Newsletter January 11, 2005

January 11, 2005 V1 Issue 1

Dolly Varden's Tips 'n Travel Newsletter

You deserve to see ALASKA your way!

Greetings!

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe it's really 2005 and time to start making plans for Alaska travel and tours.

Planning a trip to Alaska can be a daunting experience. With so much to see and do, it's hard to know where to start! We help you with personalized service in making plans, sorting out activities and itineraries so you can get the most out of your time in this magnificent land.

In this issue:

	Best places for bear viewing in SE Alaska
	7 Critical Tips to Planning Your Cruise to Alaska
	Come to the Top of the World: Great Northern Arts Festival Tour
	Coming Soon! All about Ketchikan
	Next Issue: Helicopter Dog Sledding
	Money Saving Coupons

Not yet familiar with Dolly Varden Tours? Our Tips 'n Travel newsletter is jam packed with practical and informative tips you can use in planning your independent shore tours off the cruise ship or other "off the beaten path" independent land tours in Alaska.

Get Away from the crowds ! Before you sign up for an excursion directly with your cruise ship, take a look at Alaskan independent tour operators and what they have to offer you in advance. You'll be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find; personal service, smaller groups and better prices. Dolly Varden Alaska

Best Places for Bear Viewing in Southeast Alaska

Secrets to planning your trip for optimum viewing

Viewing wildlife is one of the primary reasons people travel to Alaska. And the main attractions are the black and brown (or grizzly) bears. People call our office all the time wanting to see "bears eating salmon". Although some tourists seem to think they can just watch bears anywhere in Alaska, the truth is you need to plan in advance to be in the right place at the right time. Timing is everything when it comes to bear watching! Planning ahead gives you the best opportunity to view bears in their natural habitat.

The best places for day trips in Southeast Alaska are:

Anan Creek: Best dates July 5 through August 31, 2005
Anan Creek supports one of the largest pink salmon runs in SE Alaska which attracts both black and brown bears. The area is managed by the US Forest Service, and they have built an observation deck at the falls so people can view the bears relatively safely and comfortably. There is a moderate half mile scenic walk from Anan Lagoon to the observation deck via cleared path and on a boardwalk. From Ketchikan, a float plane will take about 30 minutes each way and you should allow approximately 4 hours for a day tour. From Wrangell there are jet boat tours and you should allow about 6 to 8 hours. Last season (2004) permits became required for bear viewing at Anan Creek. Many people trying to book at the last minute were turned down, so it really pays to book this one in advance since cancellations are quite rare. Be sure to contact us with your questions about this fabulous excursion. For some photos from last season click on this link http://www.dollyvardenalaska.com/Be ar%20Viewing%20Photos.htm

Admiralty Island Pack Creek & Bear Country Tour: Available Dates May through September Peak Season is July 5 to August 25
Admiralty Island is known as "the Fortress of the Bears" by the Native Tlingits. Just a short seaplane flight from Juneau, Admiralty Island boasts one of the largest concentrations of bears in the world. You'll be thrilled to view these bears in their natural habitat where you may see them feeding on salmon, playing, nursing and sleeping. Tours are subject to permits and day restrictions with peak season viewing very limited. If your heart is set for Admiralty Island bears - please plan your trip around available dates so you won't be disappointed. For day trips allow 5.5 hours for the Pack Creek Bears and about 3 hours for the Bear Country Tour. If you'd like to schedule a longer trip there are 3 days trips and you can even get your own permit and schedule a drop off and pick up. Whatever you decide, you won't be disappointed in Admiralty Island.

For more information about Anan Creek please see the US Forest Service web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r 10/ro/naturewatch/southeast/anan/anan_species.htm

Booking information...

7 Critical Tips to Planning Your Cruise to Alaska

by Jane Ambrose Button

How to get the most out of your Alaska tours & Shore Excursions

I recently read an article about how people spend more time planning their vacations than they do planning their lives. I am sure this is probably true for many. And although, I encourage you to spend some time planning your life, I also encourage you to research Alaska before you finalize your cruise ship plans. This way you can plan your time and itinerary to take advantage of all that Alaska has to offer for you.

Here are my 7 favorite tips:

1. Gather ideas on what you want to see and do in Alaska
Before you make your plans, read up on Alaska and research the most important things you want to see and do. This is a critical element, and will make planning the rest of your trip much easier. Alaska is so vast and filled with opportunities it is very important to familiarize yourself with the possibilities and then narrow them down - BEFORE YOU GO!

