. Tonight, seek out a souvenir at a local art shop or indulge in some local brews at a dive bar!

Hostel Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch

Showers Available

*In Juneau, you will be staying at a hostel or hotel of your choice. We’ll recommend some of our favorite lodging options upon booking.

Days 15 & 16

You have lots of options!  Whether you choose to hike the mossy forests surrounding the city, spend the day touring Tracy Arm Fjord or Glacier Bay National Park, going sport fishing, or shopping for souvenirs, there’s something for everyone in Juneau!  You’ll already be prepared because your guide and driver will help you find activities that fit best for you before our arrival on the ferry.

Hostel Nights

Showers Available

Day 17

We’re back on the ferry for another breathtaking voyage up the Inside Passage.  A cruise through the glacier-carved cliffs and waterfalls of the Lynn Canal brings us to Haines and Port Chilkoot.  This small town calls to the adventure enthusiast in us all.  After a walk to the gorgeous Chilkoot Lake, we’ll camp surrounded by Douglas fir and Sitka spruce trees and beneath craggy mountain peaks. Don’t forget to search the treetops for nesting birds.  Haines is home to the largest congregation of American bald eagles in the world!

Camp Night

Meals Included: Dinner

Showers Available

Day 18

Opportunity abounds!  An optional flight-seeing tour of Glacier Bay will leave you elated.  Words cannot describe the thrill of seeing the expansive, wild and frozen earth from above.   Some may choose to take a hike for panoramic views of the Lynn Canal and Chilkat River.  There’s an option to take a ferry to Skagway or a sea kayaking tour.  You may even decide to enjoy a walk around Haines’ quaint downtown and get to know the locals from a stool at the Fogcutter Bar.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Showers Available 

Day 19

You’ll be reminded of the enormity of the world on a journey through wide open spaces of untouched wilderness and near solitude.  Don’t forget to look out for bears, Dall sheep, moose and mountain goats!  Kluane National Park in the Yukon Territory is our destination and it won’t take long to recognize why it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Plunge into Kathleen Lake to get your blood pumping before sharing a delicious Tortoise dinner together.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Optional Swim 

Day 20

Our hiking adventure is to the “King’s Throne.”  Once you reach the alpine cirque – a natural amphitheater formed by glacial erosion – continue the adventure to feel on top of the world.  You’ll be rewarded with unrivaled views of Kathleen Lake and the breathtaking Saint Elias Mountain Range, home to the world’s largest non-polar ice fields.  Easy strolls around the lovely lake are also an option and just as rewarding!

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Optional Swim

Day 21

Enjoy a little break from the wilderness in the capital city of the Yukon Territory, Whitehorse.  This city is home to one of the toughest sled dog races in the world, the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest. Check out the historic riverboat SS Klondike, learn about native cultures or take a trip into the Gold Rush era at the MacBride Museum.  Later, we’ll head for camp and another chance to soak at Takhini Hot Springs.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional Soak / Showers Available 

Day 22

Jagged granite peaks, idyllic alpine lakes and tundra landscapes roll by in the window frames as we make our way to Dawson City. This stretch of road is well-known for wildlife sightings!  A stop atop Midnight Dome will give you a chance to see our campsite from afar, as well as the mighty Yukon River.  

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch 

Showers Available

Day 23

Step back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush in Dawson City.  Meander the historic town, visiting museums and local shops or take a hike to Midnight Dome by day.  Check out the Paddle Wheel Graveyard or relax by the riverfront. By night, maybe you’ll strike it rich at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall.  Even if you don’t win big, stick around for the can-can inspired show!  Some may even join the Sourtoe Cocktail Club at the Sourdough Saloon.

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Showers Available

Day 24

We’ll cross the border into Alaska, traveling over the Top Of The World Highway.  A stop in the historical little town of Chicken, Alaska, established in the 1930s for prospecting and mining, will give you a look into real small town life.  In 2010, the official population was seven! Today, the few residents invite travelers to their home to relax and enjoy the intriguing history. Indulge in a rootbeer float on the porch of the local cafe and party the night away at the local’s favorite place to hang.  

