Nearly 80 Years of Exploring Alaska’s Heritage

Alaska’s iconic landscapes and abundant wildlife are reason enough to visit, but the stories behind them offer an even deeper connection to the Great Land. Discover the people, history, and traditions that have shaped this remarkable state.

In 2027, Holland America Line celebrates 80 years of exploring Alaska with a curated collection of Alaska Heritage Tours in five ports, featuring memorable experiences that have resonated with guests over the years.

From the legacy of the Klondike Gold Rush to the wildlife that roams its vast wilderness, Alaska’s stories add depth to every destination. Explore five featured ports through Heritage Tours that bring the Great Land’s local character to life.

These five destinations offer a glimpse of the Great Land’s many sides, with Alaska Heritage Tours highlighting its history, natural wonders, and cultures.

Alaska’s capital blends a lively waterfront with extraordinary access to the natural world. Here, glaciers carve the landscape, forested islands dot the waterways, and humpback whales gather in the rich waters of the Inside Passage. Exploring Juneau reveals how closely this community is tied to the surrounding wilderness.

Heritage Tour: Best of Juneau: Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Orca Point Lodge Meal Cruise Tour

Get to know Juneau through three quintessential Alaska experiences—glaciers, whales, and wilderness. Eighty years ago, guests would travel the Mendenhall Loop Road directly to the glacier face. Today, journey to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and learn how these immense rivers of ice shape the landscape. Then cruise the island-studded waters of Stephens Passage, where humpback whales surface to feed in summer. A naturalist shares insights into the whales and other wildlife along the way. The excursion concludes with a stop at secluded Orca Point Lodge, where a surf-and-turf feast featuring wild-caught Alaska fish and game offers a taste of the region in a tranquil, remote setting.

In Skagway, the Klondike Gold Rush still feels ever-present. Tucked into the northern end of the Inside Passage, this small town preserves the spirit of the thousands who passed through in search of their fortunes in the Yukon. You can still strike gold on a memorable train ride along a railway built against extraordinary odds.

Heritage Tour: White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad

Step aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad for a journey through the rugged mountain terrain that challenged gold seekers more than 125 years ago. The restored and replica vintage railcars climb past waterfalls, deep valleys, and towering trestles on the way to the 2,865-foot White Pass Summit — a route travelers have enjoyed for 80 years. Along the route, a guide recounts the story of the Klondike Gold Rush and the ambitious engineering feat that made this passage possible. Designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the railway remains an impressive link to the region’s past.

Few places capture Alaska’s vast beauty like Denali National Park & Preserve. From the towering presence of North America’s highest peak to the open tundra and sweeping valleys, this is the quintessential place to see some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife.

Heritage Tour: Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour

Venture 43 miles into Denali National Park on a narrated journey through its extraordinary wilderness. Along the way, keep watch for grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, moose, and wolves as they move through their natural habitat, and take in expansive views of the surrounding mountains and, when conditions allow, Denali itself. A knowledgeable driver-guide brings the landscape to life, offering insight into the park’s wildlife and environment throughout this five- to six-hour excursion.

Alaska’s largest city offers a different perspective on the Great Land, where urban life meets dramatic coastal scenery and rugged mountain landscapes. Beyond the city, the Turnagain Arm shoreline leads to forested valleys, alpine vistas, and wildlife habitats that reveal the extraordinary natural setting in which Anchorage has grown.

Heritage Tour: Alyeska & Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Overnight

Follow the scenic Turnagain Arm to Girdwood, a mountain community nestled beneath the peaks of the Chugach Range. At Alyeska Resort, ride the tram 2,300 feet above sea level for sweeping views of glaciers and surrounding mountains. After time to enjoy the resort, continue to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sanctuary for injured and orphaned animals, where you can observe Alaska wildlife, including bears, moose, wolves, and caribou, in spacious habitats. Together, the stops offer a closer look at the landscapes and wildlife that define this corner of the state.

Nestled between mountains and the waters of Prince William Sound, Whittier is a small, quaint port surrounded by some of Alaska’s most striking scenery. The journey beyond town offers its own rewards. Follow the coast through glacier-carved landscapes and wildlife-rich habitats toward Anchorage.

Heritage Tour: Turnagain Arm, Wildlife Conservation Center & Alyeska Tram

Travel along the scenic Seward Highway and the shores of Turnagain Arm, where mountains rise above the water and wildlife may appear along the route. At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, learn about efforts to care for animals that can no longer survive in the wild, with opportunities to see bears, moose, bison, and musk ox. Then ride the Alyeska Resort tram for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and coastal valley. A stop at Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary adds another dimension to the journey, with opportunities to spot migratory birds and other wildlife against a backdrop of forested peaks.

Travel is about excitement, awe, and discovery. It means seeing the places you’ve dreamed of visiting and experiencing them firsthand. But getting to know a destination means exploring beyond its famous sights to the history and traditions that make it unique. Take an Alaska Heritage Tour with that history in mind and connect the spectacular scenery with the stories that give it meaning.

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