Glaciers and Gold Country: Lake Tahoe to Alaska with Glacier Bay National Park by ship & train
A glorious, carefully constructed adventure through the California’s Gold Rush region and into Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes.
Begin where the West still hums with memory and motion—where mountain light glints on polished brass and every mile tells a captivating story. Vintage rail experiences and unhurried stays invite you to linger through redwood groves, alpine passes, and towns where history feels close at hand. From Old Sacramento to the cobalt waters of Lake Tahoe, this journey takes route quietly, wondrously.
We’ll trace the echoes of the Gold Rush through Virginia City and along California’s storied backroads, then descend below the cathedral-esque waterfalls and granite walls of Yosemite National Park. In San Francisco, we turn seaward, slipping beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and on to Alaska’s Inside Passage. Glaciers, soundless fjords, and quaint coastal towns drift past as you peacefully sail by, breathing it all in, unpacking only once. This is a journey shaped by contrast and continuity, where rail, road, and sea come together in one seamless, deeply satisfying sojourn.
THE UNCOMMON WEST COAST JOURNEY
Rail and Passage : From the storied Virginia and Truckee Railroad to a steam journey through Yosemite’s forests, this is travel as it once was—easygoing, atmospheric, and richly felt.
Landscapes That Define the West: Lake Tahoe to Yosemite to Alaska’s Inside Passage, experience North America’s most iconic scenery at its most vivid.
From Gold Rush Trails to Glacial Fjords: Trace American history from California’s gold country to Alaska’s wilderness; frontier stories give way to towering ice and open sea.
Tour Highlights
Travel with confidence on a fully escorted, expert-guided journey, and knowing all sightseeing, admissions, and transfers are seamlessly arranged from beginning to end.
Begin with a relaxed multi-night stay in Reno, including a welcome reception to ease into the journey.
Explore historic Virginia City with a ride aboard the legendary Virginia and Truckee Railroad.
Cruise across Lake Tahoe by classic sternwheeler, taking in the brilliance of Emerald Bay.
Spend two immersive days in Yosemite National Park, entering via Tioga Pass and taking in iconic views from Olmsted Point.
Tour Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Fall, with time at the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Ride the historic Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad through fragrant redwood forests.
Journey along California’s Highway 49 through Gold Rush towns including Columbia, Angels Camp, and Coloma.
Visit Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, where the California
Gold Rush began.Stay overnight in historic Old Sacramento with a visit to the renowned California State Railroad Museum.
Arrive in San Francisco and sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
Enjoy a 10-day Alaska voyage with calls at Sitka, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert BC.
Unpack once aboard ship and experience Alaska in comfort, with special events and onboard enrichment.