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 25

Awaken to a world of opportunity at Chena Hot Springs Resort.  Whether you’re up for a hike, a soak, horseback ride or sled dog experience, you won’t be bored here!  Bundle up for an optional tour of the world’s largest year-round ice environment, the Aurora Ice Museum.  This day will certainly leave you feeling rejuvenated and relaxed!

Camp Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch 

Optional Soak / Showers Available

Day 26

On our way to Denali National Park, we’ll stop in Fairbanks, “the Gateway to the Bush,” for a little town time to gather provisions for the days ahead.  We’ll visit the Fairbanks Visitor Center and explore the unbelievable Museum of the North at the University of Alaska.  This evening, enjoy a dinner out at 49th State Brewing Company where you can hop into the replica “Into the Wild” bus!

Custom Sleeper Coach Drive Night

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch

Days 27 & 28 & 29

We greet the morning at Denali National Park, the climax of this adventure!  The sprawling tundra is our playground for the next few days!  Venture out on the diverse trails from the park’s visitor center, take a ranger-led hike or embark on a bus journey deep into the park.  Don’t miss the chance to see moose, bears, caribou, foxes and Dall sheep in their natural habitat!  You might take the opportunity to go on a whitewater rafting adventure through the picturesque landscape on the Nenana River.  However you choose to spend our extended stay, you’re guaranteed to take away treasured memories of the raw beauty and trackless wilderness stretching beneath “The Great One!”

Camp Nights

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Dinner Out On Day 27

Showers Available

Day 30

Reminisce about your incredible journey as we head for Anchorage on our final scenic drive.  Today, we say “See you next time!” 

Meals Included: Breakfast

____________

**Due to a very limited Alaska Marine Highway ferry schedule, our dates do not match up on this leg of the adventure.  Although we hoped to run the trip as written in the itinerary details, we expected this curveball and already have an alternative land-based route planned. This means certain destinations will change. This does not affect departure or arrival dates or times.  

The new highlights along the way include: Muncho Lake Provincial Park, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Liard Hot Springs, the historic town of Carcross, the Carcross Desert, and Skagway, Alaska.

This adventure does still include a breathtaking ferry ride on the Lynn Canal between Skagway and Juneau!

• Travel By Custom Coach
• 70% of Meals
• National Park Entrance Fees
• Semi-Guided Exploration of Cities & Parks
• Sleeping Pad
• All Camping Fees

• • Sleeping bag  
  • Tent

*Available for rent upon booking! 

Required Expenses

• • Hostel Stays During The Trip
  • Ferry Passages – $134 

• Canada: 
  • Hot Springs Entrances
  • Lake Louise Canoe Rental
• Juneau area:
  • Mt. Roberts Tram
  • Tracy Arm Fjord Cruise
  • Flight-seeing Trip 
• Haines area:
  • Ferry to Skagway
  • Guided Trips – Kayaking or Rafting
  • Flight-seeing Glacier Bay
• Dawson City area:
  • Diamond-Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall Show
  • Dredge Tour
• Denali area:
  • Bus Tours Of The Park
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Flight-seeing
  • Backcountry Camping at Wonder Lake*

*Subject to availability.

You’ll be traveling in a custom sleeper coach! 

A sleeping bag is required for this adventure.  If you don’t have one, rent one from us upon booking!  

A tent is required.  On most occasions you are welcome to sleep on the bus or sleep beneath the stars.  However, we strongly recommend bringing along a tent for privacy and comfort. You may rent a tent from us (subject to availability).

Our coaches are equipped with a camp kitchen.  No need to bring your own cookware or utensils.  Bring a reusable lunch container to store your packed lunch and a reusable water bottle.

Once you’re booked, you will receive a detailed packing list in your e-ticket.

Departure:  7:00 AM – San Francisco, CA, Columbus and Montgomery St. Bus Loading Zone

Departure Option 2 (Sunday, June 18):  2:00 PM – Union Station, 800 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209

Departure Option 3 (Monday, June 19): 7:30 AM – Green Tortoise Hostel, 105 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98101

*****

Arrival: 5:00 PM – Base Camp Anchorage Hostel, 1037 W 26th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99503