2. Decide on the Ports-of-Call that are most important to you
The typical ports where the cruise ships dock are: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. However these three stops are not always the only stops available. Other ports include Prince Rupert, Hoonah (Icy Straits), Sitka, Wrangell, Haines, Valdez, Seward & Whittier.Every port has its own heritage, charm and shore excursions. Once you have a clear picture of which towns you want on your itinerary, then narrowing down the right cruise becomes a clear choice.

3. Check for the amount of time in each port
You would be amazed at how many times we get calls from people wanting to schedule a certain tour in a particular port only to be disappointed that there is either not enough time for the tour they wanted ~ or not enough time for the two tours they had their hearts set on. It is imperative to know the times your cruise ship is going to be in port. Allow yourself not only the most possible hours in port, but try to schedule arriving in the morning and not the afternoon. When you arrive in the morning you have more choices throughout the day to schedule independent shore excursions and time for sightseeing and shopping. When we book tours we always double check the cruise line's arrival and departure time - and you should too. A site where you can get this information is Northwest Cruise Ship Association

4. Book your shore excursions in advance
We get emails and calls from travelers who want to know if they can just book a particular tour at the dock when they arrive in port. My answer to this is always - book in advance - know what you are doing before you go. Many of the most popular tours are booked way in advance. These are ones such as flightseeing, helicopter tours, dog sledding, rafting, kayaking, whale watching, fishing. Although there may be exceptions, you really don't want to spend your precious time in port running around trying to find a tour. Nor do you want to be disappointed when you can't get on the one you wanted. When you plan in advance you aren't rushed, you know what you are doing and in the long run you have more time to "vacation".

5. Learn about the history of Alaska
Read all you can about Alaska. It's history is captivating. Each town has its own heritage and story. The more you learn the more fascinated you will become. We'll be posting a list of good books about Alaska on our website soon, in the meantime read as much as you can.

6. Know the best time of year to visit
We're continually asked questions about the best time of year to visit Alaska. The answer to this is totally subjective and depends on your priorities. If it's wildlife you want to see, then make sure you know the optimum time for viewing the species you are looking for. If you want the best weather - then probably don't risk a September trip. What about the best fishing - well, what do you want to catch and where are you going to be? You see, there are lots of reasons to pick certain months. The best time to come to Alaska is when you and your family can take time off of work and see this majestic state.

7. Ask Questions!
It is so important to ask questions of people who know Alaska and the ports where you will be visiting. The big thing to remember is that other people's views are extremely subjective. One person's dream tour could be another one's nightmare. I've talked to 2 families who have done exactly the same tour at the same time and one thought it was the best trip in Alaska and the other complained because it was not what they expected. Make sure you ask the right questions and ask someone who can give you straight answers.

Come to the Top of the World!

Renew your creative soul with the Great Northern Arts Festival

Set your sights for a Trip of A Lifetime with a fully escorted artistic adventure to the GREAT NORTHERN ARTS FESTIVAL in Inuvik, NWT CANADA. This special trip will move your creative soul and renew your spirit of adventure as we travel through parts of Alaska, the Yukon and into the North West Territories of Canada. This once a year festival in Inuvik, the LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN showcases the Native Art of the Far North.

The 2005 trip is scheduled to begin in Juneau, Alaska on July 15th, 2005 and ends in Inuvik on July 23rd. There will be add-on trips to Hershel Island and Banks Island for the truly adventurous! This trip is a dream come true for birders, photographers or artists with a sense of adventure. You will want to read more about this trip using the link below - there is still time to take advantage of the early bird special for this trip of a lifetime! See the special coupon below for savings through January!

For more information about Inuvik and the Great Northern Arts Festival here is a link to the official town site: http://www.i nuvik.ca/index.html

For more information on the tour see ...

Coming Soon! All about Ketchikan

In our upcoming issues, we'll be zeroing in on one Alaska town at a time. Next issue we'll focus on the the Southeast Alaska town of Ketchikan - Alaska's "first city".

Ketchikan is well known for its Native culture, salmon fishing, fjords, rainforests and warm hospitality! We'll highlight the history and hot spots of this great Alaskan port.

Some of the more popular trips in Ketchikan are the Misty Fjords flightseeing tour; kayaking; bear viewing; salmon fishing; native totem tours to Saxmon....and much more. If you can't wait till next issue, give us a call for more information.