Bring your passport and meet your guide in downtown Skagway to board a comfortable coach bus for your 4-hour tour in and around the historic gateway town. In the spring of 1898, the discovery of gold in the Klondike River tempted thousands of prospectors looking to strike it rich into Southeast Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory. Today, Skagway's population is about 995 people, but the town's rich history continues to draw upwards of a million visitors a year.
Wind through the downtown area, part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and pass by well-preserved wooden buildings from the turn of the century such as the Mascot Saloon and the Moore House and Cabin. Your guide brings these landmarks to life with stories of the gold seekers who came through the tiny port town.
Next, cruise up to White Pass Summit, traveling along Klondike Highway that connects Skagway to Yukon’s Dawson City. Your route parallels the White Pass Railroad, narrow-gauge tracks built in the late 1800s.
When you reach an elevation of 3,292 feet (1,003 meters), you’re treated to beautiful panoramas of Tormented Valley, a subarctic alpine tundra, Summit Lake, glaciers, waterfalls and snowcapped mountains. At the US and Canadian border, be sure to snap a pic of the Welcome to Alaska sign.
After about 2.5 hours, return to Skagway and stop at a historic Victorian inn for lunch. Built during the gold rush, the hotel first operated as a brothel before eventually becoming a family residence and then a boarding house. During your meal (see a sample menu below), hear stories and learn about the customs and traditions of the Tlingit, the indigenous people of the region around Skagway, and enjoy live music and art.
After lunch, take a stroll in the adjacent gardens before heading back to your original departure point.
Sample Menu
First courses:
- Alaskan halibut chowder
- Garden salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette
Main courses:
- Hot salmon pasta with grilled vegetables
- Chicken pot pie
- King crab (additional charge)
Children's menu:
- Reindeer hot dog
- Pasta with cheese sauce and edible flowers
- Cheese quesadilla
Desserts:
- Rhubarb crisp
- Chocolate fudge zucchini cake
Drinks:
- Coffee, tea (hot and iced)
- Mixed drinks and beer available from the bar (additional charge)
